Weedsport, NY — January 24, 2010 — By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing Northeast PR Director
All signals are green as DIRTcar All-Star Weekend returns to Cayuga County Fair Speedway for the second straight year, July 16-17, featuring two spectacular days of short-track action at the northeastern hub of DIRTcar Racing in Weedsport, N.Y.
Fans can get an early taste of Big-Block Modified racing Thursday, July 15 when All-Star Weekend kicks off at Brewerton (NY) Speedway with a special Super DIRTcar Series shootout with the 50-lap winner collecting $3,000.
Cayuga County Fair Speedway’s program begins Friday with a Super DIRTcar Series preliminary event paying $3,000 to the winner of the 50-lap affair. Then, all the attention Saturday turns to the 2nd Annual All-Star 100 on the historic 3/8-miler, in 2010 boasting a wild new format that is guaranteed to keep the competition keen for the distance.
“Last season was just the beginning, we’re excited to introduce a new format this year which should provide fans a real treat when July arrives,” remarked Roger Slack, World Racing Group’s Executive Vice-President of Events, after addressing an enthusiastic media gathering Saturday during Lenny Sammons’ Motorsports 2010 at the Phildadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pa. “I think the new formula truly embodies all the elements of DIRTcar Racing in the Northeast, and we’ll be showcasing those strengths and traditions throughout the entire weekend.”
“ASW now begins with a midweek special, opening up Thursday at Brewerton and then continuing to the track where it all began, the first DIRTcar track, the place where Glenn Donnelly made 1 Speedway Drive one of the most famous destinations in short-track racing. The 2010 edition puts the spotlight on two storied speedways for a true summer classic, each boasting two distinct racing surfaces that are within close driving distance for campers and fans.”
“Come feature time on Saturday we’re still ready to hand out $20,000, but maybe not to the same Big-Block driver as there will now be three pieces to the 100-lap puzzle. The first $5,000-to-win 25-lap segment represents the famous Modified qualifying format while the second 25-lap segment, which also pays $5,000-to-win, incorporates an inversion representative of the tough handicapping system that drivers face at their weekly tracks and the importance of a driver’s ability to search out new lines, pass and work traffic to get to the front in a short amount of time. The 50-lap finale ultimately pits the top stars side-by-side against one another in a long distance special for the big $10,000 prize,” added Slack, who served as General Manager at The Dirt Track @ Charlotte (NC) when the Super DIRTcar Series debuted there in 2001.
When DIRTcar All-Star Weekend ’10 officially launches at Cayuga County, joining the mighty Big-Block Modifieds on Friday alongside their Super DIRTcar Series showdown and all-out ‘Exemption Dash’ will be the DIRTcar Stock Cars (Street Stock). A Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Championship Series event has been scheduled on Saturday while details in a rare appearance by the Tobias SpeedSTRs are currently being finalized. Additional ASW events are pending at this time.
Saturday’s century shootout will be divided into three segments, with each offering separate purses. Integra Shocks Time Trials, heat race and consolation round qualifying will set the line-up for the first 25 laps and an inversion will determine the starting grid for the second 25-lapper, with each winner pocketing $5,000. Combined finishes from both races will then decide the field for the 50-lap finale that rewards the winner with a $10,000 top prize.
“Super DIRT Week is still our biggest attraction in autumn, and now we’re making All-Star Weekend the biggest spectacle of the entire summer to showcase short track stars in our region,” said Cayuga County Fair Speedway General Manager Cory Reed. “Those that attended last year know it’s a destination event like no other, and with $100,000 on the line for racers it’s a can’t miss show on everyone’s calendar.”
To capture an event of this magnitude ranks high on any driver’s list of career accomplishments. Last year’s inaugural winner Ryan Phelps not only scored his first-ever Super DIRTcar Series victory, the 2nd-generation standout from nearby Fulton, N.Y. swept the weekend doubleheader to gain instant notoriety as a star of the future.
“The All-Star wins certainly top the list, hopefully they’re a stepping stone to winning a bunch more this season,” commented Phelps, 25, who eventually placed 7th in the overall Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Championship points chase. “I think winning both days showed it wasn’t a fluke, and we did well the rest of the year, too. We proved that we’re capable of running with the best guys consistently.”
“Winning at Weedsport was definitely special. I’ve been going there since I was a kid, it’s where I cut my teeth in both Big-Block and Sportsman. And it was especially nice coming so close to home where it meant just as much for our crew and sponsors. It kind of changed our whole mindset from that day on that we could win a series race wherever we go,” Phelps added.
Reserved seats and reserved camping for DIRTcar All-Star Weekend at Cayuga County go on sale in the coming weeks at the speedway office (315/834-6606) and online at www.allstar100weekend.com. A two-day (Fri-Sat) reserved ticket purchased in advance is only $39 for a limited time and includes a Friday pit pass. Camping permits are $50 for reserved spots and $30 for general camping while the popular Infield Tailgate Party offering trackside parking and access to the infield stage will again be offered.
For additional information, contact Cayuga County GM Cory Reed (315/224-9009) in the DIRTcar Racing Northeast Office (315/834-6606) or Series Director Joe Skotnicki (704/796-4566) during normal business hours. Surf the Web at www.allstar100weekend.com as well as www.cayugacountyfairspeedway.com and www.superdirtcarseries.com anytime to find out more about the ‘10 race season.
DIRTcar Racing Northeast main office is located in Weedsport, New York on the Cayuga County Fairgrounds, home of DIRTcar All-Star Weekend in July. DIRTcar Northeast’s crown jewel event —Super DIRT Week at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse runs annually in October featuring Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Championship Series events for Big-Block Modified, 358-Modified, Sportsman and Pro Stock divisions. Ticket and schedule information is available by contacting the Weedsport office (315/834-6606) during the day or logging into www.superdirtweekonline.com anytime.
The Big-Block Super DIRTcar Series is brought to fans across the Northeast by several sponsors and partners, including series sponsors Hoosier Racing Tire www.hoosiertire.com and VP Racing Fuels www.vpracingfuels.com. Promotional partners include Rite Aid Corporation www.riteaid.com, Dig Safely New York www.digsafelynewyork.com and the University of Northwestern Ohio www.unoh.com and the contingency sponsors are Bars Leaks www.barsproducts.com, Bert Transmission www.berttransmission.com, Bicknell Racing Products www.bicknellracingproducts.com, Bilstein Shocks www.bilstein.com, Brodix Cylinder Heads www.brodix.com, Ferris Industries www.ferrisindustries.com, Integra Shocks www.integrashocksandsprings.com, Intercomp www.intercomp-racing.com, KSE Racing Products www.kse-racing.com, Motorsports Safety Systems www.motorsportssafetysystems.com, Penske Shocks, www.penskeshocks.com, Racing Electronics www.racingelectronics.com, Rislone Oil Stabilizer www.barsproducts.com and Wrisco Industries www.wrisco.com.
