Main Street Racing Season Status and News

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DATE: Thursday July 17, 2003
Ken Baird starts Third, Leads 31 Laps of 100 Laps; Finishes in Third

Ottodrome International Speedway hosted the 100 lap Ottawa/Montreal Challenge Race in the Heart Institute Night featuring Cascar 100, Pro-Stock, Legend Cars and MiniStocks. PRICE PAVING CASCAR #27 driven by Ken Baird tied for the fastest time in Qualifying with Montreal's Beauchamp in CASCAR 74. The roll of the dice inverted the top four and Ken was in third position to start. Ken took second off the start and closed in on the leader, Rick Rump. Ricky kept the lead for 13 laps when distributor problems ended his race. Ken took the lead on the restart and kept it until Lap 44 under heavy pressure from #74, Richard Beauchamp. The PRICE PAVING CASCAR #27 was getting progressively loose and Beauchamp managed to get past. The PRICE PAVING CASCAR #27 was loose enough that before the race finish #18 driven by Coursel was able to squeeze by to grab second. Lyle Perkins of H. O. Perkins Lumber in North Gower was very quick again, nimbly passing most of the field after missing qualifying and starting at the back. He was hunting down the PRICE PAVING CASCAR #27 when he clipped the notorious Pit Lane wall. The crash was quite sudden and quite spectacular. The crowd cheered to see he was fine after watching the underside of his racecar fly by. Unfortunate end for CASCAR #9's race night after such a great performance, but Lyle promises to get the #9 up and running for the next race.

MiniStock Report by Deb Davis

It was a 123 night as Dentman Dave took the first heat, had a close 2nd
in the 2nd heat and had to settle for 3rd in a hard fought battle for
2nd in the feature. Martin Walter showed well with a 2nd in the 1st
heat, 4th in the 2nd heat and a 4th place finish in the feature.
The standings are tightening up but Martin is still in the lead with
300 pts and Dentman Dave is 3rd with 289 pts.

Last Weekend the PRICE PAVING Team took the car to Adirondack International Speedway, a new raceway near Watertown, New York. The current oval is a half mile, with a .99 mile one being built around it and a roadrace track linking them all. Looks like a wonderful facility expanding the opportunities for racers in Northern New York and Eastern Ontario.Next scheduled race for the PRICE PAVING CASCAR #27 is Saturday, July 19th in Montreal and and July 30th in Ottawa. Come see your local Racecar Drivers compete.

DATE: Monday July 7, 2003
Ken Baird Wins Two In A Row on Road and Oval Tracks

Ken Baird was flying last Wednesday night at Ottodrome International Speedway in the #27 PRICE PAVING CASCAR. Ken qualified on the pole for the third 100 Lap Race of the Ottodrome/St. Eustache Challenge. Qualifying for the pole gave Ken a roll of the dice. The number that comes up determines the number of lead cars that switch position. Ken rolled a five, inverting the top five cars. He moved from fifth to fourth position after a technical disqualification (DQ) of another car. The green flag flew. Ken wasted no time slicing through the field on his way to the front of the pack, able to go three wide to pass competitors. Ken took the lead for good on lap thirty-two. The PRICE PAVING CASCAR #27 continued turning quicker times, lapping cars as he sped through the field. Ken put a half lap between him and the second place car which lasted 'til the 1st caution of the night. A car spun through the grass on lap fifty-four. On the restart, Ken once again took off on the field and set a blistering pace for the rest to follow. He went to win the race after holding off a late race charge by Andre Coursel in CASCAR #18. Ken piloted the #27 Price Paving CASCAR to victory lane in only his fourth race behind the wheel. After succumbing to mechanical failure in two of those four races, the PRICE PAVING #27 CASCAR Team are working out the anomalies inevitable in building and starting any brand new race car. The CASCAR looked fast and great, and performed even better. All the hard work is paying off. The North Gower MiniStocks showed well last Wednesday night as Martin Walter with an additional 100lbs in the Nissan, finished 2nd and 1st in his 2 heats. However, he couldn't quite get through the pack fast enough to catch a very racy Dentman Dave in the feature. Dentman was given a bit of a battle as the #8 from St. Eustache proved difficult to pass as he led most of the laps. The points overall are The Renowned Walter Martin Walter in 1st with 234 points and Dentman Dave Watchorn not far behind with 214. It was a busy week for the MiniStockers as they went to Shannonville on Friday for the MCO lapping day. On the way home they made a pit stop at the Brockville Speedway to do a little dirt racing. Dentman Dave picked up his first dirt win as he managed to get by Martin in turn 4. A great time was had by all !!!! Martin Walter returned to Shannonville to support the MCO (Motorsport Club of Ottawa) Roadracing weekend, working in safety and towing roles. He even donated the use of his own truck. And this event was also Ken's venue for his second victory of the week, the Ted Powell Memorial Races 2003.MCO hosts The Ted Powell Memorial Weekend which showcases open and closed wheel racing on one of Ontario's most technical tracks, Shannonville Motorsports Park near Belleville Ontario. Ken entered in the GT Series with a ProTruck he built in the past week from a variety of race vehicles. The ProTruck had shifter problems and clutch problems but managed to qualify and finish 2 of 3 races on the weekend. The last race of the day, the final, he lost all but 3rd gear with seven minutes left to go. Ken resumed the lead in his class with 3 minutes to go and he won the GTC Class. The Trophy was unusual, and unique, which MCO Trophies are noted for, a Limited Edition Waupoos Winery Special Baco Noir in a medallioned Bottle.

DATE: Monday June 23rd 2003
HEADLINE: CASCAR Officially Returns to Ottodrome Speedway

The #27 PRICE PAVING CASCAR participated in its first race before the hometown fans at Ottodrome International Speedway on Wednesday night. When the gates opened the racers were lined up waiting to test their cars on the newly re-designed Ottodrome Speedway. A strong field of twenty CASCARS came out for the second CARQUEST SPORTSMAN Series Race of this season. Many Series Regulars came from Montreal and some cars even made the long trip from London, Ontario for the Wednesday Night race. Ken and the Crew had the #27 PRICE PAVING CASCAR set up very well, as the car was extremely fast in practice. The evenings race card started with qualifying for the CARQUEST Sportsman race. Qualifying was in a best of two-lap manner, similar to how it is done in NASCAR. On his qualifying run Ken piloted the car to the sixth starting position with a quick lap time of 19.64 seconds. As is tradition with the CARQUEST races, the pole sitter rolls a dice to determine the number of cars that will be inverted. The pole sitter drew the number nine, putting North Gower's own Lyle Perkins up front and moving the #27 PRICE PAVING CASCAR from sixth position to fourth. Hoping to beat the impending rain, the regular driver/crew introductions were skipped in favor of starting the race right away. When the green flag flew, the #27 PRICE PAVING CASCAR moved quickly past the pole sitter, along with the #96 of Ricky Rump. Ken pressured Ricky from the beginning of the race, biding his time for an opportunity to make a pass for the lead. The pace was so quick that Ken and the leader were lapping slower cars every ten laps, going three wide and splitting between two slower cars, very exciting racing. The race ran caution free through the first thirty-five laps. On lap thirty-six the #27 PRICE PAVING CASCAR developed a slight misfire and in order to prevent any further damage to the engine Ken had to park the CASCAR for the evening. The #27 PRICE PAVING CASCAR looked like the car to beat, but as it is with any new racecar it will take a few runs to work all the bugs out. The #27 PRICE PAVING CASCAR impressed many hometown fans and looks to be a strong competitor in the future. Due to all the rain last Friday, the "730 Truck Stop Presents Big Rig Time Trial Races" show at the Brockville Ontario Speedway was postponed until last Friday June 20th. The PRICE PAVING #27 CASCAR will be on display in support of our sponsor, 730 Truck Stop. The next race for the PRICE PAVING CASCAR will not be until Wednesday July 2nd at Ottodrome, look for us in victory lane.PRO-TRUCK NEWS: The #2 Pro-Truck will be undergoing a change over to a road course set up in order to participate in the annual Motorsports Club of Ottawa race at Shannonville International Raceway on the weekend of July 5th and 6th. You can expect to see the #2 Pro-Truck to return to Ottawa in mid July.

DATE: Friday June 20th 2003
HEADLINE: CASCAR Officially Returns to Ottodrome Speedway

The #27 PRICE PAVING CASCAR participated in its first race before the hometown fans at Ottodrome International Speedway on Wednesday night. When the gates opened the racers were lined up waiting to test their cars on the newly re-designed Ottodrome Speedway. A strong field of twenty CASCARS came out for the second CARQUEST SPORTSMAN Series Race of this season. Many Series Regulars came from Montreal and some cars even made the long trip from London, Ontario for the Wednesday Night race. Ken and the Crew had the #27 PRICE PAVING CASCAR set up very well, as the car was extremely fast in practice. The evenings race card started with qualifying for the CARQUEST Sportsman race. Qualifying was in a best of two-lap manner, similar to how it is done in NASCAR. On his qualifying run Ken piloted the car to the sixth starting position with a quick lap time of 19.64 seconds. As is tradition with the CARQUEST races, the pole sitter rolls a dice to determine the number of cars that will be inverted. The pole sitter drew the number nine, putting North Gower's own Lyle Perkins up front and moving the #27 PRICE PAVING CASCAR from sixth position to fourth. Hoping to beat the impending rain, the regular driver/crew introductions were skipped in favor of starting the race right away. When the green flag flew, the #27 PRICE PAVING CASCAR moved quickly past the pole sitter, along with the #96 of Ricky Rump. Ken pressured Ricky from the beginning of the race, biding his time for opportunity to make a pass for the lead. The pace was so quick that Ken and the leader were lapping slower cars every ten laps, going three wide and splitting between two slower cars, very exciting racing. The race ran caution free through the first thirty-five laps. On lap thirty-six the #27 PRICE PAVING CASCAR developed a slight misfire and in order to prevent any further damage to the engine Ken had to park the CASCAR for the evening. The #27 PRICE PAVING CASCAR looked like the car to beat, but as it is with any new racecar it will take a few runs to work all the bugs out. The #27 PRICE PAVING CASCAR impressed many hometown fans and looks to be a strong competitor in the future. Due to all the rain last Friday, the "730 Truck Stop Presents Big Rig Time Trial Races" show at the Brockville Ontario Speedway was postponed until this Friday June 20th. The PRICE PAVING #27 CASCAR on display in support of our sponsor. The next race for the PRICE PAVING CASCAR will not be until Wednesday July 16th at Ottodrome, look for us on victory lane.PRO-TRUCK NEWS: The #2 Pro-Truck will be undergoing a change over to a road course set up in order to participate in the annual Motorsports Club of Ottawa race at Shannonville International Raceway on the weekend of July 5th and 6th. You can expect to see the #2 Pro-Truck to return to Ottawa in mid July.

DATE: Tuesday June 10th 2003
HEADLINE: Ken Baird Shows Speed in Plasti-Kote/Lucas Oil 100

Ken Baird piloted the #27 PRICE PAVING CASCAR in the Plasti-Kote/Lucas Oil 100, the inaugural running of the Ottodrome/St-Eustache Points Championship. A field of thirteen cars arrived at Autodrome Old-Milwaukee to participate in CASCAR'S newest Points Series. Qualifying was done in a best of two-lap time trial; Ken drove the #27 PRICE PAVING CASCAR to the tenth starting position. When the green flag flew Ken quickly knifed his way through the field and by the tenth lap he had already passed four competitors well on his way to the front of the pack. Unfortunately accidental contact when the field checked up bent the front radiator cooling passage. Essential to engine cooling, having the passage closed caused the engine to overheat. Ken was forced to bring the #27 PRICE PAVING CASCAR into the pits to avoid any engine damage that could have occurred had he remained on the track. Mike Kenyon and the crew tried their hardest to get the car back out on the track, but it was to no avail as the damage was too much to be repaired Trackside. The #27 PRICE PAVING CASCAR looked extremely fast passing cars and may have been the car to beat this week, but as everyone quickly learns, luck is as much a part of racing as speed. Congratulations to Lyle Perkins of North Gower on his eighth place finish in his first race of this 2003 season. Check out the PRICE PAVING CASCAR on display this Friday June 13th at Brockville Ontario Speedway for the 730 Truck Stop Presents Big Rig Time Trial Races. The #27 PRICE PAVING CASCAR to be back in race action on Wednesday June 18th, as the second race of the Ottodrome/St-Eustache Challenge will be held at the newly renovated Ottodrome International Speedway. Come out early and see the new track configuration and cheer on Ken as goes for his first win in the PRICE PAVING CASCAR. The Main Street Racing #2 Pro-Truck will return to action this week on Wednesday June 11th come out see the new Bright White paint scheme that will be run for the 2003 Race Season.

DATE: Friday June 6th 2003
HEADLINE: Pro-Truck One and Two Finish One and Two

Ken Baird and the #2 Pro-truck made their 2003 race season debut on Wednesday night at Ottodrome International Speedway in Stittsville Ontario. Anticipation could be felt in the air after opening night had been delayed by three weeks while renovations were completed. Track changes were not entirely complete, but Ottodrome fans and racers could wait no longer for Stock Car racing in Ottawa. Race night began with an On Track 'Meet and Greet' for the first Fan Appreciation night of the year. This race season all classes will be having two short heat races, following that will be the longer Feature Race for each class.Drawing numbers at the weight scales for starting position, the #2 Pro-Truck started the first heat from the sixth spot. Ken bettered his start position with a fifth place finish in the first heat. The second heat race line-up was the reverse of the first; Ken started in third position. After the most aggressive run of the night, Ken finished the second heat in the fifth spot. The Feature lined up in new points order. It was an all "North Gower" front row with Steve Yendall on the pole and Ken outside. Steve was able to use the inside line to his advantage when they squeezed into turn one, getting ahead of Ken. The race continued with Ken pushing hard to take advantage of any opportunity to pass Steve and lead the race. Steve and Ken both battled hard for the entire thirty laps of the Feature Race, driving near flawless races. Ken piloted the #2 CARQUEST Pro-Truck to a positive second place finish in the first Pro-Truck Feature Race of the 2003 Ottodrome Race Season. Congratulations to Steve Yendall on his victory in the #1 Pro-Truck, and to Matt Moffitt for a strong showing winning the first heat race, and coming from the back to finish Fourth in the Feature. The local North Gower ministockers showed that they hadn't lost any speed over the winter. Martin Walter took 1st and 4th in the heat races and captured a win in the feature while Dentman Dave took a 5th, 2nd and a 2nd place finish in the feature. Overall points at the end of the night showed Martin in first with 78 and Dentman Dave not far behind with 70. A new rule change in the ministock class this year requires the winner of the feature to add 50lbs to their car. This should make for some interesting racing! Earl Wylie had an exciting night in his new Pontiac Lemans finishing fourth in all three of his races. Earl suffered some difficulties with the brakes on the trial run of his #76 Pro-Stock. Look for Mr. Excitement to return with a strong performance next week. The renovations over this past winter have certainly changed the dynamics of the Ottodrome International Speedway, adding a Drag Racing strip, this has created an exciting transition from asphalt to cement and back again down the front straightaway. The work on the track looks great should do wonders to boost the recognition of motor sports in the National Capital Region. CASCAR NEWS: After consecutive weekends of being rained out Ken Baird will be back behind the wheel of the #27 PRICE PAVING this weekend at the Autodrome Old Milwaukee - St-Eustache in Montreal, for the first race of the newest point series between Ottodrome and Autodrome Old Milwaukee. The #27 PRICE PAVING CASCAR will be seen again on the track the following Wednesday June 18th for the second race of the Ottodrome/Autodrome Old Milwaukee points series.

DATE: April 29th, 2003
HEADLINE: Impressive Debut of CASCAR #27 Driven by Main Street Racing's Ken Baird

After a long, cold winter hiatus Ken Baird and Main Street Racing were eager to kick-off the 2003 Race Season at the newly renamed Montreal's Autodrome Old Milwaukee/St. Eustache. A rainy Saturday forced a one day delay in the debut of the #27 PRICE PAVING CASCAR after the cancellation of the early practice sessions. Fortunately for the anxious crew Sunday brought warmer temperatures and no rain whatsoever.

Judging by the thirty odd teams awaiting entry an hour before the gates opened it was apparent that everyone was excited to finally return to racing. Race day began first with morning practice, although the track was still wet from the previous day's rain. Practice was the culmination of everyone's hard work. It was great seeing the PRICE PAVING CASCAR #27 take laps. The car looked great out on the track and impressed many onlookers in the pit area.

After two more practice sessions in the morning the team was hard at work making the necessary adjustments to better the car's handling. Due to the rain from the day before, the race promoters had no choice but to make a few changes to the race format. The pit area was moved from the traditional front straightaway location to outside of the track and the lap count was lowered from 150 to 100. The first race of the day for the PRICE PAVING CASCAR #27 was qualifying.

Qualifying for the race was in a heat race manner; the field divided into two separate groups. Ken started in the 13th position in the first heat race of the day. After a lot of nimble maneuvering through traffic, Ken raced his way from the back of the pack to the fifth position. Ken remained solid in his fifth place position for the majority of the ten-lap qualifier.

Ken's initial finishing position was a strong sixth of eleven cars. That finishing position was changed back to fifth due to a technical disqualification of one of the cars that had finished ahead of Ken. All in all a very strong showing for the first running of the PRICE PAVING #27 CASCAR.Ken's strong qualifying run gave him an excellent starting position for the one hundred-lap Feature Race. The field consisted of 22 CASCAR and Late Model Stock (L.M.S) cars.

Ken started the race from the ninth position overall. After a few more adjustments to the car prior to the race by Mike Kenyon and crew had the car setup the best it had been all day. After the Driver's Parade and intros, the race began. Everyone was excited to finally see the PRICE PAVING CASCAR #27 take its inaugural feature race green flag. After a few daring passes at the beginning of the race Ken moved up to sixth position before the first caution came out at the eleventh lap. On the re-start Ken was stuck in the slower outside row and all the cars he had worked so hard to pass were able to get their positions back. As traffic spread out Ken went back to working on bettering his position. Ken once again drove his way up to the sixth position, where he held off the field behind him. As the race was nearing it's end, the PRICE PAVING CASCAR #27 suffered a small mechanical setback when the usual wheel pounding from the day's Short Track racing caused the right upper control arm to come loose. Ken had to really hang on to the car from that point onwards just to keep it on the track for the remaining ten laps. He continued to hold off the many cars pressuring him and finished ninth of the twenty-two-car field.

The car looked great on and off the track and impressing fans and other racers, the team had many enthusiastic visitors throughout the day checking out the new car on the track.Look for Ken Baird to be driving the PRICE PAVING CASCAR #27 again in four week's time at Montreal's Autodrome Old Milwaukee/St. Eustache. This will be the inaugural race of the Region's newest Points Championship, the Ottodrome-St.Eustache Challenge. Ken

Baird looks forward to working with this enthusiastic, dynamic group of sponsors during this exciting new race season.

DATE: April 2003
HEADLINE: Main Street Racing's Ken Baird Returns to CASCAR in PRICE PAVING CASCAR #27

Ken Baird makes his long awaited return to CASCAR for the 2003 Race Season in the newly built PRICE PAVING CASCAR #27. This season marks Ken's return to CASCAR after a four year hiatus which saw him race a open wheel formula car, an Ontario GT Car, and most recently, challenge for the Points Championship in the #2 CARQUEST Pro-Truck. The PRICE PAVING CASCAR #27 will be traveling throughout Ontario and Quebec this season, competing with the best drivers from regions throughout both Provinces.

This season Ken will be participating in three Major Points Championships, The ADL Série Suprême, The CARQUEST Sportsman Series, and the newest points series, The Ottodrome/St.Eustache Challenge. Ken and the rest of the Main Street Racing team are looking forward to this opportunity to work with race veteran Charlie Price and to compete in some of Canada's toughest Stock Car Series. Countless hours of hard work this winter by Car Owner Charlie Price along with Dean Harris and Ken Baird have turned the Kenyon Racing Products Chassis into a top-notch competitor.

Along with Charlie, Ken and Dean, Mike Kenyon of Kenyon Racing Products and Chris Dolman of Main Street Racing joined the crew this spring. Things are shaping up nicely for this to be a Great race season. Watch for the PRICE PAVING CASCAR #27 sporting a brilliant yellow on red paint scheme.

This exciting, new CASCAR is a testament to the chassis builders at Kenyon Racing Products and the body shop technicians at Mel Johnston Chev-Olds. Ken, Charlie and the crew now prepare to go racing in time for the ADL Série Suprême season opener in St-Eustache on April 26th and 27th. Ken Baird anticipates a season of excitement, fun, and success working with this newly formed team owned by Legendary Race Car Driver and Owner Charlie Price.

Ken also looks forward to working with the enthusiastic, dynamic group of sponsors during this exciting new race season. This year's sponsors will include: PRICE PAVING of Kemptville Ontario, 258-3422, "Where Quality Work Is PRICELESS - Not Expensive." Call Price Paving about all your paving needs no matter the size. MEL JOHNSTON Chevrolet/Oldsmobile of Kemptville Ontario, 258-3403, "Small Town Canada" Let Mel Johnston's friendly team of specialists assist you in the purchase or lease of a Chevrolet, Oldsmobile or Optimum vehicle. Their fully equipped service and body shop have factory-trained technicians, convenient hours and prompt service. Mel Johnston uses PPG Paint supplied by Hosie & Brown. 730 TRUCK STOP of Cardinal Ontario, (613) 657-3019. One of Ontario's Largest and Most popular truck stops, it has been a popular stop among travelers for many years, also available now is off-track horse wagering. 730 Truck Stop is located at Highway 401 exit number 730. COLONEL'S SIGN SHOP of Inkerman Ontario, (613) 989-3108. Signs of all kinds for all your signage needs. PRAXAIR of Brockville Ontario, (613) 342-0799 Praxair is a leader in the development of processes and technologies that have revolutionized the industrial gases industry. CARQUEST AUTOPARTS of Nepean Ontario, (613) 225-9221. For All your Auto Parts Needs, Racing or Otherwise just drop in at 8 Cleopatra Dr. Their staff of Parts professionals will give you great advice and assistance on your Car Parts needs.

Visit www.mainstreetottawa.com\status.html for news and past years notes on Ken Baird and Main Street Racing.Main Street Racings CARQUEST #2 Pro-Trucks Sponsors this year are Main Street Automotive and CARQUEST Nepean, Bernhard Turbo Trans, Kemco Radiator, Barry Horricks and WineMakers, located in the Main Street Building at 2319 Community Way, North Gower.