Weedsport, NY — September 4, 2008 – By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing NorthEast PR Director
*Chris Dolack Photo: #2 Ronnie Johnson
Veteran driver Jack Johnson and rising star Ronnie Johnson recently submitted the first official entries to compete during Super DIRT Week XXXVII, scheduled for Oct. 7-12 2008 at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse.
The father & son duo have each entered cars attempting to qualifying for the headline Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Rite Aid 200 for Big-Block Modifieds on Sunday, October 12, with Jack already a two-time winner (1979, ’84) and Ronnie named the rookie of the title race in 1999.
Jack will also be participating in the 358-Modified preliminary events, culminating with the 29th running of the ITT Industries-Goulds Pumps 150-lap ‘Salute to the Troops’ Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Championship Series main event Saturday afternoon at the New York State Fairgrounds.
“This year I’m fortunate to be working with Bobby Hearn as his Teo Pro Car house driver during Super DIRT Week,” revealed Ronnie, 34, who finished fourth in last October’s Rite Aid 200 steering the no. 2 W.M. Larned-Palmer’s Service Center-Morris Auto Group/TEO machine. B-Day, Mickles Automotive and Bob Hackel’s Used Cars join the solid core of sponsorship support that the youngest of the Johnson clan has lined up for this year’s assault on the Moody Mile.
“This will be an experimental car with my colors carrying my sponsors and my number. Bobby built it especially for trying out at Syracuse so I’m looking forward to the opportunity to give it a test run that week. We won’t know what to expect until we get there. Maybe we’ll struggle or even be the fastest car out there, its anybody’s guess right what’s in store for us at the fairgrounds,” Johnson added.
Competing in the inaugural Rite Aid 200 at the Syracuse Mile in 1972, Jack will be back aboard the familiar no. 12a TEO mount owned by Frank Witz and sponsored by Witz Roofing, Palmer’s Service Center and Krug Builders. Both Johnson entries will be sporting Kevin Enders-prepared powerplants as will Jack’s no. 76A Small-Block ride owned by Alton and Carole Palmer.
Since finishing eighth in his first SDW effort, Jack has qualified for all but one of the 36 previous Big-Block title events in the Salt City with 1984 his most memorable season. Not only did Johnson, now 64, capture DIRTcar’s ‘Triple Crown’ in convincing fashion, Jumpin’ Jack went one step further by becoming the first-ever driver to secure the ‘Syracuse Slam’ —CRC Qualifier in July, NYS Fair Labor Day Championship in September, CLM Winner’s Classic and Schaefer 200 during Super DIRT Week— in the same season.
For more information about Super DIRT Week, including ticket order placement, lap sponsorship and vendor space availability, please contact DIRTcar Racing NE Headquarters during the week at 315/834-6606. Further newsworthy items can be found at www.superdirtcarseries.com and www.dirtcar.com while tickets can be ordered on-line by logging into https://syracuse.ticketdirector.com.
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.
