I Dig Sports

Chuang Chih-Yuan leaves Team Chinese Taipei

Published in Table Tennis

Monday, 02 September 2019 00:49

A consistent first name on the team sheet for Chinese Taipei for almost two decades, Chuang Chih Yuan’s decision to leave the national association has sent shockwaves around the Asian fanbases.

In a statement translated from his social media, the 38-year-old said:

“Thanks everyone.

The reason why I deleted the article is because it spreads wider. I am a table tennis player so I want to calm down and let it stop. But if I could choose again, I would still try to play at the Paraguay Open and singles event at the Asian Championships. It will be very helpful for team and singles seeding in Tokyo 2020 if I get good results at these two events.

Some people have accused me of being selfish to only play singles at the Asian Championships and they say I should not play any event if I insist on playing only singles. Okay then I make my statement here: I will not play either the Paraguay Open or Asian Championships. This means that it will be more difficult for me to gain more points, so I will not play at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games either.

I will not represent Chinese Taipei anymore at future international events. Table tennis is my interest, so I still want to attend the events without affecting entries of other players and without using the association’s budget for Olympic Games preparations.

Sorry for all the trouble caused and thanks again for the understanding. I hope the environment for table tennis players can get better!”

Does this news truly signal the end of the road for Chuang Chih Yuan and Team Chinese Taipei or will come to an agreement? Tell us what you think in our social media comments.

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New ITTF Equipment Office up and running!

Published in Table Tennis

Monday, 02 September 2019 02:21

“The new ITTF Equipment Office in Cologne represents an important step in terms of modernising the way in which all table tennis equipment is tested and developed for professional use across the globe. We look forward to seeing the continued growth of this area towards the proposed opening of a laboratory in tandem with the new Home of Table Tennis.” – Steve Dainton, ITTF CEO

Making sure that all equipment meets the high standards of quality required for professional table tennis is no small order. That is when the ITTF Equipment Office swings into action to define standards, develop test methods and devices, test new products inside the department and in external labs, and publish the approved products.

There are more than 1,500 different models of rubbers approved, 90 types of balls, 150 tables, 50 nets and 15 floors currently out there in a highly competitive global market. To ensure that the quality in the markets corresponds with the approved products is one more duty.

“We need to understand and control the triangle of RACKET – BALL – TABLE perfectly, to create conditions where each player worldwide can show their best performance and enjoy our wonderful sport.” – Claudia Herweg, ITTF Head of Equipment

Therefore, the ITTF Equipment Office is working on a further development of the ball qualities, on projects to measure how different balls bounce on different table surfaces, on boostering topics and on testing various materials in blades, other than traditional wood.

Everyone has seen or played with a table tennis ball at some point in their lives, but do you know what actually goes into creating them?! Find out by watching the documentary below:

Topics surrounding how to modernise the look and feel of table tennis also form an increasingly important part of the work, such as the implementation of new colours in rubbers.

“Our new office in Cologne will enable us to reach the next level in terms of developing table tennis equipment, ensuring legal use and approving top-quality products for players worldwide. This really is a fantastic opportunity to make a significant step forwards for the sport. I am very excited to be leading this department and, alongside my colleagues here, to be contributing to the good of the game.” – Claudia Herweg, ITTF Head of Equipment

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Pyon Song Gyong sets example, DPR Korea upsets seeding

Published in Table Tennis

Monday, 02 September 2019 05:44

Facing Hong Kong, Pyon Song Gyong, the women’s singles runner up earlier in the year in July on home soil at the 2019 ITTF Challenge Plus Pyongyang Open and on duty at the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games, gave her team the perfect start in what was to prove a 3-0 win.

She accounted for Lee Ka Yee (11-9, 11-1, 11-3), before Kim Kum Yung overcame Chau Wing Sze (11-5, 11-8, 11-5) and Kim Un Song ended matters by beating Ng Wing Lam (11-6, 11-6, 6-11, 11-6). A comprehensive win against Hong Kong, it was the same margin of victory in their concluding group stage contest in opposition to Singapore’s Wong Xin Ru, Goi Rui Xuan and Pearlyn Koh Kai Xin.

Defeat but consolation for Hong Kong, sandwiched in between, with no changes to the selections, a 3-1 success was posted against Singapore; thus a place in the quarter-finals was secured. In the concluding group phase fixture, DPR Korea recorded a 3-0 win in opposition to Singapore.

First place secured in style

Otherwise, for the leading teams on initial day duty, it was first place in the group.

In the junior girls’ team event, Korea Republic, the no.4 seeds, selecting from Shin Yubin, Choi Haeeun, Lee Daeun and Ryu Hanna topped their group, as did the no.5 seeds, Chinese Taipei’s Chien Tung-Chuan, Yu Hsiu-Ting, Cai Fong-En and Tsai Yu-Chin.

Similarly, in the junior boys’ team competition, where there were also three groups in the first phase, the leading outfits enjoyed a profitable day. Selecting from Yukiya Uda, Shunsuke Togami, Kakeru Sone and Hiroto Shinozuka, Japan, the no.3 seeds, secured pole position in their group; a scenario that was the lot of the no.4 seeds, Iran’s Mohammad Mousavi Taher, Mahdi Madankan, Aliakbar Shoaritehrani and Amin Ahmadian. Not to be left out; it was the same outcome for the no.5 seeds Korea Republic, the quartet comprising Jung Seongwon, Kim Woojin, Park Gyuhyeon and Lee Gihun.

Leading outfits unbeaten

Meanwhile, in both the cadet boys’ team and cadet girls’ team events, the leading outfits ended the day unbeaten and in pole position. In the boys’ team competition, China, with Xu Hongrui, Huang Youzheng and Chen Yuanyu on duty, reserved first group place, as did Japan’s Hayate Suzuki, Rikuto Maede and Sora Matsushima.

Similarly, for the girls, China’s Chen Yi and Xu Yi clinched first place; a situation that also applied to the Korea Republic formation of Kim Naeyong, Kim Seongjin and Lee Yeonhui.

The quarter and semi-finals of all team events will be played on Tuesday 3rd September.

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John White heads home for the Australian Masters

Published in Squash

Monday, 02 September 2019 04:02

John White (right) is welcomed home by brother David

Great White threatens Gold Coast
By TONI MAXFIELD – Squash Mad Correspondent (courtesy of Squash Media Australia)

The hard-hitting John White has headed home to compete in the 2019 Australian Masters Championships, which start today on the Gold Coast.

Participation numbers are at an all-time, with more than 570 players aged 35 and above dropping into the Gold Coast to play off for the individual and team events over a two-week period. Entries have come from far and wide across Australia and abroad from Japan, New Zealand, and the United States.

Travelling from the United States for the tournament is one of our own, and one of the best. John White, former world number one, is returning to his home country and State of Queensland to compete for the Individual Men’s 45-49 year Australian Title.

Nicknamed the “Great White” during his time on the Professional Squash Association Tour, John was known as the hardest hitter of the squash ball clocking up a record speed of 172mph in 2004, a record that wouldn’t be broken until 2011 by another Australian, Cam Pilley.

John isn’t the only one in the family with squash talent. John was looking forward to settling some old sibling rivalry at this event as his brother David White, who manages the Nerang Squash and Fitness Centre on the Gold Coast, had also entered to compete in the same age group.

David had thrown the challenge out to his brother as he boasts that the last time they played each other, 28 years ago, David was the winner. Unfortunately, a foot injury has prevented David from competing.

Wondering where these talents came from? Lynne White, John and David’s mother, is a previous winner of a Queensland Masters Title and will be competing for the 65-69 women’s Australian title this year.

David will no doubt be cheering on the rest of the family and making sure that a steady flow of refreshments will be available.

We usually hope the Great Whites stay away from the Gold Coast but not in this case.

Edited by ALAN THATCHER

Posted on September 2, 2019

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Women's Premier 15s: Exeter launch side in bid for league licence

Published in Rugby

Monday, 02 September 2019 06:10

Exeter have launched their bid for a side in next season's Premier 15s.

The club has appointed Gloucester-Hartpury coach Susie Appleby as head coach with former England and Saracens hooker Amy Garnett as her assistant.

The Rugby Football Union will award four licences in March for a revised 10-team league starting in 2020-21.

Exeter are spending £500,000 to set the team up and anticipate a further outlay of between £1m and £1.5m if the side is awarded a place in the new structure.

"Our challenge is to grow the game down in Devon and Cornwall, provide the facility for them to get to a club like Exeter Chiefs," Appleby told BBC Sport.

"But we're under no illusions; to compete at Tyrell Premier 15s level we'll need experienced players as well.

"We're trying to create something that's got the good young players who are hopefully the next best thing and hopefully will stick an England shirt on. But alongside them we're going to need some experience so as we grow over the next few months we're going to be having conversations with experienced players.

"We know what you need as an international player and that's what we're going to create here and we've got the best support that you can have in place."

Exeter aim for sustainable women's side

Exeter were the only Premiership club to make a profit last season and that money, along with the windfall from CVC Capital Partners' investment of more than £200m in the men's top flight, has helped fund the Devon club's outlay.

While most of the players will have to juggle part-time work with playing, the club does have a competitive budget for their new team.

"We've committed up to £500,000 this year because we've got no income as no team's playing, no sponsorship, but we've got to get it off the ground," chief executive Tony Rowe - who has presided over Exeter's rise from the lower leagues in the late 1990s to a Premiership title in 2017- told BBC Sport.

"I would, knowing the numbers, suggest it's probably going to cost somewhere between £1m to £1.5m to run a women's side currently, if you want a successful side.

"We want the women to stand on their own two feet, have their own sponsors and their own match days so they have income coming in, and I'm sure we can do that.

"Nothing's easy, but it was easier for me when I went to the board and asked for the money when we were making a profit than to go to the board of a company that's not making a profit."

'We know there's a hunger here'

While Appleby moves from Premier 15s side Gloucester-Hartpury, former police officer Garnett has given up the chance to study for teaching qualifications to join the side.

And while there is no guarantee that Exeter will obtain a licence, she says there is a market that can be served in the West Country.

"The university and the college have already got their rugby academies and set-ups and we know there's a hunger here.

"I played at Saracens for 18 years and I never wanted to go anywhere else and that's the sort of thing I want to build at Exeter.

"I want the players to come here, feel like family, stay here and help grow the game here and be part of the product."

RFU to review Premier 15s licences

The RFU set up the current 10-team Premier 15s format in time for the start of the 2017-18 season, with each team having a three-year licence.

They will audit the existing Premier 15s sides based on a combination of their on-pitch performance and their ability to deliver the minimum standards in off-field support and infrastructure. The top six sides based on that audit will be given a licence for the next three years.

The remaining four teams, along with the winners of the Championship North and Championship South, will be invited to re-tender for a place in the league, along with other clubs - like Exeter - that wish to apply.

"We now need to tick minimum operating standards, and they are stringent," added Appleby.

"We need to make sure we're ticking them before we go to the next step, and that's alongside getting the players in and providing what they need, because there's a lot of clubs in this M5 corridor. We've got Bristol, Worcester, Gloucester-Hartpury and ourselves all trying to compete.

"We need to make sure we have 60 players and the RFU are saying to us 'where are you going to get them from?' That's our challenge, but then it's the added value - how can you add value to a player's life?

"It might not just be on the field, it might be a coaching course or a work opportunity and those are the big things we'll be reaching out to the local community for."

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Rugby World Cup: Who will make the final cut for Scotland?

Published in Rugby

Monday, 02 September 2019 02:15

After a two-month training camp and three warm-up Test matches, the audition process is over and Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend must decide which 31 men to entrust with the nation's hopes at the World Cup in Japan next month.

Townsend announces his squad on Tuesday and, while many could be considered stick-ons, there are a few marginal calls for the coaching team to make.

Who takes the third hooker spot? Will three or four locks go? Could Townsend gamble on taking just one out-and-out number 10? Which centres will make the cut in the most competitive area of the squad?

BBC Scotland looks at the big selection calls facing Townsend.

Front row

The props look to be fairly straightforward picks, with Willem Nel and Zander Fagerson likely to be fighting it out for the starting tight-head spot, while Allan Dell is the prime candidate for the loose-head position.

Simon Berghan, normally deployed at tight-head, made a brief cameo at loose-head during the defeat by France in Nice. That suggests Townsend is likely to take only five props with Berghan as back-up cover on both sides of the scrum, meaning Gordon Reid and Jamie Bhatti will battle it out for the remaining spot.

Scotland's two frontline hookers by some distance are Stuart McInally and Fraser Brown, who will both go to Japan, even allowing for Brown's lack of action due to foot injuries.

The third hooker spot is slightly more intriguing. George Turner has been the third-choice for quite some time, but the emergence of Glasgow's Grant Stewart has given Scotland a fresh option. Townsend is a fan of Stewart's athleticism around the park, but Turner's greater experience may just get him the nod.

Second row

Grant Gilchrist and Jonny Gray are two experienced campaigners who are certain to travel to Japan. Ben Toolis' form had dipped slightly after an excellent 18 months for club and country, but a good display, including a first Test try, against Georgia should seal his place at the expense of Scott Cummings.

With Sam Skinner ruled out through injury, it could be left to Blade Thomson to offer lock cover ahead of Tim Swinson.

Back row

Some difficult decisions for Townsend here. The experience and class of John Barclay and Hamish Watson make them shoo-ins, while Thomson's ability to cover lock, blindside and number eight makes a compelling case for inclusion, assuming he has sufficiently recovered from the concussion symptoms arising from a head injury suffered against France.

Ryan Wilson is a Townsend favourite and, while he has struggled to produce his best stuff in the past year or so, 44 Tests worth of experience should carry enough weight to get a seat on the plane.

Jamie Ritchie impressed after breaking into the team amid a huge injury crisis in the Six Nations and is equally effective at six or seven. If he makes it, that leaves Magnus Bradbury, Josh Strauss and Matt Fagerson battling for one spot.

Strauss on form is Scotland's most destructive ball-carrier, but the issue is that best form has only ever been seen fleetingly. His tendency to drift out of matches is a problem and there is a sense he has used up all his chances to make himself indispensable.

Fagerson impressed in the victory in Tbilisi, but although injury prevented Bradbury featuring in any of the three warm-up matches so far, his instrumental role in Scotland's famous fight-back at Twickenham in March will remain fresh in Townsend's mind. Like Strauss, he needs to bring greater consistency to his game, but Bradbury's sheer size and power may make him the favoured option.

Scrum-half

The head coach's most straightforward selection. Greig Laidlaw and Ali Price will vie for the starting nine jersey for the World Cup opener against Ireland, while George Horne provides a quality third option to step up when required. No other horses in the race.

Fly-half

Finn Russell is Scotland's undisputed king at fly-half and absolutely integral to their hopes of making a mark in Japan. Adam Hastings is the natural understudy, but does his lack of form leave him vulnerable? There will be at least two, probably three, players in the squad outside Russell who can cover 10 if required. The likelihood, though, is travelling with just one out-and-out 10 is just too big a risk and Hastings will make it.

Centre

The most competitive area of the squad and the most difficult to whittle down. The big casualty here could be Huw Jones. When he was tearing England apart in the Calcutta Cup win in 2018 to continue his red-hot start to his Test career, the notion of him not making the World Cup squad would have been ridiculous. His form has fallen off a cliff since then and you wonder how much longer Townsend can wait for him to find his best stuff. Time may already have run out.

Sam Johnson looks to have picked up where he left off after an impressive Six Nations and will go. Duncan Taylor is a player Townsend holds in the highest regard and, now he seems to be free of his desperate injury problems, it is hard to see him being left out, especially as he provides options from 11-15.

Rory Hutchinson has made a superb start to his international career, including two tries against Georgia, and looks to have timed his run perfectly. He can also cover all three midfield positions.

Peter Horne has been part of many of Scotland's best days in recent times. But, with so many other centres playing well, his place is not assured and his ability to cover 10 is not quite the trump card it may have been previously with Hutchinson able to offer even greater flexibility.

Townsend values Chris Harris' defensive nous and his try against France came in a display in which he finally looked at home in the international arena. Another one who can cover on the wing, but how many utility players do you need in the squad?

With Hutchinson making such an impact, it could be a 50-50 call between Horne and Harris for the final midfield spot.

Back three

Stuart Hogg is already written in ink for the 15 jersey in the World Cup opener against Ireland and Sean Maitland will not be far behind on the left wing. Tommy Seymour, while possibly not in the best form recently, is a proven performer and his combination with Hogg and Maitland is Townsend's favoured option.

Darcy Graham has taken to Test rugby like a duck to water, bringing a different style to the other wings with his ferocious ball-carrying. And he knows his way to the tryline. It would be a major surprise if he doesn't make the 31.

Graham and Maitland can both cover full-back, which makes Blair Kinghorn slightly vulnerable, but the odds are on him travelling, with Byron McGuigan being the odd man out.

Captain

There are three contenders for the captaincy - McInally, Barclay and Laidlaw.

All have done the job before, but McInally is the man in possession and led the side in Georgia, with Laidlaw also starting.

The Edinburgh hooker is also the only one of the trio guaranteed to start against Ireland if fit, but Scotland are blessed with proven leaders to step in when required.

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Toner left out as Ireland name World Cup squad

Published in Rugby

Monday, 02 September 2019 04:42

Devin Toner has been left out of Ireland's 31-man squad for the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

The 33-year-old Leinster lock has made 60 appearances under head coach Joe Schmidt, more than any other player during the Kiwi's six-year tenure.

Munster's South Africa-born Jean Kleyn has been given the nod ahead of Toner, with Ulster back Will Addison also not included in the final selection.

Schmidt was not expected to name his squad until Sunday.

The side play their final warm-up game against Wales in Dublin on Saturday, with their opening World Cup Pool A game coming against Scotland on 22 September.

Three Ulster players, captain Rory Best, second row Iain Henderson and wing Jacob Stockdale, are in the squad while missing out along with Addison are Jordi Murphy and new signing Jack McGrath.

Kleyn only qualified for Ireland on residency two days before his Test debut, the 29-10 victory over Italy on August 10, but the 26-year-old edged out Toner, who has started 50 of Schmidt's 67 Test matches in charge.

"I've coached Dev for 10 years, he's not just our line-out champion but he's such a good player, and he's an absolutely quality person. That was an incredibly tough conversation yesterday," said Schmidt.

"Jean Kleyn - we probably don't have a specialist tight-head second row as such and I think we're looking for that balance. Tadhg Beirne gives us that versatility and he's teamed up with Kleyn really well at Munster this year.

"He gives you the threat over the ball like a 6 or 7 would and can play in the back row. We have James Ryan who's made an immediate impression.

"Iain Henderson has promised so much and performed incredibly well for us at times. We're going to need him to put his best foot forward so it was a very tight decision around Dev as well."

Connacht scrum-half Kieran Marmion has been left out with Schmidt going with Luke McGrath as Conor Murray's back-up, while Chris Farrell also gets the nod as a versatile back ahead of Addison.

"It was a difficult thing right from the start to have the 45 that we had," added Schmidt.

"We went down to 40 players and to go from 40 down to 31 was really difficult, but we had a process whereby we looked back through every training, looked through the games.

"There were some guys who obviously had more experience and probably had more credit in the bank and were more established.

"And there were other guys who were trying to force their way into the group and trying to get a balance of current form versus previous performance. It's always a very, very difficult conundrum to try to solve."

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Abreu Stars In Louie Vermeil Classic Finale

Published in Racing

Monday, 02 September 2019 00:23

CALISTOGA, Calif. – It was the Rico Abreu Show at Calistoga Speedway Sunday night.

The popular open-wheel driver started on the pole and dominated the King of the West/NARC Sprint Car Series field, leading all 25 laps to win the second night of the Louie Vermeil Classic.

Combined with setting fast time, winning the Sunnyvalley Bacon Dash, and topping the feature, Abreu cashed out $7,800 for his nights efforts, plus the coveted Louie trophy.

His winning ride was the potent Abreu Vineyards/Golden State McDonalds-sponsored No. 24 sprint car. It was his 12th career victory on the historic half-mile oval.

The only thing preventing a clean sweep was a second place finish in Abreu’s heat race.

The 27-year old driver was the class of the field from the original green, jumping out to a huge 10-car length advantage over Shane Golobic, Ryan Bernal, and Bud Kaeding.

The first 15 laps ran non-stop, with Abreu masterfully dicing through traffic until the caution flag came out for Colby Copeland. It came out again on lap 17 for Kenny Allen.

On each restart, Abreu dished out more of the same and went on to score the popular win.

“My guys gave me a car that I could run anywhere,” said Abreu. “I was able to move up or down the track to get through traffic which was good, because I didn’t know if anybody was close behind.”

After his interview, Abreu invited all of the young fans up to the podium to share in the thrill of victory.

Bud Kaeding, driving the Alviso Rock/Kaeding Performance Maxim, passed Bernal on the second circuit and picked off Golobic on lap 15, but eventually had to settle for the runner-up spot at the checkered. That was worth $3,000.

Golobic completed the podium finishers in his Elk Grove Ford/NOS Energy Drink-sponsored car, $2,000 richer.

Saturday night Vermeil winner Dominic Scelzi piloted the Roth Motorsports KPC to fourth after starting 10th, while fifteenth starter and points leader DJ Netto battled to a solid fifth place outing aboard the Netto Ag KPC.

That effort earned Netto the Swift Metal Finishing Hard Charger Award.

The next five to cross under the checkered flag were Bernal, JoJo Helberg, 17th-starter Geoff Ensign, Mitchell Faccinto, and 20th-starter Willie Croft.

The finish:

Rico Abreu, Bud Kaeding, Shane Golobic, Dominic Scelzi, DJ Netto, Ryan Bernal, JoJo Helberg, Geoff Ensign, Mitchell Faccinto, Willie Croft, Sean Watts, Shane Hopkins, Nathan Rolfe, Jason Statler, Matt DeMartini, Nathan Schank, Kenny Allen, Colby Copeland.

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Dominant Hafertepe Rules In Missouri

Published in Racing

Monday, 02 September 2019 04:15

ELDON, Mo. — Leaving only four drivers on the lead lap Sunday night, Sam Hafertepe Jr.’s run in the 10th annual Lake Ozark Speedway 360 Nationals presented by Champion Racing Oil could only be described as utter domination.

Hafertepe led 40 non-stop laps for his eighth Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Series triumph of the season.

Pocketing $5,000 and taking home a custom championship belt for the win, Hafertepe felt a sense of vindication, after a shot, at victory over the Memorial Day weekend ended with an early trip to the trailer.

“We had that DNF here in the spring and I felt like we had the car to beat that night and just had misfortune so to come back tonight at the get the win is really sweet; especially in front of all these people,” Hafertepe said. “This state has badass fans. I feel like you’re not going to get a better following for 360 sprint cars than these Missouri fans.”

Getting the lead over Roger Crockett going into the first two turns, Hafertepe stayed glued to the cushion as he found the back of the field on lap five. Picking through the back markers, Hafertepe disappeared into slower traffic as Scott Bogucki went to work on Roger Crockett for the runner-up spot.

Taking over second on lap 10, the pair used traffic as picks. Keeping the spot through lap 15, Crockett worked around Bogucki with both trailing the Heidbreder Foundation No. 15h by over a straightaway.

Keeping between five and seven slower cars between himself and the Rt. 66 Chevrolet of Tulsa No. 11, Crockett was able to close some distance through the mid-point of the feature, but still was not able to close under three seconds at any given time.

Working into the top ten as the race neared the final 10 laps, Hafertepe found the top five on lap 37 but was unable to catch the No. 52 of Blake Hahn before the checkered flag dropped. Crossing with almost 10 lapped cars between himself and Roger Crockett, the margin was 6.857 seconds. Scott Bogucki held on for third as John Carney II, who at one point as next in line to go a lap down, was able to pull away from the No. 15h and work to a fourth-place run after starting 16th.

The finish:

Feature (40 Laps): 1. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr., [2]; 2. 11-Roger Crockett, [1]; 3. 28-Scott Bogucki, [4]; 4. J2-John Carney II, [16]; 5. 52-Blake Hahn, [11]; 6. 3-Ayrton Gennetten, [7]; 7. 35M-Jonathan Cornell, [10]; 8. 14K-Kyle Bellm, [3]; 9. 95-Matt Covington, [8]; 10. 5-Kory Bales, [12]; 11. 9X-Paul Nienhiser, [15]; 12. 75-Tyler Blank, [5]; 13. 14-Jordon Mallett, [17]; 14. 4-Evan Martin, [18]; 15. 77X-Alex Hill, [9]; 16. 81A-Chris Morgan, [13]; 17. 22X-Riley Goodno, [20]; 18. 6-Bryan Grimes, [25]; 19. 11A-Austin O’Neal, [14]; 20. 21P-Robbie Price, [22]; 21. 7B-Ben Brown, [24]; 22. 1X-Tim Crawley, [6]; 23. 21-Miles Paulus, [19]; 24. 2X-Tucker Doughty, [23]; 25. 17W-Harli White, [21]

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Raceway Venray Inks Extension With NASCAR Euro Tour

Published in Racing

Monday, 02 September 2019 06:35

VENRAY, Netherlands – The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series and Raceway Venray have signed a three-year extension to bring the European NASCAR Series to the Netherlands through at least 2022.

CEO Jerome Galpin agreed with track owner Harry Maessen on the contract extension right after the NASCAR GP Netherlands on July 13-14.

“We had some really good races at Raceway Venray this year with cars racing at 160 kph average speed on this 800m high-banked race track. This is totally unique in Europe and our teams and drivers really enjoyed it!” declared Jerome Galpin, NWES President – CEO. “We are proud to offer our teams, drivers and fans a very eclectic calendar mixing F1 and MotoGP tracks alongside legendary circuits. Adding this unique oval makes the Euro NASCAR one of the biggest challenges in European racing!”

In 2019 Raceway Venray hosted the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series for the fourth time and thousands of fans enjoyed pure NASCAR short-track racing at the high-banked half-mile oval. A U.S. car meeting, NASCAR memorabilia and a kids zone also highlighted the first editions of the American Car Fest.

Featuring a new racing format, the weekend saw the ELITE 2 Division take the track on Saturday and Vittorio Ghirelli edged Myatt Snider for the win in the 70-lap feature. On Sunday it was the ELITE 1 Division’s turn and Loris Hezemans grabbed the checkered flag in the 100-lap race.

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