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Bachetti Outlasts Hearn For 2nd Lebanon Valley National 200 Title

Andy_Bachetti_LEB_92072008_WEB

West Lebanon, NYSeptember 7, 2008 – By Tom Skibinski, Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series PR Director
*Mark Brown Photo

Andy Bachetti inherited the lead when Brett Hearn’s fuel cell ran dry with less than five miles to go and led a sweep of the top-four positions by track regulars as he posted a popular win Sunday evening in the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Budweiser 200 presented by Benjamin Moore Paints at Lebanon Valley Speedway.

While rain forced a week delay before the National 200 could hit the track last year, steady showers throughout the afternoon on Saturday pushed back the Budweiser 200 just one day this time around to set up the Sunday showdown at the house of speed.

Bachetti’s first Advance Series win of the 2008 campaign was the third of his career on tour at Lebanon Valley, with his second Budweiser 200 victory registered in the 40th edition and worth $10,000 to the Sheffield, Massachusetts speedster.

“I was wondering why everybody was so happy about second,” revealed surprise winner Bachetti, 32, after pulling owner Steve Hough’s Albraeda Waste LLC no. 34 Wentworth Construction/PMC into victory lane for the third time this year at Lebanon Valley, where he finished third in the final track standings behind 2008 co-champions J.R. Heffner and Mark Flach Jr. Heffner trailed Bachetti at the stripe by nearly a straightaway while Eddie Marshall, Flach and 2000 Valley high points man Rich Ricci Jr. rounded out the front-five.

“I came across (finish line) and didn’t realize Brett ran out of gas or broke or what, this is incredible, just an incredible feeling. And I’ve got an incredible team. They dig hard and don’t give up,” beamed Bachetti, as family, friends and crew members flocked around the winning driver and car to celebrate and close out the Big-Block Modified portion of Kings Weekend at The Valley.

Exploiting the talents of his own crew, Sussex, New Jersey standout Hearn led almost the entire field out of the pits following the third caution of the race when third-generation chauffeur David VanHorn slowed on lap 51. Fellow Garden State invader Tommy Meier and local pilot Paul Gilardi (1 lap down) were the only two from the original 30-car starting field not to pull down pit lane, with Meier inheriting the point on lap 53. Hearn returned trackside a close second behind the wheel of the Madsen Motorsports no. 20 Wentworth Custom Homes-Kruger-WLR/TEO machine in pursuit of a second straight Budweiser 200 trophy.

Hearn seemed well on his way, shadowing the leader until blasting high around Meier exiting turn four just a half-dozen laps later while Bachetti mirrored the bold maneuver to secure second on lap 61. With a third of the race in the books, Hearn and Bachetti maintained a comfortable advantage ahead of Meier, pole-sitter Heffner and Marshall, with Advance Series runner-up Dale Planck, Flach, tour regular Jimmy Phelps, Ricci and talented teenager Kyle Sheldon taking up space in the top-10.

For the next 130 laps the order remained almost intact despite Meier making his mandatory pit stop under yellow on lap 127 following a slowdown for Wayne Jelley, who had just lost a lap to the leader. Yet just after Hearn got under eighth-place Meier on lap 190, his car sputtered exiting turn two giving Bachetti new life as he took over the top spot with only eight laps to go.

“Maybe my luck is changing because it hasn’t been a very lucky year,” noted the seemingly shocked winner after matching his first National 200 victory in 2004 when Bachetti led the final 122 laps sporting the same potent PMC chassis/Morrison engine combination. This is just real exciting for everybody on the team, it builds momentum for the rest of the season here for us.”

“Steve is pretty happy right now because I’m driving his car at Syracuse. I don’t seem to have a lot of luck when I go there but maybe we’re turning things around here. We’re looking forward to going there and having a good run and actually having some fun now,” added Bachetti, after securing a guaranteed 7th starting spot in the Rite Aid 200 slated for Sunday, October 12 of Super DIRT Week XXXVII at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse.

By virtue of his draw among the top-four finishers in each of the three qualifying heat races, Heffner started first in the Ron Dwyer-owned no. 88 A.Colarusso & Son-Turner Auto-Miller’s Automotive/TEO entry and paced the field in the early stages. VanHorn slowed to bring out the first yellow flag on lap four with Tremont, Sheldon, Advance Series points leader Billy Decker and Planck scored next in line.

Bachetti cracked the front-five through the initial 10 circuits while Decker was fading in the other direction. Ten laps later Bachetti was solidly in third although Decker suddenly slowed in the LJL Racing no. 91 Gypsum Wholesalers-Stadium Int’l-Quality Hardwoods/Bicknell mount as an expired Kevin Enders-prepared powerplant sent the Unadilla, New York driver behind pit wall for the remainder.

Bachetti continued his march toward the front, sliding under all-time Lebanon Valley champion Kenny Tremont as the pair exited turn two on lap 24. Bachetti reeled in Heffner soonafter and when the leader got trapped behind back marker Ric Hill in turn one, he bolted underneath for the first lead change on lap 30.

A second caution period brought the field back in check on lap 44 when Valley mainstay Guy Sheldon came to a stop low between turns three and four after a driveshaft broke and entered the cockpit. There was a short break in the action as Sheldon was attended to by track medical personal, at which time Advance Series traveler Matt Sheppard ended his night pitside with terminal brake problems.

The field refired on lap 51 yet slowed immediately after when VanHorn dropped off the pace for a second time steering the Sherlock Racing team entry in his ’08 Valley debut. With the mandatory pit stop window opened after lap 50, pit road became a scene of organized chaos as 20 cars jammed the infield lane, most taking on fuel with few opting for a tire change.

It was gas and go for Hearn as the six-time Valley 200 titlist emerged trackside in second-place behind only Meier, with Heffner, Bachetti and Marshall following close. Hearn tracked down Meier for first on lap 59 and there he remained until running dry with less than nine to go to hand over the lucrative victory to Bachetti.

Hearn was not the only one to miscalculate fuel mileage as Planck lost fifth-place on lap 197 when he ran out of gas, coasting around to pit road where the RezX Racing no. 77x Grow It Hydroseeding-Action Race Parts/TEO ride came to a stop just as Bachetti took the checkered flag. Meier ended up sixth on the final scorecard and as the first Orange County Fair Speedway regular driver (non-guaranteed) across the line, he automatically claimed the 7th starting spot in Orange County’s season-ending Eastern States 200 line-up on October 19.

“Congratulations to Andy and his guys, they were really strong,” commented runner-up Heffner, 36, who sandwiched his lone Bud 200 triumph in 2006 with fourth-place finishes last year and in 2005 to rank as the most consistent competitor in the new millennium. “We weren’t going to win tonight but we had a good car and were still in position if something did happen. I’m very proud of this #88 car, these guys worked so hard to get this thing together this week and it just ran flawless. Just a little bit off, that’s all.”

Finishing second to Hearn a year ago in the Valley finale, second-generation veteran Marshall once again fell just shy in the annual bid for his first National 200 triumph on home soil.

“I’m happy with third. Andy and J.R. ran a great race, real smooth, and Brett had some tough luck, he was super fast,” summed up Marshall, 50, whose lone Advance Series victory was posted in the New York State Fair Labor Day Championship in 1999. His father, Ernie Marshall, claimeed the same title race in 1973. “We were good and had a real good pit stop, the crew worked hard to get ready for this and we were able to pick up some positions on pit road.”

“I could put pressure on J.R., just couldn’t make a move to get by him. We were biding our time to see what would happen. Still happy to come home third with everything in good shape. J.R. is a good and steady driver, he’s not going to make any mistakes. Certainly I was going to have to work for it, just wasn’t quick enough to do it,” remarked Marshall, who registered his only win of the season aboard the Marshall Oil Company no. 98 Advance Water Technologies-R&M Heating & AC/TEO machine at Lebanon Valley in mid-July.

Seventh-place running Phelps was the last to be scored on the lead lap, with Frankie Caprara and Bert/KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Hector Stratton (started 26th) each down one while Hearn took on a splash of fuel and was push-started on pit row by his crew to return for a disappointing 10th-place finish after completing 198 circuits.

The 2008 Advance Auto Part Super DIRTcar Series returns to action this Friday, September 12 when Lernerville Speedway hosts the Advance Auto Parts ‘Autumn-Motive Fest Mod Madness’ special at the popular Sarver, Pa. oval.

Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Race #22 – Lebanon Valley Speedway, September 7, 2008 ‘Budweiser 200 presented by Benjamin Moore Paints’ Big-Block Modified Event Summary
Feature

FIN STR CAR# DRIVER
1 7 34 Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA($10,000)
2 1 88 J.R. Heffner/Pittsfield,MA
3 10 98 Eddie Marshall/Ridgefield,CT
4 18 77f Mark Flach Jr./Selkirk,NY
5 21 64 Rich Ricci Jr./New Paltz,NY
6 17 33-1/3 Tommy Meier/Waldwick,NJ
7 5 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
8 13 fx1 Frankie Caprara/Watertown,NY
9 26 87 Hector Stratton/Bennington,VT
10 11 20h Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
11 6 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
12 22 24 Chris Shultz/Pawling,NY
13 28 87x Paul Gilardi/Pittsfield,MA
14 20 14 Lorne Browe/East Greenbush,NY
15 16 60 Brian Berger/Castleton,NY
16 31 27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
17 15 43 Keith Flach/Ravena,NY
18 23 45 Wayne Jelley/Pittsfield,MA
19 4 115 Kenny Tremont/West Sand Lake,NY
20 2 518 Kyle Sheldon/Schodack,NY
21 24 84 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
22 27 93x Craig Mitchell/Wappingers Falls,NY
23 19 10 David VanHorn/Phillipsburg,NJ
24 9 9s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
25 8 42 Guy Sheldon/Nassau,NY
26 25 53 Ric Hill/Lafayette,NJ
27 29 99 Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY
28 3 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
29 30 3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY
30 12 49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY
DNS 14 20 Matt Quinn/New Ashford,MA

EVENT SUMMARY:
LAP LEADERS: Heffner (1-29), Bachetti (30-52), Meier (53-58), Hearn (59-191), Bachetti (192-200).
CAUTIONS: 6 for 35 laps.
HEAT WINNERS: Marshall, K.Sheldon, Tremont.
DIG SAFELY NEW YORK LAST CHANCE RACE WINNER: Shultz.
BICKNELL RACING PRODUCTS WINNER AWARD: Andy Bachetti.
CRANE CAMS WINNER AWARD: Andy Bachetti.
RISLONE OIL STABILIZER & TREATMENT WINNER AWARD: Andy Bachetti.
BARS LEAKS RUNNER-UP AWARD: J.R. Heffner.
CRANE CAMS RUNNER-UP AWARD: J.R. Heffner.
SYRACUSE RITE AID 200 QUALIFIER: Andy Bachetti (G).
HALFWAY LEADER: Brett Hearn.
BERT/KSE RACING PRODUCTS HARD CHARGER AWARD: Hector Stratton.
HOLLEY HARD LUCK AWARD: Brett Hearn.
PENSKE POWER POSITION AWARD (11th): Dale Planck.
INTEGRA SHOCKS FAST TIME AWARD: Billy Decker (19.845sec/90.703mph).
TOTAL PURSE: $40,385.
CARS ENTERED: 36.
NEXT EVENT: Lernerville Speedway – September 12, 2008.
DID NOT QUALIFY(5)
fx1x-Ryan Bartlett/Adams,NY
35-Jeff Sukup/West Sand Lake,NY
55-Mike King/Nassau,NY
171-Tom Faxon/Chatham,NY
959-Ryan Stortino/Hyde Park,NY

QUALIFYING
FAST AVE
TIME MPH CAR# DRIVER
1 19.845 90.703 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
*$100 Integra Shocks Fast Qualifier Award
2 20.209 89.069 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
3 20.212 89.056 77f Mark Flach Jr./Selkirk,NY
4 20.225 88.999 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
5 20.251 88.884 9s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
6 20.341 88.491 42 Guy Sheldon/Nassau,NY
7 20.375 88.344 60 Brian Berger/Castleton,NY
8 20.389 88.283 20h Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
9 20.517 87.732 43 Keith Flach/Ravena,NY
10 20.543 87.621 98 Eddie Marshall/Ridgefield,CT
11 20.559 87.553 518 Kyle Sheldon/Schodack,NY
12 20.636 87.226 115 Kenny Tremont/West Sand Lake,NY
13 20.639 87.214 45 Wayne Jelley/Pittsfield,MA
14 20.646 87.184 20 Matt Quinn/New Ashford,MA
15 20.668 87.091 34 Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA
16 20.701 86.952 87 Hector Stratton/Bennington,VT
17 20.735 86.810 55 Mike King/Nassau,NY
18 20.789 86.584 88 J.R. Heffner/Pittsfield,MA
19 20.815 86.476 49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY
20 20.818 86.464 14 Lorne Browe/East Greenbush,NY
21 20.867 86.261 64 Rich Ricci Jr./New Paltz,NY
22 20.895 86.145 24 Chris Shultz/Pawling,NY
23 20.932 85.993 33-1/3 Tommy Meier/Waldwick,NJ
24 20.983 85.784 84 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
25 21.005 85.694 fx1 Frankie Caprara/Watertown,NY
26 21.145 85.127 53 Ric Hill/Lafayette,NJ
27 21.224 84.810 171 Tom Faxon/Chatham,NY
28 21.272 84.618 10 David VanHorn/Phillipsburg,NJ
29 21.280 84.586 93x Craig Mitchell/Wappingers Falls,NY
30 21.364 84.254 87x Paul Gilardi/Pittsfield,MA
31 21.531 83.600 99 Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY
32 21.678 83.033 35 Jeff Sukup/West Sand Lake,NY
33 -NT- —– fx1x Ryan Bartlett/Adams,NY
34 -NT- —– 3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY
35 -NT- —– 27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
36 -NT- —– 959 Ryan Stortino/Hyde Park,NY
Heat Races (10 laps, top 7 finishers transferred to feature, top 4 went to re-draw)
#1: Marshall, J.Phelps, Decker, Dunn, Caprara, Berger, VanHorn, Shultz, Jelley, Stratton, R.Phelps.
#2: K.Sheldon, Hearn, Planck, Sheppard, Quinn, Meier, Browe, Mitchell, Hill, Sukup, King, Stortini (DNS).
#3: Tremont, Bachetti, Heffner, G.Sheldon, K.Flach, M.Flach, Ricci, Tomkins, Gilardi, D.Johnson, Haers, Faxon, Bartlett (DNS).
Dig Safely New York Last Chance Races (10 laps, top 8 finishers to feature)
#1: Shultz, Jelley, Tomkins, Hill, Stratton, Mitchell, Gilardi, R.Phelps, Sukup, Haers, D.Johnson (DNS), King (DNS), Faxon (DNS), Stortini (DNS), Bartlett (DNS).
Guaranteed: Haers, D.Johnson.

Overall Hoosier Tire Mr. DIRTcar Big-Block Modified
Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Point Standings
(Thru Sept. 7, 2008)
Rank No. Driver Total Series Bonus Diff Wins T-5 T-10 Starts
1 91 Billy Decker 2,111 1,811 300 0 10 17 21 22
2 77x Dale Planck 1,961 1,669 292 -150 3 16 19 22
3 98h Jimmy Phelps 1,896 1,622 274 -215 1 12 20 22
4 20 Brett Hearn 1,867 1,579 288 -244 2 9 19 22
5 84 Gary Tomkins 1,796 1,500 296 -315 2 9 18 22
6 9s Matt Sheppard 1,686 1,402 284 -425 1 7 16 22
7 FX1 Frankie Caprara 1,590 1,298 292 -521 0 2 13 22
8 7x Steve Paine 1,500 1,208 292 -611 0 8 9 21
9 3 Justin Haers 1,414 1,156 258 -697 0 2 13 21
10 99 Ryan Phelps 1,407 1,151 256 -704 0 0 7 22
11 14J Alan Johnson 1,322 1,034 288 -789 1 4 10 18
12 27J Danny Johnson 1,282 1,142 140 -829 0 4 6 22
13 49 Billy Dunn 1,281 1,029 252 -830 0 0 2 22
14 99L Larry Wight® 1,000 778 222 -1,111 0 0 1 19
15 6 Pat O’Brien 901 617 284 -1,210 0 0 2 15
16 29 Jeff Brownell Jr 763 533 230 -1,348 0 0 1 13
17 42B Kevin Bates 691 439 252 -1,420 0 0 0 12
18 99b Chuck Bower 564 318 246 -1,547 0 0 0 10
19 79 Michael Storms® 509 255 254 -1,602 0 0 1 6
20 5 Jason Potter 489 239 250 -1,622 0 0 0 7
21 16 Mike Bowman 475 243 232 -1,636 0 0 0 7
22 88 Steve Hulsizer 463 221 242 -1,648 0 0 0 5
23 48T Dave Rauscher 453 227 226 -1,658 0 0 1 6
24 91h Chad Homan 450 232 218 -1,661 0 0 0 7
25 93 Ryan Bartlett 443 193 250 -1,668 0 0 0 5
26 4 Andy Bachetti 441 153 288 -1,670 1 1 1 1
27 71 David VanHorn Jr 431 171 260 -1,680 0 0 0 3
28 56 Vince Vitale 430 188 242 -1,681 0 0 0 5
29 21 Derrick Podsiadlo 420 184 236 -1,691 0 0 0 7
30 74 J.R. Heffner 410 146 264 -1,701 0 1 1 1
31 62s Tom Sears Jr. 410 142 268 -1,701 0 0 0 4
32 98 Eddie Marshall 407 145 262 -1,704 0 1 1 1
33 77F Mark Flach Jr. 403 135 268 -1,708 0 1 1 1
34 24 Chris Shultz 402 146 256 -1,709 0 0 0 2
35 1x Willy Decker 402 126 276 -1,709 0 0 1 2
36 44 Shannon Whaley 397 195 202 -1,714 0 0 0 6
37 8 Rob Bellinger 388 132 256 -1,723 0 0 0 4
38 89b Todd Burley 378 120 258 -1,733 0 1 1 3
39 43 Keith Flach 375 123 252 -1,736 0 0 0 3
40 33.3 Tommy Meier 373 125 248 -1,738 0 0 1 1
41 19 Chuck McKee 366 96 270 -1,745 0 1 1 1
42 32c Vic Coffey 356 190 166 -1,755 0 1 1 4
43 24 Jim Witko Jr. 354 92 262 -1,757 0 0 0 2
44 53e Ric Hill 353 121 232 -1,758 0 0 1 2
45 47 Jerry Higbie 351 85 266 -1,760 0 1 1 1
46 90 Scott Parliament 350 88 262 -1,761 0 0 0 2
47 115 Kenny Tremont 349 79 270 -1,762 0 0 0 1
48 87 Hector Stratton 346 112 234 -1,765 0 0 1 1
49 777 Kevin Bolland 340 40 300 -1,771 0 0 0 1
50 13 Tony Steiner® 337 179 158 -1,774 0 0 0 4
51 18w Scott Webb 334 62 272 -1,777 0 0 1 1
52 93x Craig Mitchell 333 111 222 -1,778 0 0 0 2
53 66 Jeff Heotzler 332 58 274 -1,779 0 0 0 1
54 45J Wayne Jelley 331 77 254 -1,780 0 0 0 1
55 60 Brian Berger 330 88 242 -1,781 0 0 0 1
56 6 Pete Taylor 325 127 198 -1,786 0 0 0 4
57 02 Roy Bresnahan 324 122 202 -1,787 0 0 1 2
58 14 Lorne Browe 306 92 214 -1,805 0 0 0 1
59 11j Sean Beardsley 305 139 166 -1,806 0 0 0 4
60 99 Charlie Donk 305 53 252 -1,806 0 0 0 2

Advance Auto Parts DIRTcar Modified Entries – September 7 (36)
CAR# DRIVER / HOMETOWN TEAM (Sponsor / Chassis / Engine)
fx1 Frankie Caprara/Watertown,NY F.X. Caprara Car Co.-Auto Value-JK Contracting/Troyer/Dan Bedell
fx1x Ryan Bartlett/Adams,NY F.X. Caprara Car Co.-Auto Value-JK Contracting/Troyer/Dan Bedell
3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY Phelps Cement Products-SMV Motorsports-Jeff Jolly Masonry/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
9s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY JB Motor Sports-BPG/Chad Sinon Motorsports/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
10 David VanHorn/Phillipsburg,NJ Tri-State Roofing-Dirt Works-Escape RV/TEO/Precision
14 Lorne Browe/East Greenbush,NY L.Browe Asphalt Services-JP & Sons General Contractors/PMC/JPM
20 Matt Quinn/New Ashford,MA Earthworm Cat Rental/Bicknell/Dan Bedell
20h Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ Madsen Motorsports-Wentworth Custom Homes-Kruger-WLR/TEO/Enders
24 Chris Shultz/Pawling,NY Liberty Rock Crushing-Bob’s Garage/TEO/JPM
27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY Bill Green Excavating-Johnson Racing-Twin G Motorsports/Troyer/Chevrolet
33-1/3 Tommy Meier/Waldwick,NJ Barry’s Lawn Service-Pearseco Construction-F&S Automotive/Bicknell/Precision
34 Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA Albraeda Waste LLC-Wentworth Construction/PMC/Morrison
35 Jeff Sukup/West Sand Lake,NY Tom Sanchez Contracting-Lansing Flight Support/TEO/JPAM
42 Guy Sheldon/Nassau,NY Saxton Sign Corp.-Judd Construction-Sheldon Oil Services/PMC/Devine
43 Keith Flach/Ravena,NY Flach Crane & Rigging-Gould Erectors & Riggers/Bicknell/Enders
45 Wayne Jelley/Pittsfield,MA Advance Auto Parts-K&F Modular Homes-Freedom Plains/TEO/Dan Bedell
49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY Number One Speed-American Traditions-Fast Lube Watertown/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
53 Ric Hill/Lafayette,NJ Valley Mason Supply-Escape RV-Double D Racing-Ferriauolo Excavating/TEO/JPM
55 Mike King/Nassau,NY Thoma Tire-A to Z Landscaping-Otterbeck Builders/PMC/Dan Bedell
60 Brian Berger/Castleton,NY Pittsfield Lawn & Tractor-Legends Bar & Grill-Phaze3 Racing/PMC/Dan Bedell
64 Rich Ricci Jr./New Paltz,NY Indian Fields Equipment-David Brickman Attorney-American Legal/Bicknell/JPM
77f Mark Flach Jr./Selkirk,NY Gould Erectors & Riggers-F&M Farms/Troyer/Dan Bedell
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-Red Parker & Son Excavating/Bicknell/Mastin
87 Hector Stratton/Bennington,VT Big Boy’s Toys-Quality Plumbing & Heating/PMC/AC Performance
87x Paul Gilardi/Pittsfield,MA Fast Loans Greylock Fed.Credit Union-Modular Home Connection/Bicknell/Marollo
88 J.R. Heffner/Pittsfield,MA A.Colarusso & Son-Turner Auto-Miller’s Automotive/TEO/Dan Bedell
91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY Gypsum Wholesalers-Stadium Int’l-Quality Hardwoods/Bicknell/Enders
93x Craig Mitchell/Wappingers Falls,NY FPHATS.com-J&J Auto Maintenance-Dom’s Towing/PMC/M2 Power
98 Eddie Marshall/Ridgefield,CT Marshall Oil Co.-Advance Water Technologies-R&M Heating & AC/TEO/Enders
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
115 Kenny Tremont/West Sand Lake,NY S&S Asphalt-Park East Sales-Doherty Bros. Construction/Bicknell/Tremont
171 Tom Faxon/Chatham,NY Faxon Excavation-Mike Visconti General Contractor/TEO/Enders
518 Kyle Sheldon/Schodack,NY Rifenburg Construction-Sheldon Oil Services/PMC/Morrison
959 Ryan Stortino/Hyde Park,NY Lutes Family Racing-Gunite Pool Buildings/TEO/JPM

SKIDMARKS
Lebanon Valley 200 Kicks Off ’08 Series Slam
: The ‘Grand Slam’ of Big-Block Modified racing on the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series officially began this weekend as the National 200 at Lebanon Valley Speedway kicked off the traditional ‘second season’ of competition on the 2008 DIRTcar NorthEast circuit. With his victory in the Budweiser 200, Andy Bachetti is now guaranteed the 7th starting spot in the Rite Aid 200 slated for Sunday, October 12 of Super DIRT Week XXXVII at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse. In addition, Tommy Meier (6th) was the first Orange County regular driver (non-guaranteed) across the line in the Lebanon Valley 200 and earned the 7th starting spot in Orange County Fair Speedway’s Eastern States 200 line-up. Rolling Wheels Raceway Park hosts the second of the “200s” on September 27, followed by the Rite Aid 200 at the N.Y.S. Fairgrounds and Eastern States 200 on Sunday, October 19.

Pit Pond: Track management was forced to postpone the Lebanon Valley 200 from Saturday, and upon arriving early at the West Lebanon oval Sunday morning racers were greeted by a shallow infield pond that filled nearly halfway the front pit area on the east end, towards turns one and two. Led by veteran grounds-keeper Lyle DeVore, the track maintenance team primed the pumps and eventually followed through with a successful drainage strategy that resulted in another fast racing surface. Before the last of the water had been forced away from the property around noon, officials had even explored the option of pitting the Big-Blocks on the asphalt drag strip beyond the back stretch wall, something that would have curtailed the running of ‘live’ pit stops during the 200-lapper.

Pot Holes: Billy Decker started the show on a high note, clicking off the fastest lap in Integra Shocks Time Trials for the fifth time this season. “The early draw helped out and after that we were just lucky. We hit the cushion just right and we’re able to turn left. We’ve got some notes from this place but the track’s a lot different this year, not yet black so we’ll have to wait until feature time to make the call,” Decker remarked prior to the 200-lap start…..Despite Decker’s mechanical misfortune as well as the special points system —each winner receives 150 Series points and 50 points are awarded to start— used during the Grand Slam events, he still left Lebanon Valley with a substantial 150-point lead over top challenger Planck, with Phelps another 65 markers back heading to Pennsylvania this weekend…..Just five Advance Series races remain on the 2008 schedule, with the final three at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park, Orange County Fair Speedway and the New York State Fairgrounds slated to go 200 laps…..David VanHorn made a rare appearance at The Valley, on this occasion steering the Sherlock Motorsports no. 10 Tri-State Roofing-Dirt Works-Escape RV/TEO entry looking for the guaranteed starting spot in the Rite Aid 200 on the Syracuse Mile. Recently crowned the 2008 DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Points Champion at Orange County, 25 year-old third-generation driver David is the grandson of Hall of Famer Carl ‘Fuzzy’ VanHorn who claimed just the fourth-ever Lebanon Valley 200 in 1968, outlasting legends Frankie Schneider and Lou Lazzaro on his way to the checkered flag…..Featured in the all-star field for the 2008 Budweiser 200 were seven past race winners Brett Hearn (6 wins), Billy Decker (4), Danny Johnson (3), Kenny Tremont (2), J.R. Heffner, Rich Ricci Jr. and Bachetti…..Danny Johnson was behind the 8-ball all day, failing to make time trials after his trusty ole ’92 orange no. 27j had an oil plug fall out before a rocker arm broke in warm-ups….. Along his victory in the Budweiser 200, Bachetti also placed 4th and 2nd in the twin 25-lappers for Small-Block Modifieds along with the full card of Big-Block activity at the track he was crowed points champion at in 2006. Joining the ‘Wild Child’ in Small-Block competition were Heffner (6th, 4th), Hearn (3rd, 16th) and Kenny Tremont (14th, 6th)…..

Get Out The Word First: RACEceiver is the Official Driver Communicator of DIRTcar Racing. 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 the ongoing effort to assist every sanctioned track with presenting the best possible race programs, DIRT has teamed with AMB i.t. which continues to be recognized as the Official Timing System of DIRTcar racing. AMB i.t. is the world’s leader in automatic race timing and scoring systems and the DIRT organization is proud to retain the company as a valued partner in the timing and scoring of all DIRTcar Racing events.

UPCOMING EVENT
The only event on the Advance Auto Part Super DIRTcar Series next week is slated for Lernerville Speedway where the premier touring series of Big-Block Modifieds in the country returns to Sarver, Pennsylvania to kick off the first of day of the Advance Auto Parts Autumn-Motive Fest on Friday September 12. The Advance Series touring regulars will do battle with Lernerville Speedway/BRP Modified Tour guns contending in the $6000-to-win North-South 100 portion of Modified Madness.

2008 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Schedule
NP=Non-Point event.
*All events subject to change
.
DAY-DATE TRACK WINNER/RITE AID 200 QUALIFIER
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 Jimmy Horton
Sat-Mar 22 Hagerstown Speedway Weather-Cancelled
Thr-May 1 Virginia Motor Speedway Matt Sheppard(G)
Sun-May 4 Rolling Wheels Raceway Billy Decker(G)
Sun-May 4 Rolling Wheels Raceway Dale Planck(G)
Sun-May 25 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway D.Planck/Danny Johnson(P)
Sat-Jun 7 Fulton Speedway B.Decker/Brett Hearn(P)
Thr-Jul 3 Ransomville Speedway B.Decker/Robbie Krull(P)
Thr-Jul 10 Brockville Ont Speedway B.Decker/Jimmy Phelps(P)
Fri-Jul 11 Autodrome Granby Brett Hearn(G)
Sat-Jul 12 Autodrome Drummond D.Planck/Steve Paine(P)
Wed-Jul 16 Grandview Speedway B.Decker/Jeff Strunk(P)
Thr-Jul 17 Georgetown Speedway H.J. Bunting III(G)
Thr-Jul 31 Orange Co Fair Speedway B.Hearn/Chuck McKee(P)
Mon-Aug 4 Merrittville Speedway Jimmy Phelps(G)
Sat-Aug 9 Canandaigua Speedway B.Decker/Vic Coffey(P)
Sat-Aug 9 Canandaigua Speedway B.Decker/Justin Haers(P)
Fri-Aug 15 Brewerton Speedway B.Decker/Gary Tomkins(P)
Sat-Aug 16 Can-Am Motorsports Park Gary Tomkins(G)
Sun-Aug 17 Cornwall Motor Speedway G.Tomkins/Carey Terrance(P)
Sun-Aug 31 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway Alan Johnson(G)
Sun-Aug 31 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway B.Decker/Frankie Caprara(P)
Mon-Sep 1 Rolling Wheels Raceway B.Decker/Roy Bresnahan(P)
Sat-Sep 7 Lebanon Valley Speedway Andy Bachetti(G)
Fri-Sep 12 Lernerville Speedway Sarver,PA
Sat-Sep 20 Canandaigua Speedway Canandaigua,NY
Sat-Sep 27 Rolling Wheels Raceway Elbridge,NY
Sun-Oct 12 New York State Fairgrounds Syracuse,NY
Sun-Oct 19 Orange Co Fair Speedway Middletown,NY

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 http://www.advanceautoparts.com.

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 and Hoosier Racing Tire. Rite Aid Corporation is a promotional partner and the contingency sponsors are Bars Leaks, Bert Transmission, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Crane Cams, Dig Safely New York, Holley HP Carburetors, Integra Shocks, Intercomp, KSE Racing Products, Motorsports Safety Systems, Penske Shocks, Rislone Oil Stabilizer and Wrisco Industries.