Coming up on Raceline Radio, this Monday night, April 2nd at 7 PM after the update on Sportsnet 590 The FAN:

7-time ( 6X consecutive ) NHRA Top Fuel Drag Racing Champion  TONY SCHUMACHER, no relation to Michael,  re-connects with us to talk safety in a sport where his nitro-rails top 320 MPH over a thousand feet, with an engine behind their head spitting out around 8 thousand horsepower!

“Sarge” wants to resurrect an old “Big Daddy” Don Garlits innovation! He wants to enclose the cockpit on Top Fuel Dragsters with a jet fighter-ltype canopy.  Tony says debris from crashing cars, his own, or the other guy, even birds coming into the office at better than 300 MPH can kill you, even if there is helmet on head!

Schumacher details his determination to get the NHRA to adopt the canopy as standard equipment!

We also get another visit from Barrie’s KYLE MARCELLI, who’s re-organized race team stages a new assault on the American LeMans Series as the only full-time Canadian driver in the fight.

TONY STEWART will comment on his uncharacteristically fast start to the NASCAR Sprint Cup campaign…..

We’ll have all the latest news and results from the week’s action on the tracks….

And of course we play another round of our world-famous Tissot/Raceline E-Mail Bag contest for your chance to win a stellar Tissot T-Race time piece!

Don’t miss it if you can!

ET

Compiled By Erik Tomas, The Raceline Radio Network.

Weekend of:  March 25, 2012

2012 is our 20^th anniversary season on the air!

________________________________________________________________________

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series:

Last Race: Sunday March 25, Auto Club Speedway, Fontana CA:  Tony Stewart faked a move to the pits, but elected to stay out during the only caution, then waited through a brief rain delay before NASCAR called it done with 71 laps left, the win to Stewart, his 2^nd of the season, 42^nd
of his career. Kyle Busch 2^nd, Dale Earnhardt Junior 3^rd.

Cup Points: Greg Biffle ( 6^th ) leads Kevin Harvick ( 4^th ) by 7.

Next Race: Sunday April 1^st, Martinsville Virginia. Last year’s winner: Kevin Harvick.

________________________________________________________________________

Formula One World Driving Championship:

Last Race: Sunday March 25: Malaysia:  Rain and tire choice around it shuffled the deck, with Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso out-dueling Sergio Perez for the win when the Sauber pilot went off with 6 laps to go! Lewis Hamilton, from the pole, 3^rd. No points for Oz winner Jenson Button with mid-pack contact. Same for Red Bull’s Sebastien Vettel who cut a tire down, no points scored! Red Bull skunked, 0 for 2!

F-1 Points: Alonso leads Hamilton by 5 in Driver’s…McLaren by 13 over Red Bull in Constructors.

Next Race: Sunday April 15: Grand Prix of China, Shanghai. Last yr’s winner: L. Hamilton.

___________________________________________________________________________

Indy Racing League IZOD IndyCar Series:

Last  Race: Sunday: March 25^th, Season Openers on the Streets of St.Petersburg Florida: Held winless last year, Helio Castroneves in a new car and a new engine swept around Scott Dixon on lap 72 for the lead, then built huge leads before taking checkers. Dixon 2^nd, Ryan Hunter-Reay 3^rd,
trying to save fuel. Helio dedicated the win to the fallen Dan Wheldon.

Canadians: James Hinchcliffe ( Toronto ) 4^th, where he started. Alex Tagliani ( Montreal ): 15^th,  F-1 veteran Rubens Barrichello 17^th in his IndyCar debut.

IndyCar Points: Castroneves leads Dixon by 8.

Next Race: Sunday April 1^st: Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham Alabama. Last year’s winner:
Will Power.

____________________________________________________________________________

American LeMans Series:

Next Race: April 14, Long Beach CA.

Last Race: 2012 season opener: March 17^th, 12 Hours
of Sebring, 60^th Anniversary: Audi R-18: Capello/Kristenson/McNish.       Mosport Toronto: July 22^nd.

____________________________________________________________________________

Rallying:

Canadian Rally Championship presented by Subaru:

Next Rally: May 26^th, Rocky Mountain Rally, Calgary. Last Rally: season opening Rallye Perce Neige, Maniwauki Quebec.  Defending champs Antoine L’Estage/Natalie
Richard win.

World Rally Championship: Last Rally: Rally Mexico:  Sebastien Loeb the winner for Citroen.    Next Rally: April 1- Rally Portugal.

_____________________________________________________________________________

COMING UP ON RACELINE RADIO on Sportsnet 590 The FAN:

Monday March 26th, late after Raptors: Inside local track and car safety with former NASCAR champ RANDY LAJOIE… an update on his quest to gain more NASCAR traction with rising Canadian star JR FITZPATRICK… and our Tissot/Raceline E-Mail Bag Contest!

Monday April 2nd: 6-time NHRA multi-time Top Fuel drag racing champion TONY SCHUMACHER on safety innovations for the world’s most powerful cars… Canada’s KYLE MARCELLI on his new American LeMans Series assignment… and our Tissot/Raceline E-Mail Bag Contest!

-Guest scheduling is subject to change.

More exclusive Raceline Radio Network coverage of The Canadian Motor Speedway
development in Niagara!

CMS expert witnesses are busy compiling their statements for submission to the Ontario
Municipal Board. CMS will also be meeting with McMaster University to exchange ideas on the 1.5 million square feet of land allocated for the innovation park.

A meeting in April is also planned between The Speedway, Jeff Gordon Incorporated and Hendrick Motorsport to structure a technical training program on site. More details on these will become apparent once the OMB appeals are cleared.

The OMB hearing on Canadian Motor Speedway commences June 18^th.

Stay with The Raceline Radio Network on Sportsnet 590 The FAN for exclusive radio coverage and the very latest on the development in Fort Erie!

We are gettin’ closer kids!

ET

Former Raceline Radio guest Rick Hendrick scored a big win on Tuesday as the majority of the  penalties against Jimmie Johnson’s racing team for violations discovered at Daytona were surprisingly overturned.

NASCAR rarely overturns penalties!

Chief Appellate Officer John Middlebrook lifted NASCAR’s six-race suspension against crew chief Chad Knaus and car chief Ron Malec, and gave Johnson 25 points back.

The $100,000 fine for Knaus was upheld.

Johnson agrees with his crew chief. “I’m glad this is over, now it’s on to California” he tweeted.

NASCAR suspended Knaus and Malec after confiscating what officials deemed illegal sheet metal near the C-pillars near the back of the car.

Hendrick, owner of HMS, immediately appealed the penalty, allowing Knaus and Malec to work with the team at the tracks until the appeal was heard.

Hendrick then filed for a final appeal with Middlebrook.

Hendrick has argued from the start the exact same car passed inspection 16 other times and was
OK’d for all four plate races last season.

“We proved today we were legal,” Hendrick said. “There were twenty-something cars that were worked on in Daytona, that got to sand and grind and go through inspections. We were not given that opportunity. That was one of the problems I had. There were at least three cars that C-posts were worked on. One of them I sponsored. It got to go back through. That was the problem I had.
We didn’t get an opportunity to work on the 48 car.”

“The difference today was Mr. Middlebrook took an awful lot of time to look at everything that NASCAR had and everything we presented from photos of the car at every race, on the line, the dates, the records from the tech center and our records. And they all matched up real nice,” Hendrick said.

“There was no ill intent on our part. We felt by the rulebook we were approved. By the rulebook, the car was legal.”

NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said the governing body accepts the ruling and believes in the inspection system.

Maybe they just need to be more careful how they run their inspections.

Thanks to ESPN.com for the quotes.

Compiled By Erik Tomas, The Raceline Radio Network.

Weekend of:  March 18, 2012

2012 is our 20^th anniversary season on the air!

________________________________________________________________________

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series:

Last Race: Sunday March 18: Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol Tennessee: Brad Keselowski had Thunder Alley figured out! He led more than half the distance, 215 laps,  including the last 11, not
easy to do here, to win his 5^th career Cup race. Matt Kenseth 2^nd,  Martin Truex Junior 3^rd.

Cup Points: Greg Biffle ( 13th  ) leads Kevin Harvick ( 11th )  by 9.

Next Race: Sunday March 25, Auto Club Speedway, Fontana CA. Last year’s winner: Kevin Harvick.

________________________________________________________________________

Formula One World Driving Championship:

Last Race: 2012 season opener: March 18^th: The Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne:
Who can stop Vettel and Red Bull from winning a 3^rd-straight championship? Maybe McLaren! England’s Jenson Button used a jack-rabbit-get away start and re-starts to outpace everybody for the win. Very dominant!  Sebastien Vettel 2^nd, pole sitter Lewis Hamilton 3^rd.

F-1 Points: Button leads Vettel by 7 in Drivers. McLaren-Mercedes leads Red Bull Renault by 10 in
Constructors.

Next Race: Sunday March 25: Malaysia. Last year’s winner: Sebastien Vettel.

___________________________________________________________________________

Indy Racing League IZOD IndyCar Series:

Next Race: 2012 season opener: March 25^th, Streets of St.Petersburg Florida. Last year: Franchitti.

2011 IndyCar Points: Dario Franchitti wins his 3^rd title in a row, the 4^th of his career.  James Hinchcliffe is the  Rookie of the Year, finishing 12^th in over-all points, Alex Tagliani,15^th in
final points. Canadian drivers this year: James Hinchcliffe ( Toronto), Alex Tagliani ( Montreal ), and maybe Paul Tracy ( Toronto ) if they can find money. So far, nothing.

____________________________________________________________________________

American LeMans Series:

Last Race: 2012 season opener: March 17^th, 12 Hours of Sebring, 60^th Anniversary: Audi R-18: Capello/Kristenson/McNish. Next Race: April 14, Long Beach CA.  Mosport Toronto: July 22^nd.

____________________________________________________________

Rallying:

Canadian Rally Championship presented by Subaru:

Next Rally: May 26^th, Rocky Mountain Rally, Calgary. Last Rally: season opening Rallye Perce Neige, Maniwauki Quebec.  Defending champs Antoine L’Estage/Natalie Richard win.

World Rally Championship: Last Rally: Rally Mexico:  Sebastien Loeb the winner for Citroen.    Next Rally: April 1- Rally Portugal.

_____________________________________________________________________________

COMING UP ON RACELINE RADIO on Sportsnet 590 The FAN:

Monday March 19th, 7:06 PM: Our IndyCar season preview with Andretti Autosports’ fast Canadian JAMES HINCHCLIFFE… IndyCar Series Director of Engine Development TREVOR KNOWLES… Jimmie Johnson and Greg Biffle comment on their fast starts to the season and  our Tissot/Raceline E-Mail Bag Contest, PLUS, Tissot’s Rick Ostrom makes the draw for the Tissot T-Sport Watch from the Toronto Auto Show draw!

March 26^th: Inside local track and car safety with former NASCAR champ RANDY LAJOIE… an update on his quest to gain more NASCAR traction with rising Canadian star JR FITZPATRICK… and our Tissot/Raceline E-Mail Bag Contest!

-Guest scheduling is subject to change.

A NASCAR appeals panel has upheld penalties against five-time champion Jimmie Johnson’s Crew Chief Chad Knaus for failing opening day inspection at the Daytona 500.

The three-member committee heard testimony from Hendrick Motorsports and NASCAR, then ruled unanimously to leave the penalties alone.

NASCAR rarely over-turns penalty rulings.

NASCAR said Knaus presented a car that had illegally modified sheet metal between the roof and the side windows, the area known as the C pillar.

Knaus maintains NASCAR made the determination the car was illegal with a visual inspection of the No. 48 Chevrolet, even before they made it to the templates at Daytona, and the car had been
used at all four restrictor-plate races in 2011 with no trouble.

But this isn’t over.

Team owner Rick Hendrick said they will appeal to the National Stock Car Racing chief appellate officer, and Knaus will work this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway during the appeal process, ad he did at Las Vegas.

“I don’t accept it,” Hendrick said outside NASCAR’s R&D Center. Period.”

Knaus was suspended six races and fined $100,000; Johnson was docked 25 points and car chief Ron Malec also was suspended six races.

The next step for Knaus is a hearing before John Middlebrook, who was appointed in early 2010 as the final judge in NASCAR’s appeals process.

A reduction in races suspended is probably the best-case scenario for Knaus.

Compiled By Erik Tomas, The Raceline Radio Network.

Weekend of:  March 11, 2012

2012 is our 20^th anniversary season on the air!

________________________________________________________________________

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series:

Last Race: Sunday March 11^th: Las Vegas Motor Speedway:  Tony Stewart had ‘em all covered! Pulling away at will on re-starts, and with a car that stuck just about anywhere, up high or down low, “Smoke” swept underneath Brad Keselowski with 34 laps to go, then held off Jimmie Johnson for his first win of the season, and his first Sprint Cup win at Leas Vegas. JJ good for 2^nd, Greg Biffle 3^rd.

Cup Points: Biffle with a 10 point lead on Kevin Harvick, who was 11^th at Vegas!

Next Race: Sunday March 18: Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol Tenn. Last year’s winner: Kyle Busch.

________________________________________________________________________

Formula One World Driving Championship:

Next Race: 2012 season opener: March 18^th: The Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne.
Last year: Vettel.

Last Race: Season closer: Sunday November 27^th: Grand Prix of Brazil: Mark Webber’s first win of the season, in the last race of the season. Vettel 2^nd, Jenson Button 3^rd
for McLaren.

F-1 Points: Vettel and Red Bull won the 2011 Driver’s and Constructor’s titles! That’s back-to-back
crowns for the German. Button finished 2^nd to Vettel in driver points, 22 back. McLaren winds up 153 points back of Red Bull in final Constructors points.

___________________________________________________________________________

Indy Racing League IZOD IndyCar Series:

Next Race: 2012 season opener: March 25^th, Streets of St.Petersburg Florida. Last year: Franchitti.

2011 IndyCar Points: Dario Franchitti wins his 3^rd title in a row, the 4^th of his career.  James Hinchcliffe is the Rookie of the Year, finishing 12^th in over-all points, Alex Tagliani,15^th in
final points. Canadian drivers this year: James Hinchcliffe ( Toronto), Alex Tagliani ( Montreal ), and maybe Paul Tracy ( Toronto ) if he can find money.

____________________________________________________________________________

American LeMans Series:

Next Race: 2012 season opener: March 17^th, 12 Hours of Sebring.  Mosport: July 22^nd.

____________________________________________________________________________

Rallying:

Canadian Rally Championship presented by Subaru: Next
Rally: May 26^th, Rocky Mountain Rally, Calgary. Last Rally: season opening Rallye Perce Neige, Maniwauki Quebec.  Defending champs Antoine L’Estage/Natalie Richard win.

World Rally Championship: Last Rally: Rally Mexico:  Sebastien Loeb the winner for Citroen.    Next Rally: April 1- Rally Portugal.

_____________________________________________________________________________

COMING UP ON RACELINE RADIO on Sportsnet 590 The FAN:

March 12th, 7:06 PM: F-1 veteran RUBENS BARRICHELLO, TONY KANAAN and KEVIN KALKHOVEN on Ruben’s arrival in the IndyCar Series… Inside Track Motorsport News F-1 specialist RUSS BOND helps us preview the 2012 Formula One season… and another round of our world famous Tissot/Raceline E-Mail Bag contest!

March 19^th: Our IndyCar season preview with Andretti Autosports’ fast Canadian JAMES HINCHCLIFFE… IndyCar Series Director of Engine Development TREVOR KNOWLES… and  our Tissot/Raceline E-Mail Bag Contest!

-Guest scheduling is subject to change.

Compiled By Erik Tomas, The Raceline Radio Network.

Weekend of:  March 4, 2012

2012 is our 20^th anniversary season on the air!

________________________________________________________________________

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series:

Last Race: Sunday March 4: Phoenix International Raceway: It appeared Kevin Harvick was setting up Denny Hamlin for the pass for the lead with 2 laps to go but Harvick’s fuel pressure
flat-lined, out of gas!  Hamlin wins on fumes, his 18^th career cup win and his first since June of last
season!  He wins with new crew chief Darien Grubb, the man who guided Tony Stewart to his championship last year! Harvick coasts to 2^nd place, Greg Biffle 3^rd.

Cup Points: Hamlin leads Biffle by 6.

Next Race: Sunday March 11^th:   Las Vegas Motor Speedway. 2011 winner: Carl Edwards.

________________________________________________________________________

Formula One World Driving Championship:

Next Race: 2012 season opener: March 18^th: The Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne.  Last year: Vettel.

Last Race: Season closer: Sunday November 27^th: Grand Prix of Brazil: Mark Webber’s first win of the season, in the last race of the season. Vettel 2^nd, Jenson Button 3^rd for McLaren.

F-1 Points: Vettel and Red Bull won the 2011 Driver’s and Constructor’s titles! That’s back-to-back
crowns for the German. Button finished 2^nd to Vettel in driver points, 22 back. McLaren winds up 153 points back of Red Bull in final Constructors points.

___________________________________________________________________________

Indy Racing League IZOD IndyCar Series:

Next Race: 2012 season opener: March 25^th, Streets of St.Petersburg Florida. Last year: Franchitti.

2011 IndyCar Points: Dario Franchitti wins his 3^rd title in a row, the 4^th of his career.  James Hinchcliffe is the Rookie of the Year, finishing 12^th in over-all points, Alex Tagliani,15^th in
final points. Canadian drivers this year: James Hinchcliffe ( Toronto), Alex Tagliani ( Montreal ), and maybe Paul Tracy ( Toronto ) if they can find money.

____________________________________________________________________________

American LeMans Series:

Next Race: 2012 season opener: March 17^th, 12 Hours of Sebring.  Mosport: July 22^nd.

____________________________________________________________________________

Rallying:

Canadian Rally Championship presented by Subaru: Next
Rally: May 26^th, Rocky Mountain Rally, Calgary. Last Rally: season opening Rallye Perce Neige, Maniwauki Quebec.  Defending champs Antoine L’Estage/Natalie Richard win.

World Rally Championship: Last Rally: Feb 12: Rally Sweden: Finland’s Jari Matti-Latvala wins in a Ford. Next Rally: March 11^th: Rally Mexico.

_____________________________________________________________________________

COMING UP ON RACELINE RADIO on Sportsnet 590 The FAN, the week of:

March 5th after Raptors: to the media center with Daytona 500 winner MATT KENSETH, Crew Chief JIMMY FENNIG and team owner JACK ROUSH! Another “Raceline Rewind” feature from May, 1992: Indy 500 star SCOTT GOODYEAR… and our Tissot/Raceline e-mail bag contest!

March 12th: F-1 veteran RUBENS BARRICHELLO, JIMMY VASSER AND KEVIN KALKHOVEN on Ruben’s arrival in the IndyCar Series… Inside Track Motorsport News F-1 specialist RUSS BOND helps us preview the 2012 Formula One season… and another round of our world famous Tissot/Raceline E-Mail Bag contest!

-Guest scheduling is subject to change.

More exclusive Raceline Radio Network coverage of The Canadian Motor Speedway development in Niagara!

And more good news!

Those appellants, or those opposing construction had tried to go back to the Ontario Municipal Board, in this case  PALS, which I’m told stands for “Preservation of Agricultural Lands Society”,  and stall everything again until November, even after they had been on the conference call and agreed to a June 18^th start date for the OMB hearing.

The OMB listened to the Town of Fort Erie, The Niagara Region and the developers legal council, and turned down PALS request!

PALS and other opposition has had since 2009 to put their evidence forward that the Speedway would be a detriment to the area and not a benefit.

Preserving agricultural land in Niagara is important, but living in Niagara, the area in Fort Erie where this track is proposed is NOT on prime agricultural land!

You can’t grow grapes on it, and the tender fruit industry in Niagara is all but extinct!

Not only that, the land is private property and the land owners can do what ever they want with it!

The opposition is using this as an obvious stalling tactic, and thankfully the Ontario Municipal Board didn’t fall for it!

So it’s on to the  18^th of  June where hopefully they can get everything done and not need the entire four weeks, and they can actually start construction of Canada’s first carbon-neutral one mile high banked oval and road course complex!

Stay with Raceline Radio on Sportsnet 590 The FAN for the latest news and exclusive coverage of Canadian Motor Speedway!

ET

KV Racing Technology announced today that Formula One veteran Rubens Barrichello will
compete in the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series as the driver of the No. 8 BMC | Embrase – KV Racing Technology car.

Barrichello, 39, whose Formula One career spanned from 1993-2011, is the most experienced driver in F1 history with 322 starts. He was runner-up in the Formula One championship in 2002 and 2004, and earned 11 victories, 14 pole podiums, 68 podiums performances, 106 top-five
finishes and 172 top-10 showings.

Now Barrichello will embark on a new chapter in his racing career.

“I am thrilled, it is something very new to me,” said Barrichello, who has tested the new Dallara car powered by Chevrolet at Sebring International Raceway and Infineon Raceway in the past month.  “I
need to thank everyone involved, especially (new teammate) Tony (Kanaan) because he has been involved for a long time.  I would also like to thank my sponsors, BMC, Embrase and Locaweb for their help.

This is a new experience, but I am very happy.  With all my experience I will start as a rookie, but I think I will get better as the year progresses.

“My main thing is to be an addition to KV Racing Technology.  They have been doing very well and Tony brought the team to a different level last year, so I hope with my contribution we can build on this and take the team to another level. I am extremely happy and have a big smile on
my face.”

KV Racing Technology also formally announced that Kanaan, the 2004 IZOD IndyCar Series champion, has signed a two-year deal. Kanaan, who joined the team days before the 2011 season opener, finished fifth in the series championship standings. He holds the IZOD IndyCar Series record for consecutive starts (148), which is ongoing.

“We are very excited to have both Rubens and Tony competing for our team in 2012,” team co-owner Jimmy Vasser said. “Rubens is going to be a great addition and last year Tony once again demonstrated his leadership abilities and his proven ability to compete for wins and the
championship. The addition of Rubens and the return of Tony along with E.J. (Viso) gives KVRT a very strong driver lineup and one I am sure can compete for podium finishes and race wins.”

Kanaan, 37, and Barrichello are countrymen and longtime friends. It was at Kanaan’s invitation that Barrichello tested the next-generation IZOD IndyCar Series car at Sebring.

ET with the release itself from Kevin Diamond.

“I am very excited to be returning to KV
Racing Technology not only with a two-year deal but also to have Rubens
Barrichello as my teammate,” Kanaan said.   “We have always dreamed about racing
together but never imagined it would actually happen and certainly not in the
near future or in IndyCars.

“I have a guy who has 19 years of experience
in Formula One; one of the best drivers I’ve ever seen as a teammate that I can
learn a lot and he can learn a lot from me racing on the ovals in the series.
For the series it’s huge.

“We’re getting a guy who has the most grand
prix races completed in history. For him, he is in a series where he can win
races and not be just part of a field because the equipment is not capable of
winning. So I am looking forward to the
start of the season. I think it’s going to be a very exciting year.”

INDYCAR CEO Randy Bernard agreed.

“It’s an exciting day for the IZOD IndyCar
Series and a positive step to start 2012,” Bernard said. “We’ve said all along
that one of the most important factors that will make the IZOD IndyCar Series
successful is having the best drivers in the world, and there’s not a person in
the world who knows racing that wouldn’t tell you that Rubens Barrichello is one
of the greatest drivers of all time. I think it’s been interesting to hear the
response of the other drivers. It’s been ‘This is great for us because it will
show how good all of our drivers are.’

“That, to me, is important because the best
in the IZOD IndyCar Series are saying ‘Bring him on. We want this guy.’ That
will create great competition and expands our international platform. There will
be millions of fans that will want to see what Barrichello can do. The other
factor, which we saw last weekend at Infineon Raceway as he talked with fans
attending the Chevy test, is that he’s such a great guy. That will resonate with
our fans.”

Four-time IZOD IndyCar Series champion Dario
Franchitti, who first crossed paths with Barrichello in 1987 in European karting
competition, said Barrichello increases the depth of the field competing on the
most diverse set of racetracks in motorsports.

“It’s only a positive. He ups
the level of competition in the field yet again,” said Franchitti, who will join
25 other IZOD IndyCar Series drivers for an Open Test next week at Sebring
International Raceway. “Besides the guys we know already who are tough to beat,
he’d add another major name to have to fight against.”

The season-opening Honda Grand Prix of
St. Petersburg is March 25.