Before there was a NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, CASCAR was Canada’s top stock car sanctioning body, overseeing national and regional championships and creating consistent rules packages for many of the nation’s top racing facilities.
On Sunday, February 12, 2012, the Canadian Motorsports Expo Powered by Inside Track Motorsport News will host a CASCAR Reunion to celebrate this golden era in Canadian racing. The highlight will be an on-stage forum featuring CASCAR founder Tony Novotny and several prominent racers and personalities from the sanctioning body’s storied history.
Founded by Novotny in 1981, the Canadian Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (CASCAR) ultimately gave way (in 2007) to the present day NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. At its peak, the CASCAR Super Series appeared at ovals and road courses across Canada, producing legendary champions like Don Thomson Jr., Dave Whitlock, Peter Gibbons, Steve Robblee, Dan Shirtliff, Mark Dilley, Kerry Micks, Andy Farr, Wayne Keeling, J.R. Fitzpatrick and others. Canadian Tire Series champs Scott Steckly and DJ Kennington both cut their teeth competing in CASCAR races.
“We are very excited to be hosting the CASCAR Reunion on Sunday, February 12 at the CME,” said the CME’s Greg MacPherson. “The series laid the groundwork for NASCAR coming to Canada, proving that the country and its racers would support a unified, professional stock car series. Tony Novotny and some of his early partners had a vision, and while it was never easy, he and the racers, their families, the sponsors and fans worked together to create something pretty special. We’re looking forward to having Tony joined on stage by some past CASCAR champions and other CASCAR personalities for a trip down memory lane.”
Talking about the CASCAR Reunion at the CME, Novotny said, “It’s going to be pretty neat to see a bunch of good friends and talk about the old days. There should be a lot of fun stories. It was a lot of work and we had our ups and downs. But looking back, we put on some good racing and ran into a lot of good people over the years. It’ll be nice to see everyone again.”
Watch the CME website (www.CanadianMotorsportsExpo.com) for further announcements regarding the CASCAR Reunion, including the CME show schedule and additional confirmed forum participants. If you were a CASCAR racer, crew member, official, sponsor or fan, you won’t want to miss this rare opportunity to relive one of the most memorable chapters in Canadian racing history. For more information about the CASCAR Reunion, contact the CME at info@canadianmotorsportsexpo.com or call (416) 962-7223.
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