Alberta Sprint Tour 2007

Gold Cup "Diva" Drivers

With the greater Edmonton area a buzz with the Rexall INDY, many a race fan have one particular drivers name reeling around, Danica Patrick. With all of major motorsports including INDY and NHRA reaping the rewards of new fans and supporters via the female �Diva Driver�, it would is as simple at looking at our own local racing facility to see the same progress taking place. With no less then 3 young ladies looking to win this years prestigious Gold Cup, we are proud to promote the talents of these drivers. The Gold Cup was first run in 1954 and has been a crown jewel for open-wheel racing in Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest for over 50 years. This years event is slated for Castrol Raceway, July 11th & 12th with close to $30,000 in prize money up for grabs. Castrol Raceway is located south of Edmonton 2 kms west on Hwy 19 (Nisku) just off Hwy 2.

AST Cruisin' The Dub

The Scott Safety Alberta Sprint Tour will be "Crusin' the Dub" with the Gold Cup preview party Thursday, July 10th. The A&W Leduc will host this event which will start at 7:30 PM and run until 10Pm. A&W and the "Cruisin' the Dub" nights have been a huge hit for the renowned Canadian franchise and they are excited about hosting an event with the AST. A&W has seen great success with motorsport affiliation and looks to continue that with the 2008 Gold Cup preview party. The AST invites all its fans to join us for an evening of fun at the A&W Leduc. For this summer, A&W has affiliated 250 locations for almost 4,000 "Cruisin the Dub" evenings throughout Canada.

Dirt Cup's Canadian Contention

With the 2008 Dirt Cup a week away at the famed northwest track Skagit Speedway, the Canadian contention is one of the strongest ever. AST competitiors, Marc Duperron, Jeff Hodgson are slated to go as well as Casey Adam and Tim Gee may make appearances. The Can-Am team of Saumure Racing and driver Jason Solwold pack a one-two punch with great equipment and a driver well known on the Burlington, WA clay oval. Adding drivers Travis Rutz and Chris Schmelzle into the fray, this could be the year the Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup presented by Camping World RV could find its way back to the Great White North. The Dirt Cup is a 410 show which will allow some of the AST teams a chance to shake down their programs well before the WoO show at Castrol Raceway, Aug, 22-23. First ran back in the early 70's, the Dirt Cup has turned into one of the premier open wheel events. This year with $25,000 up for grabs to the top spot, the competition will be second to none as one of the largest gatherings of sprint cars and fans make their way to witness this racing spectacle. The AST would like to wish all the teams and drivers the best of luck as they venture off to capture one of the crown jewels in sprint car racing

Solwold Sets The Bar At AST Opener

Jason Solwold and the Saumure Racing Team take the first checkers in the 2008 AST opener. With Mother Nature finally co-operating for once, the first night of the Scott Safety Alberta Sprint Tour was able to stay on course. Not the same for night #2 as it was called early due to standing water. Solwold and the #39c team carried on their winning ways following back to back checkers at Electric City Speedway in Great falls Montana the week prior. The Scott Safety, Xtreme Oilfield Technology, Double B Logging, Kentek Forest Services, Maxim sprinter took its Shark power quickly to the front and never looked backed during the feature. Edmonton driver Marc Duperron and the #11 Arpis North, Dash Distributors, United Tool Supply took second with the #38 A-1 Town and Country Rentals machine of Camrose wheel man Trevor Turnbull rounded out the top 3.

AST Opening Weekend - Western Cup

With the officical opening weekend of the Scott Safety Alberta Sprint Tour only a few days away, fans, teams and drivers are raring to go. Most teams used the Castrol opening weekend race on May 10th as a test-n-tune, which saw Wade "Way Fast" Fleming taking the checkers on a night filled with carnage. Casey Adams, Brad Milne, Drew MacDonell and Jeff Hodgson all experienced heavy damage on a track that was quoted by many as one of the nicest prepped surfaces for a Castrol opener in a long time. Rolly Nash and crew are to be congratulated on a job well done. Keeping the wheels in motion and getting extra seat time where Casey Adams and Trevor Turnbull whom both headed south this past weekend to Great Falls Montana. Going against the best in the Big Sky Sprint Tour both Adams and Turnbull finished repectively. As a side note, the Sportsman Sprint Superstars of Karalyn and David Miller went toe to toe with the big brother 360's both fairing quite well in their endeavour. Hopefully the AST can expect to see some of the drivers from the BSST join in on this opening weekend.

Past AST Champion Looks To Master Knoxville

AST veteran racer Tim Gee sets his sights on the 2008 Knoxville Masters Classic. Gee was the 2006 AST champion and ran in his first Knoxville Masters in 2007. The Masters Classic is open to veteran racers aged 50+ and the racers are as competitive as ever. Last year Tim made the cut off by one day as his big 5-0 birthday fell on the day before final enteries where permitted. Tim and the Gee & Gee racing team out of Leduc, Alberta finished the Masters Classic in 4th postition. According to Knoxville�s director of racing Ralph Capitani, �This may be the biggest Masters field since 2001, when we had thirty competitors seeking twenty A-Main starting spots. Already we have sixteen cars entered, with another four drivers looking. And we haven�t even heard from drivers like A.J. Weaver, Kenny Jacobs, Ron Rosenboom, Terry Alexander, Lonnie Jensen, Roy Jo Peltz, Roger Rager, Bob Houseman, Don Stoutner, Joe Kouba, Chris Maurer, and Tony Moro yet. As Tony Bokhoven has been known to say, �this is going to be a Jim Dandy� this year!� For information on the Knoxville Masters Classic & 305 Shootout on Friday, May 30, and the Carquest Night of winged 360- and 410 c.i. sprint car racing on Saturday, May 31, at the Knoxville Raceway, individuals are urged to visit the track�s web site at http://www.knoxvilleraceway.com.

Castrol Cares 2008

The Scott Safety Alberta Sprint Tour is proud to announce that the second day of the Western Cup will become a military support show titled Castrol Cares. The Western Cup weekend being held May 24th & 25th will feature Western Canadas two fastest racing series represented by the WISSOTA Late Models and the AST. The May 25th raceday will be a day to show our support to our local military and their families. Proceeds from the event as well as donations from racers and private support will be presented to the MFRC. The Military Family Resource Center is a vital part of the military structure and their help extends to the most important aspect of our local forces..."Their Families". The Western Cup Weekend will have a BBQ and live entertainment after the racing on Saturday night the 24th to bring together the racers and fans as well as act as an informal gathering to raise much needed monetray support for the MFRC. An official presentation will be made during the AST feature event on Sunday the 25th. Any of the AST teams and supporters that would like to make a donation to help out with this event please contact William Gold at (780) 458-7100 or astracing@hotmail.com

Lavallee Looks Ahead

With the racing world a buzz with the first win of IRL lady racer Danica Patrick, the female persona in motosports has once again been thrust into the limelight. For some it has brought back memories of other great females such as Janet Guthrie or Sara Christian (little history trivia). For Alberta open wheel racing fans female drivers are on the rise following in the foot steps of lady pioneers and even more recent competitors such as Dawn L. Morrison, Karalyn Miller, Jenna Chalmers, Danielle Huson and now Jessica Lavallee is moving on up. Lavallee known for her all out style in Outlaw Karts has worked her way through the karting ranks and is ready to compete in full size sprinter action. Supported by father and team owner Robert Lavallee and the Hot Wings Racing.com team, Jessica looks to make her presence known as well as hone her driving skills.

Ron Pestana and the Pit Crew

The Scott Safety Alberta Sprint Tour would like to thank Ron Pestana and the Pit Crew for our new theme song. Racer and Rocker Ron Pestana and AST Marketing Director William Gold made contact a couple months ago and they hit it off instantly as both are not only avid into motor sports but both play in local rock bands as well. "As soon as we started trading musician jokes I knew we had bonded " says Gold. "it was pretty wild that Ron and I had similar interests and knew alot about each others racing back ground". Pestana adds, "When William and I started chatting it was like we were talking about each other as close neighbors, rather then being in 2 very different areas".
Pestana has fulfilled his dreams as a racer and a musician and is now taking his Racing style of Rock-N-Roll to the area tracks in California. He will continue to race as well making the 2008 season one truly in the fast lane.
A "Canadian" version of Ron Pestana and the Pit Crews CD will be available in limited supply at this seasons AST events.

Saumure Signs Solwold

Saumure & Solwold Set Sail For 2008 AST Championship Whitecourt, AB. The #39c Xtreme Oilfield Technologies racing team announces Jason Solwold will be at the helm for the 2008 campaign. Solwold, who is no stranger to victory lane, will use his outstanding driving talents to help bring team owners Richard and Lana Saumure their second consecutive Alberta Sprint Tour championship. With the backing of Maxim Chassis, Shark Racing Engines as well as sponsors Scott Safety, Xtreme Oilfield Technology and Double B Logging, this will be a team to watch in the upcoming season.