EPH Tools 100 at the Beach

Courtesy Sue Chisholm

TOLEDO OH (6-21-06)—With two rainouts already dampening the spirits of the regionally touring ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series in 2006, you would think that the last thing anyone would want to see is more water. But this weekend, it’s off to the beach for the truckers, who are ready and anxious to compete in the EPH Tools 100 at Steelback Sauble Speedway, located along the shores of beautiful Sauble Beach, Ontario, Canada.

And, although the Saturday, June 24th event marks the first time the ALWTS has visited the quick, quarter-mile oval, the touring truckers have geared up with plenty of Canadian flavor for the 100-lap race.

EPH Tools, located just North of Lion’s Head, Ontario, has signed on as event title sponsor. The Canadian company produces custom bending and assembly equipment for the worldwide automotive industry.

Tod and Phyllis Hayes, owners of EPH Tools, have had a long and prosperous relationship with the auto racing community, and in particular Steelback Sauble Speedway. Besides providing event title sponsorship of the June 24th ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series event, the company sponsors a Late Model entry at the track on a weekly basis. In addition, they have sponsored a NASCAR Nextel Cup Series team and a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team in the past. The company is hoping that their motto, “racing ahead of the competition,” translates into a winning weekend come June 24th.

“We’re excited for the ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series to make their first ever appearance at Sauble Speedway,” said Hayes. “And we’re thrilled that several other community-minded local businesses will take part in this venture.”

In addition to the EPH Tools event title sponsorship, at least three of the series’ full time competitors have entered the race with the support of local, Canadian companies. Among the growing entry list are truckers Paul Hahn, Kyle Partridge and Stan Maitlen.

Partridge’s No. 18 Chevrolet Colorado will sport sponsorship from Paul Howell Carpet and Hofstrand Contracting LTD for this weekend’s ALWTS event, while Maitlen’s No. 9 Chevy will carry sponsorship from event title sponsor EPH Tools, along with Mullin’s Farm Service of Chepstow, Ontario and Mielhausen Roofing of Tobermory, Ontario.

Hahn, who is currently third in points, just 25 marks behind John Kasmierski, has announced that TIM-BR Mart Kincardine and TIM-BR Mart Miller Lake of Bruce County, Ontario, Canada have signed on to sponsor the No. 7 ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck for the EPH Tools 100.

As part of the TIM-BR Mart Group, TIM-BR Mart Kincardine and TIM-BR Mart Miller Lake both specialize in building supplies and materials, windows and doors, kitchen and bathroom supplies, interior and exterior décor, hardware and electrical supplies. The company has been locally owned since 1977.

“We’re really excited to put the Tim-BR Mart name on our Howe chassis for the Sauble race,” said Hahn. “The company is the largest buying group out in Canada, and although I’ve never been to the track, I’m told it’s beautiful.”

Incepted in 1999, the ALWTS is depictive of ARCA’s national touring RE/MAX Series, and unique in that it tests the abilities of drivers and race teams on the most diverse schedule of stock car racing events in the Midwest. The series annually visits tracks ranging in size from .25-mile to 1.1-mile in length, on ovals and road courses, on both paved and dirt surfaces.

This weekend’s EPH Tools 100 marks the first time that the series has made an appearance at Steelback Sauble speedway. The EPH Tools 100 rolls off on Saturday, June 24th at 7:00 pm. In addition to the ALWTS, the race date features Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks and a pre-race concert from 5:45-6:45 with Jamie Warren in the Beer Garden. Tickets are available by contacting the speedway at 519-422-1422.