Local racer ready to challenge CASCAR's best at his "home track", Mosport

By J. Wally Nesbitt

Bowmanville, ON - June 1, 2001: When the Castrol Super Series stops at Mosport Speedway for the EXIDE Batteries 250 delivered by National Fast Freight, June 9^th, among the starters will be Port Perry's Rod Sauder.

Sauder, who has spent more than a quarter of a century racing stock cars throughout Ontario and the American eastern seaboard, rejoins the CASCAR battles after an eleven-year sabbatical.

"I last ran CASCAR in 1990, but I've kept very busy since then. I've run all over Ontario and enjoyed a fair bit of success, having won a major event at every track except Cayuga."

The 43-year-old welder/sculptor still calls Mosport Speedway his home track and has earned considerable success there as well. During his Mosport career, Sauder has raced in the Sportsman, Late Model and open-wheel Modified classes, claiming the track's Late Model championship in 1993.

"Canada's best drivers aspire to CASCAR," explains the Scugog Island resident. "This really is our answer to NASCAR. The series has grown up, just as I have, and it is something that I want to be part of. It's been a lot of hard work but I've received an incredible amount of support from my parents, my wife Ann and the girls, Ashley and Alicia. They've helped out immensely, allowing me the time to work on the car and prepare for the season."

Part of the challenge of entering the CASCAR series is acquiring the right equipment, and Sauder's solution has only added to his workload.

"I didn't want to buy an "Off The Shelf" chassis, I wanted to build my own. Everything that I've built fits the CASCAR rules, and the series officials have approved my designs. Knowing what I've got under and around me gives me a little more confidence."

Sauder's finished product is a 2000-bodied, Dodge Intrepid, powered by a J.B. Engines Dodge 360 cubic inch powerplant. The Black #36 Chrysler enjoys primary sponsorship from TTR Transport, J.B. Engines and Scugog Transmission, but has also received significant support from a host of local businesses.

"This level of competition is definitely up a notch or two from what I've been used to. There are 15 to 20 excellent drivers on the roster with probably thirty well-funded professional teams in the series. Some people may look and wonder when I pull in with my car on a flatbed trailer and set up alongside of those mega-dollar transporters. But the last time I looked, we didn't race trailers. On the track, we're all pretty equal, I’ll take them all on, and I’ll beat them!"

National Fast Freight delivers the EXIDE Batteries 250, June 9^th at Mosport Speedway. Gates open at 3:30 PM, driver's autograph session is slated for 5:15 PM and the green flag will wave shortly after on the 250-lap feature. Advance sale tickets are $20.00 until June 6^th ($25.00 after). Children 12 & under are FREE. For tickets or other information call 1-800-866-1072 or logon to www.mosport.com.