Weedsport, NY — April 24, 2008 – By Tom Skibinski, Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series PR Director
The 2008 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series is finally set to open with the 2nd Annual Paul Sawyer Memorial at Virginia Motor Speedway on Thursday, May 1 just seven days away.
Commemorating the 10th straight season of Series partnership with Advance Auto Parts based in Roanoke, Virginia, those top-10 hosts on the list of Advance Auto Parts Series all-time Big-Block Modified track sites will be highlighted for each of the 10 days leading up to the VMS event.
While Virginia became the 44th track to stage an Advance Series race last spring, this elite group of dirt ovals from around the Northeast headlines a legendary list that encompasses 10 states and two Canadian provinces. And all but one of these are scheduled to run at least one major event in the ’08 Advance Series that marks the 29th straight season of tour competition.
With 2008 marking the 32nd season of stock car racing under the DIRTcar banner, Canandaigua Speedway www.canandaiguaspeedway.com has hosted 38 Advance Series extra-distance events to rank seventh on the all-time list.
Nestled in the heart of the Finger Lakes Region, the storied half-mile clay oval stands as one of the most revered ovals on the entire DIRTcar Racing NorthEast circuit.
First opening on Memorial Day in 1953, the “Fastlands of the Finger Lakes” gained instant notoriety with current Northeast Modified Hall of Famers Dutch Hoag and Elmer Musclow turning it into a weekend home. Stock car racing at Canandaigua experienced a temporary closure in 1965 before new management surfaced seven years later with a second promoter in three years instilling more uncertainty. DIRTcar founder Glenn Donnelly took control of the Ontario County Fairgrounds’ speedplant in 1977 and offered instant stablility, remaining in charge until the end of the 2004 race season. Names like Will Cagle, Merv Treichler, Mike McLaughlin, Alan and Danny Johnson, Bob McCreadie, Steve Paine, Canadian Joe Plazek and Billy Decker soon made the headlines, establishing the facility as the “Land of Legends” for generations to come.
With seven feature victories earned since 1982, Canandaigua’s career win leader Alan Johnson tops the list of 16 drivers taking checkered flags at the charter member DIRTcar track. ‘A.J. Slideways’ is among the top-seven all-time Advance Series winners reaching victory lane at the Ontario County oval since 1980, with Brett Hearn copping the lone 50-lapper held last summer.
Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series
Top-10 Big-Block Modified Track sites (1980-2007)
EVTS TRACK FIRST RACE LAST RACE
76 Rolling Wheels Raceway-Elbridge,NY 8/13/80 9/22/07
47 New York State Fairgrounds-Syracuse,NY 9/6/82 10/7/07
46 Lebanon Valley Speedway-West Lebanon,NY 7/8/80 9/15/07
43 Fonda Speedway-Fonda,NY 4/19/80 7/17/03
43 Orange Co. Fair Speedway-Middletown,NY 9/10/83 10/21/07
41 Cayuga Co. Fair Speedway-Weedsport,NY 7/16/80 9/2/07
38 Canandaigua Speedway-Canandaigua,NY 7/23/80 8/9/07
28 Ransomville Speedway-Ransomville,NY 6/27/80 7/6/07
19 Autodrome Granby-Granby,QUE 7/10/89 9/17/00
19 Autodrome Drummond-Drummondville,QUE 7/11/89 7/23/07
The 10th Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series season continues on May 4, 2008 with the 28th DIRT Challenge Cup at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park. Further track information is available at www.rollingwheelsraceway.com and the DIRTcar NorthEast Office (315/834-6606) is open during weekdays. Log into the Advance Series homepage at www.superdirtcarseries.com or www.dirtcar.com to find out more about the entire circuit.
Headquartered in Roanoke, Va., Advance Auto Parts is the second-largest retailer of automotive aftermarket parts, accessories, batteries, and maintenance items in the United States, based on store count and sales. As of October 6, 2007, the company operated 3,228 stores in 40 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The company serves both the do-it-yourself and professional installer markets.
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 and Hoosier Racing Tire. Rite Aid Corporation is a promotional partner and the contingency sponsors are Bars Leaks, Bert Transmission, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Crane Cams, Dig Safely New York, Holley HP Carburetors, Integra Shocks, Intercomp, KSE Racing Products, Motorsports Safety Systems, Penske Shocks, Rislone Oil Stabilizer and Wrisco Industries.
