{vimeo}25139073{/vimeo}
MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. – June 17, 2011 – The Big-Block Modified Super DIRTcar Series invades Orange County Fair Speedway for ‘ The Big Show III‘ on Tuesday, June 21, for the third round of the 2011 tour. The spectacle will also exhibit the second round of Stewart Friesen and Tim McCreadie, as both drivers will be making their first appearance at the track since the controversial finish to last year’s Eastern States Weekend.
(Follow breaking news from the Super DIRTcar Series, click this link to follow along on Twitter.)
Last October, a late race scoring error cost Friesen a $20,000 Eastern States 200 victory, and handed it to Tim McCreadie. Friesen, in protest, proceeded to park his car on the track surface, get out, and sit on the roof of his Pizza Logs sponsored Big-Block Modified. As McCreadie was preparing to celebrate in victory lane after picking up the win, Friesen pulled into victory lane and proceeded to do his own victory lane celebration.
Both Friesen and McCreadie are set to do battle at Orange County Fair Speedway for ‘The Big Show III.” McCreadie, who has joined Vinnie Salerno’s team, is still in search of his first modified win of 2011 after a fine conclusion to 2010 that saw him win a bevy of high profile races, highlighted by his Eastern States 200 victory and his win during the World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.
(Click to watch preview of The Big Show III.)
Friesen, on the other hand, comes into the third installment of The Big Show with eight modified victories in 2011, tying him with defending Super DIRTcar Series champion Matt Sheppard for the most in the Northeast this year.
Both drivers will be vying for the opportunity to win the 100-lap feature for the Big-Block Modifieds, which will reward the winner with $6,000.
An all-star cast of driver’s are hoping to steal the show from McCreadie and Friesen as last year’s Big Show winner, Jimmy Phelps, leads the Super DIRTcar Series regulars onto The Hard Clay at Orange County that includes event promoter Brett Hearn, Matt Sheppard, Gary Tomkins, Peter Britten, Billy Decker, Ryan Phelps, Larry Wight, Danny Johnson, Justin Haers, Tommy Sears, Billy Dunn, Rob Bellinger and Tim Currier.
Other outsiders planning to invade the historic 5/8 mile track include Capital District superstars Matt DeLorenzo and Bobby Varin, All-Star Weekend winner Tim Fuller, Pennsylvania star Rick Laubach, and Lebanon Valley star Keith Flach.
Current Orange County Fair Speedway points leader Tommy Meier highlights the list of track regulars that will be battling in hopes of defending their home turf. Jerry Higbie, Chuck McKee, Tim Hindley, Chris Shultz, and Craig Mitchell are a few of the Orange County regulars that will be in attendance. Michael Storms, Mike Kolka, Mike Ruggerio, Danny Creeden, and Chris Whitehead have all claimed feature wins at Orange County already this year, and all plan to be in attendance on Tuesday as well.
A special 30-lap ‘Win and You’re In’ non-qualifiers race will be run following the consolations for the big blocks, with the winner getting the 13 th starting spot in the 100 lap feature. The Orange County Fair Speedway sportsman will also be on the card.
For more information log onto SuperDIRTcarSeries.com orOrangeCountyFairSpeedway.net. Click this link to reserve seats in advance.
NEWS & NOTES FROM THE SUPER DIRTcar SERIES TRAIL
• Billy VanInwegen was a surprise entrant on Tuesday night at Canandaigua Motorsports Park for the Jan Corcoran Memorial. VanInwegen decided to make the long tow after Orange County rained out on Saturday night. VanInwegen also announced his plans to make an assault on the SEF 200 at Super DIRT Week. “I always dreamed about racing at Syracuse,” said the young VanInwegen. “We’re going to give it a shot this year and see how we do.”
• Alan Johnson, after suffering motor problems on his #14J Big-Block Modified, was entered in the #11x car normally driven at Canandaigua by Chris Mangiarelli. Johnson used a late charge to qualify for the feature, but struggled with mechanical problems in the 64-lap main event.
• After Billy Dunn’s Friday night track, Can Am Motorsports Park, switched to 358-Modifieds as its weekly headliner, he was forced to find a new home track to run his Big-Block Modified weekly. Dunn chose to make Canandaigua his new home on Saturday nights. The defending Can Am champion was forced to forgo his Sunday night efforts, citing that running two cars a week (small block Friday at Can Am and Big-Block Saturday at Canandaigua) didn’t allow the team enough time to add a third track on top of following the series again.
• Pat Ward was aboard the back-up Roger Phelps owned car, re-lettered 99P for the event. Ward was an early drop out in the feature event.
• Gil Tegg Jr. made his first Big-Block start of the year at Canandaigua on Tuesday night. Tegg has been running a small block part-time at Woodhull Raceway on Saturday nights. Tegg was a long-time supporter of Canandaigua’s Saturday night programs.
• Dave Allen, a Canandaigua regular, had his night come to an early end as rear-end problems arose on his #88 Big-Block Modified on hot-laps, effectively ending his night.
• Billy VanInwegen also didn’t make it to his heat after making significant contact with turn 1 wall.
DIRTcar Racing in the Northeast Region is brought to fans by several sponsors and partners; including Hoosier Racing Tire; VP Racing Fuels; GM Performance Parts and Safety-Kleen. Promotional partners include the University of Northwestern Ohio and Chizmark & Larson Insurance. Contingency sponsors are ASI; Bert Transmissions; Bicknell Racing Products; Bilstein Shocks; Brodix; ButlerBuilt; Comp Cams; Intercomp; JE Pistons; KSE Racing Products; Motorsports Safety Systems; MSD Ignition; Penske Shocks; Racing Electronics; R2C; Super Flow; Vicci Racing Apparel; WIX Filters; Wrisco Industries; Xtreme Lubricants and Extreme Mufflers.
