Minersville, PA — April 26, 2009 – By Tom Skibinski, Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series PR Director
*Chris Budihas Photo
When the track locked down, Duane Howard locked in and the Oley, Pennsylvanian was off to the races as he led the entire distance on Sunday night to capture the ‘Spring Fever 75’ at Big Diamond Raceway and officially open the 2009 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series.
A runner-up in last year’s lid-lifter at Virginia Motor Speedway, Howard was even more dominant this time around as he kicked off the Big-Block Modified points trail with his first-ever Advance Series victory in the Keystone State, leading all 75 green flag laps to earn a $6,000 pay day in the coal region classic.
“This car was so dominant from the drop of the green, all I had to do was keep my nose clean in traffic and I thought we had a good shot,” remarked Howard, 45, who scored a half-dozen DIRTcar Big-Block wins in the late 1990s at Bridgeport (NJ) Speedway, yet none came close to matching Sunday’s masterful performance on home soil.
“This Troyer car was just outstanding today. The crew did a great job getting it ready, they really deserve to win and I’m glad I could do it for them. I’m glad to represent Diamond regulars well and really enjoy racing against these DIRT guys. I’m ready for Syracuse,” beamed Howard, who finished third in the prized jewel Rite Aid 200 at the Syracuse Mile last October to spark his early season enthusiasm.
Scoring his best career Advance Series finish, runner-up Jeff Brownell Jr. from Waterloo, New York fell three-quarters of a straightaway behind the Chad Sinon Motorsports no. 4 BPG Racing-Mavericks Motorcycle Club-Alex’s Lemonade/Troyer entry at the checkered flag. All-time Advance Series winner Brett Hearn from Sussex, New Jersey salvaged third ahead of cousins Jimmy Phelps and Ryan Phelps, each towing in from Central New York.
Four heat races and a pair of consolation rounds were needed to establish the 30-car starting line-up from a fine field of 38 Big-Block entries signed in from the tri-state area. Despite time trialing fifth fastest, Howard copped his heat and luck of the draw put him on the pole for the 75-lap finale. Fresh off a super late model victory the night before at Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway, Integra Shocks Fast Time award winner Tim Fuller was not as fortunate as the Edwards, New York chauffeur filed in outside row five on the grid after drawing 10th position.
Howard jumped out early and often as he held the competition at bay through five restarts in the 41-minute main event. While minor mishaps and flat tires forced out the majority of yellows, the initial slowdown on lap five was the most serious as Advance Series standout Matt Sheppard slammed the turn three wall to end any chance of repeating last year’s opening day victory at VMS.
Once out front, Howard remained untouchable as the invading Advance Series stars were unable to pose a threat to the six-time Big Diamond points champion. Howard’s second Big-Block win at Minersville, Pa. oval was easily the biggest of his career, one which includes a second-best track total of 62 Small-Block feature victories tallied in more than two decades of racing in coal country.
“This is a first time for everything …. my first tour win and the first time in victory lane on a tow truck,” noted Howard, who had the car’s front end lock up before he could celebrate with his team and family in the winner’s circle. “This is a big, big win for me. I’d like to go to some new places if I could. I’ll definitely be Orange County (June 17) for Brett’s show and I told Chad I like to give Lebanon Valley a try, but we’re mostly locked into the weekends around here.”
“This team is always so strong at the beginning of the year, if we can keep the mid-season stretch going we would have a really dominant team. I keep saying I love racing against these (series) guys, just my location and work doesn’t allow me to make a lot of the shows. I’ve got a great bunch of my own guys that have been with me 20 years or so, a heck of a team. They’ve stuck by me through a lot of rides and this makes everything worthwhile,” Howard added.
Starting third on the grid, runner-up Brownell never dropped back any further, ducking under Jimmy Phelps for second on a lap 32 restart before staving off numerous challenges from Hearn the last half of the race to record his best-ever tour finish.
“Finishing second is huge, I’m really pumped with this Bicknell car and C.C. motor,” said Brownell, 26, who posted just one top-10 in Advance Series action last year en route to 16th in the final Mr. DIRTcar point standings. Already steering the potent no. 29 Xtreme Lubricants-Seneca Auto Sales/Bicknell ride to a pair of season opening wins at Glen Ridge Motorsports Park, he hopes to match Howard’s break-through run in the coming months on DIRTcar Northeast’s premier Big-Block touring series. “This is pretty much like a win, it is to me. I’ll just look to improve from here, Josh (McMillan, crew chief) has been the big difference so far. He’s got some great stories, it’s already been a fun year and we’re just getting started.”
Fifth in the final Mr. DIRTcar points a year ago, Hearn also finished third in the ’08 lid-lifter at Virginia, yet the six-time series champion is looking for much better results this time around.
“So many times I could’ve got my nose in under the 29 car, I just didn’t see the purpose in it so I guess I was looking at the big picture in some respects,” said Hearn, 50, the 2004 Big Diamond tour winner who logged his Advance Series all-time high 100th career triumph last season. “It’s a long haul this summer, so anytime you get third in a series race it’s a big accomplishment for any team.”
“We looked at our notes from ’04 and we got something out of it. Its quite a different car that we had here five years ago but all in all we were handling good today. The heats were a blast with the track slick, just narrowed up a bit in the feature and got to where you had to run on the rubber down low. But that’s what happens sometimes, you just have to go out there and make the best of it. We really have a good team and we’re ready to go for the year. We’ve got all our equipment lined up and we’re ready to go for the long haul so I’m looking forward to it,” added Hearn, who is back in the Madsen Motorsports no. 20 Wentworth Custom Homes-Kruger-WLR-BPG/TEO machine for a fourth straight season.
Rounding out the top-10 behind the Phelps clan were second-generation standout Billy Pauch Jr., brothers Danny and Alan Johnson (2003 Big Diamond tour winner), Gary Tomkins and Frankie Caprara, while Rick Laubach earned the Bert/KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award after improving from 29th spot to finish 13th.
After more than a month off from tour competition, the ground-pounding Advance Auto Parts Big-Block Modified Series heads back into the Empire State for a dirt-asphalt doubleheader. A pair of 100-lappers at Lebanon Valley Speedway on Saturday, June 6 and Airborne Speedway on Sunday, June 7 reward $6,000 to each winner and offer points towards the overall Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Championship.
Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Race #1 – Big Diamond Raceway, April 26, 2009 Spring Fever 75 Big-Block Modified Event Summary
FIN STR CAR# DRIVER
1 1 4 Duane Howard/Oley,PA($6,000)
2 3 29 Jeff Brownell Jr./Waterloo,NY
3 5 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
4 2 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
5 6 99 Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY
6 13 8p Billy Pauch Jr./Frenchtown,NJ
7 8 66 Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
8 11 14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY
9 12 84 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
10 14 fx1 Frankie Caprara/Watertown,NY
11 18 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
12 15 62s Tom Sears Jr./Clay,NY
13 29 88c Rick Laubach/Quakertown,PA
14 4 4s Michael Storms/Wantage,NJ
15 7 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
16 20 3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY
17 22 49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY
18 30 37x Tom Scheetz Jr./Boyertown,PA
19 10 74 Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY
20 9 26 Ryan Godown/Ringoes,NJ
21 16 14 Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ
22 28 44 Frank Cozze/Wind Gap,PA
23 17 6 Mike McAleer/Tabernacle,NJ
24 27 28 Richie Pratt Jr./Woodbury Hts,NJ
25 24 99L Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY
26 25 117 Kevin Hirthler/Boyertown,PA
27 23 126 Billy Pauch/Frenchtown,NY
28 26 33 Ray Swinehart/Bechtelsville,PA
29 21 1c Craig VonDohren/Oley,PA
30 19 9s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
GATER RACING NEWS LAP LEADER: Howard (1-75).
CAUTIONS: 5 (lap 5, lap 21, lap 32, lap 34, lap 53).
HEAT WINNERS: Hearn, Howard, Fuller, A.Johnson.
DIG SAFELY NEW YORK LAST CHANCE RACE WINNERS: VonDohren, Dunn.
BICKNELL RACING PRODUCTS WINNER AWARD: Duane Howard.
RISLONE OIL STABILIZER & TREATMENT WINNER AWARD: Duane Howard.
BARS LEAKS RUNNER-UP AWARD: Jeff Brownell Jr.
SYRACUSE RITE AID 200 QUALIFIER: Duane Howard.
HALFWAY LEADER: Duane Howard.
BERT/KSE RACING PRODUCTS HARD CHARGER AWARD: Rick Laubach.
XTREME LUBRICANTS SLICK MOVE OF THE RACE AWARD: Billy Pauch Jr.
PENSKE POWER POSITION AWARD (18th): Tom Scheetz Jr.
INTEGRA SHOCKS FAST TIME AWARD: Tim Fuller (17.450sec/82.521mph).
TOTAL PURSE: $27,750.
CARS ENTERED: 38.
DID NOT QUALIFY(8)
00-Doug Manmiller/Shoemakersville,PA
07-Tim Kerr/Picton,ONT
6p-Pat O’Brien/Kingston,ONT
8-Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ
27-Troy Wink/Mohrsville,PA
41-Jeff Strunk/Mohnton,PA
53-Mike Gular/Green Lane,PA
69-Bobby Trapper/Scranton,PA
QUALIFYING
FAST AVE
TIME MPH CAR# DRIVER
1 17.450 82.521 74 Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY
*$100 Integra Shocks Fast Qualifier Award
2 17.512 82.229 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
3 17.514 82.220 66 Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
4 17.596 81.837 26 Ryan Godown/Ringoes,NJ
5 17.697 81.370 4 Duane Howard/Oley,PA
6 17.756 81.099 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
7 17.800 80.899 29 Jeff Brownell Jr./Waterloo,NY
8 17.807 80.867 14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY
9 17.840 80.717 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
10 17.881 80.532 99 Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY
11 17.902 80.438 84 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
12 17.903 80.433 6 Mike McAleer/Tabernacle,NJ
13 17.904 80.429 8p Billy Pauch Jr./Frenchtown,NJ
14 17.923 80.344 28 Richie Pratt Jr./Woodbury Hts,NJ
15 17.963 80.165 fx1 Frankie Caprara/Watertown,NY
16 17.972 80.125 4s Michael Storms/Wantage,NJ
17 17.972 80.125 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
18 17.973 80.120 99L Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY
19 17.977 80.102 62s Tom Sears Jr./Clay,NY
20 18.014 79.938 49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY
21 18.020 79.911 3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY
22 18.028 79.876 1c Craig VonDohren/Oley,PA
23 18.029 79.871 14 Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ
24 18.034 79.849 6p Pat O’Brien/Kingston,ONT
25 18.048 79.787 44 Frank Cozze/Wind Gap,PA
26 18.069 79.695 126 Billy Pauch/Frenchtown,NY
27 18.081 79.642 33 Ray Swinehart/Bechtelsville,PA
28 18.085 79.624 9s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
29 18.100 79.558 88c Rick Laubach/Quakertown,PA
30 18.108 79.523 41 Jeff Strunk/Mohnton,PA
31 18.182 79.199 69 Bobby Trapper/Scranton,PA
32 18.222 79.025 117 Kevin Hirthler/Boyertown,PA
33 18.280 78.775 53 Mike Gular/Green Lane,PA
34 18.309 78.650 07 Tim Kerr/Picton,ONT
35 18.437 78.104 37x Tom Scheetz Jr./Boyertown,PA
36 18.445 78.070 8 Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ
37 18.466 77.981 00 Doug Manmiller/Shoemakersville,PA
38 18.499 77.842 27 Troy Wink/Mohrsville,PA
Heat Races (10 laps, top 5 finishers transferred to feature; top 3 redrew)
#1: Hearn, Godown, D.Johnson, Pauch Jr., McAleer, Hirthler, Kerr, Pauch Sr., Trapper, Strunk (DNS).
#2: Howard, Decker, Tomkins, Caprara, Planck, VonDohren, Pratt, Laubach, Gular, O’Brien.
#3: Fuller, Brownell, R.Phelps, Sears, Sheppard, Dunn, Swinehart, Scheetz, Wink.
#4: A.Johnson, J.Phelps, Storms, Horton, Haers, Wight, Scagliotta, Cozze, Manmiller.
Dig Safely New York Last Chance Races: (10 laps, top 5 finishers transferred to feature)
#1: VonDohren, Pauch Sr., Hirthler, Pratt, Laubach, Gular, Kerr, Trapper (DNS), O’Brien (DNS).
#2: Dunn, Wight, Swinehart, Cozze, Scheetz, Scagliotta, Manmiller, Wink (DNS), Strunk (DNS).
Advance Auto Parts Series Point Standings (Through April 26, 2009)
Rank No. Driver Total Series Diff Wins Top-5 Top-10 Starts
1 4 Duane Howard 105 105 0 1 1 1 1
2 29 Jeff Brownell Jr. 98 98 -7 0 1 1 1
3 20 Brett Hearn 95 95 -10 0 1 1 1
4 98h Jimmy Phelps 88 88 -17 0 1 1 1
5 99 Ryan Phelps 81 81 -24 0 1 1 1
6 8p Billy Pauch Jr. 76 76 -29 0 0 1 1
7 66 Danny Johnson 73 73 -32 0 0 1 1
8 14j Alan Johnson 73 73 -32 0 0 1 1
9 84 Gary Tomkins 66 66 -39 0 0 1 1
10 FX1 Frankie Caprara 62 62 -43 0 0 1 1
11 77x Dale Planck 60 60 -45 0 0 0 1
12 62 Tom Sears Jr. 58 58 -47 0 0 0 1
13 88c Rich Laubach 56 56 -49 0 0 0 1
14 4s Mike Storms 55 55 -50 0 0 0 1
15 91 Billy Decker 55 55 -50 0 0 0 1
16 74 Tim Fuller 55 55 -50 0 0 0 1
17 3 Justin Haers 50 50 -55 0 0 0 1
18 49 Billy Dunn 48 48 -57 0 0 0 1
19 26 Ryan Godown 47 47 -58 0 0 0 1
20 37x Tom Scheetz Jr. 46 46 -59 0 0 0 1
21 14 Jimmy Horton 43 43 -62 0 0 0 1
22 44 Frank Cozze 42 42 -63 0 0 0 1
23 6 Mike McAleer 41 41 -64 0 0 0 1
24 28 Richie Pratt 40 40 -65 0 0 0 1
25 99L Larry Wight 40 40 -65 0 0 0 1
26 117 Kevin Hirthler 40 40 -65 0 0 0 1
27 126 Billy Pauch 40 40 -65 0 0 0 1
28 33 Ray Swinehart 40 40 -65 0 0 0 1
29 1c Craig VonDohren 40 40 -65 0 0 0 1
30 9s Matt Sheppard 40 40 -65 0 0 0 1
31 07 Tim Kerr 10 10 -95 0 0 0 0
32 69 Bob Trapper 10 10 -95 0 0 0 0
33 6 Pat O’Brien 10 10 -95 0 0 0 0
34 53 Mike Gular 10 10 -95 0 0 0 0
35 00 Doug Manmiller 10 10 -95 0 0 0 0
36 27 Troy Wink 10 10 -95 0 0 0 0
37 41 Jeff Strunk 10 10 -95 0 0 0 0
38 8 Rich Scagliotta 10 10 -95 0 0 0 0
Advance Auto Parts DIRTcar Modified Entries – April 26 (38)
Car# Driver/Hometown Team (Sponsor / Chassis / Engine)
00 Doug Manmiller/Shoemakersville,PA Manmiller Electric/Bicknell/Doug Meyers
07 Tim Kerr/Picton,ONT Hubert Kerr Construction-Northwood 2 Construction/Bicknell/Enders
1c Craig VonDohren/Oley,PA Millville Glass Center-Felty Farms/TEO/Wide Open Technology
fx1 Frankie Caprara/Watertown,NY F.X. Caprara Car Co.-SUNY Canton/Troyer/Dan Bedell
3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY Phelps Cement Products-SMV Motorsports-Jeff Jolly Masonry/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
4 Duane Howard/Oley,PA BPG Racing-Mavericks Motorcycle Club-Alex’s Lemonade/Troyer/Feil
4s Michael Storms/Wantage,NJ Keizer Aluminum Wheels-Mike Sparta Trckng-Four Star Transmissions/TEO/Morrison
6 Mike McAleer/Tabernacle,NJ C&S Equipment-Pondish & Sons Excavating/Troyer/H&G Associates
6p Pat O’Brien/Kingston,ONT 730 Truck Stop-Gypsum Logistics-Milestone Concrete/Bicknell/Enders
8 Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ Central Jersey Trailer & Hitch Depot-Adamsville Maintenance/Troyer/Feil
8p Billy Pauch Jr./Frenchtown,NJ Pioneer Pole Buildings-Alpine Bldg. & Post Supply/Bicknell/Wide Open Technology
9s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY Xtreme Lubricants-Seneca Auto Sales/Bicknell/C.C. Performance
14 Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ Alpha Mills-Reiley & Sterner Auto Sales-Josie’s Place-BOSS/TEO/Enders
14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY Bully’s Truck Stop-CFF,Inc.-R.E. Nolan Associates/Bicknell/Chevrolet
20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ Madsen Motorsports-Wentworth Custom Homes-Kruger-WLR-BPG/TEO/Enders
26 Ryan Godown/Ringoes,NJ Stanton Hills Landscaping-Champion Tire-Art’s radiator-Metal Fab/Bicknell/Feil
27 Troy Wink/Mohrsville,PA Insinger Performance-National Earth Services/Troyer/Enders
28 Richie Pratt Jr./Woodbury Hts,NJ South Jersey Racing Products-Drissel’s Ace Hardware/Bicknell/Dan Denny(DDE)
29 Jeff Brownell Jr./Waterloo,NY Xtreme Lubricants-Seneca Auto Sales/Bicknell/C.C. Performance
33 Ray Swinehart/Bechtelsville,PA J & L Speed Supplies/Bicknell/Morrison
37x Tom Scheetz Jr./Boyertown,PA TNT Repairs-Jeff D’Ambrosio Dodge/Bicknell/Doug Meyers
41 Jeff Strunk/Mohnton,PA Vince’s Automotive & Towing-Pepsi/BRP/Squeak Racing Engines
44 Frank Cozze/Wind Gap,PA Waite’s Gen.Contractors-Carquest-Bert Trans.-Deerfoot Auto Parts/PMC/M2 Power
49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY Number One Speed-American Traditions-Fast Lube Watertown/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
53 Mike Gular/Green Lane,PA Gold Rush Custom Trailers-Dan Denny/Bicknell/Denny
62s Tom Sears Jr./Clay,NY Mullen Industrial-Commercial Roofing & Sheetmetal/Bicknell/JanCen
66 Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY Atlas Paving-Behrent’s Performance Warehouse/TEO/JPM
69 Bobby Trapper/Scranton,PA Trapper Motorsports/Bicknell/Jeff Murray
74 Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY Smith Bros. Concrete Foundations-Hudson Valley Concrete Pumping/TEO/Precision
77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY RezX Racing-Grow It Hydroseeding-Action Race Parts-Teo Fab./TEO/Kevlar
84 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY Honeoye Auto Parts-Rochester Americans-National Guard/Bicknell/Mastin
88c Rick Laubach/Quakertown,PA Clay Realty Group-Paradise Beach Realty/TEO/Chevrolet
91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY Gypsum Wholesalers-Stadium Int’l-Quality Hardwoods/Bicknell/Kevlar
98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY Mohawk N.E.-New England Race Fuels-Joe Gibbs Racing Oil/Troyer/Finger Lakes
99 Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY Big Red Towing-Dave Miller Auto Body/Bicknell/Enders
99L Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY Gypsum Express,Ltd./Bicknell/Kevlar
117 Kevin Hirthler/Boyertown,PA Green Lane William Penn-4 Star Lettering/TEO/Doug Meyers
126 Billy Pauch/Frenchtown,NY Gold Rush Custom Trailers-Touch of Green Landscaping/TEO/Lombardo
SKIDMARKS
Home Track Tip: Duane Howard noted after the race that he knew the track would develop a black strip, be a little slower and turn into one groove at the end. However, he probably never figured that temperatures would approach 90 degrees at the end of April. Track promoter Buddy Biever’s biggest fear came true as the cloud-free day featured plenty of sun and a light wind to keep the grounds crew busy throughout the show. But despite the constant challenge of keeping moisture in the track, a smooth surface was the end result and all teams were appreciative of that.
Top Notch Field: The first appearance of the Advance Series at Big Diamond in five years attracted an all-star field that included seven Syracuse Rite Aid 200 winners: Danny and Alan Johnson, Brett Hearn, Billy Decker, Jimmy Horton, Tim Fuller and defending champion Frank Cozze. All but Danny Johnson were in the 2004 field when Hearn drove to victory in the 100-lap Modified main. The most recent stop in Minersville marked the 16th Big-Block event staged in track history, with Billy Pauch, Alan Johnson, Jeff Strunk, Hearn, Cozze and Howard among the short list of past winners. Strunk, the defending track 358-Modified points champion, suffered a broken rod in the no. 41 Gagliardo mount and was one of eight drivers not to qualify for the 75-lap finale.
Strong Series Following: Tour travelers filled nine of the top-12 finishing positions with winner Howard and Billy Pauch Jr. the primary exceptions. With his solid 12th-place series showing, New Yorker Tom Sears Jr. informed there’s a good chance he will now be a follower as long as he can maintain a top position in the standings. The Clay, N.Y. pilot has three cars for competition in the Advance Series and on the homefront at Brewerton and Fulton speedways, with brand new JanCen engines to complement each one. Danny Johnson is looking to be aboard the no. 66 Petruska ride for at least 75% of the series shows, and owner Steve Hastings of the no. 74 Smith Bros. Concrete Foundations-Hudson Valley Concrete Pumping/TEO entry divulged that Tim Fuller will be his driver in a quite a few more series stops when there are no late model conflicts.
Tough Opening Act: Setting course for his second straight season chasing Advance Series points, Canadian Pat O’Brien flipped over at the end of the back chute in the most violent incident of the night, walking to the ambulance under his own power after climbing from his bent up Bicknell mount in the heat two spill. He later was transported to the hospital for observation and soonafter released. Younger brother Tim O’Brien was back home in Kingston, Ontario listening to the webcast ‘live’ via the DIRT Radio Network and was keeping in touch throughout the opening round ordeal.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Race teams following the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series take off the month of May before returning to action in a unique doubleheader in New York State. Top point chasers head to the high banks of Lebanon Valley Speedway on June 6 before traveling north the next day for ‘The Battle of Plattsbugh’ on the asphalt of Airborne Speedway. Both 100-lap Modified main events pay to $6,000 to win.
2009 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Schedule
NP=Non-Point event; SP=Show-Up Point event.
*All events subject to change.
DAY-DATE TRACK WINNER/LOCATION
Wed-Feb 11 Volusia Speedway Park-NP Pat Ward
Thr-Feb 12 Volusia Speedway Park-NP Pat Ward
Fri-Feb 13 Volusia Speedway Park-NP Jamie Mills
Sat-Feb 14 Volusia Speedway Park-NP Brett Hearn
Sat-Mar 28 Hagerstown Speedway rain-cancelled
Sun-Apr 26 Big Diamond Raceway Duane Howard
Sat-Jun 6 Lebanon Valley Speedway West Lebanon,NY
Sun-Jun 7 Airborne Speedway-SP Plattsburgh,NY
Wed-Jun 17 Orange Co Fair Speedway Middletown,NY
Fri-Jul 3 Ransomville Speedway Ransomville,NY
Sat-Jul 4 Fulton Speedway Fulton,NY
Thr-Jul 9 Brockville Ont Speedway Brockville,ONT
Fri-Jul 10 Autodrome Granby Granby,QUE
Sat-Jul 11 Autodrome Drummond Drummondville,QUE
Sun-Jul 12 Cornwall Motor Speedway Cornwall,ONT
Sat-Jul 18 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway Weedsport,NY
Sun-Jul 19 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway Weedsport,NY ($20,000-to-win)
Mon-Aug 3 Merrittville Speedway Thorold,ONT
Fri-Aug 7 Brewerton Speedway Brewerton,NY
Sat-Aug 8 Canandaigua Speedway Canandaigua,NY
Fri-Aug 21 Can-Am Motorsports Park LaFargeville,NY
Thr-Aug 27 Lebanon Valley Speedway West Lebanon,NY ($17,500-to-win)
Sun-Sep 6 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway Weedsport,NY
Mon-Sep 7 Rolling Wheels Raceway Elbridge,NY
Fri-Sep 11 Lernerville Speedway Sarver,PA
Sat-Sep 19 -TBA-
Sat-Sep 26 Rolling Wheels Raceway Elbridge,NY
Sun-Oct 11 New York State Fairgrnds Syracuse,NY ($50,000-to-win)
Sun-Oct 18 -TBA-
Sun-Oct 25 -TBA-
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.