#NASCAR • #NCATS • @Sunset_Speedway • @NASCARHomeTrack • #stockcar • TORONTO, ON – In the wake of the recent demise of Barrie Speedway, it was suspected by many that nearby Sunset Speedway would be named as a replacement facility for the cancelled NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race. Barrie had been previously included on the 2015 schedule with a September 12 date. There was also speculation that the NASCAR Hometracks sanction would shift to Sunset. Both of those things were confirmed on Thursday.
The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race originally slated for Barrie Speedway, in September, has been moved to June 20 at Sunset. The race will be called the Leland Industries 300 Presented by Johnsonville.
The June date at Sunset gives Canada’s national stock car championship a much-desired oval race, in Ontario, prior to the scheduled season finale at Kawartha in late September. The end of the road for Barrie Speedway opened the way for NCATS to finally race at Sunset, something that many believed would never happen as long as Barrie – a ‘day one’ NCATS host track – was still in business.
It was also announced that Sunset, which is located just 45 minutes north of Toronto, has become the newest addition to the sanctioning body’s Whelen All-American Series Program.
See below for the two releases, from NASCAR.
AD: PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS TO MOTORAMA TODAY…
NCATS HEADS TO SUNSET SPEEDWAY
NASCAR announced today that a June 20 date at Ontario’s Sunset Speedway has been added to the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series 2015 event schedule.
The Leland Industries 300 presented by Johnsonville will mark the inaugural visit for the series to the .333-mile, high-banked oval located in Innisfil, Ontario, just 40 minutes north of Toronto. Sunset Speedway, which originally opened in 1968, will become the 18th different facility to play host to the Canadian Tire Series since its inaugural 2007 campaign, and the third new track to welcome the series in the last two seasons.
Although the Canadian Tire Series has not previously visited Sunset, there are some connections. Series veteran Mark Dilley serves as the track’s general manager and fellow competitor Jeff Lapcevich’s son Cayden, who plans to make his Canadian Tire Series debut in 2015, is the reigning champion in Sunset’s super stock division.
It was also announced today that Sunset has joined the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, becoming the third track in Canada to feature weekly NASCAR-sanctioned racing.
The addition of the Leland Industries 300 presented by Johnsonville to the 2015 schedule came on the heels of the recent announcement by the new ownership group of Barrie Speedway that it has ceased racing operations, which forced the cancellation of the Canadian Tire Series’ scheduled Sept. 12 event.
The 2015 Canadian Tire Series schedule will open at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park as the headliner to Victoria Day SpeedFest Weekend on May 16-17.
AD: INSIDE TRACK IS THE ONLY MAGAZINE IN THE WORLD THAT PUTS CANADIAN RACING FIRST. CLICK ON THE BANNER BELOW AND DON’T MISS AN ISSUE…
SUNSET: NEWEST ADDITION TO WHELEN ALL-AMERICAN SERIES PROGRAM
NASCAR announced today that Ontario, Canada’s Sunset Speedway has joined the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series program as a weekly NASCAR Home Track for the 2015 season.
The .333-mile, high-banked oval is located in Innisfil, Ontario, just 40 minutes north of Toronto. Sunset Speedway, which originally opened in 1968, will become the third NASCAR-sanctioned weekly track in Canada.
“We are pleased to welcome Sunset Speedway to the NASCAR family,” said George Silbermann, NASCAR’s vice president for regional and touring series. “Sunset is a fantastic facility with great competition and it will anchor NASCAR racing in Ontario.”
Established in 1982, the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series is NASCAR’s national championship program for weekly short track auto racing. Competitors at more than 50 paved and dirt tracks throughout North America vie for track, state and province, and overall series championships in Divisions I-V.
Sunset will also play host to the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series on June 20 for the Leland Industries 300 presented by Johnsonville.
“It is a very exciting year for me and the whole Sunset team,” said Mark Dilley, Sunset Speedway’s general manager. “Our goal has always been to host a NASCAR, and that day has finally come. Not only will we have the inaugural Leland Industries 300 presented by Johnsonville, but we will see a full year of NASCAR racing with the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. It is a great opportunity for all of the fans, competitors and staff at Sunset, and I am proud to be a part of it.”
Sunset’s first night of NASCAR-sanctioned competition will be Saturday, May 2. Late models are the feature division at Sunset, and will be designated NASCAR Division I. The super stocks will compete as Division II, mini stocks Division III and mighty minis Division IV.
Connecticut-based Whelen Engineering is the series’ title sponsor. Whelen Engineering is a leading manufacturer of automotive, aviation, industrial and emergency vehicle lighting. NASCAR tracks and pace cars across North America and Europe are among the many showcases for Whelen products.
For more information on Sunset Speedway, please visit sunsetspeedway.ca.
Press releases from Jason Cunningham / NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications
{fcomment}
Discussion about this post