SUPER DIRT WEEK DIGEST: The excitement for Syracuse is growing
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Aug. 10, 2011 — The start of Super DIRT Week XL is less than two months away, and anticipation for the historical 40th anniversary continues to build amongst the tens-of-thousands of race fans and race teams that will eventually take over the New York State Fairgrounds for the legendary event every Columbus Day weekend.
Forty years of personality has been built into the Syracuse mile. History echoes off the grandstands and fills the racing surface. Syracuse has seen it all, the dramatics of Super DIRT Week are unmatched anywhere. It’s where Buzzie Reutimann claimed the first two Syracuse titles, “The Batmobile” dominated in 1980, where Kenny Brightbill took advantage of a late-race mistake by 2-time winner Jimmy Horton in 1988, where Alan Johnson won from last starting position after a late race crash involving the top-2 in 1989, it’s where Kenny Tremont ran out of gas twice on the final lap while leading, where Vic Coffey pulled off the biggest upset of them all in 2002, and where Billy Decker, Frank Cozze and Stewart Friesen have exceeded the limits of gas mileage on their quests to victory.
From the hard-concrete walls, to the hard-clayed surface, Syracuse puts man and machine to the limit. It’s destroyed countless racecars, broken thousands of hearts, yet it’s made careers, or completed them, for 21 superstars of the sport.
Reutimann, Osmun, Balough, Johnson, Treichler, Hearn, McCreadie, Horton, Brightbill, Hoffman, Decker, Tremont, Coffey, Fuller, Cozze, Sheppard, and Friesen are the names that have conquered the seemingly unconquerable track. They’re the modern-day gladiators that went face-to-face with the speeds and hazards of Syracuse, and came out on top, to standing ovations from the large covered grandstands.
Yet, Super DIRT Week has become much more than a race, it’s become a spectacle. In its 40th anniversary it celebrates the spectacle it has become, it celebrates 40-years of race fans sitting through sun, freezing temperatures, rain, or even snow to cheer on their favorite drivers, 40-years of campers being placed in lines weeks in advance to get onto the grounds early on Tuesday morning, 40-years of post-race entertainment at places like The Ghetto, The Voodoo Lounge and Club Wago.
To people who’ve never experienced Super DIRT Week, it’s impossible to understand the allure. It’s seeing racecars being pushed harder than they do all year, it’s seeing all the new paint schemes. It’s watching Dave Farney’s hypnotizing flagging, hearing legendary voices over the P.A. system ranging from Jack Burgess, to Joe Marotta and Brian Mulligan, to Shane Andrews. When the Super DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Series does its four-wide salute to the fans in front of the huge covered grandstands, chills go down every race fan’s spine. Simply put, there is nothing like Syracuse.
Super DIRT Week officially opens on Wednesday, Oct. 5, with inspection and practice for all divisions and leads up to the biggest dirt-modified race in the world, the SEF 200 Presented by Ferris and Snapper on Sunday, Oct. 9. Don’t miss out on a chance to be part of history.
News & Notes
Friday Night Lights: Rain has forced events to be run under the nights during Super DIRT Week in the past, but never has an event been scheduled to run in prime time at the mile until this year. The Twin 20s for the DIRTcar 358-Modified Series, and the Triple 20s for the Big-Block Modified Super DIRTcar Series will highlight Friday’s action as they take to the track under the lights, beginning with the first of the Twin 20s going green at 7:05 p.m.
Double Dose of Outlaws: The World of Outlaws Sprint Cars and World of Outlaws Late Models will be in action during Super DIRT Week, joining the DIRTcar Nationals in Volusia and World Finals at Charlotte as the only events where all three premier dirt-racing divisions are in action at the same general location. The Late Models are in action on Thursday night at Rolling Wheels Raceway joining the DIRTcar 358-Modified Series, while the Sprint Cars join the popular Big-Block Modified “Win-and-You’re-In” event on Saturday night at Rolling Wheels Raceway.
U.S. Army Returns to Syracuse: The United States Army returns to the N.Y. State Fairgrounds for Super DIRT Week, as support to the “Salute to the Troops 150” for the DIRTcar 358-Modifieds on Saturday afternoon. They will also have their interactive display up where military personnel will offer simulation-drills for fans to participate.
VP Racing Fuels/SEF 200 Highlights SDW XL: The Small Engine Fuels (SEF) 200 will once again be the premier event during Super DIRT Week, as the Super DIRTcar Big-Block Modifieds battle it out for 200 laps and a $50,000 top prize. This will be the second consecutive year of SEF sponsoring the main event of Super DIRT Week. All racecars participating in Super DIRT Week events will be powered by VP Racing Fuels.
Tornado Warning for Super DIRT Week: Tornado’s A Whirlwind of Flavor foods will making its first appearance at Super DIRT Week, and will be out in full force. They will have the Tornado’s Sponsored #39 Sprint Cup car driven by Ryan Newman on display, and will also offer free samples throughout the weekend to fans.
Ferris/Snapper Returns: Longtime Super DIRT Week supporter Ferris/Snapper Mowers returns to Syracuse with a strong display of top-of-the-line mowing equipment.
G-Stone Commercial Back in ‘11: G-Stone Commercial Divisions returns to Super DIRT Week in 2011 with a full display of products available at their Middlesbury, VT location. G-Stone Commercial offers everything from heavy equipment to power sports for their customers, and everything in between.
Free Super DIRT Week 40th Anniversary Lapel Pin Available: A limited supply of commemorative 40th Anniversary Lapel Pins are available to race fans during SDW events. In order to qualify for the free gift, fans must purchase tickets to the World of Outlaw Late Models and World of Outlaw Sprint Car events at Rolling Wheels Raceway, purchase a multi-day ticket to Super DIRT Week at the New York State Fairgrounds, or purchase a Sunday ticket for Super DIRT Week. Supplies are limited, so order fast!
For more information about Super DIRT Week, including ticket orders, lap sponsorship and vendor space availability; please contact DIRTcar Racing Northeast Region Headquarters during the week at 315-834-6606. More news can be found at www.superdirtcarseries.com and www.superdirtweekonline.com while tickets can be ordered online at www.dirtcar.com/tickets.
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.
