Barberville, FL — February 15, 2008 – By Tom Skibinski, Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series PR Director
*Chris Dolack Photo
Dale Planck has been taking the trek down I-95 since the new millennium arrived. It took the Cortland, New York driver 15 tries and on Friday he finally made his way into the winner’s circle at Volusia Speedway Park, scoring a decisive victory in round three of the 37th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals for his sixth career DIRTcar Big-Block Modified triumph. (Click here to hear from Dale Planck in Victory Lane)
“It seems like I’ve been coming here for years and come so close, so often … now finally,” beamed Planck, 37, as he celebrated in Alltel Victory Lane for the first time ever in gator country. “We’ve been the fastest car here for years so I’m really happy to finally get one, it makes it all worth while.”
Salvaging his third straight front-five finish was runner-up Alan Johnson followed by fellow Central New York veteran Pat Ward and opening two nights winners Billy Pauch and Brett Hearn. Frenchman Mario Clair charged into sixth with Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series stars Matt Sheppard and Jimmy Phelps, Jeff Isabell and Vince Vitale rounding out the final top-10.
Johnson out-dragged pole-sitter Jamie Mills to open the 30-lap main event and the Sherlock Motorsports no. 14J Tri-State Roofing-Dirt Works-Cedar Ridge RV/TEO car paced the field for the initial nine circuits. After filing into eighth on the 26-car starting grid, Planck methodically plodded his way to the front before ducking under ‘A.J. Slideways’ in his new RezX Racing no. 77x Grow It Hydroseeding-Action Race Parts/TEO mount to forge the final lead change on lap 10.
“I couldn’t get through turns one and two to save my life, luckily three and four saved me. I was able to keep up enough momentum through one and two and tried to fight off the challenges at the end,” Planck added. “This team has only been together for about a month and we had 3-1/2 weeks to build two cars and put this whole program together in time for Florida. I couldn’t be happier with how things have worked out.”
In quest of just his second Modified win in the Sunshine State, Johnson opened up a comfortable advantage over Delaware driver Mills before the first of seven yellow flags unfurled at the end of the initial circuit. Kevin Hirthler and Mark Forte Sr. tangled between the south corners to set in motion a trend that would carry through the entire main event as treacherous track conditions kept the line-up changing regularly.
With Planck charging on the outside from eighth to third in just two laps, repeat Florida tour champion Jimmy Horton mirrored the move, rallying from 22nd-place starting position to 11th following the same time. However, the bid for the New Jersey chauffeur ended the next time around under green when a three-wide maneuver down the back stretch back-fired. Low riding Pauch and high flying Horton had sandwiched Ward in the middle and Horton lost a left-rear wheel after contact was made with Ward’s mount entering turn three before the yellow lights were turned back on.
For the third straight night, misfortune struck Mills as the no. 55 Coulbourne Farms-Mills Market-Covey’s Car Care/Bicknell machine slowed in turn three and retired with five laps complete after a recurring power steering problem sidelined him for the remainder. The field went four more laps under green before the no. 71 Harmony Sand & Gravel-Diamond Hart Ent.-Art’s Radiator/TEO entry of David VanHorn had a motor expire resulting in the fourth caution period with two-thirds of the race still to go.
Planck wasted little time on the ensuing restart, bolting under Johnson as the lead duo swung out of turn four and with 10 laps in the books the “Natural” gained command as Pauch, 15th starting Hearn and Team Troyer driver Phelps battled among the top-five.
“We’ve been trying to get the motor to run all week, just couldn’t get anything going down the straightaways,” noted Planck, who has steered three different chassis the past three winters at Volusia improving from 21st in 2005 to runner-up status last February in the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals points chase, while settling for 4th-place laurels in 2006. “Its a credit to my crew and the guys at TEO as we really haven’t changed anything on the car. Its been pretty good right out of the box and we’ve been in contention, really just been worried about the motor since we got here.”
The Kevin Lanphear-prepared powerplant put Planck at ease on Friday as owner Carey Terrance’s black no. 77x machine never missed a beat the final 20 laps. At the halfway point Planck and Johnson had pulled away from the field as Pauch, Ward and fast closing Sheppard looked for the fastest away around the heavy Barberville half-miler.
A turn one/two collision on lap 20 was the biggest mishap so far in three days of competition, although sidelining only Jordan Watson as Rob Bellinger, Wallace Stacey and Hirtler were able to rejoin the pack. Planck was undaunted back at speed although he still had to survive one more slowdown when Bellinger and Ohioan Jim Rasey locked together low between turns one and two with just a handful of laps remaining.
“Those last couple cautions, I’m like man this is gonna be the closest I ever got (to winning). I was terrible in one and two, couldn’t get through there for anything and just made a bonsai through three and four to see what happens,” added Planck, who began following the Advance Auto Parts Series full-time in 2006 and has since posted a pair of 100-lap victories. He placed 11th in overall 2006 Hoosier Tire-Sunoco Race Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Championship points and moved up into the sixth slot last season with his lone win registered at Brewerton (NY) Speedway.
“I just can’t thank Carey enough and all my major sponsors, the crew and fans, just can’t do this without a lot of support. The biggest challenge has been building a team capable of following the whole Advance Series. It’s a long way to go if you’re not prepared and on this tour you’ve got to be prepared and organized. Its not as hard to run up front when you get to the track feeling confident. Last year we were twice as good as in ’06 so we’re hoping to keep improving and moving up the ladder,” Planck said.
Through three of four Florida Tour races, Pauch tops the point standings with 166 markers while Hearn (164) is right in the shadows just two back. Alan Johnson (154), Ward (148) and Sheppard (138) remain closest in pursuit while Planck stands sixth with 132 points.
Open-wheel action at Volusia concludes for the Advance Auto Parts Series teams on Saturday night with a 50-lap Big-Block main paying $5,000 to win headlining the Florida finale. The 2008 Alltel DIRTcar Nationals points champion will be crowned following conclusion of the fourth race slated for Feb. 16.
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: Dale Planck joined Big-Block Modified winners Billy Pauch and Brett Hearn in to adding 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. “I’m just a nice guy,” smiled Planck from the Alltel Winner’s Circle platform, hoping to sway voters his way to cash in on the unprecedented pot posted by Alltel Wireless.
To support Planck, 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.
Autographs Abound: Early round Alltel DIRTcar Nationals race winners Brett Hearn and Dale Planck, along with Alan Johnson, Andy Bachetti and David VanHorn represented the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series stars as they participated in the second and final special Big-Block autograph session during Friday pre-race festivities on the Volusia Speedway Park midway. During their time with the fans, all five drivers signed a POW-MIA flag planned to be sent overseas by his parents to Brandon Metcalf of the 10th Mountain Division 222, who is currently serving in Iraq. Metcalf, 23, is a long-time Planck supporter as they both reside in Cortland, N.Y. Cup driver Ryan Newman also signed up to meet and greet race fans in the turn one Alltel Fan Zone on Friday, competing in the UMP Super Late Model show later in the evening.
Big-Block Johnson: Although standing as DIRTcar NorthEast’s winningest Big-Block Modified driver —the only one to win at least one Big-Block feature every year of DIRTcar’s existence beginning in 1976— consistency has been the name of the game for the 50 year-old pilot from Middlesex, New York. That element has never been more evident in Florida where the two-time Alltel DIRTcar Nationals points champion (1983 & ’89) has only reached victory lane on one occasion, Feb. 11, 1986. “I’m starting out with some of the best equipment I’ve ever had so we’re pretty optimistic,” said Johnson, who continued the early success on Friday tacking on a runner-up finish to match a pair of top-5s posted in the opening rounds. “I’m looking forward to getting a new motor when we get back up north, that should make us a lot better when the points start.” Co-owner and crew chief Robbie Sherlock was just as confident as his first-string chauffeur, brushing off the minor setbacks that have so far denied Johnson a return visit to Alltel Victory Lane. “We’re fighting some handling problems right now but we’ll figure it out,” calmly stated Robbie, 44, who owns and operates Tri-State Roofing in Milford, Pa. with younger brother and Modified racer Randy. Robbie also maintains the team cars in his Wurtsboro, N.Y. garage. “We don’t have the right motor combination right now, we’re thinking of using the back-up on Saturday. After the first day we changed over the car anticipating the same conditions but the track wasn’t as rough and even got slick. We would’ve been a little better the first night but we broke a brake calliper. So far we’re happy being in contention every night, there’s still a lot to work for the season ahead.”
Sheppard Flocks to Florida: 2008 marks the second straight trip to Florida for Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series standout Matt Sheppard with his Ross Motorsports team hoping to improve on a seventh-place showing in last winter’s Alltel DIRTcar Nationals standings in Sheppard’s third-ever trip to VSP. “We missed a lot on the set-up last year at Volusia, I just couldn’t get the car to turn all week so we’ve been trying out a few new things with this car,” noted Sheppard, 25, who is buckled into an ’08 Bicknell mount picked up last August from the St. Catharines, Ontario chassis builder. Three top-10s have locked the Waterloo, New York native into fifth-place heading into Saturday’s ’08 Florida tour finale. “The motor sucked in an intake gasket on Wednesday and we just had a bad draw on Thursday which hurt when the feature almost went without a yellow. Good draws are important down here and we’re looking for a better qualifying effort, hopefully we can improve in both areas. So far we’ve been running pretty good but starting so far back every night you won’t beat the top guys unless you’re going very good. You can’t quit because you can still get a good finish depending on what everybody else. Things tend to change a lot around here from night to night.”
Wight Doing No Wrong: 2007 was a coming out year for teenage sensation Larry Wight as he made his debut in the entry-level open-wheel Sportsman Modified ranks, placing eighth in the overall Hoosier Tire-Sunoco Race Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Championship to secure the honor of Motorsports Safety Systems DIRTcar NorthEast Rookie of the Year. And that was before the Phoenix, New York phenom even turned 15 years old at the end of last October. “Our plan is to run the whole 358-Modified Series this year and win rookie of the year,” affirmed Wight, who finished eighth in his first Big-Block feature on Wednesday at Volusia steering the Gypsum Wholesalers-Stadium Int’l-Gypsum Express,Ltd./Bicknell carrying the no. 91 of team driver Billy Decker. He actually qualified for his initial Modified main last autumn at Bridgeport (NJ) Speedway but came up two pounds light on the post-race scales in the consolation round. “I had a top-10 in my first Sportsman race last year, too. Coming down here is good for getting some seat time early on. After running microds, slingshots and karts I had to get used to sitting in the middle of these (Mod/Spt) cars. At Volusia we have a bigger motor than Pat (Ward, teammate) but he would rather run the smaller one hoping the track slicks up. The first night guys were just trying to survive out there when it got rough. We’re expecting the track to get slick the rest of the week with the rain gone, but either way its good experience running with a lot of top guys.”
POT HOLES
Frenchman Pierre Berthiaume is finally expected to climb behind the wheel of his own PB Performance-S.D. Performance ride after Mike Perrotte drove it the first three days. The black no. 20 Bicknell machine encountered a broken birdcage while leading a consi on Thursday and after qualifying for his first main event on Friday the driveshaft let go with just 11 laps on the scoresheet ….. Recovering from a blown motor on Wednesday to finish fourth on Thursday, Jimmy Horton was primed to complete the New Jersey ‘trifecta’ on Friday after fellow Garden State drivers Billy Pauch and Brett Hearn captured checkered flags in the opening rounds. “The back-up motor felt good so we didn’t make any changes from Thursday, we’ll just have to try a little harder,” said two-time DIRTcar Nationals high point man Horton prior to his brief but eye-catching run on Friday. Horton blasted from 22nd to 11th and was on the verge of cracking the top-5 only a couple laps in when contact with Pat Ward sheared off the left rear axle tube assembly and sent parts sailing high over the turn three cement wall. “We’ll get the stuff tomorrow, we’re not going way out there in the dark around here,” said car owner Dieter Schmidt ….. The Bellinger tandem of driver Rob, 18, and his father John, were forced to borrow a Bob Bruneau engine from H&H Motorsports after losing the primary powerplant on opening night. A second motor expired even before the Troyer team made it to the track on Thursday leaving the Dexter, New York duo with limited options just make the Friday show. Rob finished 25th after running just one lap in Colin Jackson’s car before settling for 16th in the Friday feature ….. For the first time this week, terminal mechanical issues kept Bobby Hentschel off the track for the entire program. “Coming down here I thought the motor was going to be the least of the problems, so far we’ve had nothing but trouble,” said a frustrated Hentschel. “The magneto went on Wednesday and there have been ignition and carburetor problems after that. If we can’t get it going we probably won’t be back, its kind of embarrassing the way things have turned our.” ….. Pat Ward might have produced three straight third-place finishes in the trio of 30-lap Big-Block, but a used up right rear Hoosier relegated the Genoa, N.Y. driver to seventh on Thursday despite running solidly in the front-four with less than 10 laps to go. Crew members revealed that they may have cut the tread too much, which resulted in it being bad on the top yet good on the bottom where lapped car traffic remained during the late stages of the near non-stop Modified main.
Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series – Volusia Speedway Park, February 15, 2008
37th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals Event #3
BIG-BLOCK MODIFIED FEATURE
FIN STR CAR# DRIVER/HOMETOWN
1 8 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY($2,000)
2 2 14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY
3 7 42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
4 11 1w Billy Pauch/Frenchtown,NJ
5 15 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
6 13 22 Mario Clair/St-Edmond,QUE
7 16 44s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
8 10 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
9 5 7j Jeff Isabell/Pennellville,NY
10 21 56 Vince Vitale/Phoenix,NY
11 26 43 Keith Flach/Ravena,NY
12 20 91w Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY
13 19 34 Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA
14 3 m40 Mark Forte,Jr./Blue Anchor,NJ
15 12 8s Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ
16 24 8 Rob Bellinger/Dexter,NY
17 17 117 Kevin Hirthler/Boyertown,PA
18 9 32 Jim Rasey/Southington,OH
19 14 39w Steve Downs/Georgetown,DE
20 25 66w Wallace Stacey/Kahnawake,QUE
21 23 30 Jordan Watson/Milford,DE
22 6 20p Mike Perrotte/Plattsburgh,NY
23 4 71 David VanHorn/Phillipsburg,NJ
24 18 40 Mark Forte,Sr./Blue Anchor,NJ
25 1 55 Jamie Mills/Milford,DE
26 22 5 Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ
DID NOT QUALIFY(11)
OB’s-Bob Hentschel/Pine Bush,NY
1-Darwin Greene/Susquehanna,PA
14-Rick Laubach/Quakertown,PA
18-Sean Beardsley/Central Square,NY
20s-Steve Haggan/Flemington, NJ
t21-Roger Chrysler/Lewiston,NY
27j-Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
48too-Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY
79-Jeremy Markle/Port Jervis,NY
85-Dan Vauter/Forest City,PA
923-Colin Jackson/Peckville,PA
Lap Leaders: A.Johnson (1-9), Planck (10-30).
Cautions: 7 (lap 2, lap 3, lap 6, lap 10, lap 13, lap 20, lap 25).
QUALIFYING
Heat Races (8 laps, top 5 finishers transferred to feature)
#1: Mills, Isabell, Rasey, Clair, Hirthler, Stacey, Vitale, Haggan, Greene, Hentschel (DNS).
#2: A.Johnson, Perrotte, Phelps, Downs, Forte Sr., Bellinger, Markle, Laubach, Horton.
#3: Forte Jr., Ward, Pauch, Hearn, Bachetti, Chrysler, Beardsley, Jackson, Watson.
#4: VanHorn, Planck, Scagliotta, Sheppard, Wight, Vauter, Flach, Rauscher, D.Johnson.
Consolation Round (8 laps, top 3 finishers transferred to feature)
#1: Vitale, Watson, Stacey, Beardsley, Haggan, Greene, Jackson, Chrysler, Hentschel (DNS).
#2: Horton, Bellinger, Flach, Vauter, Laubach, Markle, Rauscher, D.Johnson (DNS).
Alltel DIRTcar Nationals Point Standings (through Feb. 15, 2008)
POINTS CAR# DRIVER / HOMETOWN
166 1w Billy Pauch/Frenchtown,NJ
164 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
154 14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY
148 42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
138 44s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
132 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
128 22 Mario Clair/St-Edmond,QUE
120 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
100 91w Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY
96 14 Rick Laubach/Quakertown,PA
92 7j Jeff Isabell/Pennellville,NY
90 8s Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ
90 43 Keith Flach/Ravena,NY
89 117 Kevin Hirthler/Boyertown,PA
88 71 David VanHorn/Phillipsburg,NJ
88 56 Vince Vitale/Phoenix,NY
80 5 Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ
80 39w Steve Downs/Georgetown,DE
80 m40 Mark Forte,Jr./Blue Anchor,NJ
79 55 Jamie Mills/Milford,DE
72 34 Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA
66 18 Sean Beardsley/Central Square,NY
64 85 Dan Vauter/Forest City,PA
57 32 Jim Rasey/Southington,OH
57 8 Rob Bellinger/Dexter,NY
55 79 Jeremy Markle/Port Jervis,NY
43 27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
43 66w Wallace Stacey/Kahnawake,QUE
42 30 Jordan Watson/Milford,DE
41 20p Mike Perrotte/Plattsburgh,NY
40 48too Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY
40 40 Mark Forte,Sr./Blue Anchor,NJ
30 OB’s Bob Hentschel/Pine Bush,NY
30 1 Darwin Greene/Susquehanna,PA
30 20s Steve Haggan/Flemington, NJ
30 t21 Roger Chrysler/Lewiston,NY
30 923 Colin Jackson/Peckville,PA
20 71r John Reome/Greenfield Center,NY
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 (37)
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.
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 Dale Planck
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.
