Weedsport, NY — March 23, 2009 — By Tom Skibinski, Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series PR Director
WHAT
Kicking into high gear the 10th Anniversary of Series partnership with Advance Auto Parts based in Roanoke, Virginia, the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series begins March 28 at Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway with the $6,000-to-win 100-lap Big-Block Modified main event headlining the ‘North-South Shootout’ across the Mason-Dixon line. The 2009 edition of the Advance Series features point events in three states and two Canadian provinces with 23 extra-distance races spread across the Northeast region running from March through October.
WHERE
Hagerstown Speedway is located 6 miles West of Hagerstown on US Route 40 (Old National Pike). Take I-81 to Huyett’s Exit #6B then Route 40 West; track is located four miles on right.
WHEN
Hagerstown pit gates will swing open at 3 p.m. and grandstand seating is scheduled to begin at 4 o’clock. Big-Block Modified Integra Shocks Time Trials follow 5:30 p.m. practice with qualifying heats coming immediately after.
TICKETS
Adult General Admission grandstand tickets at Hagerstown are $27 for adults ($32 reserved) and pit passes cost $35 each. For more information, contact Hagerstown Speedway at 301/582-0640. All tickets and pit passes will be available at the gate on race day.
WEB SITES
Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series is at http://www.superdirtcarseries.com.
Hagerstown Speedway is at http://www.hagerstownspeedway.com
Dirtvision is at http://www.dirtvision.com.
DIRTcar Racing is at http://www.dirtcar.com.
All remain accessible 24-hours daily.
ABOUT THE TRACK
Featuring Late Model, Late Model Sportsman and Pure Stock classes every Saturday throughout the summer, Hagerstown Speedway is a true 1/2 mile track with straight-aways over 900 ft. long & 70 ft. wide. The track is 90 ft. wide in the turns and the racing surface is made of the finest red clay in the nation. The smooth, wide surface makes Hagerstown one of the fastest and safest dirt tracks in the U.S. on which to race. The Integra Shocks Fast Timer four of the six years running, Billy Decker established the single lap record in an Advance Auto Parts Series event when he circled the track in 19.016 seconds (94.657 mph) on June 23, 2005.
PREVIOUS WINNERS
The competition has been fierce in the initial events staged at Hagerstown as in 2007 the fifth different winner in six trips was crowned and only five drivers have repeated their finish among the front-five. With inclement weather canceling three of the nine events —even delaying the ‘05 race until June— scheduled at Hagerstown beginning in 2000, ‘07 champion Tim Fuller, Brett Hearn (2006), Alan Johnson (2005), Gary Tomkins (2004, 2002) and Steve Paine (2001) have made their way to the winner’s circle; with all but Fuller slated to return in 2009. Since the ‘01 Series debut in Maryland, 80 drivers have qualified for feature race competition with Hearn (7.7 ave. finish), Johnson (8.0), Billy Decker (8.5), Paine (9.3), Vic Coffey (10.5) and Fuller (10.8) the only drivers to make the starting grid all six years.
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS SUPER DIRTcar SERIES
Hagerstown Speedway (6 Evts)
DATE LAPS FIRST – SECOND – THIRD – FOURTH – FIFTH
3/22/08 100 -WEATHER-
3/31/07 105 Tim Fuller – Brett Hearn – Gary Tomkins – Billy Decker – Rick Laubach
3/25/06 100 Brett Hearn – Alan Johnson – Billy Decker – Kenny Tremont – Frank Cozze
6/23/05 100 Alan Johnson – Pat Ward – Matt Sheppard – Vic Coffey – Chad Brachmann
3/27/04 100 Gary Tomkins – Tim Fuller – Brett Hearn – Billy Decker – Jerry Higbie
3/29/03 100 -RAIN-
3/30/02 100 Gary Tomkins – Bob McCreadie – Alan Johnson – Tim Fuller – Billy Decker
3/31/01 100 Steve Paine – Jack Johnson – Danny Johnson – Tim McCreadie – Jimmy Horton
4/8/00 100 -RAIN-
INTEGRA SHOCKS
YEAR FAST QUALIFIER TIME AVE. SPEED
2008 -WEATHER-
2007 Billy Decker 19.135 sec. 94.068 mph
2006 Billy Decker 19.391 sec. 92.827 mph
2005 Billy Decker *19.016 sec. 94.657 mph
2004 Bucky Kell 19.054 sec. 94.468 mph
2003 -RAIN-
2002 Billy Decker 19.275 sec. 93.385 mph
2001 Chuck Bower 19.466 sec. 92.469 mph
2000 -RAIN-
*Track Record
TRACK HISTORY
Once a relatively unknown race track, Hagerstown Speedway has been transformed by current owner Frank Plessinger into one of the most respected facilities in the country. The prized piece of property was initially named Conococheague —after the creek that borders the backstretch— Speedway when construction began in 1946 under the direction of Stanley Schtrompf. The first race was held the following year and after just a half-dozen seasons the track was sold to local businessman Ed Geotz. Another ownership change took place in the mid-1950s and the trio of Wayne and Allen Stouffer and colleague Adrian Durham remained intact for two decades thereafter. Jack Gunn assumed promotion in 1975 and added Hagerstown to the KARS circuit. Gunn’s passing in 1980 opened the door for Plessinger —at the time owner of P&W Excavating— and the storied half-miler has prospered ever since. In 1983 Hagerstown gained national recognition when it became the first track to offer a $50,000-to-win race. When Plessinger officially purchased the track the following year he introduced Speedweek which for the first time ever presented Sprints, Late Models and Modifieds on the same program that boasted a $200,000 total purse. Today, Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modified and World of Outlaws Late Model Series events continue to attract out-of-state travelers to Hagerstown with both tour stops regarded among the annual track highlights.
All-time Advance Auto Parts Series winner Brett Hearn is also the winningest Modified driver in Hagerstown history, with the 2009 season-opening events in Maryland increasing the total to 105 since 1983. Hearn has won nearly a quarter of those main events, with his 24th career victory recorded last November. Defending Mr. DIRTcar Billy Decker’s lone win came in a 100-lap Small-Block event while Series star Jimmy Phelps copped his first just a year in Big-Block Modified action. Tour traveler Matt Sheppard, the most recent winner at Hagerstown on March 14, captured a pair of century grinds on the same day to make history during Octoberfest Weekend in 2004. Richie Pratt Jr. claimed Hagerstown’s ’09 lid-lifter on March 7.
Hagerstown Speedway – All-Time Modified Feature Winners (1983-3/14/09)
*Total includes 78 Big-Block events.
WINS DRIVER FIRST LAST
24 Brett Hearn 8/24/84 11/9/08
12 Doug Hoffman 9/30/90 10/27/02
10 Bob McCreadie 3/11/90 10/2/94
7 Billy Pauch 10/23/88 10/31/99
5 Kenny Brightbill 5/20/84 10/27/02
4 Craig VonDohren 9/29/91 3/25/01
3 Frank Cozze 10/15/89 3/16/97
3 Mike Romano 3/24/96 3/27/99
3 J.R. Heffner 10/29/00 10/30/05
3 Matt Sheppard 10/31/04 3/14/09
2 Jack Johnson 8/23/85 3/4/90
2 Roger Laureno 4/5/92 3/26/00
2 Gary Tomkins 3/30/02 3/27/04
2 Alan Johnson 3/23/03 6/23/05
2 Rick Laubach 3/25/07 11/9/08
1 Freddy Brightbill 6/26/83
1 Ray Bateman Jr. 3/12/89
1 Lou Blaney 3/12/89
1 Scott Irwin 10/15/95
1 Bruce Kline 3/16/97
1 Jeff Strunk 3/1/98
1 Deron Rust 3/27/99
1 Mitch Gibbs 10/31/99
1 Steve Paine 3/31/01
1 Todd Burley 10/28/01
1 Jamie Mills 2/24/02
1 Andy Bachetti 10/26/03
1 Brian Weaver 10/26/03
1 Keith Hoffman 3/7/04
1 Billy Decker 10/29/06
1 Danny Johnson 10/29/06
1 Tim Fuller 3/31/07
1 Kevin Hirthler 10/28/07
1 Wade Hendrickson 10/28/07
1 Jimmy Phelps 3/15/08
1 Richie Pratt Jr. 3/7/09
NEWS & NOTES
2009 Mr. DIRTcar Championship On The Line: The overall Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Modified Champion in 2009 will be determined by adding actual points earned in the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series along with bonus points collected at a designated hometrack throughout the racing season. Along with gaining valuable Advance Series points during the year, each driver can now earn a maximum of 360 additional points (60 per event) from participation in six feature races at their hometrack when Mr. DIRTcar Championship points are officially tallied after Labor.
Billy Decker was crowned Mr. DIRTcar Champion in 2008, with his initial title taken exactly 10 years earlier in 1998. Chalking up a record-tying Advance Auto Parts Series 10 feature wins in ‘08, the ‘Franklin Flyer’ grabbed the points lead early in June and never wavered the rest of the way as he secured DIRTcar Racing Northeast’s highest Big-Block Modified honor for owners John & Laura Wight and the Gypsum Wholesalers Team. Jimmy Phelps overtook Dale Planck for second in the season-finale, with ’04 champion Gary Tomkins also moving past all-time Advance Series champion Brett Hearn in the last race to fill out the front-five. 2008 Big-Block Modified Rookie of the Year Larry Wight finished 14th on the final points chart.
2008 Overall Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Modified/
Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Point Standings (FINAL Top-50)
®-Rookie
Rank No. Driver Points Series Bonus Diff. Wins Top-5 Top-10 Starts
1 91 BILLY DECKER 2,495 2,195 300 0 10 18 24 26
2 98h Jimmy Phelps 2,293 2,019 274 -202 1 14 23 26
3 77x Dale Planck 2,251 1,959 292 -244 3 16 21 26
4 84 Gary Tomkins 2,204 1,908 296 -291 2 11 21 26
5 20 Brett Hearn 2,164 1,876 288 -331 2 9 20 26
6 9s Matt Sheppard 2,143 1,859 284 -352 1 9 18 26
7 FX1 Frankie Caprara1,904 1,612 292 -591 0 2 14 26
8 7x Steve Paine 1,852 1,560 292 -643 0 9 11 25
9 99 Ryan Phelps 1,795 1,539 256 -700 0 1 8 26
10 3 Justin Haers 1,738 1,480 258 -757 0 2 14 25
11 14J Alan Johnson 1,689 1,401 288 -806 3 6 12 22
12 49 Billy Dunn 1,599 1,347 252 -896 0 0 3 26
13 27J Danny Johnson 1,588 1,448 140 -907 1 5 7 26
14 99L Larry Wight® 1,242 1,020 222 -1,253 0 0 1 23
15 6 Pat O’Brien 1,049 765 284 -1,446 0 0 2 17
16 29 Jeff Brownell Jr.984 754 230 -1,511 0 0 1 16
17 19 Tim Fuller 694 644 50 -1,801 0 4 4 7
18 42B Kevin Bates 691 439 252 -1,804 0 0 0 12
19 79 Mike Storms® 679 425 254 -1,816 0 1 2 8
20 56 Vince Vitale 659 417 242 -1,836 0 0 1 8
21 99b Chuck Bower 610 364 246 -1,885 0 0 0 11
22 88 Steve Hulsizer 589 347 242 -1,906 0 0 0 7
23 4 Andy Bachetti 587 299 288 -1,908 1 1 1 3
24 32c Vic Coffey 559 393 166 -1,936 0 1 2 7
25 74 J.R. Heffner 535 271 264 -1,960 0 1 2 2
26 98 Eddie Marshall 527 265 262 -1,968 0 1 2 2
27 48T Dave Rauscher 503 277 226 -1,992 0 0 1 7
28 91h Chad Homan 498 280 218 -1,997 0 0 0 8
29 16 Mike Bowman 495 263 232 -2,000 0 0 0 7
30 93 Ryan Bartlett 493 243 250 -2,002 0 0 0 6
31 5 Jason Potter 489 239 250 -2,006 0 0 0 7
32 43 Keith Flach 487 235 252 -2,008 0 0 1 4
33 62s Tom Sears Jr. 482 214 268 -2,013 0 0 0 5
34 71 David VanHorn 481 221 260 -2,014 0 0 0 4
35 24 Chris Shultz 472 216 256 -2,023 0 0 0 3
36 02 Roy Bresnahan 472 270 202 -2,023 0 0 1 4
37 47 Jerry Higbie 467 201 266 -2,028 0 1 2 2
38 53e Ric Hill 454 222 232 -2,041 0 0 1 4
39 77F Mark Flach Jr. 453 185 268 -2,042 0 1 1 2
40 115 Kenny Tremont 452 182 270 -2,043 0 0 0 3
41 14 Rich Laubach 441 441 0 -2,054 0 2 3 6
42 357 Stewart Friesen 439 439 0 -2,056 0 2 3 6
43 44 Shannon Whaley 438 236 202 -2,057 0 0 0 7
44 42p Pat Ward 425 249 176 -2,070 0 0 1 3
45 33.3 Tommy Meier 423 175 248 -2,072 0 0 1 2
46 21 Derrick Podsiadlo 420 184 236 -2,075 0 0 0 7
47 19 Chuck McKee 416 146 270 -2,079 0 1 1 2
48 1x Willy Decker 402 126 276 -2,093 0 0 1 2
49 19h Chris Higgins® 394 188 206 -2,101 0 0 0 5
50 8 Rob Bellinger 388 132 256 -2,107 0 0 0 4
Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Champions
YEAR CHAMPION (wins) MSS/G-FORCE ROOKIE of the YEAR
2008 Billy Decker (10) Larry Wight
2007 Brett Hearn (7) Mike Bowman
2006 Alan Johnson (6) Kenny Stafford
2005 Tim Fuller (6) Stewart Friesen
2004 Gary Tomkins (4) Justin Hears
2003 Alan Johnson (6) Matt Sheppard
2002 Alan Johnson (5) Joe Beyea
2001 Brett Hearn (7) Frankie Caprara
2000 Steve Paine (4) Jeff Brownell
1999 Danny Johnson (2) Josh Skarzenski
1998 Billy Decker (6) Todd Milton
1997 D.Johnson (7)/B.Hearn (5) Tim McCreadie
1996 Brett Hearn (5) Vic Coffey
1995 Bob McCreadie (6) Tim Fuller
1994 Bob McCreadie (9) Jamie Mills
1993 Brett Hearn (5) Scott Schrader
1992 Danny Johnson (6) Ricky Elliott
1991 Doug Hoffman (5) Lenny Boyd
1990 Brett Hearn (7) Scott Prentice
1989 Danny Johnson (7) John Ventura
1988 Jack Johnson (2) Mike Jeffery
1987 Jack Johnson (2) Steve Behrent
1986 Charlie Rudolph (1) Jim Ruston
1985 Jack Johnson (1) Rich Burgess
1984 Jack Johnson (3) Ray Underwood
1983 Alan Johnson (4) Jimmy Begolo
1982 Jack Johnson (2) Randy Glenski
1981 Alan Johnson (2) Craig Keel
1980 Jack Johnson (5) Roger Phelps
1979 Will Cagle Jim Jarvis
1978 Will Cagle Jerry Knox
1977 Dave Lape Rick Martell
1976 Will Cagle —–
Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modified Winners: 1980-2008 (619 events / 45 tracks / 67 drivers)
WINS DRIVER FIRST WIN LAST WIN
100 Brett Hearn Lebanon Valley, 7/15/81 Orange County, 7/31/08
66 Danny Johnson Fonda, 9/25/82 Orange County, 10/19/08
51 Bob McCreadie Ransomville, 9/10/82 Rolling Wheels, 9/4/00
50 Alan Johnson Ransomville, 6/27/80 Rolling Wheels, 9/27/08
49 Billy Decker Lebanon Valley, 9/18/88 Rolling Wheels, 9/1/08
28 Jack Johnson Cayuga County, 7/16/80 Orange County, 6/14/01
27 Steve Paine Canandaigua, 9/7/85 Can-Am, 8/18/07
26 Doug Hoffman Orange County, 10/25/87 Lowe’s, 4/6/02
18 Tim McCreadie Rolling Wheels, 9/26/99 Drummond, 8/23/04
17 Tim Fuller Rolling Wheels, 9/21/03 Cayuga County, 8/19/07
17 Gary Tomkins Hagerstown, 3/30/02 Cornwall, 8/17/08
16 Jimmy Horton Lebanon Valley, 7/8/80 Susquehanna, 6/15/06
13 Kenny Tremont Lebanon Valley, 7/9/92 Lebanon Valley, 7/7/05
9 Kenny Brightbill Fonda, 10/18/87 Bridgeport, 6/19/97
8 Frank Cozze Orange County, 10/22/89 NYS Fairgrounds, 10/12/08
7 Billy Pauch Flemington, 7/27/89 New Egypt, 6/22/05
7 Jeff Heotzler Orange County, 7/26/89 Orange County, 10/21/07
6 Dave Lape Rolling Wheels, 7/5/82 Fonda, 7/24/91
6 Joe Plazek Brewerton, 6/28/94 Rolling Wheels, 9/1/97
5 Will Cagle Erie County, 9/20/80 Rolling Wheels, 9/27/81
5 Pete Bicknell Humberstone, 8/23/84 NYS Fairgrounds, 7/3/02
5 Matt Sheppard Drummond, 7/12/04 Virginia, 5/1/08
5 Dale Planck Cornwall, 7/9/06 Drummond, 7/12/08
4 Carl Reynolds Five Mile Point, 7/12/80 Five Mile Point, 10/17/81
4 Merv Treichler Cayuga County, 9/20/81 Lebanon Valley, 8/9/84
4 C.D. Coville Fonda, 4/19/80 Devil’s Bowl, 8/29/84
4 Kevin Collins Fonda, 7/25/90 Fonda, 8/16/94
4 Bobby Varin Fonda, 8/16/95 Orange County, 10/26/03
4 Jimmy Phelps Brewerton, 8/30/06 Merrittville, 8/4/08
3 Charlie Rudolph Fonda, 10/16/83 Ransomville, 9/5/86
3 Chuck McKee Orange County, 8/16/98 Orange County, 8/1/02
3 Pat Ward Can-Am, 7/16/98 Cayuga County, 9/4/05
3 Andy Bachetti Lebanon Valley, 8/5/04 Lebanon Valley, 9/7/08
2 Mike McLaughlin Canandaigua, 9/6/80 Rolling Wheels, 9/28/80
2 Don McGinnis Merrittville, 9/11/83 Canandaigua, 9/17/83
2 Tommy Corellis Lebanon Valley, 9/14/80 Lebanon Valley, 9/14/86
2 Davey Moore Ransomville, 8/4/81 Humberstone, 9/10/87
2 Rich Ricci Jr. Lebanon Valley, 7/28/94 Lebanon Valley, 9/7/97
2 J.R. Heffner Lebanon Valley, 8/10/00 Lebanon Valley, 9/9/06
2 Pat O’Brien Can-Am, 7/17/90 Brockville, 7/10/07
2 Vic Coffey NYS Fairgrounds, 10/13/02 NYS Fairgrounds, 10/7/07
1 Bernie Griffin Five Mile Point, 7/12/80
1 Lou Lazzaro Canandaigua, 7/23/80
1 Chuck Akulis Five Mile Point, 10/18/80
1 Harvey Hainer Ransomville, 9/11/81
1 Dick Larkin NYS Fairgrounds, 9/6/82
1 Gary Iulg Rolling Wheels, 9/6/82
1 Ken Brenn Jr. NYS Fairgrounds, 7/3/83
1 Larry Brolsma Orange County, 9/10/83
1 Freddy Brightbill New Venture, 9/29/85
1 Rich Eurich Orange County, 10/23/88
1 Kenny Schrader Sanair, 7/9/89
1 Geoff Bodine Thompson, 8/6/89
1 Mike Romano Fonda, 10/15/89
1 Reggie Ruggiero Thompson, 7/29/90
1 Walt Mitchell Woodhull, 7/31/91
1 Doug Worthing Five Mile Point, 8/14/91
1 Ron Smoker Merrittville, 8/5/92
1 Richie Tobias Jr. NYS Fairgrounds, 10/11/92
1 Danny O’Brien Can-Am, 8/30/95
1 Jimmy Hauser NYS Fairgrounds, 7/7/96
1 Eddie Marshall NYS Fairgrounds, 9/6/99
1 Steve Poirier Drummond, 7/8/02
1 Kevin Bolland Lowe’s, 4/5/03
1 Ricky Elliott Lowe’s, 4/3/04
1 Keith Hoffman New Egypt, 10/13/07
1 H.J. Bunting Georgetown, 7/17/08
Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modified Integra Shocks Fast Timers 1983-2008 (242 events / 32 tracks / 48 drivers)
EVTS DRIVER FIRST FAST TIME LAST FAST TIME
40 Brett Hearn Orange County, 10/24/86 Brewerton, 8/15/08
37 Billy Decker NYS Fairgrounds, 7/3/01 Lebanon Valley, 9/7/08
21 Tim McCreadie Rolling Wheels, 7/4/00 Cayuga County, 5/29/05
20 Tim Fuller New Egypt, 6/20/02 NYS Fairgrounds, 10/12/08
17 Steve Paine Canandaigua, 9/1/99 Merrittville, 8/4/08
9 Chuck Bower Cayuga County, 5/28/00 Lernerville, 8/3/05
9 Matt Sheppard Drummond, 7/12/04 Ransomville, 7/6/07
8 Bob McCreadie NYS Fairgrounds, 10/7/90 Fonda, 10/20/02
8 Gary Tomkins Drummond, 7/10/00 Rolling Wheels, 5/7/06
8 Alan Johnson Cayuga County, 5/26/02 Rolling Wheels, 9/27/08
5 Frank Cozze Orange County, 6/10/04 New Egypt, 8/15/07
5 Jimmy Phelps Drummond, 7/11/05 Can-Am, 8/16/08
5 Dale Planck Drummond, 7/10/06 Cornwall, 8/17/08
3 Billy Pauch NYS Fairgronds, 10/12/86 NYS Fairgrounds, 10/9/88
3 Kenny Brightbill NYS Fairgronds, 10/13/96 New Egypt, 8/2/00
3 Doug Hoffman NYS Fairgronds, 10/11/87 Tri-City, 8/5/01
3 Andy Bachetti Orange County, 10/24/99 Lebanon Valley, 7/7/05
2 Jack Johnson NYS Fairgrounds, 10/7/84 Orange County, 10/28/84
2 Dave Blaney NYS Fairgrounds, 10/9/94 NYS Fairgrounds, 10/10/99
2 Jimmy Horton NYS Fairgronds, 10/11/92 Big Diamond, 6/18/03
2 Bobby Varin NYS Fairgronds, 10/11/98 Fonda, 7/17/03
2 Pat Ward Fonda, 7/19/00 Rolling Wheels, 9/23/06
2 Duane Howard Grandview, 7/18/07 Virginia, 5/1/08
2 Jeff Heotzler Orange County, 10/27/96 Orange County, 10/19/08
1 Merv Treichler NYS Fairgrounds, 10/9/83
1 Rich Eurich Orange County, 10/30/83
1 Sammy Swindell NYS Fairgrounds, 10/13/85
1 Tony Ferriauolo IV Orange County, 10/27/85
1 Joe Plazek NYS Fairgrounds, 10/10/93
1 Chuck McKee Orange County, 10/25/98
1 Scott Prentice Rolling Wheels, 4/30/00
1 Danny Johnson Lebanon Valley, 8/10/00
1 A.J. Romano Rolling Wheels, 8/20/00
1 Ricky Elliott New Egypt, 6/21/01
1 Eddie Marshall Lebanon Valley, 8/2/01
1 Ron Smoker NYS Fairgrounds, 9/3/01
1 Frankie Caprara Lowe’s, 4/6/02
1 Todd Burley Cornwall, 7/7/02
1 Bucky Kell Hagerstown, 3/27/04
1 Justin Hears Rolling Wheels, 5/2/04
1 J.R. Heffner Lebanon Valley, 9/10/05
1 Rick Grosso Jr. New Egypt, 9/24/05
1 Pierre Berthiaume Brockville, 7/4/06
1 Rick Mill Orange County, 10/22/06
1 Ryan Phelps Cayuga County, 9/2/07
1 Vic Coffey Cayuga County, 5/25/08
1 Pat O’Brien Fulton, 6/7/08
1 David VanHorn Jr. Orange County, 7/31/08
2009 Big-Block Season Underway: The Advance Auto Parts Series non-point lid-lifters during the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park in February already featured many top touring drivers along with a number of those contracted to compete during the 2009 campaign. Brett Hearn scored a win in the tour finale with Pat Ward clinching the title following early round victories. Dale Planck and Hearn finished tied for third in final Florida tour points, ahead of Advance Series standouts Sheppard (6th), Jeff Brownell Jr. (8th) and Larry Wight (14th). Billy Decker ran just two of the four events to settle into 12th on the points chart while Alan Johnson crashed over the weekend to rank 21st with three of four races run.
Hagerstown Action Hot & Heavy In Half-Dozen Shows: With six events in the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series record book at Hagerstown during the new millennium, the cream of the DIRTcar Big-Block Modified crop has managed to rise to the top every spring. Prior to the freeze-out last March, eventual Mr. DIRTcar runner-up Tim Fuller dominated the 2007 action to score his first Series triumph in the Old Line State. Second-place finisher Brett Hearn edged Gary Tomkins on the last circuit in a race that was extended to 105 laps while Billy Decker settled for fourth ahead of Bert Hard Charger Rick Laubach, who started 26th in the 30-car feature field.
It all began when Steve Paine forged the fourth and final lead change with 10 laps to go, then held off Jack and Danny Johnson to score the initial win in 2001. Gary Tomkins charged from 16th to first in 45 laps and overtook runner-up Bob McCreadie to register his first career victory in Advance Auto Parts tour competition in the ’02 edition before Alan Johnson steered a back-up car in the rain-delayed 2005 finale to cop his first-ever big-block triumph at Hagerstown. In ‘06, all-time tour winner Brett Hearn held off veterans Alan Johnson and Billy Decker in a blanket finish. In between, heralded as one of the greatest Super DIRTcar Series shootouts of all time, Tomkins’ win in March of ’04 came following an Advance Series race record 16 lead changes. The final 36 laps were run non-stop under green flag conditions with Tomkins and Fuller trading the point on five occasions. Despite Fuller holding nearly a half straightaway lead with five laps to go, the final exchange came with the white flag flying and Tomkins nosing ahead as the DIRTcar duo dragged down the front stretch. The lead pair exited the final turn and Tomkins, who continued to use the low line around the speedway, inched ahead of the high-flying Fuller —who had the right-rear tire shredding— in traffic to score the dramatic victory by a single car-length.
Integra Shocks Fast To Support Top Series Qualifiers: For a fourth straight year Integra Shocks will play an active role in point fund sponsorship of the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series during the upcoming race season. The fast driver during 2009 Advance Auto Parts Series qualifying will once again earn the ‘Integra Shocks Fast Time Award’ and the driver winning the most Integra Shocks Fast Time awards during the season will collect a bonus set of four Integra Shocks ($1,400 value) at the DIRTcar Racing NorthEast Banquet in November. The Advance Auto Parts Series has recognized fast time trialers since 1983, with 1999 marking the first year the awards program included every tour event scheduled during the year. All-time Advance Series race winner Brett Hearn is also a leader when it comes to speed, earning a series-best total of 40 Integra Shocks Fast Time awards during the past two decades.
Drivers will continue to draw for their order in the ‘Integra Shocks Time Trials’ at nearly every Advance Series stop, with the fast timer once again selecting a second pill to determine how many cars (0, 2, 3 or 4) will be inverted to start each preliminary heat race. The ‘Integra Shocks Fast Time Award’ winner will collect $100 and five (5) bonus points and the top-three heat race finishers will earn additional bonus points as follows: 1st-5 pts, 2nd-3 pts, 3rd-1 pt. With this inversion format in place, a driver can now earn a maximum of 10 more points being the fast timer as well as a heat race winner.
Big Advance Series Stops Showcase ’09 Big-Block Campaign: The customary pre-race re-draw among top heat race qualifiers will continue to be in effect throughout the summer, with the season-ending show at the New York State Fairgrounds the only Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series stop awarding the fast timer with a pole-position start (heat points will not be awarded at this show). Continuing to rank among the most prestigious races in the country, the Rite Aid 200 at the N.Y.S. Fairgrounds in Syracuse on Oct. 11 is the only 200-lap race on the annual tour with the winner taking home $50,000. However, Super DIRT Week showdown is not the only prized jewel this season as the first-ever DIRTcar All-Star 100 at Cayuga County Fair Speedway on July 19 boasts a $20,000 winner’s share while another $17,500 sits on top for the winner of the Mr. DIRT Track, USA finale at Lebanon Valley Speedway on August 27. Syracuse remains the only Advance Auto Parts Series stops where the fast timer starts on the pole and the top-six are locked into front three row starting positions while heats will be aligned in heads-up fashion.
Syracuse SDW Starters Guaranteed From Series Success: Guaranteed starting berths in the Rite Aid 200 are once again up for grabs and in 2009 drivers will also be able to earn preferred starter status throughout the season for the richest DIRTcar Big-Block Modified event in the world. Winners of the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series races and those among the top-12 in overall Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Modified Championship points heading into Super DIRT Week comprise the core group of drivers receiving guaranteed starting positions in the Rite Aid 200. Preferred starters are the next eligible drivers finishing behind an Advance Auto Parts Series race winner that is already locked into the Rite Aid 200 starting grid, as well as all three DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Regional point champions and every licensed Big-Block Modified track champion crowned this year.
In order to take advantage of their guaranteed starting positions in the Rite Aid 200, Advance Series race winners and top-12 Mr. DIRTcar point-getters must run time trials. Any guaranteed driver that fails to qualify through time trials or a Triple 20 will be added to the Rite Aid field in order of heat race results. Those drivers holding preferred status are afforded up front starting positions in the Dig Safely New York last-chance qualifier on Sunday, Oct. 11 if unable to qualify while running under the clocks or in heat race competition. The balance of the Rite Aid 200 line-up is filled in from the Dig Safely New York Shootout with the 45th starting spot going to the best overall finisher in Cayuga County Fair Speedway’s ‘Win & You’re In’ Twin 25s on Sat., Oct. 10.
Andrews Anchors DIRT Radio Network Broadcasts: Nationally recognized SPEED commentator and popular track public address announcer Shane Andrews is back on the road in 2009 serving as the official voice of the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series for a fourth consecutive year. In addition to traveling the DIRTcar Northeast circuit and carrying out his accustomed weekend announcing duties, Andrews will also be a regular host heard on the DIRT Radio Network. Fans will again be able to listen to nearly every Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series event LIVE on the DIRT Radio Network in 2009. With microphone back in hand, Andrews already helped kick off DIRTcar’s 34th straight season during the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia in February.
DIRT Radio Network Heads To Hagerstown: If fans can’t make the trip to Maryland, the DIRT Radio Network presented by BUTLERbuilt travels to Hagerstown Speedway for the opening round of the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series. On March 28 listeners will be able to tune in to LIVE audio coverage from Hagerstown as program host and SPEED personality Shane Andrews brings you all the action generated by the ground-pounding 800-horsepower Big-Block Modifieds. From Integra Shocks Time Trials to victory lane on Saturday, LIVE audio starts at approximately 6:00 p.m. ET with qualifying, heat races and a $6,000-to-win 100-lap feature headlining the show. Cheer for your favorite driver, along with the 20,000 registered members who enjoy LIVE Racing coverage on the DIRT Radio Network.
To tune in, visit www.dirtvision.com, log in, click on the race you want to hear, and you’re off to the races. Listeners will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher, and internet explorer 6 to listen to the DIRT Radio Network. Users with Mac computers need flip4Mac to listen. For help e-mail customerservice@dirtvision.com. The Dirt Radio Network is presented by BUTLERbuilt professional seat systems. BUTLERbuilt is the leader in custom seating. Call 704/784-1027 and let BUTLERbuilt build you an advantage today!!!
VP Now Official Race Fuel Of DIRTcar Northeast: The World Racing Group announced early in the year that VP Racing Fuels signed a multi-year agreement to become the Official Racing Fuel of the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series, World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, all 12 divisions of DIRTcar Racing and UMP DIRTcar Racing, along with a number of regional touring series that fall under the DIRTcar banner. In the DIRTcar Racing Northeast Region, the only fuels allowed in the Big-Block Modified and 358-Modified divisions at sanctioned events will be VP110 and C12. The multi-faceted deal began with the season-opening Alltel DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park in February, where VP was the sole fuel supplier at the high speed, half-miler. VP Racing Fuels will roll out a program to quickly become a part of the fabric of DIRTcar Racing with aggressive promotional programs for DIRTcar sanctioned tracks, while giving the competitors a variety of incentive programs across all World Racing Group series, divisions and sanctioning bodies.
UPCOMING EVENT
Following the scheduled tour opener at Hagerstown, Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series race chasers take a month off before getting back to action in a return visit to the Keystone State at the end of April. The stop at Big Diamond Raceway will mark just the third-ever series event staged at the popular Minersville, Pennsylvania oval since the tour originated in 1980, with the last show run in 2004 won by Brett Hearn.
2009 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Schedule
NP=Non-Point event; SP=Show-Up Point event.
*All events subject to change.
DAY-DATE TRACK WINNER/RITE AID 200 QUAL. (Site)
Wed-Feb 11 Volusia Speedway Park-NP Pat Ward
Thr-Feb 12 Volusia Speedway Park-NP Pat Ward
Fri-Feb 13 Volusia Speedway Park-NP Jamie Mills
Sat-Feb 14 Volusia Speedway Park-NP Brett Hearn
Sat-Mar 28 Hagerstown Speedway Hagerstown,MD
Sun-Apr 26 Big Diamond Raceway Minersville,PA
Sat-Jun 6 Lebanon Valley Speedway West Lebanon,NY
Sun-Jun 7 Airborne Speedway-SP Plattsburgh,NY
Wed-Jun 17 Orange Co Fair Speedway Middletown,NY
Fri-Jul 3 Ransomville Speedway Ransomville,NY
Sat-Jul 4 Fulton Speedway Fulton,NY
Great Canadian Tour
Thr-Jul 9 Brockville Ont Speedway Brockville,ONT
Fri-Jul 10 Autodrome Granby Granby,QUE
Sat-Jul 11 Autodrome Drummond Drummondville,QUE
Sun-Jul 12 Cornwall Motor Speedway Cornwall,ONT
Sat-Jul 18 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway Weedsport,NY
Sun-Jul 19 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway Weedsport,NY ($20,000-to-win)
Mon-Aug 3 Merrittville Speedway Thorold,ONT
Fri-Aug 7 Brewerton Speedway Brewerton,NY
Sat-Aug 8 Canandaigua Speedway Canandaigua,NY
Fri-Aug 21 Can-Am Motorsports Park LaFargeville,NY
Thr-Aug 27 Lebanon Valley Speedway West Lebanon,NY ($17,500-to-win)
Sun-Sep 6 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway Weedsport,NY
Mon-Sep 7 Rolling Wheels Raceway Elbridge,NY
Fri-Sep 11 Lernerville Speedway Sarver,PA
Sat-Sep 19 -TBA-
Sat-Sep 26 Rolling Wheels Raceway Elbridge,NY
Sun-Oct 11 New York State Fairgrnds Syracuse,NY ($50,000-to-win)
Sun-Oct 18 -TBA-
Sun-Oct 25 -TBA-
DIRTcar Racing Northeast main office is located in Weedsport, New York on the Cayuga County Fairgrounds www.cayugacountyfairspeedway.com, home of the 2009 DIRTcar All-Star Weekend, July 17-19, featuring Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Championship Series events for Sportsman and Big-Block Modifieds in the richest short-track show of its kind in the nation — the $20,000-to-win Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series “DIRTcar All-Star 100” on Sunday, July 19.
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.
