Weedsport, NY — October 2, 2008 – By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing NorthEast PR Director
Just a few more days remain before the world’s richest DIRTcar Racing NorthEast event arrives in Central New York! Super DIRT Week XXXVII at the New York State Fairgrounds is scheduled for Oct. 7-12 and registration forms continue to file in to DIRTcar Racing NE headquarters from around the region.
“This year we looked to re-organize the infield pits and have teams reserve parking spots, and the final one was filled just last week,” said Cory Reed, DIRTcar Racing NorthEast Director of Competition & Track Sanctioning. “With nearly 80 lanes already full on the back side a couple weeks in advance, its just another sign our biggest event of the year will be loaded when it comes to both quality and quantity.”
A great mix of past champions, experienced veterans looking for their own claim to fame, and a talented group of newcomers and rising stars head this year’s legendary list of Rite Aid 200 entries. Each harboring hopes of putting their name in the record book on the Syracuse Mile in 2008. The current Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modified roster includes nine drivers that account for a grand total of 21 Rite Aid Championships in the past quarter-century dating back to 1983.
Led by two-time winner and defending champion Vic Coffey, open-wheel all-stars Brett Hearn (5 wins), Billy Decker (4), Alan Johnson (3), Jimmy Horton (2), Danny Johnson (2) Jack Johnson (2), Tim Fuller and Kenny Tremont help make up the nationally recognized roster. Advance Auto Parts Series speedsters Steve Paine, Jimmy Phelps, Gary Tomkins, Matt Sheppard, Dale Planck, Justin Haers, Frankie Caprara, Ryan Phelps, Billy Dunn and 15 year-old charger Larry Wight fill the slate along with Empire State veterans Ron Smoker and Mitch Gibbs.
Pat Ward, Roy Bresnahan, Ryan Phelps, Wight and Advance Series record-setter Decker will all be stationed under the Team Gypsum infield tent throughout the week creating one of the biggest spectacles even before the first green flag flies.
Orange County Fair Speedway fans will be able to cheer on their weekly favorites Chris Shultz, Bob McGannon and Ric Hill while Eddie Marshall, Wayne Jelley, Keith Flach, Hector Stratton and Andy Bachetti, who is guaranteed to start no worse than 7th, will be representing the high banks of Lebanon Valley Speedway. Holding high hopes on the Moody Mile are Fonda faithfuls Bobby Varin back in the Gable Motorsports no. 1 and second-generation pilot Ronnie Johnson.
Rick Laubach and Duane Howard pace the Pennsylvanian posse that also includes Brian Swartzlander, who at the age of 49 will be making his first attempt to qualify for the Rite Aid 200. Recently crowned Lernerville Speedway points champion Swartzlander is also registered for the Big-Block ‘Futures’ event to gain valuable track time on Thursday. New Jersey invaders ready to attack the Moody Mile are Ryan Godown and Mark Forte Jr. while Canadian standouts Pete Bicknell and Larry Lampman Jr. from Ontario and David Hebert from Quebec prepare to make their annual trip into the states for the Salt City showdown.
Asphalt racer and ’08 Airborne Speedway Champion Patrick Dupree is signed up in the Big-Block ranks along with his track promoter Mike Perrotte, a past performer in both Big-Block and Small-Block events during Super DIRT Week. Looking to improve upon his stellar 9th-place Rite Aid run from a year ago, returning to the DIRTcar ranks is winged sprinter Jason Barney. The Constantia, New York chauffeur is once again scheduled to steer ISMA car owner Jeff Holbrook’s #35 Big-Block entry in a rare appearance at the New York State Fairgrounds in October.
Super DIRT Week XXXVII activity kicks off Tuesday, October 7 with ‘early-bird’ Modified —Futures included— car inspection, continues with a ‘Happy Hour’ on track Wednesday before Big-Block Modified and 358-Modified racers attempt qualify under the clocks on Thursday. Race action highlights the Friday and Saturday shows while the Advance Auto Parts Big-Block Modifieds take center stage for the big 200-lap Rite Aid finale on Sunday afternoon on the way to crowning the overall Hoosier Tire Mr. DIRTcar Champion for 2008.
Headquartered in Roanoke, Va., Advance Auto Parts, a leading automotive aftermarket retailer of parts, accessories, batteries, and maintenance items in the United States, serves both the do-it-yourself and professional installer markets As of April 19, 2008, the Company operated 3,291 stores in 40 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Additional information about the Company, employment opportunities, customer services, and on-line shopping for parts and accessories can be found on the Company’s web site at www.advanceautoparts.com.
The Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series for Big-Block Modifieds is brought to fans across the Northeast by several sponsors and partners, including series sponsors Advance Auto Parts, Hoosier Racing Tire and Sunoco Race Fuels. Promotional partners include AMB i.t., Rite Aid Corporation and the University of Northwestern Ohio and the contingency sponsors are Bert Transmission, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Crane Cams, Integra Shocks, MSD Ignitions, Motorsports Safety Systems, Penske Shocks and Wrisco Industries.
