Concord, NC — November 1, 2008 – By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing NorthEast PR Director
*Bob Armbruster Photo
With the VAULT World Finals weekend highlighted by World of Outlaws Series season-ending stops for Sprint Car and Late Model teams at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modified star Brett Hearn was also part of the program Saturday afternoon.
As special stage visits by a solid turnout of top divers pre-empted the trackside activity on both Friday and Saturday, Hearn was featured among a prominent list of headliners that participated in a daily pre-race talk show conducted “live” in front of fans gathered on vendor row behind the main grandstand.
“Lowe’s is such an impressive place with people coming here from all over the country, some I’ve even met from around the world,” remarked Hearn, the six-time overall Hoosier Tire Mr. DIRTcar Champion who ranks first all-time in Advance Auto Parts Series wins (100) with at least one Series victory registered in each of the last 14 years. The ‘Corporate Jet’ shared victory lane with Steve Paine in 2001 when the Big-Blocks made the first of five straight appearances at Lowe’s Dirt Track.
“The track was a blast when we first came down here and the conditions this week are just like they used to be. I hope we can come back. This is a great deal and I’d like to see more events with DIRT’s main divisions —Big-Block Modifieds, Sprints, Late Models— all on the same card. But right now I’m just enjoying being a spectator. If you’re not a fan first, you’ll never be a racer so I’m having fun watching from the other side of the fence this weekend,” Hearn said.
Recently crowned WoO Late Models Series Champion Darrell Lanigan opened the Saturday show and was followed by LM tour standouts Shane Clanton, Rick Eckert, Shannon Babb, Dale McDowell and that night’s winner Josh Richards. The Outlaws Series Sprint Car contingent was led by veteran wingmen Jason Meyers, Jac Haudenshild and Daryn Pittman.
The lead-off show on Friday included three-time WoO Sprint Car Series Champion Donny Schatz, Kraig Kinser, Lucas Wolfe, Joey Saldana and Kerry Madsen, while Chub Frank, Steve Francis, Donnie Moran, Tim McCreadie, Tim Fuller and opening night winner Scott Bloomquist represented the full-fender ranks.
“Even though (Big-Block Modifieds) are confined to the Northeast, we’re still one of the most professional groups with drivers like McCreadie and Fuller now able to prove it on a national tour,” Hearn added. “And I do really enjoying watching these guys from our neck of the woods do well, not just one guy but everybody as they got their start with the Modifieds.”
Along with Hearn, also spotted roaming the Lowe’s Dirt Track pits during the weekend were Big-Block runners Dale Planck, Justin Haers, Pat and Tim O’Brien, with Billy Dunn serving as a member of Fuller’s super late model crew.
With the 2008 DIRTcar Racing NorthEast ‘Night of Champions’ Awards Banquet at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York coming up in just two more weeks, Hearn has already set his sights on defending the Florida tour title when the Advance Series Modifieds compete in the 38th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park on February 11-14, 2009.
For more information about the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series for Big-Block Modifieds, log into www.superdirtcarseries.com. B.H. Racing Enterprises, Inc. information is available online at www.bretthearn.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.
