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TOPIC: Atlantic Championships Oct 9,10,11. |
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| Nascar Driver Enters
September 26, 2009
8:39:35 AM
Entry #: 3286576
| NASCAR Driver Enters CFS Speed Weekend Event
Sept 24, 2009 - CFS is pleased to announce the Kevin Harvick Team Driver, JR Fitzpatrick has entered to race at Championships Speed Weekend on Oct 9 - 11. Fitzpatrick, a Canadian, had success in the NASCAR Canada Series and was asked to join the Harvick team last year where he has raced in races in the "Nationwide" and “Camping World” Truck Series. He has registered to race in two classes on the weekend, including one on Saturday and one on Sunday. JR is again partnering with Racing Trader and will be running a legends car and a pro stock.
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| Fitzpatrick's visit to Newfoundland
September 26, 2009
8:54:28 AM
Entry #: 3286579
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Defending CASCAR champion J.R. Fitzpatrick will be in his father’s home town Saturday to receive the Ray Murphy Memorial Award at the annual Bell Island Sports Hall of Fame banquet. — Photo by Gary Hebbard/The Telegram
A Bell Islander at heart
NASCAR driver J. R. Fitzpatrick calls Cambridge, Ont., home, but his roots are in Newfoundland
DARCY MACRAE THE TELEGRAM
The Telegram
Although J.R. Fitzpatrick’s is making his first visit to Newfoundland, the 19-year-old race car driver is proud of his roots in this province.
Fitzpatrick, an up-and-comer in NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing), soaked up the sights and sounds of St. John’s during a quick drive through downtown Thursday, never taking his gaze off the historic buildings of Water Street or the boats coming and going through the narrows. The native of Cambridge, Ont., was impressed with what he saw and particularly happy to finally get the chance to travel to Bell Island, where his father, John Fitzpatrick, grew up.
“I always wanted to come here since I was a little kid,” said Fitzpatrick. “It’s a very beautiful place. It’s a very relaxing place, it doesn’t seem as busy as back home.”
Will receive Ray Murphy Memorial Award
Fitzpatrick is in the province to receive the Ray Murphy Memorial Trophy at the annual Bell Island Sports Hall of Fame banquet Saturday. The award is presented to a second generation Bell Islander and former winners include NHLer Scottie Upshall and the late Sherry Hawco, a former Canadian Olympic gymnast.
Fitzpatrick won the CASCAR (Canadian Association of Stock Car Auto Racing) championship in 2006 as an 18-year-old. This season, he is second on the points list for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series after winning two of the circuit’s first five races. Since the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series is essentially the CASCAR circuit with a new name, Fitzpatrick is the defending champ all the other drivers are gunning for.
“Even in the first race of the year, your focus is on being No. 1 (at the end of the season) ,” Fitzpatrick said.
Fitzpatrick is likely already on the radar screens of NASCAR Nextel Cup (the NHL of auto racing) teams and he admits he wants to someday have the chance to race alongside the likes of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon.
“I haven’t set a strict timetable for it, but I’d like to get down there before I turn 25,” said Fitzpatrick.
Outspoken for Canada
Fitzpatrick is known for his willingness to say how he really feels. On more than one occasion, he’s stuck his neck out in defence of Canadian drivers, often telling reporters that if given a chance, a good number of Canadian drivers could race on the big-money NASCAR circuits such as Nextel Cup or Busch Series.
“I just have confidence in myself as a driver and I know I can perform at a high level,” Fitzpatrick said. “There are a lot of really good Canadian drivers. A lot of them just haven’t gotten the chance (to advance).”
Fitzpatrick has been racing since he was seven and has been around the sport all his life. His father John, who left Bell Island for Ontario as a 17-year-old and had not been back to his home province until this week, was a professional racer for many years and owns the team J.R. races with, Fitzpatrick Motorsports.
“I was at every race dad was in. I loved everything about it,” said the younger Fitzpatrick. “It was just for fun at first. I was like any kid playing hockey, baseball or basketball. I never thought of making a career out of it, I always planned to go to college. I’m still going to go to college, but I see that as more of a backup plan.”
Fitzpatrick has developed a significant the fan following across Canada. It’s not uncommon for youngsters to ask for autographs and/or the chance to get their picture taken with him. It amounts to a real role reversal for Fitzpatrick.
“It’s cool to see the reaction of the little kids. They’re really excited to meet you,” he said. “I really enjoy that because I used be like them, I used to do the same thing.”
Fitzpatrick was surprised when he was asked to come to Bell Island to accept the Ray Murphy Memorial Trophy. He’s honoured the people of his father’s home want to give him an award with so much history, but the best aspect might be that it finally gives him an opportunity to come to Newfoundland.
“I didn’t think I’d get to come here this soon or this way,” said Fitzpatrick. “I didn’t expect (the award) and didn’t think that when I actually came her it would be for something like this ... I definitely want to come back again.”
Fitzpatrick visited Avondale Speedway but was unable to race on Sunday because of travel commitments
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| More J.R. Fitz Info
September 26, 2009
10:11:23 AM
Entry #: 3286603
| J.R. Fitzpatrick will start from the eighth position in the Michigan 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race this afternoon at Michigan International Speedway. Fitzpatrick only ran one lap in a time of 41.177 seconds to put his No. 4 Auto-Owners Insurance truck on the outside of row four, his third-best qualifying effort in nine career NCWTS starts.
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| More information from TSN
September 29, 2009
12:10:06 AM
Entry #: 3289285
| Kevin Harvick Inc. announced Thursday that J.R. Fitzpatrick will compete for the team in selected events in both the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the NASCAR Nationwide Series throughout the remainder of the 2009 season.
The Cambridge, Ontario native will pilot a KHI entry in eight NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events, beginning with the AAA Insurance 200 at Dover (Del.) International Speedway on May 29.
"This is a great opportunity for me and I firmly believe that I am joining the best team in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series," said Fitzpatrick. "I was fortunate enough to meet Kevin Harvick last year at Phoenix and he really helped me out a lot. Since then, I have gone to him on and off the track for advice and he has been great to learn from. Ron (Hornaday) has also helped me before and now that I will be a teammate of his, it gives me more confidence going to tracks that will be new to me. I believe racing is all about confidence and I have that knowing that I am going to be in great equipment driving for Kevin Harvick Inc."
In addition, Fitzpatrick will compete in two NASCAR Nationwide Series events in a KHI entry, the first being at Watkins Glen International Raceway August 8 and the second at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal on August 30.
"We are glad to have J.R. Fitzpatrick join KHI for the remainder of the 2009 season," said KHI co-owner Kevin Harvick. "J.R. and I both got our starts in go-karts and he has taken a path similar to mine, moving up through the stock car ranks, throughout his career. I feel like our equipment speaks for itself and it will be exciting to watch him take that next step in his career."
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