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Record Rookie Class for 2008 BRP CanAm Series
St. Catharines, ONT…A record number of drivers are planning a rookie season with the 2008 BRP CanAm Series. To date sixteen drivers have announced plans to compete in both Series Tour events and in weekly events at participating Series tracks.
At season’s end the Rookie who has earned the most points will receive a $1000 award from Absolute Powder Coating of St. Marys, PA
The only requirement to qualify for Series rookie status is that a driver has qualified for six or fewer Series Tour events. No formal application is necessary.
The current list of Series rookie contenders includes drivers who bring a highly diversified mix of racing backgrounds. That list includes nobody without prior stock car racing experience, in fact, the opposite. Champions and race winners from other programs are joining the Series. Let’s meet them.
Derek Boyle of Middleport, NY – This Boyle Boy moved up from the DIRTcar Pro Stock ranks to the BRP CanAm late models last year. He qualified for Series events at Genesee and Ransomville thus carries his rookie status for 2008. Derek is the younger of Bob and Karen Boyle’s boys and will convoy with brother Jason to Series events.
Jason Boyle of Lockport, NY – Jason earned the 2001 Mr. DIRTCar Pro Stock title, later this Boyle Boy moved to the DIRTcar 358 modified program. Jason has a 100% new Rocket Monte Carlo from Bob Mullen’s Pro Speed with new PoGo power ready for his rookie year with the BRP CanAm Series.
Brett Buono of Wayne, NY – Brett hopes to pick up where his dad (Bob) ended the 2007 Series as Rookie of the Year. Brett’s hopes are enhanced by the fact that he will have the same Rocket Monte Carlo that his dad used in 2007. “She has some laps on her, but she is totally freshened and ready for the Series opener on May 4 at Black Rock,” shares Brett. Brett has raced and won in Pro Trucks at Black Rock.
Dan Cobb of Coudersport, PA – Cobb, a weekly 360 late model competitor at McKean County Raceway, got Series fever after traveling to Black Rock last year. Cobb just makes the rookie cut after qualifying for six Series events. The Cobb brothers have a very interesting car. It is a completely reworked GRT Taurus ready for the new season. Interesting because it is a GRT chassis reworked by Ed Carley, a Larry Shaw and Rocket dealer, and their Taurus is powered by a Billy Campbell built GM engine. If they had used a Fusion nose we could have called it a ConFusion!
Bryce Davis of Canisteo, NY – This 17 year old high school student will be the youngest of the rookie class. Youngest, but he logged many laps last year in his Dad’s Ford powered BRP CanAm late model at Woodhull Raceway. The youngster was impressive in 2007 Series events at McKean County and Woodhull. Bryce hopes to be even more impressive in his search for the 2008 Absolute Powder Coating $1000 Rookie award.
Beamer Guzzardi of Mt. Morris, NY – Beamer is another graduate of the DIRTcar Pro Stock ranks. The plan was to run for BRP CanAm R-O-Y in 2007, but the debut of his all new Lazer Impala SS was delayed until nearly mid-season and then a wallbanger at Ransomville shortened the abbreviated season further. Beamer’s racer was repaired and refurbished at Jim Bernheisel’s shop before Christmas and is now race ready with a “little” more than 500 horsepower by Billy Campbell between the rails.
Brian Hoffman of S. Wales, NY – Hoffman may have the steepest learning curve of any in the 2008 Rookie Class despite nearly 20 years of racing experience. His stock car racing experience has all been on asphalt! However, he starts his rookie dirt track experience in a proven championship car – the CRS Impala that Randy Hall rode to the 2006 BRP CanAm Series championship in his rookie year. Hall and Joel Smith (of CRS) will be “around” to point Hoffman towards some checkered flags.
Kyle Inman of Darien, NY – Inman is another moving from the open wheel ranks of DIRTcar racing to the full fendered BRP CanAm late models. Inman is a former DIRTcar Sportsman Rookie of the Year. “I did not earn $1000 from DIRTcar for the Rookie award. I like the whole BRP CanAm program – great competitors, a little travel, and the best money that I have ever raced for,” says Inman.
Dick Park of Pavilion, NY – Park has parked his DIRTcar 358 modified in favor of a Rocket late model. Not just any Rocket, but a former Sweeteners Plus car from the Vic Coffey / Tim McCreadie stables. Bob Mullen’s Pro Speed has stubbed the Rocket with the mandatory Camaro front stub.
Josh Sawyer of Lindley, NY – Sawyer’s beautiful #01 Shaw car by Ed Carley earned best appearing car award at the Olean Mall car show last month. The car was an attention grabber at the Gater / Suzuki Motorsports Expo in Syracuse. Sawyer moves up to the BRP CanAm division from the IMCA modified ranks. He will earn home track bonus points at Woodhull and plans to make all 14 Tour events.
Brandon Smith of Bath, NY – Smith has logged laps at both Black Rock and Woodhull in an old heavy super stock. His team has a BRP CanAm car ready for 2008. Smith will have the distinction of being the first Chrysler (MOPAR) powered car to ever race in the Series.
Josh Smith of Lindley, NY – Another Lindley race car driver! Lindley boasts a total population of 1800 people yet there are nearly 30 race car drivers that receive USPS service at a Lindley, NY address. Josh’s #13 may very well receive the most trade paper photo coverage of any race car since his primary sponsor is S&W Awards / Photos / Printing. S&W has a long history of photo coverage for Gater Racing Photo News. This year it is a safe bet that Scotty and the S&W crew with have their Kodaks pointed in the direction of Josh and his black beauty #13.
Mike Smith of Arkport, NY – Smith is a veteran IMCA modified driver who moved into the seat of Charlie McGregor’s CRS Impala for the final weeks of the 2007 racing season. This year they will take advantage of an early start and hope to make “lots of noise” with the Manley Insurance Group #1*.
Bob Stilson of Scio, NY – The Scio Speed Society membership grows with Stilson and his #777 Rocket now on Deb Wonderling’s Society membership rolls. Stilson’s has been an E-Mod racer, but likes to race with the Wonderling gang and that makes him a BRP CanAm racer. Stilson’s work commitments may prevent an all out assault, but he “will make as many as I can.”
John Waters of Whitesville, NY – Waters tested the BRP CanAm waters in 2007 and liked what he found. Waters’ day job is a diver so he knows a thing or two about testing the water. Waters is the proud owner of TJ Shaw’s MCR championship car. He will be out of the water and trade his diver’s suit for a driver’s suit for all 14 Series Tour events.
Todd Wellman of Chatham, ONT – Wellman made just one start in his new Carley-Shaw car last year. He plans a full Tour schedule and will use Little Valley Speedway for home track bonus points. Wellman is an over-the-road trucker who knows all the routes and will put that experience to good use as he and his team travel from Chatham (near Detroit, MI) chasing fame and fortune with the BRP CanAm Series.
An impressive list for sure.
Keep track of their progress at a BRP CanAm Series event near you and when you cannot make the race you can read about at www.BRPCanAmSeries.com and the Gater racing Photo News.
Marketing Partners for the 2008 BRP CanAm Late Model Series include: Bicknell Racing Products, Absolute Powder Coating, BC Designs, Brad Penn Racing Oil, Brzezinski Racing Products, Can & Bottle Return of Delevan, Ed Carley Motorsports, Close Racing Supply, Cousins Designs, CR Designs & Racing Graphics, Damon’s Dyno’d Race Engines, DART Machinery, DB Embroidery, Doug’s Dirt Diary.com, East Coast Speed.com, F/A Products, Gavenda Race Engines, Genesis Shocks, GG&H Motorsports, Hoosier Tire, ISKY Racing Cams, Landrum Performance Springs, Lazer Chassis by Bernheisel Race Cars, Lias Tire / American Racer, MAHLE Clevite Engine Parts, Bob Mullen’s Pro Speed, National Parts Peddler, Raceway Magazine.com, Performance Friction Brakes, Signs Plus of Kanona, Suzuki Motorcycles & ATV Dealers, Wrisco Industries, Brock Young’s Family
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