Barberville, FL — February 14, 2008 – By Tom Skibinski, Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series PR Director
*Chris Dolack Photo
Brett Hearn loves the holiday, especially when he can out-duel his biggest intrastate rival in a bumper-to-bumper finish in front of a national crowd.
In a near caution-free feature event for the Advance Auto Parts Big-Block Modifieds, Hearn scored his fourth victory on Valentine’s Day after a dramatic race-long battle with fellow New Jersey wheelman Billy Pauch in round two of the 37th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park. His thrilling Thursday night triumph rewarded the six-time Florida tour points champion with an all-time high 18th checkered flag and the $2,000 first-place prize. (Click here to hear from Brett Hearn in Victory Lane)
“When people come to Florida they want to see the best of the best,” said reigning Mr. DIRTcar Big-Block Modified points king Hearn following his 15th career win at Volusia. It was his 340th win on the DIRTcar Big-Block circuit, with another 169 registered in the 358-Modified ranks. “And the fans got to see a couple of guys that have done pretty well in their careers go head-to-head tonight. Just like we did last night … (Pauch) had us covered and we came back and got even tonight.”
Following Hearn and Pauch across the stripe were 2007 points runner-up Dale Planck, opening night DNQ Jimmy Horton and all-time DIRTcar Racing NorthEast Big-Block feature winner Alan Johnson while Matt Sheppard, Pat Ward, Canadian standout and ’07 Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Mario Clair, Pennsylvania pilot Rick Laubach and Delaware driver Jamie Mills filled out the top-10.
The 30-lap Modified main began with the top-four finishers from Wednesday night occupying the front two rows with Hearn, Pauch, Ward and Johnson taking advantage of the heads-up format following their respective qualifying heat race wins. Hearn bolted low as soon as the initial green flag flew over the 26-car starting field and the race was on for Garden State supremacy in the Sunshine State.
“These are the kind of races you don’t want to have to race that hard but Billy made me run hard,” said Hearn, now with a remarkable total of 34 top-five feature finishes in the 42 events run in Florida since DIRTcar Racing returned to the spacious Barberville oval in 1998. “It was a great effort for this Wentworth team, everybody has worked so hard to get ready for Florida once again. Our team is so dedicated to winning races it makes it a lot of fun coming out on top.”
Pauch ducked behind Hearn from the beginning and when Massachusetts invader Andy Bachetti slowed to force out the lone caution on lap nine, the New Jersey duo was reacquainted with its nearest chasers including seventh starting Planck, Ward and Johnson. On the ensuing restart, Pauch suddenly veered underneath exiting turn four and contact with the leader created a buzz from the crowd in anticipation of the show that was about to unfold. Three laps later the “Kid” snookered the “Jet” and sped past Hearn on the top side opening up a half-dozen car-length lead immediately after.
“I’m not really sure when that happened,” recalled Hearn, 49, as he took his first glimpse of the battered left side of the Madsen Motorsports no. 20 Wentworth Custom Homes-Kruger-WLR/TEO machine in victory; the same back-up car he used on opening night when a twice-replaced fuel pump in his primary entry failed to cure the problem faced by the newest mount. “You think you’re on the top and Billy Pauch is on the top of you, so I don’t even know who got on the left side of me. I thought he was on the right side of me most of the time.”
Unlike the previous night when Hearn reluctantly settled for second, this time around the Sussex, N.J. speedster was in prime position to regain the point when Pauch drifted high in turn two on lap 17. The lead duo then reached traffic the following circuit and the stage was set for one of the closest Florida finishes during the new millennium. Yet despite the lapped traffic forcing the leaders to weave their way through both high and low in every corner, Pauch could not reel in Hearn and match his opening night victory, leaving the legendary New Jersey pair tied atop the point standings with the final two events still to go.
“You’re still working. I don’t care how well your car is working out there, you’re working to miss the bumps and get through them just right,” added Hearn, who is in search of an unprecedented seventh Alltel DIRTcar Nationals points title in 2008. His first win at Volusia came in a special invitational staged in 1993 at the former 3/8-miler located just beyond turn four of the current half-mile oval which was paved at the time.
“So we’ll carry on tomorrow, we still have some work to do. It’s a great feeling to get a win this early in the season. Last year we went without a win here for the first time since we’ve been coming to Volusia in ’98, so we kinda broke out of that bad spell a little bit. A second and a first the first two nights is a great way to start,” Hearn said.
The Advance Auto Parts Modifieds return to Volusia for their final 30-lap feature on Friday before DIRTcar Racing NorthEast’s Big-Block stars battle in the fourth and final round on Saturday, Feb. 16 as a $5,000-to-win 50-lap championship event determines the 2008 Alltel DIRTcar Nationals points champion.
Headquartered in Roanoke, Va., Advance Auto Parts is the second-largest retailer of automotive aftermarket parts, accessories, batteries, and maintenance items in the United States, based on store count and sales. As of October 6, 2007, the company operated 3,228 stores in 40 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The company serves both the do-it-yourself and professional installer markets.
SKIDMARKS
Alltel Victory Lane: Following in the tire tracks of opening night victor Billy Pauch, Brett Hearn was recognized as the second Big-Block Modified driver to add his name to the Alltel DIRTcar All-Star sweepstakes. Now it’s up to the loyal Modified contingent from around the country to help their biggest and most beloved stars lay claim to the $12,000 grand prize during the 37th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals. “We want to give some credibility to the Modifieds from the Northeast. I know we have a lot of people watching DIRTVision tonight, they can speak loud and clear,” stated Hearn from the Alltel Winner’s Circle platform. “We need to be at tracks like Charlotte at the end of the year like the Late Models and Sprints and show the people what kind of show we can put on. I think we did a pretty good job tonight,” acknowledging the 15-mile main that needed less than 12 minutes to complete the distance.
To support Hearn and Pauch, cast as many votes as possible at AlltelAllStar.com or send a text message with his Letter Code to 52191. Fans are encouraged further to vote throughout the week in the inaugural Alltel DIRTcar All-Star contest after the remaining Big-Block feature winners are found. Alltel Wireless will reward fans’ favorite driver as determined in a text message and online poll. Only drivers who win an A-main during the 12-day speedfest are eligible to collect that $12,000 cash reward. With the contest already underway after beginning at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern) on Feb. 6 and going through 11:59 p.m. (Eastern) on March 16, fans can vote up to once a day by texting #52191 plus adding their favorite driver’s letter code (available at alltelallstar.com) or by visiting www.alltelallstar.com. The winning driver will be named in a special ceremony shortly thereafter.
All-Star Autographs: Including TEO Pro Car drivers Brett Hearn, Alan Johnson, Dale Planck and David VanHorn along with PMC pilot Andy Bachetti, a handful of Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series stars are slated to participate in the second and final special Big-Block autograph session during Friday pre-race festivities in the Volusia Speedway Park midway. Autograph sessions have so far run daily at the track from 4:45-5:15 p.m., with Cup driver Ryan Newman also signed up to meet and greet race fans in the turn one Alltel Fan Zone on Friday.
Making Amends: Heading into the second round of competition for the Advance Auto Parts Modifieds, a number of teams were still recovering from mechanical woes suffered during opening night activity when heavy rain created unfavorable track conditions. Dale Planck rebounded from a broken tie rod to finish third on Thursday aboard Carey Terrance’s RezX Racing no. 77x Grow It Hydroseeding-Action Race Parts/TEO mount while Dan Vauter repaired a broken bolt on the right rear low rod to improve from 21st to 13th in round two steering his family-owned no. 85 Bicknell ride. In the aftermath of contact with eventual runner-up Brett Hearn during the initial feature go, Andy Bachetti called it quits after sustaining a bent left door on the no. 34 Hough Motors machine and losing a lap in the pits with a flat tire. He again retired early on Thursday with a broken rear-end jack-shaft with just seven laps complete. A broken steering box in the no. 55 Coulbourne Farms-Mills Market-Covey’s Car Care/Bicknell entry was the culprit when Jamie Mills pitted while running second on Wednesday. “We were really happy the way things were going, keeping up with Pauch in the feature, just didn’t want to hurt the car when it wouldn’t turn,” Mills assessed. Jimmy Horton returned to action after suffering a broken engine connecting rod in Dieter Schmidt’s no. 5 Lincoln Auto Body//Troyer during Wednesday warm-ups. The once-fresh Feil powerplant was replaced overnight by a back-up unit with less than 200 laps on it, good enough to carry the two-time Florida Tour champion to a fourth-place finish on Thursday. The solution was much simpler for Canadian traveler Wallace Stacey, needing just proper placement of the spark plugs to get his no 66W Bully’s Truck Stop-CFF,Inc./Bicknell ride back up to speed in time for the second day of qualifying. The primary red no. 923 Ashford Cottages Bed & Breakfast-Jackson Excavating entry of Pennsylvanian Colin Jackson was sidelined by a fuel pick-up problem in the opener and the second-string yellow no. 923 Bicknell mount (ultimately borrowed Wednesday by 18 year-old Rob Bellinger for 1 lap in the feature) was equipped with a proper shock package and tire stagger in time for Thursday action.
POT HOLES
The addition of Mark Forte Sr. increased the driver total to 41 with Billy Decker, Joe Isabell and Pierre Berthiaume expected to enter at least one of the remaining two Big-Block shows on the weekend. “I was here on Wednesday but with the rain and everything we decided to wait a day,’ said Forte, 46, who joins his son Mark Jr., 21, to comprise a rare father/son tandem on the updated Alltel DIRTcar Nationals Big-Block roster. “We have a three-car hauler now and more help so we’ll be able to travel a little more this year. Definitely make the Advance Series opener at Hagerstown and hopefully Virginia if things start to fall in place” ….. Helping set-up Berthiaume’s no. 20 PB Performance-S.D. Performance/Bicknell ride the first two days, Mike Perrotte was turning the driving duties back over to the owner as originally planned after failing to qualify in both outings. “The first night we weren’t even good enough to catch somebody and knock them out of our way,” joked Perrotte, 52, a part-time chauffeur who has become a full-time promoter of Airborne Park Speedway in Plattsburgh, N.Y. with partners Steve and Denise Fuller, who completed the purchase of Airborne in January of ’07. Perrotte, himself a four-time DIRTcar 358-Modified points champion at Mohawk Int’l Speedway (aka Frogtown) with 26 career DIRTcar Modified feature wins, spearheaded the sanction of DIRTcar NorthEast’s newest member — the only paved track on the circuit. “In one day we changed everything but the motor, since we didn’t have another one anyway. There should be some noticeable improvements with shocks, suspension, springs and torsion bars all different from day one” ….. In search of the elusive overall Hoosier Tire-Sunoco Race Fuels Mr. DIRTcar crown in 2008, Central New Yorker standout Jimmy Phelps once again started out slow despite an all-out effort made to improve early season performance in a rare Volusia appearance. “Never been so far off with a set-up before in the early going like this,” lamented Phelps, 32, who placed fourth in the final ’07 Mr. DIRTcar Big-Block standings. He has taken a pair of checkered flags at VSP in the H&H Motorsports no. 98H Mohawk Northeast-New England Race Fuels/Troyer machine, although they have been in back-to-back consolation rounds, with seventh (started 22nd) and 12th-place (21st) feature finishes the end result. “We’ll just have to try something else and get it back to where it can work all the way around. We obviously left a lot of room for improvement” ….. Experience and improvement are elements that the no. 43 Flach Crane & Rigging-Gould Erectors & Riggers Team are looking to take away from its maiden voyage to the Sunshine State. “It’s a tough deal down being a brand new layout with some stiff competition. We just want to get as much seat time as possible,” said John Flach, who continued to help prepare the Teo Pro car for his son Keith, 21, a regular runner at Lebanon Valley Speedway in New York State’s Capital District. “There’s never been a lot of Series travelers coming from the Valley, it’s a different kind of track compared to what we’ve seen on the road. We’re still hoping to make it out to some new ones to get the kind of experience you need to be successful. If we can make it through Volusia unscathed we’ll probably be at the Hagerstown’s opener, after that its race by race.”
Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series – Volusia Speedway Park, February 14, 2008
37th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals Event #2
BIG-BLOCK MODIFIED FEATURE
FIN STR CAR# DRIVER/HOMETOWN
1 1 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ($2,000)
2 2 1w Billy Pauch/Frenchtown,NJ
3 7 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
4 8 5 Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ
5 4 14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY
6 16 44s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
7 3 42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
8 18 22 Mario Clair/St-Edmond,QUE
9 20 14 Rick Laubach/Quakertown,PA
10 6 55 Jamie Mills/Milford,DE
11 14 71 David VanHorn/Phillipsburg,NJ
12 21 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
13 10 85 Dan Vauter/Forest City,PA
14 13 18 Sean Beardsley/Central Square,NY
15 5 39w Steve Downs/Georgetown,DE
16 24 7j Jeff Isabell/Pennellville,NY
17 11 8s Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ
18 23 117 Kevin Hirthler/Boyertown,PA
19 19 91w Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY
20 22 56 Vince Vitale/Phoenix,NY
21 12 32 Jim Rasey/Southington,OH
22 15 79 Jeremy Markle/Port Jervis,NY
23 17 m40 Mark Forte,Jr./Blue Anchor,NJ
24 25 43 Keith Flach/Ravena,NY
25 26 40 Mark Forte,Sr./Blue Anchor,NJ
26 9 34 Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA
DID NOT QUALIFY(12)
OB’s-Bob Hentschel/Pine Bush,NY
1-Darwin Greene/Susquehanna,PA
8-Rob Bellinger/Dexter,NY
20p-Mike Perrotte/Plattsburgh,NY
20s-Steve Haggan/Flemington, NJ
t21-Roger Chrysler/Lewiston,NY
27j-Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
30-Jordan Watson/Milford,DE
48too-Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY
66w-Wallace Stacey/Kahnawake,QUE
71r-John Reome/Greenfield Center,NY
923-Colin Jackson/Peckville,PA
Lap Leaders: Hearn (1-11), Pauch (12-16), Hearn (17-30).
Caution: 1 (lap 9).
QUALIFYING
Heat Races (8 laps, top 5 finishers transferred to feature)
#1: Hearn, Downs, Bachetti, Beardsley, Forte Jr., Perrotte, Flach, Hirthler, Watson, Hentschel.
#2: Pauch, Mills, Vauter, VanHorn, Clair, Vitale, Isabell, Chrysler, Reome, Bellinger (DNS).
#3: Ward, Planck, Scagliotta, Markle, Wight, Phelps, Jackson, Stacey, D.Johnson.
#4: A.Johnson, Horton, Rasey, Sheppard, Laubach, Forte Sr., Rauscher, Greene, Haggan (DNS).
Consolation Round (8 laps, top 3 finishers transferred to feature)
#1: Phelps, Hirthler, Flach, Jackson, Stacey, Watson, Perrotte, D.Johnson, Hentschel (DNS).
#2: Vitale, Isabell, Forte Sr., Rauscher, Greene, Chrysler, Reome, Haggan, Bellinger (DNS).
Alltel DIRTcar Nationals Point Standings (through Feb. 14, 2008)
POINTS CAR# DRIVER / HOMETOWN
116 1w Billy Pauch/Frenchtown,NJ
116 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
98 14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY
96 42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
94 44s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
86 14 Rick Laubach/Quakertown,PA
82 22 Mario Clair/St-Edmond,QUE
78 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
72 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
68 71 David VanHorn/Phillipsburg,NJ
66 91w Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY
63 117 Kevin Hirthler/Boyertown,PA
62 8s Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ
60 5 Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ
59 55 Jamie Mills/Milford,DE
56 39w Steve Downs/Georgetown,DE
56 18 Sean Beardsley/Central Square,NY
54 43 Keith Flach/Ravena,NY
54 85 Dan Vauter/Forest City,PA
52 7j Jeff Isabell/Pennellville,NY
50 m40 Mark Forte,Jr./Blue Anchor,NJ
50 56 Vince Vitale/Phoenix,NY
45 79 Jeremy Markle/Port Jervis,NY
40 34 Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA
33 27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
32 32 Jim Rasey/Southington,OH
30 8 Rob Bellinger/Dexter,NY
30 48too Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY
20 OB’s Bob Hentschel/Pine Bush,NY
20 1 Darwin Greene/Susquehanna,PA
20 20p Mike Perrotte/Plattsburgh,NY
20 20s Steve Haggan/Flemington, NJ
20 t21 Roger Chrysler/Lewiston,NY
20 30 Jordan Watson/Milford,DE
20 66w Wallace Stacey/Kahnawake,QUE
20 71r John Reome/Greenfield Center,NY
20 923 Colin Jackson/Peckville,PA
20 40 Mark Forte,Sr./Blue Anchor,NJ
0 6j Joe Isabell/Pennellville,NY
0 20p Pierre Berthiaume/Quebec City,QUE
0 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
2008 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modified Roster (38)
Car# Driver/Hometown Team (Sponsor / Chassis / Engine)
OB’s Bob Hentschel/Pine Bush,NY Boria High-Tech Auto-RW Construction-Advance Concrete/TEO/Precision
1 Darwin Greene/Susquehanna,PA Greene Quality Bluestone-Big Diamond Tools-TJ’s NAPA/Bicknell/Jensen Tech
1w Billy Pauch/Frenchtown,NJ Will Brown’s Truck Repair-K&A Excavating/Bicknell/Chevrolet
5 Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ Lincoln Auto Body-Schmidt Racing/Troyer/Tischler
7j Jeff Isabell/Pennellville,NY JIR Motorsports/Troyer/Morrison
8 Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ Central Jersey Trailer & Hitch Depot-Adamsville Maintenance/Troyer/Feil
8 Rob Bellinger/Dexter,NY Mini-Storage of Watertown-Westward Paintng-Lake Ontario Rlty/Troyer/Finger Lakes
14 Rick Laubach/Quakertown,PA Jerry Simons Builder-Alpha Mills-Reiley & Sterner Auto Sales/TEO/Enders
14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY Tri-State Roofing-Dirt Works-Cedar Ridge RV/TEO/Terry Vince
18 Sean Beardsley/Central Square,NY Town Mechanical,Inc-Bradco Supply-Pipe Pros/Troyer/Moshier
20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ Madsen Motorsports-Wentworth Custom Homes-Kruger-WLR/TEO/Enders
20p Mike Perrotte/Plattsburgh,NY PB Performance-S.D. Performance/Bicknell/Tony Feil
20s Steve Haggan/Flemington, NJ Skechers Shoes-Haggan Construction-Modified Painting/Bicknell/Feil
t21 Roger Chrysler/Lewiston,NY Iroquois Water-Randy’s Smoke Shop-Joey’s Sneaks/Bicknell/JanCen
22 Mario Clair/St-Edmond,QUE Batiments JDL-Motel Drummond-Freightliner/Bicknell/Morrison
27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY JIR Motorsports/Troyer/Morrison
30 Jordan Watson/Milford,DE I.G.Burton Car Dealership-ReMax Realtor-L&W Ins./Bicknell/FingerLakes-DDE
32 Jim Rasey/Southington,OH Twin Oaks Services South-Alcon Mechanical/Dirt Wheels/Minors Performance
34 Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA Steve Hough Motors/PMC/JPM
39w Steve Downs/Georgetown,DE Wood’s General Contracting-Christian Bros. Concrete/Bicknell/Precision
40 Mark Forte,Sr./Blue Anchor,NJ Wildside Custom Trucks and Trailers-BSR Products/TEO/Finger Lakes
m40 Mark Forte,Jr./Blue Anchor,NJ Wildside Custom Trucks and Trailers-BSR Products/TEO/Finger Lakes
42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY Gypsum Express,Ltd./Bicknell/Enders
43 Keith Flach/Ravena,NY Flach Crane & Rigging-Gould Erectors & Riggers/TEO/Enders
44s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY Adam Ross Cut Stone-Magee Transport-Seneca Auto Sales/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
48too Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY Magee Transportation Services-Monadnock Disposal Service/Bicknell/Morrison
55 Jamie Mills/Milford,DE Coulbourne Farms-Mills Market-Covey’s Car Care/Bicknell/DDE(Dan Denny)
56 Vince Vitale/Phoenix,NY V & V Racing/Troyer/Enders
66w Wallace Stacey/Kahnawake,QUE Bully’s Truck Stop-CFF,Inc./Bicknell/RL Performance-Morrison
71 David VanHorn/Phillipsburg,NJ Harmony Sand&Gravel-Diamond Hart Ent.-Art’s Radiator/TEO/D.VanHorn,Sr.
71r John Reome/Greenfield Center,NY Truck & Autowares-CVRA Motorsports/TEO/Tim Groski
77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY RezX Racing-Grow It Hydroseeding-Action Race Parts-Teo Fab./TEO/Kevlar
79 Jeremy Markle/Port Jervis,NY Len & Jo’s Restaurant-Advance Recovery/Bicknell/Precision
85 Dan Vauter/Forest City,PA Vauter Racing/Bicknell/Enders
91w Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY Gypsum Wholesalers-Stadium Int’l-Gypsum Express,Ltd./Bicknell/Enders
98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY Mohawk Northeast-New England Race Fuels/Troyer/Bruneau-FingerLakes
117 Kevin Hirthler/Boyertown,PA Green Lane William Penn-4 Star Lettering/Bicknell/Doug Meyers
923 Colin Jackson/Peckville,PA Ashford Cottages Bed & Breakfast-Jackson Excavating/Bicknell/Griffin
DIRTVision.com Offers Alltel DIRTcar Nationals Special: In the midst of launching its fifth consecutive season, DIRTVision.com is set to offer a special price for the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals Trackpass. For the final two nights of the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals, Feb. 15-16, users can purchase a subscription for the reduced price of 14.99. Just log on and click subscription to sign up for LIVE VIDEO coverage.
Users will continue to view hours of live video coverage including the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series as well as UMP DIRTcar Super Late Models, UMP DIRTcar Modifieds and World of Outlaws Late Model Series action. (All events are live video starting at 8:00 pm EST) Subscribers will still have access to the popular live chat, as well as up to date race notes. Users can sign-up using a Visa or MasterCard on our secure payment server at DIRTVision.com.
If you are unfamiliar with our LIVE Cybercasts, click on the “FAQ” menu for tips and requirements for viewing the DIRTVision Cybercast. Make sure that you register well in advance of our next show to help troubleshoot any problems you may encounter. Your basic tools will be a DIRTVision.com account, Internet Explorer 6 or higher, and Windows Media Player 9; both of which are FREE. For technical support or questions, e-mail customerservice@DIRTVision.com. The Dirt Radio Network is presented by BUTLERbuilt professional seat systems. BUTLERbuilt is the leader in custom seating. Call 704/784-1027 and let BUTLERbuilt build you an advantage!!!
Andrews Anchors DIRT Radio Network Broadcasts: Nationally recognized SPEED commentator and popular track public address announcer Shane Andrews was back on the road as the official voice of the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series, opening up for a third consecutive year at Volusia. In addition to traveling the DIRTcar NorthEast circuit and carrying out his accustomed weekend announcing duties, Andrews will also be a regular host heard on the DIRT Radio Network. Fans will again be able to listen to each and every Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series event LIVE on the DIRT Radio Network in 2008. With microphone back in hand, Andrews helps kick off DIRTcar’s 33rd straight season on Wednesday, February 13 during opening night of the 37th annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals for Big-Block Modifieds at Volusia Speedway Park.
Get Out The Word First: RACEceiver is the Official Driver Communicator of DIRTcar Racing NorthEast. A compact radio receiver that conveniently fits into a driver’s pocket, a RACEceiver allows each driver to hear directions from series officials, which greatly enhances the safety and timeliness of events. A similar version available to fans will allow RACEceiver users to hear what information series officials are relaying to the drivers. For more information about RACEceiver, visit www.raceceiver.com, call 866-301-7223, or look for their sales trailers at various events.
Tracks Know The Score: In DIRTcar Racing’s ongoing effort to assist every member track affiliate with presenting the best possible race programs, World Racing Group has teamed with AMB i.t. which continues to be recognized as the Official Timing System of DIRTcar NorthEast. AMB i.t. is the world’s leader in automatic race timing and scoring systems and WRG is proud to retain the company as a valued partner in the timing and scoring of all sanctioned events.
UPCOMING EVENT
The 2008 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series point race schedule for Big-Block Modifieds takes the green flag further north in the springtime. Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway is slated to host the tour opener on March 22 when the Advance Auto Parts Series Big-Block teams compete in the 100-lap North-South Shootout paying the winner $6,000 from the total purse in excess of $27,000.
2008 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Schedule
NP=Non-Point event.
*All events subject to change.
DAY-DATE LAPS TRACK WINNER/LOCATION
Wed-Feb 13 Volusia Speedway Park-NP Billy Pauch
Thr-Feb 14 Volusia Speedway Park-NP Brett Hearn
Fri-Feb 15 Volusia Speedway Park-NP Barberville,FL
Sat-Feb 16 Volusia Speedway Park-NP Barberville,FL
Sat-Mar 22 Hagerstown Speedway Hagerstown,MD
Thr-May 1 Virginia Motor Speedway Jamaica,VA
Sun-May 4 Rolling Wheels Raceway Elbridge,NY
Sun-May 25 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway Weedsport,NY
Sat-Jun 7 Fulton Speedway Fulton,NY
Thr-Jul 3 Ransomville Speedway Ransomville,NY
Thr-Jul 10 Brockville Ont Speedway Brockville,ONT
Fri-Jul 11 Autodrome Granby Granby,QUE
Sat-Jul 12 Autodrome Drummond Drummondville,QUE
Sun-Jul 13 Cornwall Motor Speedway Cornwall,ONT
Wed-Jul 16 Grandview Speedway Bechtelsville,PA
Mon-Aug 4 Merrittville Speedway Thorold,ONT
Fri-Aug 8 Brewerton Speedway Brewerton,NY
Sat-Aug 9 Canandaigua Speedway Canandaigua,NY
Sat-Aug 16 Can-Am Motorsports Park LaFargeville,NY
Sun-Aug 31 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway Weedsport,NY
Mon-Sep 1 Rolling Wheels Raceway Elbridge,NY
Sat-Sep 6 Lebanon Valley Speedway West Lebanon,NY
Sat-Sep 20 Canandaigua Speedway Canandaigua,NY
Sat-Sep 27 Rolling Wheels Raceway Elbridge,NY
Sun-Oct 12 New York State Fairgrnds Syracuse,NY
Sun-Oct 19 Orange Co Fair Speedway Middletown,NY
-TBA- Orange Co Fair Speedway Middletown,NY
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS MODIFIED SERIES SPONSORS
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.