Weedsport, NY — October 31, 2008 – By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing NorthEast PR Director
Its Halloween and the book on the 2008 DIRTcar Racing NorthEast season is just about to close. Not so scary for race teams already firming up their wintertime plans is the thought that a brand new season of short-track competition is now 3-1/2 months away.
The 38th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park in February will be highlighted by the annual pilgrimage south to the Sunshine State for the Advance Auto Parts Big-Block Modifieds.
The Florida Tour at Volusia officially kicks off DIRTcar Racing’s 34th consecutive season of operation with the mighty Modifieds from the Northeast in action for the 12th straight year during the week leading up to the Daytona 500 (Feb. 15). The schedule leads off with three 30-lap main events and the curtain drops with a big 50-lap finale to close out the Big-Block tour. The ’09 edition marks the 25th trek to Florida for Northeastern Modified teams since 1978 and it will be DIRTcar’s 18th visit to Volusia since staging its inaugural event in 1982.
40 DIRTcar Modified drivers signed in at Volusia last February, with New Jersey legends Brett Hearn and Billy Pauch posting all top-5 feature finishes to end the four-race stint dead-locked atop the final point standings for the fourth time in Florida Tour history. With each Garden State chauffeur capturing one feature win, it was the seventh crown for Hearn, all since 1998, and the third for Pauch, who garnered his first championship in 1982.
Located a half-hour from Daytona Beach, this famed facility has seating for nearly 10,000 fans. Coming up next February, the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series (Feb. 6-8) and World of Outlaws Late Model Series (Feb. 12 & 14) will join the Advance Auto Parts Big-Blocks (Feb. 11-14) in kicking off their own race seasons.
A four-night Big-Block Modified package is being offered for $125 while single-day tickets are always available on race day. Campsite reservations are now being taken with trackside preferred motorhome parking listed at $300 per week and campground parking set at $25 each night.
DIRTcar-sanctioned UMP Late Models (Feb. 9-11, 13) and UMP/DIRTcar Modifieds (Feb. 3-10) add to the 12-day DIRTcar Racing marathon down south with three straight nights of All-Star Circuit of Champions (Feb. 3-5) sprint specials opening up the month.
Fans and race teams already planning to attend Volusia Speedway Park (386/985-4402) are encouraged to contact the track public relations offices for area hotel/motel accommodations. Volusia Speedway Park www.volusiaspeedwaypark.com is located 15 miles west of Daytona Beach (I-95 exit 268) on State Road 40 in Barberville, Fla. Mail is received at: 1500 E. Highway 40, DeLeon Springs, FL 32130. For additional information, contact the DIRTcar NorthEast Office (315/834-6606) during normal business hours or log into www.superdirtcarseries.com to find out more about the Big-Block circuit.
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.
