Weedsport, NY — April 8, 2009 — By Tom Skibinski, Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series PR Director
With Big Diamond Raceway back on the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series schedule after a five year absence, anticipation is even higher now with the ‘Spring Fever 75’ on Sunday, April 26 kicking off the 2009 Big-Block points tour.
For just the third time in Big Diamond history, the Advance Series will invade the popular Minersville, Pennsylvania oval with the best in the Modified business chasing a $6,000 top prize in 75 laps of feature race action.
“We were happy to finally nail down a Big-Block tour date this year, and now leading off the whole deal is pretty exciting for everyone involved,” remarked Big Diamond Director of Media Relations Chris Budihas, a long-time photographer at many of the Advance Series events, including both previous stops at ‘Big D’ in 2003 & ’04. “We’ve also got World of Outlaws Late Model Series and USAC Sprint Car shows on the schedule so we’re proud to be able to offer our fans some of the best shows around this season.”
Keystone State race chasers can expect to witness the arrival of an all-star cast of Big-Block invaders, including reigning overall Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Modified points king Billy Decker, all-time Advance Series winner Brett Hearn and DIRTcar Northeast’s career Big-Block winner Alan Johnson. Hearn (2004) and Johnson (2003) captured the initial Series races held at Big Diamond.
Joining in on the trail activity will be Empire State wheelmen Danny Johnson, Jimmy Phelps, Dale Planck, Gary Tomkins, Steve Paine, Matt Sheppard and teammate Jeff Brownell Jr., Frankie Caprara, Ryan Phelps, Justin Haers, Billy Dunn, Michael Storms, ’08 Rookie of the Year Larry Wight and Canadian veteran Pat O’Brien.
Loyal Advance Series followers are in for a real treat as this epic battle between the north and south will also feature the likes of Big Diamond regulars Jeff Strunk, Billy Pauch, Duane Howard, Doug Hoffman and Rick Laubach.
“Since the Series last came to Big Diamond we’ve given the place a complete face lift,” noted Buddy Biever, who formed BD Raceway, LLC with fellow operations managers Barry Bashore and Dave Dissinger when taking over track ownership in 2006. The Advance Series made its debut at the Schuylkill County facility in ‘03 under the promotion of Bob Miller from the Thunder on the Hill Racing Series.
“We re-designed the pits to open it up better for traveling teams, added new fencing and laid down clay instead of dirt. Completely renovated restrooms, modernized concession area and state-of-the-art sound system offer a great experience to anyone choosing to take in a show at Big Diamond,” Biever added.
With the Advance Series Modifieds headlining the single-division show on Sunday, the format will kick off with Integra Shocks Time Trials followed by heat race qualifiers and Dig Safely New York Last Chance Races. No less than 30 cars will fill the starting grid for the 75-lap Spring Fever Championship that guarantees the winner an automatic starting berth in the Rite Aid 200 at the New York State Fairgrounds in October. In addition, the top Small-Block finisher will receive a spot in the 358-Modified Championship during Super DIRT Week XXXVIII on the same Syracuse Mile.
Directions to Big Diamond Raceway:
Driving South on Route 81, Take Exit 116 (Minersville), follow Route 901 East to Minersville, 4 miles to Primrose, turn right, continue through Forestville for two miles and the raceway is on the left;
Driving North on Route 81, take Exit 104 (Ravine), turn right at the end of ramp, then go left at the next stop sign. Follow Route 125 to Tremont, turn right at the stop sign, take Route 209 North to Branchdale. Bear left entering town, then left at the stop sign. Go 3 miles, the track is on the right.
For additional information, contact DIRTcar Racing Northeast Director of Competition & Track Sanctioning Cory Reed via cell (315/224-9009) or in the DIRTcar Northeast Office (315/834-6606). Also log into www.superdirtcarseries.com, phone the speedway office at 570/385-0744 (570/544-1410 on raceday) or visit the track website at www.bigdiamondraceway.com 24/7.
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.
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 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.
