Weedsport, NY — March 3, 2008 – By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing NorthEast PR Director
Participation by many of the cars and stars from the DIRTcar Racing NorthEast circuit has only served to heightened anticipation for the arrival of Motorsports Expo ’08, March 7-9, in the Toyota Exhibit Center at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse.
A handful of Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series drivers are scheduled to be in attendance for the 22nd Annual Exposition & Trade Show presented by the staff at Gater Racing Photo News, with the current list headed by Big-Block Modified standouts Gary Tomkins, Jimmy Phelps, Dale Planck and Ryan Phelps plus 15-year old speedster Larry Wight.
Each of these drivers will be on site Saturday at 1pm for a special autograph session that also offers plenty of photo opportunities. They will be available to answer questions and reveal their race plans for the upcoming season, with Planck expounding on his own success found at the recently concluded Alltel DIRTcar Nationals in Florida.
Along with the no. 84 Honeoye Auto Parts entry steered by 2004 Mr. DIRTcar Modified Champion Tomkins, the Big-Block cars of Sean Beardsley (#18) and rookie Paul Guererri (#7), 358-Modified mount of Scott Kerwin (#7K) representing Ransomville, Sportsman rides of Earl Rudy (#16), Matt Smith (#1), Todd Town (#17T) and Dan Wiesner (#66), Pro Stock mount of Mike Vaughn (#11) plus the 4-Cylinder stocker of Brad Rathburn (#91) representing Black Rock will also be on display around the centrally located ‘DIRTcar Land’ throughout the weekend.
“This year the show comes just two weeks before our first Advance Auto Parts Series points race at Hagerstown (Mar. 22) so there will be a lot of excitement building from all the fans and drivers stopping by,” said DIRTcar NorthEast Director of Competition & Track Sanctioning Cory Reed. “And that means only one more month before our own season starts, giving everybody here even more to talk about. We’re already eager to get back on the track after running in Florida and I’m sure the fans are even hungrier now with car shows swinging into full gear closer to home.”
Helping make ‘DIRTcar Land’ the biggest ever at Motorsports Expo ’08, Black Rock Speedway, Canandaigua Speedway, Cayuga County Fair Speedway, Humberstone Speedway, Ransomville Speedway and Rolling Wheels Raceway Park information areas will be active during the three-day show as track representatives will be providing schedule cards as well as supplying important news about each individual speedway.
Plenty of videos from last race season will be stocked in the DIRTcar booth, where teammates can fill out an official 2008 DIRTcar License application form, learn about ‘08 rule book updates and pick up major series race schedules. Younger race fans (ages 10-14, $40; 9 & under, $20) are encouraged to register and become members of DIRTcar Racing NorthEast’s Kids Club. This club began in ’06 with kids receiving free admission to regular shows at both Cayuga County and Canandaigua speedways plus additional membership perks.
The crowning of Ms. DIRTcar 2008 highlights the first day of activity during the Exposition & Trade Show, with competition taking place Fri., March 7 beginning at 7 p.m. Each entry in the 11th Ms. DIRTcar contest will be judged in the customary round of sportswear plus a special on-stage interview session.
The New York State Fairgrounds is located on State Fair Blvd., off Route 690, only minutes west from downtown Syracuse. Show hours in the Toyota Exhibit Center are 5pm-10pm Fri., 11am-9pm Sat. and 11am-5pm on Sunday. For more information please contact Joe Patrick at 315/457-0175 during normal business hours.
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.
