Barberville, FL — February 16, 2008 – By Tom Skibinski, Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series PR Director
*Chris Dolack Photo
Jimmy Horton almost wasn’t able to save his best for last, yet having one of the fastest cars for the second straight night gave him a chance and the Neshanic Station, New Jersey speedster took advantage to survive and score a dramatic win Saturday in the Advance Auto Parts Alltel 50 finale at Volusia Speedway Park. (Click here to listen to Jimmy Horton from Alltel Wireless Victory Lane)
New Jersey state rivals Brett Hearn and Billy Pauch finished nose-to-tail for the fourth straight night, producing the fourth tie in history for the coveted Alltel DIRTcar Nationals Big-Block Modified points title.
“Motors have been keeping me entertained here the whole week,” said Horton, 51, after parking the Schmidt Racing no. 5 Lincoln Auto Body/Troyer entry in Alltel Victory Lane at VSP for the sixth time, his first since February of 2006. “We broke a motor in warm-ups the first night, don’t really know why, then ran decent the next night. Last night we were real good and I was having a lot of fun until getting into that jingle.”
“Tonight everything was pretty good then all of a sudden it jumped out of gear. I thought the motor broke so I said I’ll give it one more try and put it back in gear and she took off again. I think when it jumped out of gear it might have over-revved the motor and broke a rocker arm because with about seven laps to go it started skipping. I said sorry Dieter (Schmidt, owner), its going to the end,” Horton added.
Early race leader Jimmy Phelps hung on to finish second four car-lengths behind for his first top-five tally of the week in the H&H Motorsports no. 98H Mohawk Northeast-New England Race Fuels/Troyer mount. Suffering a flat left-rear tire immediately after grabbing the lead from Phelps on lap 18, Friday night winner Dale Planck charged back through the pack to place third ahead of co-champions Hearn and Pauch.
Equipped with a fresh Morrison motor under the hood of his JIR Motorsports no. 27J Troyer machine, Danny Johnson jumped out first from his pole-position start and stayed there until Phelps drove around as the pair throttled out of turn two on the third circuit. Pauch, Planck and Horton chased the leaders in the early going with Hearn yet to find his way into the top-10 with the first five laps complete.
Central New Yorker Dave Rauscher backed his Magee Transportation Services-Monadnock Disposal Service/Bicknell down the home stretch to incur the first of seven yellow flags just as upstarts Mark Forte Jr. and Rob Bellinger tangled in turn two. Jeremy Markle and Florida Tour first timer Steve Downs hooked up in the same spot two laps later to quickly bring out a second caution with the front-five racers remaining together with 10 in the books.
Planck finally moved past Pauch for third on lap 13 and overtook Johnson for the runner-up slot two laps later then set his sights on the leader. This time it was Mark Forte Sr. locking horns with Bellinger in the initial turns to force another slowdown, just what Planck was looking for as he ducked low to forge his first lead on lap 18. But that lasted only one more circuit as Planck’s left-rear Hoosier went soft allowing Phelps to regain the point .
The no. 1W Will Brown Truck Repair-K&A Excavating/Bicknell mount of Pauch suddenly came to life on the lap 20 restart, blasting from fourth to first; going around Andy Bachetti then under Phelps as Johnson sandwiched the leader coming out of turn four. Horton was left to watch in fifth while Hearn moved in to make it a six car battle with half the race still to go.
Horton dove past Hearn then disposed of Bachetti and when Johnson had a tire go down under yellow, the “Sensational One” was riding in the top-three and getting faster as the race wore on. Horton flew past Phelps on a lap 26 restart and sped high around Pauch to forge the final lead change on lap 28.
As Horton was able to run comfortably out front, only the positions behind him would change over the final 20 circuits with Andy Bachetti and Jamie Mills falling from the front-five over the last 10 laps. Fifth running Mills slowed to a stop on lap 42 before his no. 55 Coulbourne Farms-Mills Market-Covey’s Car Care/Bicknell mount limped into the infield pits with a right-rear flat forcing the Delaware driver to call it a night. Despite getting as high as second with 15 to go, Massachusetts invader Bachetti in the sleek no. 34 Hough Motors/PMC machine could only claim an eighth-place finish at the line.
With Horton still in control, all eyes began to wander the way of Planck as he continued his march toward the front. Standing 11th when Markle looped in turn four to bring out the sixth caution on lap 31, Planck needed a miracle to match his victory scored the previous night, but even some late race magic couldn’t get the job done with the stellar field that ran ahead.
Planck improved to ninth by lap 40 and closed in on the top-five with a handful of laps to go. He ducked under Hearn in turn four and that’s how it ended as Horton held on for his 83rd career DIRTcar Big-Block Modified feature win with Phelps in tow.
“This is the way we wanted to start out,” Horton stated. “Dieter went out and bought some Troyer cars and it really made a difference. Other than blowing a motor on Wednesday and the mishap on Friday, we’ve done alright this week.”
With 17 of the 28 open-wheel starters completing the entire 50-lap distance, the top-10 positions were filled by veterans Pat Ward and Alan Johnson, Bachetti, Rick Laubach and Matt Sheppard. The Alltel DIRTcar Nationals points championship was the seventh for Hearn and third for Pauch, ironically, with each also tying for the title one other time; Hearn with Bachetti in 2005 and Pauch with the late Jeff Kappesser in 1982. Identical finishes of 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th were recorded by each driver during the recent affair.
“It’s a great way for the team to start out with four top-5s,” said Hearn, the defending overall Hoosier-Sunoco Mr. DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Champion. “We didn’t have the best car by any means but just kept digging. Our goal is to finish in the top-five all the time, we know the wins will come if we keep running up front.”
Added Pauch, “We came down here to win so its always nice to do good and get the title that goes along with it. Its definitely been a while. I think 1982 was the first time I ever came down to Florida. We’re happy the way things worked out this time around, hopefully we can carry the momentum back home. Right now Hagerstown and Virginia (Series races) are already on our schedule.”
With the 2008 Alltel DIRTcar Nationals safely in the recordbook, teams packed up and headed home to get ready for the start of DIRTcar NorthEast’s 33rd season at their hometrack. The first major event of the season is the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modified opener scheduled at Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway on Saturday, March 22. The 23-race Advance Auto Parts Series continues through October with Orange County Fair (NY) Speedway hosting the 47th Eastern States 200-lap season-finale on October 19.
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: Jimmy Horton joined previous Big-Block Modified winners Pauch, Hearn and Planck in adding his name to the Alltel All-Star DIRTcar 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. “Why not? That’s what we got to do, vote for me,” pleaded Horton from the Alltel Winner’s Circle platform, hoping to sway voters his way to cash in on the unprecedented pot posted by Alltel Wireless. “It’s a great promotion, I hope we get more of these. Thanks to Alltel for stepping up to the plate and helping out the Modifieds. To heck with the Late Models, we want the Modifieds to win.”
To support Horton, Planck, Hearn and Pauch, log into AlltelAllStar.com and cast as many votes as possible. Alltel Wireless will reward the fans’ favorite driver as determined in this unique online poll, which also included text message voting throughout the DIRTcar Nationals. Only drivers who won an A-main during the 12-day speedfest are eligible to collect that $12,000 cash reward. With the contest 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 visiting www.alltelallstar.com. The winning driver will be named in a special ceremony shortly thereafter.
New Jersey Notables: While Big-Block feature winners Hearn, Horton and Pauch kept the state of New Jersey in the forefront during the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals, Rich Scagliotta and Steve Haggan made their way through the shadows as they joined them on the list of eight Garden State drivers that competed at Volusia Speedway Park this year. Scagliotta qualified for all four main events in his sixth straight year venturing to Florida while second-year pilot Haggan failed to crack the starting grid in his first-ever visit to the Sunshine State.
“We’ve been getting faster every time out, just need to make a feature to get some more track time,” figured Haggan, 40, who went from once cheering on Pauch at his hometown Flemington (NJ) Fair Speedway to chasing him on a track some 1000 miles away. “So far we’ve been pushing but we made some ride height adjustments to compensate. I’m in this for the long haul so we’ll just keeping plugging away until we get it right. I’d like to finish in the top-10 in a feature this year back up north, right now I’m planning to do this thing until we can win.” For 15 years Haggan was a champion motocross racer, a proven winner on the local level and top-10 contender on the national stage. It wasn’t until 2005 when he made his stock car debut sporting a Small-Block Modified ride closer to home. “I had a good friend who always followed Modified racing and I went up to Syracuse for Super DIRT Week in 2004,” recalled Haggan, who continues to travel the country, only with his construction business topping the list of priorities during the race season. “I liked the power, the way the cars came out of the turns, and I said this looks like a lot of fun. In motocross it seems you’re always breaking bones and I was getting a little too old for that sort of thing so I said let’s give the Modifieds a try.” Haggan buckled into an Olsen for 15 Small-Block races his first two years and last season switched to a TEO chassis. And just like Pauch, he opened the 2008 campaign with a Bicknell and both will be regulars at New Egypt (NJ) Speedway this season.
Scagliotta is a much more seasoned car racer, making the trip to Florida an annual occurrence almost every February since the new millennium began. With the recently completed four-race swing in gator country his best ever, the Bound Brook, NJ traveler may be most remembered for surviving one of the most violent incidents in Florida Tour history during a consolation round race at Volusia in 2004. “This is my big vacation every year and there’s a lot of work involved but we still try to have fun,” said Scagliotta, 45, who demolished his no. 8 Central Jersey Trailer & Hitch Depot mount in the horrific frontstretch crash four winters earlier. A bunched up restart sent Scagliotta swerving low exiting the final turn, eventually catching the left front end of Butch Tittle’s Z-Car as they reached the starter’s stand. The ensuing contact quickly vaulted Scagliotta’s machine into the air and following five end-over-end flips his Troyer machine lay piled in a heap upside down alongside Pennsylvanians Tittle and Ray Swinehart. Scagliotta staggered away on his own and later was transported to the Florida Hospital in nearby Deland where he was treated for a severe bruise of his orbital (eye) socket bone. “Bought a time-share on Daytona Beach five years ago and have been able to come back ever since. We really enjoy doing this and the self satisfaction comes from finding some success from time to time. Being able to get away is important when you have your own business. Racing offers the chance to take another direction and we’ve had fun over the years down here,” added Scagliotta, who is now in his 27th year spearheading the activity at Adamsville Maintenance, Inc., an excavating contractor specializing in sitework, utility and land clearing. He matched his best career DIRTcar Nationals finish in ’08 with 11th-place in the opener and climbed to 12th in the final point standings.
New York State of Mind: Central New Yorker Vinnie Vitale joined Haggan on the roster of 10 drivers making their first appearance at the Barberville half-miler. The Phoenix, New York chauffeur finished right below Scagliotta on the points chart and plans to continue racing up north with a full season slated for Fulton (NY) Speedway in 2008. “This is a different track than what we’re used to back home, but I’d still come back,” said Vitale, 32, a three-time winner on DIRTcar Racing NorthEast’s demanding Big-Block circuit with another 24 checkered flags taken in the entry level Sportsman Modified division. “What you learn back home don’t bring to Volusia and what you learn down here, leave here. Once we got down here we changed the car a lot. Definitely needed a different set-up. I never even changed shocks before but down here you have to run much stiffer.”
It wasn’t until the new year dawned that Vitale, owner and manager of Vitale-Robinson Concrete in the Empire State, got a call from area car owner Case Marshall and together they devised a plan to make the excursion south. Vitale’s no. 56 V & V Racing/Troyer car in Marshall’s hauler and split costs down the middle the rest of the way. “Case had wanted a car to go down but it was with Eric (Kingsley, crew chief). Their car wasn’t done so I got a call from Case since my car was already finished. Eric has been down here before and he’s helped me a lot. It seems like the guys that race here always seem better prepared when they get back north. I know that every time you open a season with a new feeling, guys just want to get it out of their system and beginning in Florida is the best way to go,” figured Vitale, who posted a 10th-place best in his maiden voyage to VSP while qualifying for all four main events.
POT HOLES
Over the past decade of DIRTcar Big-Block Modified competition in Florida, 138 of the 171 drivers entered have qualified for feature events. The average annual car count during this 11-year span is 40 with a DIRTcar Nationals record 56 drivers participating in 2006. Including events staged at East Bay Raceway outside Tampa, nearby Putnam County Speedway in Palatka and Volusia, 44 feature races have been run since 1998 and 16 drivers have now qualified for at least half: Brett Hearn (44), Danny Johnson (40), Jamie Mills (39), Tim Fuller (35), J.R. Heffner (35), Pat Ward (33), Ray Swinehart (29), Jimmy Horton (28), Tim McCreadie (27), Doug Hoffman (27), Deron Rust (27), Vic Coffey (26), Rick Laubach (26), Alan Johnson (25), Jim Rasey (24) and Butch Tittle (23). In 2008, open-wheel upstarts Larry Wight, Vince Vitale, Keith Flach, Steve Downs, Rob Bellinger, Jordan Watson, Steve Haggan, Bob Hentschel and John Reome made their maiden voyages to VSP while Joe Isabell qualified for his first feature…..Last winter Brett Hearn’s streak of nine straight DIRTcar Nationals with at least one feature win came to an end. The ‘Jet’ got back on track the second night out last week scoring a decisive win to bolster his Florida Tour record to 18 in the Big-Bock Modified division. Maybe more impressive is his total of 36 top-five finishes in the 44 main events held since DIRTcar’s return to Florida in 1998…..No formal recognition was given to the race hard charger in the DIRTcar Modified mains yet if there was, Matt Sheppard (Finish=5/Start=21, Feb. 13), Rick Laubach (F=9/S=20, Feb. 14), Keith Flach (F=11/S=26, Feb. 15) and Alan Johnson (F=7/S=25, Feb. 16) would have collected the phantom hardware for their perseverance throughout the week…..Driver draws were held all four nights and the heat race finishes determined the feature line-ups using the traditional heads-up format. With exactly 50 pills filling the basket nightly, Wallace Stacey (14.3), Steve Downs (16.3) and Jamie Mills (16.3) had the best average draw for the four events while Kevin Hirthler (47.7) and 15-year old sensation Larry Wight (45.0) had the worst. Overall points king Billy Pauch (20.3) was among the top-third while co-champion Brett Hearn (26.8) was ranked in the bottom half…..While fireworks filled the sky prior to the WoO Late Model finale, sparks flew as soon as the final checkered flag flew to bring to a close the Big-Block Modified portion of the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia. Top Troyer drivers Jimmy Phelps and Danny Johnson were involved in the post-race skirmish at the infield scales with the exchange of words and fisticuffs having nothing to do with the newest Troyer design.
Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series – Volusia Speedway Park, February 16, 2008
37th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals Event #4
BIG-BLOCK MODIFIED FEATURE
FIN STR CAR# DRIVER/HOMETOWN
1 4 5 Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ($5,000)
2 2 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
3 8 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
4 17 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
5 6 1w Billy Pauch/Frenchtown,NJ
6 21 42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
7 25 14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY
8 3 34 Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA
9 18 14 Rick Laubach/Quakertown,PA
10 13 44s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
11 12 7j Joe Isabell/Pennellville,NY
12 19 22 Mario Clair/St-Edmond,QUE
13 20 91w Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY
14 10 32 Jim Rasey/Southington,OH
15 5 8s Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ
16 22 56 Vince Vitale/Phoenix,NY
17 24 18 Sean Beardsley/Central Square,NY
18 7 8 Rob Bellinger/Dexter,NY
19 14 43 Keith Flach/Ravena,NY
20 23 79 Jeremy Markle/Port Jervis,NY
21 11 48too Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY
22 9 55 Jamie Mills/Milford,DE
23 27 30 Jordan Watson/Milford,DE
24 28 m40 Mark Forte,Jr./Blue Anchor,NJ
25 1 27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
26 15 71 David VanHorn/Phillipsburg,NJ
27 16 40 Mark Forte,Sr./Blue Anchor,NJ
28 26 39w Steve Downs/Georgetown,DE
DID NOT QUALIFY(7)
1-Darwin Greene/Susquehanna,PA
20p-Pierre Berthiaume/Quebec City,QUE
20s-Steve Haggan/Flemington, NJ
t21-Roger Chrysler/Lewiston,NY
66w-Wallace Stacey/Kahnawake,QUE
85-Dan Vauter/Forest City,PA
923-Colin Jackson/Peckville,PA
Lap Leaders: D.Johnson (1-2), Phelps (3-17), Planck (18), Phelps (19), Pauch (20-27), Horton (28-50).
Cautions: 7 (lap 6, lap 8, lap 17, lap 19, lap 26, lap 31, lap 42).
QUALIFYING
Heat Races (8 laps, top 5 finishers transferred to feature)
#1: D.Johnson, Scagliotta, Mills, Sheppard, Hearn, Ward, Beardsley, Vitale, Stacey.
#2: Phelps, Pauch, Rasey, Flach, Laubach, Greene, Jackson, Haggan, A.Johnson.
#3: Bachetti, Bellinger, Rauscher, VanHorn, Clair, Markle, Watson, Chrysler, Forte Jr.
#4: Horton, Planck, Isabell, Forte Sr., Wight, Downs, Berthiaume, Vauter.
Consolation Round (12 laps, top 8 finishers transferred to feature)
#1: Ward, Vitale, Markle, Beardsley, A.Johnson, Downs, Watson, Forte Jr., Greene, Haggan, Berthiaume, Chrysler, Jackson, Stacey, Vauter (DNS).
Alltel DIRTcar Nationals Point Standings (FINAL)
Advance Auto Parts Modifieds
POINTS CAR# DRIVER / HOMETOWN
214 20 BRETT HEARN/Sussex,NJ
214 1w BILLY PAUCH/Frenchtown,NJ
198 14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY
194 42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
184 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
176 44s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
176 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
162 22 Mario Clair/St-Edmond,QUE
140 5 Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ
136 14 Rick Laubach/Quakertown,PA
132 91w Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY
118 8s Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ
115 56 Vince Vitale/Phoenix,NY
114 43 Keith Flach/Ravena,NY
114 34 Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA
108 71 David VanHorn/Phillipsburg,NJ
100 39w Steve Downs/Georgetown,DE
100 m40 Mark Forte,Jr./Blue Anchor,NJ
100 55 Jamie Mills/Milford,DE
92 7j Jeff Isabell/Pennellville,NY
92 18 Sean Beardsley/Central Square,NY
89 117 Kevin Hirthler/Boyertown,PA
87 32 Jim Rasey/Southington,OH
82 8 Rob Bellinger/Dexter,NY
78 79 Jeremy Markle/Port Jervis,NY
74 85 Dan Vauter/Forest City,PA
63 27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
62 30 Jordan Watson/Milford,DE
62 48too Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY
60 40 Mark Forte,Sr./Blue Anchor,NJ
53 66w Wallace Stacey/Kahnawake,QUE
41 20p Mike Perrotte/Plattsburgh,NY
40 1 Darwin Greene/Susquehanna,PA
40 20s Steve Haggan/Flemington, NJ
40 t21 Roger Chrysler/Lewiston,NY
40 923 Colin Jackson/Peckville,PA
36 7j Joe Isabell/Pennellville,NY
30 OB’s Bob Hentschel/Pine Bush,NY
20 71r John Reome/Greenfield Center,NY
10 20p Pierre Berthiaume/Quebec City,QUE
2008 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modified Roster (35)
Car# Driver/Hometown Team (Sponsor / Chassis / Engine)
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 Joe Isabell/Pennellville,NY JIR Motorsports/Troyer/Morrison
8s 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 Pierre Berthiaume/Quebec City,QUE 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
923 Colin Jackson/Peckville,PA Ashford Cottages Bed & Breakfast-Jackson Excavating/Bicknell/Griffin
FLORIDA TOUR BIG-BLOCK MODIFIED POINT CHAMPIONS: 1978-2008
*DIRT-sanctioned events.
YEAR CHAMPION (wins) TRACK(S)
*2008 Brett Hearn(1)/Billy Pauch(1) Volusia Speedway Park
*2007 Danny Johnson(2) Volusia Speedway Park
*2006 Brett Hearn(2) Volusia Speedway Park
*2005 Brett Hearn(1)/Andy Bachetti(1) Volusia Speedway Park
*2004 Pat Ward Volusia Speedway Park
*2003 Tim Fuller(1) Volusia Speedway Park
*2002 Brett Hearn(2) Putnam County, Volusia Park
*2001 Brett Hearn(3) East Bay, Volusia Park
*2000 Brett Hearn(3) Volusia Speedway Park
*1999 Jimmy Horton(1) Volusia Speedway Park
*1998 Brett Hearn(2) Volusia Speedway Park
1996-97 -no races-
*1995 Doug Hoffman(1) St. Augustine
1994 -no races-
*1993 -Invitational- Volusia County
1990-92 -no races-
*1989 Alan Johnson Volusia County
1988 Danny Johnson(1) Volusia County
*1987 Danny Johnson(3) Volusia County
*1986 Jimmy Horton(2) Volusia County
1985 Billy Pauch(3) Volusia County
1984 Kenny Brightbill(2)/Jack Johnson Volusia County
*1983 Alan Johnson East Bay, Volusia County
*1982 Jeff Kappesser(2)/Billy Pauch East Bay, Volusia County
*1981 Jack Johnson(1) Florida State Fairgrounds
*1980 Kenny Brightbill(3) Florida State Fairgrounds
1979 -no races-
1978 Walt Breeding(1) Volusia County
FLORIDA TOUR BIG-BLOCK MODIFIED FEATURE RACE WINNERS: 1978-2008
(104 events / 5 tracks / 32 drivers)
WINS DRIVER FIRST WIN LAST WIN
18 Brett Hearn Volusia County, 2/11/93 Volusia Park, 2/14/08
11 Danny Johnson Volusia County, 2/9/87 Volusia Park, 2/17/07
9 Kenny Brightbill Volusia County, 2/13/78 Volusia County, 2/13/87
8 Doug Hoffman Volusia County, 2/18/84 Volusia Park, 2/14/98
6 Jack Johnson Tampa Fairgrnds, 2/14/81 Volusia County, 2/14/89
6 Jimmy Horton Volusia County, 2/12/86 Volusia Park, 2/16/08
5 Tim Fuller Volusia Park, 2/15/01 Volusia Park, 2/16/07
5 Billy Pauch Volusia County, 2/11/85 Volusia Park, 2/13/08
3 Merv Treichler Volusia County, 2/13/82 Volusia County, 2/17/83
3 Doug Ingalls East Bay, 2/15/83 Volusia County, 2/16/84
2 Will Cagle Volusia County, 2/17/78 Volusia County, 2/18/78
2 Tommy Hager Volusia County, 2/16/78 Tampa Fairgrnds, 2/8/80
2 Gary Iulg Volusia County, 2/12/78 East Bay, 2/8/82
2 Jeff Kappesser East Bay, 2/7/82 Volusia County, 2/10/82
2 Kenny Tremont Volusia County, 2/13/93 Volusia Park, 2/12/99
2 Bob McCreadie Volusia Park, 2/10/99 Volusia Park, 2/16/01
2 Billy Decker Volusia Park, 2/12/04 Volusia Park, 2/16/05
2 Jamie Mills Volusia Park, 2/15/00 Volusia Park, 2/18/05
1 Lou Lazzaro Volusia County, 2/10/78
1 Walt Breeding Volusia County, 2/11/78
1 Kevin Collins Tampa Fairgrounds, 2/13/81
1 Ray Dalmata Volusia County, 2/15/84
1 C.D. Coville Volusia County, 2/16/85
1 Alan Johnson Volusia County, 2/11/86
1 Richie Tobias Jr. Volusia County, 2/13/89
1 Jeff Heotzler St. Augustine, 2/14/95
1 Steve Paine St. Augustine, 2/16/95
1 Tim McCreadie Volusia Park, 2/16/02
1 Craig VonDohren Volusia Park, 2/11/03
1 J.R. Heffner Volusia Park, 2/13/04
1 Andy Bachetti Volusia Park, 2/15/05
1 Dale Planck Volusia Park, 2/15/08
Alltel DIRTcar Nationals Showcased On DIRTVision.com: DIRTVision.com launched its fifth consecutive season in Florida and for the third straight year, the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals were broadcast live on the DIRTVision cybercast. Users were provided over 60 hours of live video coverage of the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series as well as Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Series, UMP DIRTcar Super Late Models, All Star Circuit of Champions, UMP DIRTcar Modifieds and World of Outlaws Late Model Series action.
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 helped kick off DIRTcar’s 33rd straight season in Florida during 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 Jimmy Horton
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.
