www.pgcitizen.ca | Friday, February 20, 2009 11 sports

WESCAR following new leader Ted Clarke teams and the level of racing will start el- “It’s going to be a lot easier to market Citizen staff evating itself,” he said. “We’re going to the race — ARCA is a big name that bring more of a professionally-structured every race fans knows,” said Chris Ar- ARCA, the second-oldest stock car rac- program and the drivers will start bene- ronge, president of the Prince George ing organization in North America now fitting from that. Fans will get more for Auto Racing Association. “It’s definitely has a base in Prince George. their entertainment dollars and they’re something race fans will pay to see.” After nine years as the top stock car cir- going to have a lot better racing.” OK Tire remains the title sponsor of cuit in B.C., WESCAR has handed over Rules that govern construction of the the series, an association that began nine the keys to ARCA West, which an- cars and what is allowed on the race years ago with WESCAR. The Sportsman nounced plans Thursday for its new six- track will follow WESCAR guidelines, series will be based in Prince George, as race OK Tire Sportsman Series this sea- which will keep the costs or racing in was WESCAR. son at four B.C. tracks. ARCA West in line with what WESCAR “We’re really happy with the amalga- ARCA, otherwise known as the Auto- drivers have come to expect. mation with ARCA,” said Quesnel OK mobile Racing Club of America, is sec- “This has been months and months of Tire store owner Les Clarke. “Just being ond only to NASCAR in its involvement formulating this and I’m really happy involved with a name like that is going to in stock car racing in North America. for the sponsors of the series, this is a bring more fans, more race cars. They’re WESCAR president Bob Williams has reward they’re going to see for 10 years well-known everywhere and it can only been working with ARCA West president involvement in the series,” said series make it better for everybody.” Richard Michaud of Merced, Caif., ever director Bob Williams. “The fans are go- Thirty-six B.C. drivers, including six since ARCA West first showed an interest ing to be exposed to some pretty awe- from Prince George, have indicated they in expanding to Western more some racing. I think it’s pretty safe to will compete in the 2009 Sportsman se- than two years ago. say we’ll see close to a 50 per cent in- ries. The Sportsman series will serve as a “This (WESCAR) series here is the crease in car count. ARCA is such a feeder circuit for the ARCA West Mac’s right type of series, it’s been run correctly presence, with so much history, and late model challenge series based in Cal- and it’s established as well and we feel their formulas are proven.” gary. In 2008, the year ARCA West took them becoming part of ARCA is going to Prince George will host the ARCA West over, that circuit doubled its car count help the sanctioning body help racing as Chieftain/Pennzoil 100 at PGARA from from the previous season. WESCAR a whole,” Michaud said. “I’m very excited Speedway on June 13. The series starts car counts ranged from 15-18 per race that the fans, the race tracks and the May 9, the first of three races at Sun Val- last year, with 28 drivers registered. sponsors have really opened their arms ley Speedway in Vernon. The circuit also By 2010, Michaud said the Mac’s late and embraced this, and that’s good for stops at Thunder Mountain Speedway in model series will be coming to the B.C. racing all the way around. Williams Lake (May 30) and Gold Pan tracks for joint race events alongside the “Fans are going to start seeing the Speedway in Quesnel (Aug. 15). Sportsman circuit. Big names stay put as NBA trade deadline passes The Associated Press The Cleveland Cavaliers were among Amare Stoudemire and Vince Carter Richard Michaud, president of ARCA West, announces the suitors that reportedly reached out to headlined the stars who had space on details of his organization taking over from WESCAR Shaquille O’Neal and other big names Phoenix to inquire about O’Neal, but the rumour mill in recent weeks but as the sanctioning body of B.C.’s top stock car racing stayed put on trade deadline day, with own- they couldn’t close a deal for him or any went nowhere, with teams having to bal- series.The new circuit will be known as the ARCA West OK Tire Sportsman Series. ers perhaps scared of making moves that other big man they sought to battle de- ance a player’s impact on the court with Citizen photo by David Mah added salary in a tough economic climate. fending NBA champion Boston. his effect on the wallet. 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