Major Events Highlight ’11 Super DIRTcar Series Schedule
40th Super DIRT Week, 3rd All Star Weekend Start Fans Buzzing About New Year
The 2011 schedule planning is well underway for the 32nd year of competition in the Super DIRTcar Series for Big-Block Modifieds. (Dave Dalesandro photo)
Currently headlining an exciting Super DIRTcar Series schedule in 2011 will be a merited mix of tradition-laden events with ‘can’t miss’ shows continuing to gain notoriety with each passing year.
“We’re moving forward fast with the series schedule that already includes eight solid dates and several more on the verge of confirmation,” remarked DIRTcar Racing Northeast Director of Competition & Track Sanctioning Joe Skotnicki, who continues to shape the tentative tour agenda in his second full year at the helm. “This is always a busy time, ending one season while preparing for another. It’s also one of the most exciting for the fans and racers as they start looking to make their own plans for a brand new season ahead.”
Overall 2010 Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Champion Matt Sheppard will be among the drivers most gratified as the talented 28 year-old from Waterloo, N.Y. found victory lane this year in four of the eight events locked in during the organization’s 36th successive season of operation.
Leading off in chronological order is a Memorial Day special sure to remember when Rolling Wheels Raceway Park combines two of the Series’ premier events. Hall of Fame/All-Star Sunday at the ‘Fast Track’ is May 29, with Sheppard doubling up last year when the HoF Classic and All-Star 100 in July were both held across town at Cayuga County Fair Speedway.
Sheppard also captured the 38th Annual ‘Stars & Stripes 100’ at Rolling Wheels, slated for July 4 next season, as well as the ‘Bob St. Amand Memorial 100’ that will stage its second edition at Merrittville (Ont.) Speedway on Aug. 1. The 17th tour trip to Cornwall (Ont.) Motor Speedway is penciled in for Sunday July 3, 2011, with all-time SDS winner Brett Hearn (106) the defending champion.
Series activity in August comes to a close at the home of promoter Howard Commander’s high banks, when Lebanon Valley Speedway presents the 33rd running of the prestigious ‘Mr. DIRT Track, USA’ title event on Aug. 25. Recently crowned Valley points king Hearn will be back in search of his ninth victory in the lucrative 100-lapper that paid 2010 winner J.R. Heffner $17,500.
Once autumn arrives its non-stop action as the best in the Big-Block business will be at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse for the 40th edition of Super DIRT Week on the nationally renowned ‘Moody Mile.’ SDW XL is scheduled for Oct. 5-9, 2011 and Canadian chauffeur Stewart Friesen is hoping destiny calls his name once again as he returns to the Salt City for the Columbus Day showdown featuring the SEF Small Engine Fuels 200 Presented by Ferris/Snapper/Simplicity main event.
On the heels of Super DIRT Week at the State Fairgrounds is the 3rd Annual Global Warranty DIRTcar Fall Nationals at Brockville Ontario Speedway, in 2011 set for Oct. 14-16. Rochester, New Yorker Danny Johnson pulled off a late-race pass of Sheppard on Sunday afternoon to cop the Thousand Islands thriller in the biggest weekend racing card ever witnessed on Canadian soil.
The Super DIRTcar Series will once again play a major role when the Lowes Foods World of Outlaws World Finals Presented By Bimbo Bakeries & Tom’s Snacks concludes the 2011 campaign at The Dirt Track at Charlotte on Nov. 3-5. With the mighty Big-Block Modifieds joined at the pristine Concord, N.C. red clay oval by World of Outlaws Sprint Cars and World of Outlaws Late Models, all three series will wrap up their seasons with championship-deciding point events.
Competition Director Joe Skotnicki (704/796-4566) jskotnicki@dirtcar.com remains available to answer questions as well as address specific concerns as the 2010 season comes to a close and DIRTcar moves fast forward in the new decade of speed.
More news and information about the Modified tour can be found at www.superdirtcarseries.com while race fans can receive updates directly by signing up as a Big-Block ‘follower’ on Twitter through http://www.twitter.com/SuperDIRTcar, an exclusive offering for all DIRTcar enthusiasts.
Mark your calendar now as in just three more months the Big-Blocks will kick off the season at Volusia Speedway Park in the 40th running of the Florida DIRTcar Nationals By University of Northwestern Ohio, Feb. 8-19, 2011. Sheppard will begin his title defense when the Big-Blocks return (Feb. 16-19) for the 14th straight winter to the popular Barberville oval, where they will be accompanied season-opening events for the World of Outlaws Sprints (Feb. 11-13) and WoO Late Models (Feb. 17 & 19).
2011 Super DIRTcar Series Schedule (as of 12/11)
NP=Non-Point event
*All events subject to change.
DATE, DAY, TRACK, LOCATION
40th FLORIDA DIRTcar NATIONALS By UNOH
Feb. 16 Wednesday Volusia Speedway Park (NP), Barberville, Fla.
Feb. 17 Thursday Volusia Speedway Park (NP), Barberville, Fla.
Feb. 18 Friday Volusia Speedway Park (NP), Barberville, Fla.
Feb. 19 Saturday Volusia Speedway Park (NP), Barberville, Fla.
HALL OF FAME/ALL-STAR WEEKEND
May 29 Sunday Rolling Wheels Raceway Park, Elbridge, N.Y.
July 3 Sunday Cornwall Motor Speedway, Cornwall, Ont.
July 4 Monday Rolling Wheels Raceway Park, Elbridge, N.Y.
July 18 Monday Autodrome Drummond, Drummondville, Que.
July 19 Tuesday Autodrome Granby, Granby, Que.
Aug. 1 Monday Merrittville Speedway, Thorold, Ont.
Aug. 25 Thursday Lebanon Valley Speedway, West Lebanon, N.Y.
Sept. 4 Sunday Cayuga County Fair Speedway, Weedsport, N.Y.
Sept. 10 Satuday Autodrome Drummond, Drummondville, Que.
Sept. 17 Saturday Mohawk International Raceway, Akwesasne, N.Y.
Oct. 1 Saturday Fulton Speedway (Show-Up Points), Fulton, N.Y.
SUPER DIRT WEEK XL
Oct. 9 Sunday New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, N.Y.
3rd GLOBAL WARRANTY DIRTcar FALL NATIONALS
Oct. 16 Sunday Brockville Ontario Speedway, Brockville, Ont.
5th ANNUAL WORLD FINALS
Nov. 3 Thursday The Dirt Track at Charlotte (Qualifying), Concord, N.C.
Nov. 4 Friday The Dirt Track at Charlotte (Race 1), Concord, N.C.
Nov. 5 Saturday The Dirt Track at Charlotte (Race 2), Concord, N.C.
