From Joe Chisholm, Sauble Speedway // ALSTAR Series
To all ALSTAR Super Series Sponsors, Race Teams, Fans, Officials and Speedways:
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the ALSTAR Late Model Super Series Sponsors, for their outstanding support in the last 10 years. Since 1997 ALSTAR along with the sponsors and participating speedways have collectively contributed over $1.3 million dollars in prize money and point fund cash and awards to the best ALSTAR late model drivers and teams in Ontario, Canada.
Sponsors that have contributed to ALSTAR are: Shouldice Designer Stone of Shallow Lake, SKOAL Inc. Wix Filter, Exide Batteries, CRC Manufacturing, NGK Spark Plugs, Quaker State, Hoosier Tire, McColl Racing Enterprises, Wayfreight, Raybestos, Spira Fire Protection, Wiseco Piston, B&B Decals, Sauble Falls Tent & Trailer Park, Holley Carburetors, Bayshore Broadcasting, MacDonnell Fuels, TIM-BR Mart Wiarton, Steelback Brewery, Five Star Stock Car Bodies, 69 Hanley, Inside Track Communications, Performance Racing News, Photos by Dave Franks, Browns Towing, Turbo Blue, Elf Race Fuel, Sunoco Fuel, NTN Bearings, and Fast Track Bodies, and Goodyear Tires. These sponsors have all shared a common goal in stock car racing, each have been solidly behind the success of ALSTAR Series since 1997 and many other types of racing in Canada as well.
The ALSTAR officials have been truly unique and highly experienced in officiating and conducting a fair level field. Their dedication to ALSTAR racing has also contributed to the success that ALSTAR has enjoyed. I would like to thank each of the officials; Starter - Mike Charest, Scoring - Kelly Josiak, Assistant Starter - Vern Hepburn, and Corner Officials - Keith Hepburn and Nick Merpaw, Tech – Tony Cavallin, and announcer Dave Middleton, and Live Broadcast Announcer Fred Wallace. Bill Hoffele, Marty McDonnell, Joe Chisholm Jr., Ted Benton, Bruce Ryan and Bob Finnegan, are also Officials that had contributed along the way.
ALSTAR champions have been crowned for the past 10 years with the first championship winner coming from Sunset Speedway in 1997 #47 Stompin Tom Walters won the NTN ALSTAR Series Title. In 1998 the #10 Peterborough’s own Dave Morgan took his Chevy to an ALSTAR Championship. In 1999 #67 Steve Tiemersma claimed the first ever SKOAL INC. ALSTAR Series Championship. The new millennium came in and for the next two consecutive years 2000, and 2001 – the #47 Tom Walters was unbeatable claiming the SKOAL INC. Championships two consecutive years in a row.
2001 was the year ALSTAR took the race to the radio listener for the first time ever in Canada with live radio coverage, with interviews from victory lane and lap by lap coverage of every race. In 2002 Sauble Speedways own #27 Glenn Schnurr claimed his SKOAL INC. ALSTAR Series Championship. In 2003 the #82 Jason Shaw best known at Flamboro Speedway took his SKOAL INC. ALSTAR Championship. At the end of the 2003 race season tobacco laws were getting tighter and SKOAL Inc. was forced to leave stock car racing and ALSTAR.
With great demand for the series the search was on for a new title sponsor, with racing in their blood SHOULDICE Designer Stone from Shallow Lake took the series title, and took ALSTAR to new levels in Canada. With SHOULDICE firmly in place, the 2004 season championship was claimed by the Shear Metal Dodge driven by former CASCAR driver #9 Robbie Thompson. In 2005 the guy that mastered dirt racing a champion from Chatham Ontario got real good at asphalt stock car racing - claiming the 2005 SHOULDICE ALSTAR Series Championship #38 Kirk Hooker. In 2006 the SHOULDICE ALSTAR Series Championship was won by #9 Robbie Thompson, this being his second championship in the ALSTAR Series.
At the end of the 2006 SHOULDICE ALSTAR Series it was evident that for the series to succeed and continue it must travel, from track to track. It is a well known fact that the teams that participate in ALSTAR racing are not Saturday night racers. These ALSTAR teams are sponsored by companies and associates that require these respective teams to visit the different markets that make up the Ontario racing industry.
With the 2006 season firmly planted in the history books preparations for 2007 got under way in early September 2006. ALSTAR proposals that were exactly the same contract price as 2003/ 04 and 2005, were sent out to a number of speedways, and to date ALSTAR has not received any form of commitment or interest for an ALSTAR Late Model Super Series race in 2007.
In fairness to the ALSTAR race teams, sponsors, and the dedicated fans, I feel that I must announce that the ALSTAR Series will not be operating in 2007. The ALSTAR Series, their teams and the series sponsors need commitments from tracks to move into the future. It is in every ones best interest that a direction be taken.
In closing I again would like to thank everyone, together we have truly made history.
Sincerely,
Joe Chisholm
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