my stafford motor speedway debut

My Stafford motor speedway debut was pretty good. In first practice the car was fast but a tick tight, but was mostly me getting use to the track. The next round of practice we threw on new tires and the car was fast, and tight in the middle went away, which I was very happy about. The third round of practice we weren't expecting but we put the old tires on and ran laps to get me use to running on the track. In this practice I also followed cars to get use to being in traffic.

In the heat race I started 5Th but before the green was thrown the 83 car starting third went to the back and I moved into third starting position. at the start I shifted it into Fourth and the carb did not clear about because late to find when we get back to the garage, one of the ears was cracked and letting air into the carb. After I finally got it cleared out and settled into 7Th, I ran the cars down. I got into 4Th and was on 3Rd's bumper as we were running 1st and 2Nd down, but we ran out of time and I finished 4Th. after the race I talked to the crew chief(my dad) and we talked about how to clear the carb out so it doesn't happen again.

On to the feature were I started 17Th out of 19 cars. once again on this start the carb was not cleared but I got it cleared faster and stayed with the pack. a few laps in to the race I picked off a few cars to be in 14Th when two cars in front of me got in a wreck and the caution came out. I restarted 12Th and picked two cars off to get into 10th on the outside. I ran in the back of the pack with the faster unlimited cars, till I ran out of talent and spun the car out. No caution came out because I got the car going. I ran in 15Th place for awhile and when I was going for 14Th position i got in a tangle with him and spun out to bring the caution out. I restarted 18Th. Right away in 5 laps I moved up to 10 position till the caution came out. with 6 to go i was restarting 9. When I hit the gas pedal the car jumped, then died. After figuring the problem out I sow the throttle cable broke and I pulled in. I'm just glad it didn't stick wide open. I finished in 14Th position, but keep the rookie points lead. The car was fast and had something for the faster unlimited cars, as my car is the limited motor(stock).

The really good news was the announcers were talking about me all night. It was cool to impress a announcer that announces for several big race tracks in new England. The other big guy i impress was Ben Dodge. He is a huge race promoter in the new England area and its hard to catch his eye, and i did. All he kept saying was wow that kid is only 15. I was really happy about that and hope to meet Ben some day.

I have to thank my sponsors and crew for the help they do. My sponsors are thredz unlimited, andrews towing and recovery, west street auto body, Robert Rund and fleet saftey. The crew members i have to thank is my dad, my mom, my sisters, cam mcdermott, Dan meservy SR, Jamie pina, and Dan Meservy.

To learn more about me visit DerekRobbie.com or email me at Derek@derekrobbie.com. You can also find more about my division the pro four modifieds of new england at pro4mods.com

Sarah Cornett-Ching Back to Double Duty in 2011

This weekend at Motoplex Speedway the Super Late Model Trick Series will be visiting as well as the local West Coast Sportsman Series show. Our car will be able to race in both classes with minor changes, it will be a great opportunity to have more track time and be in a faster field.
I will have to be on my toes throughout the night between switching the setup back and forth and running two races back to back for a total of 235 laps. I will be racing with a new field of drivers and the lap times will pick up quite a bit as well, which means with our brake package I will have to conserve my brakes. We will use the extra laps to tune the car and give me an opportunity to race up a series, all track time is good track time and I learn something every time I get out on the race track.

We have a few preparations to make so that we can have the car ready to make quick changes between races to be competitive in the Super Late Model Series on July 2nd at Motoplex Speedway, Vernon, BC

Sarah Cornett-Ching Scores 8th Place Finish~PGARA Speedway Prince George, BC

We left our hometown of Summerland, BC at 7:30pm Thursday night for the long drive to Prince George for the weekend's race. We arrived in Prince George at 11am Friday morning just in time for our appearance at the Prince George Secondary School to promote the Arca Series being in town and to campaign Keeping Racing off the Streets.
The appearance was a huge success, the kids loved the race car and had a great time with the question and answer period too. We had police officers there to help send the message across to the kids just getting their drivers licences. CKPG news did an interview with my dad and myself that aired on the 5 o clock news, and I was able to spread the word over the radio as well.
After we finished up at the school we took the car over to the Ok Tire, our series sponsor to have on display. We were the only car in the whole series to make the effort to support our series sponsor and were recognized for that.
Saturday was race day and we started off the day with one loose race car, I was learning the track and trying to get my car adjusted at the same time. We worked our way closer and closer to having the car dialed in, and by the time qualifying rolled around I was happy with what we had. I left some on the table in qualifying due to over driving the 3/4 corner, which put us on the pole for the heat race.
I got a great start in the heat race, but an early caution ate up my lead. On the second restart I had another awesome start leaving the field within two laps. Another caution due to a competitors exhaust falling off the car forced me to try the restart for the 3rd time. This time coming to the green flag the car to my outside gave me a door slam throwing off my restart and I fell back to 3rd. With only a few laps left I was unable to advance my position and ended up 3rd in the heat.
I voluntarily started at the back for the main event knowing the race would be riddled with cautions. A few laps in, light contact caused my rad shroud to close up a bit, and during a long red flag for a roll over the car overheated.
After the red flag was lifted I started the car and it didn't run for long before vapor locking in the fuel system forced me to be pushed off the race track.
Once we had the car running again we got back out just a lap down, I was able to hold my line for the rest of the race hanging on for an 8th place finish. Overall we had a decent car, I learned a lot about the track and we came home with the car in one piece.
Our next race is at Motoplex Speedway in Vernon, BC on July 2nd.

RACE 101 Scholarship Student, Derek Robbie making exceptional strides in managing and writing own Press Releases

One of the key elements that we teach on the marketing/PR side of our yearly program for our students is learning how to write and distribute thier own professional looking press releases. One of our scholarship students, 15 year old modified racer Derek Robbie of Bellingham, MA has made major improvements in this area and recently submitted this press release to us. We are posting it here to share because we feel Derek has done an outstanding job! Read Below:


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Derek Robbie
Derek@derekrobbie.com
508-966-4053

Derek Robbie excited for Monadnock Speedway debut
15-year-old phenom looking for solid race

June 19, BELLINGHAM, MA- Derek Robbie will make his Monadnock Speedway debut Saturday when the family-owned team travels to, Winchester, New Hampshire. Saturday will be his Third Pro Four Modified of New England Series race. The 15-year-old from Bellingham, Massachusetts, pilots the DDR Motorsports #27 Limited Pro Four Modified.

This weekend's race is important to Robbie for two reasons. He hopes to log laps to get the handle of the car, and show more improvement from the steady progress he's shown to date. He also gets to race in the victor Johnson Memorial Day race who is a close friend to Derek. "I'm glad they named this race weekend after victor who is a car owner, driver, friend to most of us and a dad" stated Derek.

This season is Derek's 8th year racing with DDR-Motorsports. He raced Quarter midgets and a 270 sprint car before getting behind the wheel of the modified.
"I am very excited to make my debut at Monadnock Speedway," said the Bellingham High School freshman. "I am anxious, but at the same time I'm confident entering this weekend's race."
Robbie's Debut at Seekonk Speedway in Seekonk, Massachusetts, was a great day. He started the day off with 20 good practice laps. Derek says that any time he spends in a race car is all ways good. Then he moved on to the heat race where he started 12 and was up to 6 place in 2 laps when he then was unable to finish the race due to the air cleaner coming off.

In the 25 lap feature he started last in 21st position. Derek started the race off making some laps in the back to keeping the car in one piece. At a lap 9 restarts Derek started moving up when he went from 15th to 10th where he stayed for a few laps before picking off 2 more positions to put him in 8th place. With 5 laps to go Derek had a scary moment, by spinning the car out. Derek got control of the car to not lose any positions. Then he continued to bring the car home in one piece and grab his first top 10 of the season with an 8 place finish. After the race a top 5 finisher got dqed and Derek moved up to 7.

With that start he became 6 points back in the rookie driver points in the pro four modified race series of New England. Derek Robbie has several sponsors on board this year helping him. They are Thredz Unlimited, Andrews Towing, Robert Rund, Fleet Safety, and West Street Auto Body. To learn more about Derek Robbie you can visit DerekRobbie.com or contact Derek at Derek@derekrobbie.com.

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RACE 101 scholarship student, and 15 year old modified racer, Derek Robbie has made amazing strides in managing his own media and PR through what he has learned and been applying through our program.

Race #3 in the Arca West Ok Tire Series Race at PGARA Speedway in Prince George BC

 Accomplished young Arca West Series driver Sarah Cornett-Ching will be in Prince George this weekend for the Mr Quick Lube and Oil 100 at PGARA Speedway. Aside from the Saturday night race Sarah will also be making an appearance at Prince George Secondary School to have a meet and greet with the students and have the race car on display prior to race day.

 Sarah will be signing autographs and handing out hero cards at Prince George Secondary School on Friday afternoon at 11:30 for the students, teachers and fans. Racing is on Saturday June 18th with time trials at 6:00pm and racing starting at 7:00pm. There will also be an opportunity after the race to meet with the discerning young driver. 

 This is Sarah's first year in the Arca West touring series and her first appearance at PGARA Speedway. " I'm excited to be in Prince George and have the opportunity to try a new track again this week. We will have to work on the car and my driving style throughout the day, but I'm confident we will be able to have a strong night." says Sarah.

 Only three races into the season Sarah has already shown great potential and is eager to jump head first into new challenges. She will be put to the test while racing against a field full of drivers who have already tried their hand at this Prince George event. 

To follow this weekends activities go to the Sarah Cornett-Ching Racing page on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/sccracing

Students learning the value of social networking

Race 101 students have been working hard on their social networking skills to promote their race programs. 16 year old Anthony Perez came up with a unique idea to get fans to follow his racing news and updates on Facebook and Twitter. He had decals made for the back of his race car that say: "As long as you are back there, follow me on Facebook and Twitter." He included his Facebook and Twitter links on the back bumper of his Pro-Six stock car that he races regularly at Langley Speedway, in Hampton, Virginia.  Perez is currently leading the rookie points for his division and has been gaining a good following both on and off track.

Anthony Perez tweets his racing updates all week long.

The back bumper of Anthony Perez' Pro Six Race Car - gaining followers and hoping all the competion stays back there.

To follow our students and alumni on Facebook and Twitter, please visit their ROSTER pages on http://www.Race101.net

My weekend

This past weekend I didn't race, but i helped out one of my friends Richie Morocco. He raced at Thompson Speedway at the quarter midget track. This weekend was the USAC brickyard qualifier. He raced three division. They were the Honda 120 the Honda 160 and a mod. the hole weekend there was rain on and off. On Saturday qualifying Finlay started around 2 o'clock. The 120 Honda was 2 tenths off fast time but he went first with a green track. Then in the 160 he qualified 7Th. Then in the mod he qualified last then after talking to the car owner, we decided to park the mod due to the lack of speed and engine power. On Sunday, race day, The driver Richie got 2ND in his 120 after having to go thou the field with no caution. Then in the 160 Richie was driving the wheels off the car. On the last lap Richie was going for position and spun out. The car was really fast saying it was a last minute setup. All in All i was really proud off the weekend my friend Richie had and i hope to go again on another off weekend.

Stellar weekend for RACE 101 students present and past; Career best finishes and numerous wins for RACE 101 drivers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 Contact: Adam Ross

Media Relations, RACE 101
adamrossenterprises@gmail.com

Stellar weekend for RACE 101 students present and past;

Career best finishes and numerous wins for RACE 101 drivers

June 6, 2011, DENVER, NC – Students and graduates of RACE 101 presented by Howe Racing Enterprises enjoyed success across North America this weekend with numerous victories and career best finishes.

Topping the list of achievements was current student Trevor Sanborn winning the Pro Series late model feature at Beech Ridge Speedway in Scarborough, Maine. Sanborn’s accomplishment is significant because it is the first win for the RACE 101-designed Howe late model.

Trevor Sanborn

“We had a great night at Beech Ridge,” said Sanborn after the race. “We had two features to run, and the car just kept getting better all night long.”

Sanborn started 12^th and 14^th respectively in the two events, and he scored a win along with a fourth place finish.

Elsewhere RACE 101 graduate Adam Leslie earned his first career victory in the DIRTcar Sportsman division at Merrittville Speedway near Niagara Falls, Ontario. Leslie came close a week prior leading 29 of 30 laps at Humberstone Speedway, but this time he kept the lead at the finish.

Adam Leslie

“This is so exciting,” said Leslie. “We moved up to the Sportsman division last year, and it was a big step for me. I’m glad we’ve been able to put our education to use. The car was great.”

At Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, New Hampshire, impressive 12-year-old Tommy Stilphen led every lep en route to victory in the Maine Modifieds.

Tommy Stilphen

Not every RACE 101 student enjoyed happy endings on the weekend. Young Brandon Atkinson crossed the finish line first at East Lincoln Speedway in North Carolina, but the late model that weighed 100 pounds overweight early in the day came up light by eight pounds. The team has plenty to be proud of, but the results don’t reflect their successful outing.

Brandon Atkinson

Sarah Cornett-Ching made her debut in the ASA late model division at Motoplex Speedway near Vernon, British Columbia. She cut a tire with just more than a lap to go passing for a top-five finish, and she had to limp around on a flat right front to wind up eighth.

“It was really disappointing to not finish where we should have,” said Cornett-Ching. “The car was amazing. Tony Blanchard helped us with the shocks, and I couldn’t believe how well the car drove through the center of the turns and off.”

Sarah Cornett-Ching

Blanchard is the founder and main instructor at RACE 101 – an acronym for Research, Analyze, Consult, and Educate 1 on 1. Halfway through the program’s second year, Blanchard is content with the progress.

“It’s taken a long time, but weeks like this are the reason we started RACE 101,” said Blanchard. “Our students are using what they’ve learned in so many different applications it’s amazing.

Tony Blanchard

“We have kids racing on dirt in open wheel cars applying the same knowledge as other students racing fendered cars on asphalt. We’re extremely proud of the entire group.”

For more information on RACE 101, visit www.race101.net or follow the group on Facebook by searching RACE 101. For interview requests, please e-mail pr101@race101.net.

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Sarah Cornett-Ching Rallies Top Ten Finish Despite a Last Lap Tangle.

Flourishing young driver, Sarah Cornett-Ching  turned heads with her performance at Motoplex Speedway in Vernon, BC last weekend. She was the only female and the youngest competitor in the field in her debut in the ASA series.

Sarah posted a quick time in first practice placing her 4th quickest of 20 cars, and garnering a great deal of attention from her fellow competitors. Her qualifying lap left a lot to be desired with a car on the loose side placing her 9th in the field. 

Sarah started on the outside in the second row of the A heat race but was held on the outside lane by a slower car until rest of the field filed under her. She tailed onto the inside lane and began picking cars off one at a time, by the end of the heat race Sarah had managed to work her way up to 6th spot. 

Again in the main event Sarah started on the outside groove and on lap one narrowly avoided a spinning car two rows up. The field was reset because they had yet to complete a lap, and it wasn't long before three cars spread across the entry to turn one brought out the second caution. Cornett-Ching was hard on the brakes, and luckily one of the cars began sliding down the track giving her a lane to steer clear of a pile up. 

From there to lap 110 Sarah maintained a consistent lap time and began passing cars and moving up through the field. Unfortunately she came up on two cars that raced side by side for several laps slowing her lap times considerably. When given the chance she pulled out and made the pass on the first car, as she did the caution flew and they were put back to the last completed lap forcing Sarah relinquish the position she had just made.

With 11 laps to go there were 7 lapped cars between Sarah in 7th position and the leaders, when the race restarted she waited patiently worked her way through the lapped traffic and then began to make her move on the 6th and 5th place cars.

She easily passed the 6th place car and set her sights on the next position. Sarah had gotten the nose of the car underneath the 5th place car but as backed out a few times due to his threatening loose condition. With two laps to go Cornett-Ching made a crossover move that landed her door to door with the 5th place car. As she began to accelerate down the back straightaway, he side slapped her car cutting down the RF tire. Coming around to the white flag on a flat tire Sarah made the decision that she was still going to finish the race. She limped the car around to take the checkered flag incredibly not losing a lap and hanging on for an 8th place finish.

" It was a disappointing end to such a successful day" Said the exasperated youngster after her first 125 lap race. " We had a great car and I think we were able to showcase that, just couldn't bring home the top 5 finish we had worked towards all night" 

Sarah's next race is June 18th at PGARA Speedway in Prince George, BC, 

Check out her Facebook page: Sarah Cornett-Ching Racing

or Website:.www.sccracing.com For more information.

RACE 101 student brings in first win for the "Howe 101" Chassis

RACE 101 Presented By Howe Racing Enterprises scholarship student, Trevor Sanborn won this weekend (June 4th) at Beech Ridge (ME) in the new "Howe 101" super late model chassis. This marks the first win with the chassis that was designed for Howe Racing Ent. by RACE 101 owner/founder Tony Blanchard. The chassis has only been in production a few months, and so far has has an excellent showing on the race track.  (Photo by Jamie Williams)

race at seekonk speedway.

I raced at seekonk speedway yesterday. During the heat race i was unable to finish due to the air cleaner braking. Then in the feature i toke the first 9 laps easy then on the restart of lap 9 i went from 15 to 9 in 6 laps rode there trying to get the field then spun out with 5 to go. kept the car going and just got lapped on the last lap to finish 8. then after the race they dqed the leader and i got 7th. over all it was a great first start, and im glad the car is in one piece.

Bittersweet Raceday

The day started out great May 27th. I woke up and it was very sunny, with no chance of rain for the day. I looked out my downstairs window and saw the hauler ready to go. I was up late the night before making sure every last problem was fixed and everything was tweaked and ready to go. I knew it was race day.

We arrived at the track around 10am and parked the hauler where we usually do. I registered the car for the day and mounted the transponder. At 12:30 we fired up the engine and went out for the first practice of the day. The practice went great, the car was a little loose coming off the corners but I pulled off the track very happy with the car. We were were .2 seconds away from being the fastest car during the session. I brought in into the pits and made a wedge adjustment. The next session I was with 1 tenth of the leader. I knew this would give us a great shot at having a top three finish that night.

Next up was the heat race. I started second, but dropped back to 3rd in the first turn. Coming out of turn four on the first lap, the leader and second got together, causing second to spin. It looked like he was going to end up in the infield so I went high, but at the last second the car swung the rest of the way around and sandwiched me between him and the wall. The whole left front of the car was ripped off, and the hood flew at least 10 feet into the air. I was really disappointed and thought we were done for the day. After the tow truck dropped the car at our pit stall, we began putting the car back together. After a new tire and wheel, spindle, upper and lower control arm, and sway bar, the car was ready to get back onto the track. The alignment was way out of whack, but I decided to go out and run the feature anyway. I ended basically turning right going around the turns. The car was VERY loose, but I managed it up until lap eight when the drive shaft broke in half. It must have been jarred in the initial accident and snapped coming out of the turn. After coming to a sliding stop in the infield, I knew the day was done.

Overall it was a pretty good day. The car was the fastest it's ever been and we took a lot of data and I believe we can go back next weekend and have a really good chance of winning it!

Thanks for reading! Make sure to check back weekly, I'll continue to post my race reports on here.