Weedsport, NY — September 30, 2008 – By Jim Irvine, Bicknell Racing Products PR
Bicknell Racing Products (BRP) once again is proud to continue it’s support of Super DIRT Week and the season-long contingency programs for all three of DIRTcar Racing NorthEast’s open-wheel divisions – Big-Block Modifieds, 358-Modifieds and Sportsman Modifieds. BRP began more than 25 years ago and has grown today to boast a St. Catharines, Ontario based manufacturing and retail headquarters and a U.S. location in Niagara Falls New York.
Along Manufacturers Row during the 37th running of the Fall Classic, October 7-12, Bicknell Racing Products will continue to provide customers with complimentary service and technical support throughout the event. Pete Bicknell, Luke Proulx, Teddy Curvin and Randy ‘T-Ball’ Ellison will represent the Canadian headquarters along with Randy Williamson and they will be joined by George Glasgow and Pete ‘Repete’ Ames from the Niagara Falls, NY Retail outlet. Along with other select staff, they will provide a wide array of services.
Bicknell Racing Products’ support also provides the Top-3 finishers in both the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Rite Aid 200 Modified and 358-Modified title events product certificates. $1000 will go to the first 3 finishers, (1st, 2nd and 3rd) in each class contingent upon use of a BRP Chassis and display of decals with the breakdown as follows – $500, $300 and $200 respectively. The Sportsman division will also receive certificates in the amounts of $250, $150 and $100 respectively with the same eligibility requirements.
2008 was the start of a three-year program that awards Super DIRTcar Series event winners with a $100 gift certificate for all Advance Auto Parts Big-Block and 358-Modified Series shows. “The bonuses are in appreciation for the drivers,” related Pete Bicknell. “We pride ourselves in their performances and anything we can do to help. Whether it’s week in and week out during the season or at a Series event or all week long at the Mile, we’re happy to help.”
Super DIRT Week 2008 will feature Team Bicknell led by two-time and defending champion Vic Coffey who also won the 2002 running of the Rite Aid 200, that was actually extended to 203, laps while Sammy Reakes IV dominated the Town Mechanical 30 for the Sportsman Modifieds. In the 150-lap 358-Modified Championship held on Saturday, 2007’s edition saw Bicknell and Pat Ward share the front row after setting the two fastest times respectively and the two will surely be contenders once again.
Bicknell Racing Products provides the large province of Quebec contingent with problem solving in the French language as well. “We stand behind our drivers and crews 100%,” prides Williamson. “Between myself and Teddy Curvin and other staff we have accumulated a considerable amount of feed back and that information is shared amongst all our customers through our technical support. We keep tabs on everyone.”
Since 2002, drivers racing in a Bicknell Chassis in Big-Block Modified, 358-Modified and Sportsman Modified competition have averaged more than 500 combined wins each season – a feat that was repeated in 2008. While currently at 537 – it is expected to rise as the season winds down. In preparation for next season, the Bicknell Racing Products 2009X Chassis recently made it’s debut across the DIRTcar circuit and drivers are finding success with it right out of the box.
Alan Johnson has made some recent headlines, teaming up with car owners Jake and Nancy Spraker and crew chief Eric Kingsley for an assault on the major fall events. Johnson has visited victory lane in three recent Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series events in the Spra-King Racing 1J leading into last weekend’s Schneider Brothers 200 at the Fulton Speedway. Johnson’s success in the 2009X Car include the above mentioned 3 wins and two top 5 finishes in the car’s only other two starts in the Advance Series. The same success has come for Gary Tomkins. He’s also finished in the top 5 each event out with the new car in the same Big-Block Series.
Billy Decker has been a record-setter throughout the summer of 2008 and has made many headlines himself, winning a series high 10 times aboard the Gypsum Wholesalers BRP #91 that has also found the winner’s circle for the manufacturer 12 more times in regular weekly competition. Billy Pauch was the first driver to score a win in 2008 during the DIRTcar Nationals at the Volusia Speedway Park in Florida back in February while Matt Sheppard began the Big-Block tour points chase with a win for his new car owner Jeff Brownell in the 2nd annual Paul Sawyer Memorial at the Virginia Motor Speedway to open the month of May.
On the 358-Modified Super DIRTcar Series front, former champion Pete Bicknell himself leads the current point standings without a win. 4 of the 6 events completed to date have gone to BRP drivers however. Danny O’Brien tops the win list with a pair including the $15,000 to win event at Autodrome Drummond. Todd Burley and defending Series Champion Mario Clair have scored single wins each.
In the Sportsman ranks, teenage sensation Larry Wight made news in his division finale – scoring a $5,000 payday in the Series opener at the Black Rock Speedway to open the 17-event points chase. Mark D’Ilario, Chris Hile and Brad Rouse also have single wins to date. Since the Series has kicked into high gear this fall Greg Panunte has filled the headlines, becoming the only two-time winner with convincing victories at Humberstone Speedway and a flag-to-flag triumph at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park.
For further information on Bicknell Racing Products or to find a dealer near you, call either 905/685-7223 or 716-285-7502, or visit BRP on line at www.bicknellracingproducts.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.
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.
