Can-Am's new owner set to get season started with some winter racing

Gerald "Tiger" Chapman of Cape Vincent is not wasting time in getting the 2010 racing season going at Can-Am Motorsports Park in LaFargeville. Chapman, who purchased the facility from Watertown businessmen Charlie and Billy Caprara in November, will hold races on Jan. 2.

"We'll be holding a Hangover Enduro and a Demolition Derby," said Chip Burdick, The general manager of the facility.

"We've gotten a lot of inquiries from drivers already," he added. "They are excited that Chapman, a race-car driver himself, is the new owner of the speedway."

The races are scheduled for 1 p.m., weather permitting.

Burdick said Chapman is also scheduling snowmobile drag races on the last weekend in January, again weather permitting.

Can-Am has also announced that the crate late model class will operate under the name of DIRTcar pro late models for the 2010 season.

The World of Outlaws late model race at Can-Am is scheduled for June 16 with a $10,000 payout to the winner. North country drivers Tim Fuller and Tim McCreadie are expected to be in the lineup for the race.

MCCREADIE IN CHILI BOWL

Tim McCreadie's first race of the 2010 season appears to be in the Chili Bowl in Tulsa, Okla. The Watertown native will compete again at the indoor track where last year he broke his back when his midget car left the track and crashed over a fence.

McCreadie was sidelined from racing for nearly six months. He returned to late model racing in June.

"Obviously, we'll have a new midget car for the Chili Bowl (Jan. 12-16)," McCreadie said.

The veteran race-car driver said he was told it will take about a year for his back to heal properly.

"I have aches and pains, but I expected that with the injury I suffered,"' McCreadie said. "I don't think I will be nervous racing again in the Chili Bowl. We've got better equipment in the car for the January race. I wasn't really nervous when I got back racing last season. It's something I do for a living."

McCreadie expects to divide much of the racing season between competing in the World of Outlaws late model series and DIRTMotorsports big-block modified series.

"We haven't a definite schedule yet," McCreadie said. "I know we will be competing in the late model division in races in Georgia and Florida in February, but as far as the rest of the year, I am not sure yet."

NEW SERIES SET

Can-Am and the Brockville (Ontario) Speedway will team-up for a four-race series for the street stocks and sportsman divisions. Each track will run two events for each class during the upcoming season.

The four-race series will kick off on June 4 at Can-Am and then continue the following night in Brockville. The series concludes with races at Can-Am on Aug. 6 and the following night at Brockville.

The street stocks will run under home track rules and will pay out over $1,000 total purse for the top six competitors over the four-race series. Each series winner also will receive a big trophy.

The winner of the sportsman series will be a guaranteed starter for the $2,000-to-win event at Can-Am on Oct. 7, as well as the DIRTcar Fall Nationals sportsman series race on Oct. 17 in Brockville.