#50 Tim Barbeau car - driven to the championship last year by now supermodified driver Dave Gruel:

Tim’s not driving his own car again this year. Tim’s racing this year, but not in his own car. He’s sticking in the Steve Abt #58 car that he drove to a 6th place in points last year. The former Larry Muroski FFB Chassis is a solid car, and Barbeau will be fast in it once again, you can be assured.

Then who IS driving the #50 Barbeau Racing machine? This deal is so fresh that I had to beg Tim to release the information. Which he just did to me not more than thirty minutes ago, when the deal was finalized.

Chris Proud will be the new, full-time driver of the Barbeau Racing #50 that won the championship last year. Proud will maintain and field the car, for a full-time run at the championship in 2010. “He’ll maintain the car exactly the way I would maintain it - or even better”, said Barbeau. Proud called Barbeau about the ride as soon as it was announced that Gruel was moving up to the supermodified ranks. Barbeau had several inquiries about the ride. He had previously asked Hall of Famer Mark Regan to drive the car, but Regan passed on the opportunity. “He’s definitely capable of winning”, Barbeau said of Proud.

“This is different for me. I’m not used to being just the driver - not the owner”, said Proud. “Now I’m working on some sponsorship, I’ve got to get a trailer…” Proud is definitely enthused about the opportunity, and plans to make the most of it.

#60 Ray Pike car - formerly driven by Russ Brown:

Ray Pike debuted a brand new Ray Hedger Chassis in 2009, which was driven by Russ Brown and maintained by Ray Hedger. Brown had an amazing season, finishing in the top three every week except one, and finished a solid 2nd place in points. But Brown wasn’t happy with that, because they never won a race all season, and vowed, (again), to never race at Oswego Speedway again in a car without a roof. (He acknowledges that he would compete in a modified at the speedway at some point.) After maybe the most controversial season ever, filled with drama and angry sound bites, Pike was left without a driver.

“We’re going to have some fun this year - not like last year”, said Pike. “I’m very excited”, said Pike about his new driver. Stan Gates was a first time winner in 2009, and has quietly earned the respect of everyone in the pits as a solid, controversy-free pilot. Gates will park his own Ford-powered machine in 2010, and be the full-time driver of the Pike Bros. Racing #60.

“I’m honored to park my car and drive for Ray”, Gates said. “I think it’ll be really nice having new tires, and more help at the track, and not having to run used stuff all the time“. Stan’s car will serve as a backup, and he’ll compete in some races at other tracks, if any are scheduled, with his car. The Pike Racing machine will be maintained at Pike’s shop in Norwich, N.Y. In Gates’ spare time this year, he will be able to help his friend and teammate George Knight with his own car.

All last year, in addition to fielding the car and working full time, Pike has been fighting cancer. A lot of nights you could tell that he was under the weather. But lately he’s been feeling a lot better. “I’ve been getting (chemotherapy) treatments every 28 days. Doing well. Doctors are happy. I’m feeling GREAT now”, added Pike. A hospital stay in December for pneumonia and H1N1 hasn’t dampened his spirits.

So back to the Ford subject. I asked Stan if, all things considered, would he have taken the amazing ride, if it wasn‘t powered by a Ford engine? “I wouldn’t drive it if it was a Chevy. I think my car was pretty fast toward the end of the year last year”, Stan deadpanned.