Syracuse, NY — October 7, 2009 – By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing Northeast PR Director
*Jay Fish Photo
Post card weather conditions a day earlier at the New York State Fairgrounds did a 360 overnight forcing an early cancellation of all track activity schedule on day two of Super DIRT Week XXXVIII on the oh so Moody Mile.
Yet while the customary “Happy Hour’ practice session for Modifieds slated for Wednesday afternoon was scrapped by lunchtime, car inspection continued for a second straight day with teams rolling their mounts under the main grandstands despite whipping winds and intermittent rain testing both man and machine throughout the all day affair.
“The wind made it feel like about 20 degrees and with a handful of showers mixed in you just felt a chill all day,” lamented Chief Registrar Joyce Parsels, as she tallied up the second day total of cars inspected in the Big-Block, 358-Modified, Sportsman and Pro Stock divisions. Sixty-seven new entries were accounted for on Wednesday, elevating the two-day count to 144 in all four open-wheel and full-fender classes.
“What made it nice this year was that there never seemed to be more than six or eight cars in line at a time, somehow the interval between groups remained constant all day long. In the past there always seemed to be an endless line when you looked up to take a breath, so having a steady flow today kept everything running smooth,” Parsels added.
While a cool mist enveloped the historic fairgrounds oval as teams began to arrive, technical inspections got underway at 8am and the DIRTcar staff never flinched until the final car was checked off at 6:10pm. Of the nearly 70 racing machines that circled under the familiar front stretch structure, the majority were Big-Block and 358s while 18 Sportsman racers were able to an early jump on the week ahead.
“It was another seamless day, everybody seemed fairly content after bringing their car down the line with little difficulty,” noted Bob Dini, Director of Technical Operations for DIRTcar Racing Northeast. “It was a long one but we got a lot done and we’re getting closer to what everybody is really here for — to race. And then we’ll move our whole operation to the infield, hopefully it will continue to run just as smooth.”
The biggest day of Super DIRT Week XXXVIII so far will be Thursday, October 8 when the final Modified inspection comes to a close and gives way to back-to-back practice sessions for Big-Blocks and 358s, with all competitors drawing for their time trial order in the morning. Big-Block hot laps are scheduled for 10am and warm-ups for 358-Modifieds take place immediately after. The customary ‘Media Day’ press conference is slated to go off at 12noon in the infield media center, at which time former Syracuse University basketball standout Gerry McNamara will be welcomed as the Grand Marshal of Super DIRT Week and take on some DIRTcar stars in a unique foul shooting contest.
Combination practice/qualifying sessions for the 358-Modified and Sportsman ‘Futures’ classes begin at 1pm with 358-Modified Time Trials starting at 1:30. American Traditions Motorsports/TEO Pro Car Big-Block Modified Time Trials are scheduled to start at 2:45 followed immediately by consecutive Futures finales for aspiring 358-Mod and Sportsman contenders at 4 o’clock. In the evening trackside action moves north off Route 81 to Brewerton (NY) Speedway for a Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Series Championship event. Race time is set for 7:30pm.
SKIDMARKS
While inclement weather kept many fans inside during the day, a full house was on hand at the nearby Quaker Steak & Lube enjoying the ‘Super DIRT Week Launch Party’ that featured numerous Modified drivers and their teammates. Headlining a special autograph session were defending Rite Aid 200 Presented By Ferris & Snapper Mowers winner Frank Cozze, two-time Rite Aid 200 champion Vic Coffey, ’07 Rite Aid 200 pole-winner Jimmy Phelps and his cousin Ryan Phelps, winner of the inaugural DIRTcar All-Star 100 at Cayuga County Fair Speedway in July. A commemorative poster was provided the first 500 fans arriving for this Super DIRT Week send-off with drivers increasing the value with their personalized signature.
The Super DIRT Week satellite show on Friday under the lights at Cayuga County Fair Speedway is billed as a 360 Sprint Car Challenge expected to feature a huge field of URC, ASCS and ESS series all-stars. An added bonus for fans in attendance at the home of DIRTcar Northeast headquarters will be a special appearance by some World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series stars, including the ‘King’ himself Steve Kinser, as they conduct Goodyear Tire tests during and after the event. The nationally renowned WoO contingent competed for the sixth and final time at Cayuga County in 1993, with Kinser sandwiched between winner Dave Blaney and Weedsport’s very own Craig ‘Cricket’ Keel, while Jeff Swindell and Kenny Jacobs chased the tricycling trio across the line. Earlier in the day on Friday, Kinser will lead a pack of four WoO Sprinters back to the Syracuse Mile for a four-lap exhibition, with an Outlaws Series points race headlining the Saturday night card across town at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park.
SUPER DIRT WEEK XXXVIII EVENTS SCHEDULE: Oct. 7 – Oct. 11, 2009
*All tmes and events subject to change.
DAY-DATE TIME EVENT
Thr-10/8
8am Pit Gates Open
8am-10am Inspection for all classes (under main grandstand)
10am Grandstands Open, Rite Aid 200 by Ferris and Snapper Mowers Modified practice
11am Syracuse 150 358-Modified Practice
12noon ‘Media Day’ Press Conference – Infield Conference Bldg.
1 pm DIRTcar Futures Practice/Qualifying (358-Modified, Sportsman)
1:30pm 358-Modified Time Trials (2-laps, Top-6 Qualify for Front-3 Rows)
2:45pm Rite Aid 200 by Ferris & Snapper Mowers Modified Time Trials (2-laps, Top-6 Qualify for Front-3 Rows)
4:00pm DIRTcar ‘Futures’ Feature Events. (358-Modified, Sportsman)
10pm Pit Area Closed
7:30pm Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Series at Brewerton Speedway.
Fri-10/9
8am Pit Gates Open, Sportsman Inspection Open
10am Grandstands Open, 358-Modified Practice
10:45am Rite Aid 200 by Ferris & Snapper Mowers Modified Practice
11:30am Sportsman Practice
12noon DIRTcar Futures Practice/Qualifying (Modified, Pro Stock)
12:45pm 358-Modified Twin 20s (10 non-qualified cars advance from each)
1:30pm Rite Aid 200 by Ferris & Snapper Mowers Modified Triple 20s
(10 non-qualified cars advance from each)
2:30pm WoO King of the Mile Heat Engines and Hot laps
3:00pm Sportsman Time Trials (2-laps, Top-24 Qualify)
3:30pm WoO King of the Mile Dash
4pm DIRTcar ‘Futures’ Feature Events (Modified, Pro Stock)
5pm Pro Stock Practice
10pm Pit Area Closed
7:30pm Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified & Sportsman Series at Rolling Wheels Raceway.
7:30pm 360 Sprint Car Challenge and Parts Plus Big Six Street Stock Series at Cayuga County Fair Speedway
Sat-10/10
8am Pit Gates Open, Pro Stock Inspection Open
9:00am Syracuse 150 358-Modified Championship Driver and Crew Chief Meeting (in pit building)
9:20am Sportsman Drivers Meeting (in pit building)
9:30am Grandstands Open, Track open for Syracuse 150 358-Modified Final Practice
10am Pro Stock First Practice
10:30am Sportsman Final Practice
11:15am Pro Stock Second Practice
11:45am Dig Safely NY Sportsman Last Chance Qualifier
12:15pm Pro Stock Time Trials (2-laps, Top-24 Qualify)
1:30pm Syracuse 150 358-Modified Championship Pre-Race ceremonies
2pm Syracuse 150 358-Modified Championship (150 laps)
4pm Sportsman Championship (30 laps)
7:30pm Twin 25’s – World of Outlaw Sprint Cars plus “Win and You’re In” Modifieds
At Rolling Wheels Raceway (Mod Winner Earns 45th starting spot in the Rite Aid 200)
Sun-10/11
8am Pit Gates Open
9:15am Pro Stock Driver’s Meeting (in pit building)
9:30am Rite Aid 200 by Ferris & Snapper Mowers Modified Driver and Crew Chief Meeting (in pit building)
10am Grandstands Open, Track Open for Pro Stock Final Practice
10:20am Rite Aid 200 by Ferris & Snapper Mowers Modified Final practice
10:45am Dig Safely NY Pro Stock Last Chance Qualifier
11:15am Dig Safely NY Modified Last Chance Qualifier
11:45am Modified Top-30 Autograph Signing under grandstand (Top 30 in Thursday Time Trials)
12noon SDW XXXVIII Pro Stock Championship (25 laps)
12:45-1:45pm Cold Pit Tour of Pit Row
1:30pm Rite Aid 200 by Ferris & Snapper Mowers Modified Championship Pre-Race ceremonies
2:15pm Rite Aid 200 by Ferris & Snapper Mowers Modified Championship (200 laps)
Mon-10/12
-TBA- Rain Date for Saturday or Sunday events.
DIRTcar Racing Northeast main office is located in Weedsport, New York on the Cayuga County Fairgrounds, home of DIRTcar All-Star Weekend in July. DIRTcar Northeast’s crown jewel event —Super DIRT Week at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse— runs October 7-11, 2009 featuring Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Championship Series events for Big-Block Modified, 358-Modified, Sportsman and Pro Stock divisions. Ticket and schedule information is available by contacting the Weedsport office (315/834-6606) during the day or logging into www.superdirtweekonline.com anytime.
The Big-Block Super DIRTcar Series is brought to fans across the Northeast by several sponsors and partners, including series sponsors Hoosier Racing Tire www.hoosiertire.com and VP Racing Fuels www.vpracingfuels.com. Promotional partners include 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.
