Canandaigua, NY — September 20, 2008 – By Tom Skibinski, Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series PR Director
*Alex Bruce Photo
Steering the black & blue no. 1J Spra-King Racing Special in another command performance, Alan Johnson rallied past Tim Fuller to capture his second Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series victory in three weeks and close out Labatt Blue RaceFest on Saturday at Canandaigua Speedway.
The eighth career Advance Series win for Johnson at Canandaigua pushed the all-time track Modified feature race winner’s total to 116, including a pair registered at the Ontario County Fairgrounds oval in Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified tour competition.
“I was real fortunate, them guys gave me a great ride and everything worked out,” said Johnson, 50, after scoring his second Advance Series win in just four tries aboard the potent JPM-powered Jake Spraker Used Cars & Trucks/Bicknell entry. DIRTcar Racing NorthEast’s winningest Big-Block Modified driver made a successful debut in the same ride at Cayuga County Fair Speedway back on August 31.
“It feels great because you never know when you’re going to win again and never know when your last win will actually be just that. I appreciate these guys giving me this car to run, just wish I could’ve had it to start off in April. Better late than never I guess,” smiled Johnson, after notching his 49th career Advance Series win to once again tie him for fourth all-time with current tour points leader Billy Decker.
After leading 78 laps in the headline ‘Labatt Blue 100’ on Saturday, Fuller settled for second-place, four car-lengths back, while Canandaigua regular Gary Tomkins, Decker and rising star Ryan Phelps rounded out the front-five in round number 23 of the 26-race series.
With track conditions much improved from the previous night when 11 cautions slowed the 358-Modified Series show, only two yellow flags unfurled on Saturday to entertain the Land of Legends fans for 91 laps of green flag racing. While the Small-Block 75-lapper needed an hour to complete, the mighty Big-Blocks cruised around the ultra-smooth fairgrounds’ half-miler 100 times in 38 minutes with Johnson leading the way.
Despite Fuller posting the fastest Integra Shocks Time Trial (17.660 sec./101.925 ave, mph) to claim his first award of the season, the Edwards, New York pilot re-drew fifth to begin the feature inside row three. Johnson finished second in the fourth and final qualifying heat after being clocked fourth fastest out of 33 open-wheel entries yet more importantly grabbed the pole-position start to lead-off the 50-mile main.
As expected, A.J. Slideways jumped out front at the drop of the first green flag with Fuller charging into third behind front row starter Decker after just one circuit. Johnson had already established his preference for running the low side and Fuller took advantage and blasted by as the leaders rounded turn four to complete lap seven.
While Johnson settled into second behind Fuller, Decker and Tomkins jockeyed back and forth for the show position as Brett Hearn and recently crowned Canandaigua high point man Steve Paine joined in the pursuit. Continuous green flag action brought the leaders in traffic early on with Tomkins moving into third for the first time on lap 22 and Paine cracking the top-five by lap 30.
Big-Block rookie campaigner Michael Storms slowed entering turn one to incur the first yellow flag on lap 38 and afford the field a brief breather as Fuller had lapped up to the 15th-place car of fellow north country speedster Frankie Caprara. On the ensuing restart, Johnson snuck underneath Fuller for the lead on lap 42 but Fuller never blinked and returned to the point the following lap with relative ease.
At the halfway mark, Fuller and Johnson remained the front runners with Decker back ahead of Tomkins for third while Paine and Hearn battled in front of Ryan Phelps, who was putting forth his best effort of the season aboard the Big Red Towing no. 99 Dave Miller Auto Body/Bicknell mount. Matt Sheppard, previous night’s 358-Mod winner Jimmy Phelps, Vic Coffey, Dale Planck and Caprara were the only drivers scored on the lead lap with still 50 laps to go.
Tomkins moved under Decker to regain the third spot on lap 61 and after just two more times around, Holley Hard Luck driver Caprara slowed off the track with tire problems to force caution lights on for the final time and bring the lead pack together once more. Johnson had been tracking down Fuller over the past dozen circuits, however, the slowdown thwarted his best laid plans and he was forced to regroup for the final run.
The green was back out on lap 67 and two laps later Decker stole third from Tomkins at the same time fast-moving Ryan Phelps grabbed fifth from Hearn. Johnson managed to reel in Fuller as the laps clicked off and traffic continued to be a major factor down the stretch. With Fuller drifting high in the corners, Johnson made his final move stick low between turns three and four, and with 15 laps still to go was back out front for the time being.
Possibly surprised yet not shaken, Fuller never let A.J. out of his sight and pressured him for the duration. Fuller shadowed Johnson in every corner and down both straightaways with traffic turning back his best effort time after time. A final gasp on the last lap proved the same as every other, with Fuller fading behind by four car-lengths as Johnson took the checkers for the first time at Canandaigua since 2005.
“I had a few minor issues at the end and never thought we were going to catch Fuller, I think the lapped cars slowed him down a bit,” figured Johnson, who scored his last Advance Series win at Canandaigua in September of 2002. The Middlesex, New York veteran recorded his first Modified win at the Ontario County Fairgrounds in 1975 at the age of 18. “The outside grove slowed down a lit bit so it kinda messed him up but he had an awful fast car.”
“With about 10 to go I was real fortunate the lapped cars were going high because I lost the brakes after a brake calliper broke off. So if they didn’t get out of the way I would’ve been in trouble.”
“It’s good to win because maybe I can get Jake (Spraker, owner) to go to a few more races. It’s all about making a little bit of money and paying the bills, that’s what we’ve gotta do. If we can keep the car up front I imagine we’ll make a few more shows,” added Johnson, who was also joined in victory lane by crew chief Eric Kingsley —the other half of the Spra-King tandem— who maintains the car throughout the week in his Phoenix, New York shop.
Frustrated by a second straight second-place finish in two nights at Canandaigua, runner-up Fuller was forced to play the bridesmaid role for yet another Mr. DIRTcar Championship Series race in wine country.
“Every place I ever been lapped traffic goes to the bottom, but tonight there was just too much (traffic) on the top,” lamented Fuller, 40, after securing his second top-five finish in just four Advance Series events run this season. The ’07 World of Outlaws Late Model Series top rookie, who finished second to Hearn in last year’s Mr. DIRTcar title chase, has logged two full-fender wins this season and was in quest of a second career Big-Block win at Canandaigua on Saturday behind the wheel of the potent JL Motorsports no. 19 Street Wise Fight Wear-G&R Auto Parts/TEO entry.
“Of course Alan’s good on the bottom. You know, good for him, he’s had a rough season, he needs a win and to jump in that car and go the way he did, he did a real good job. At the end of these races he’s always there. We had a nice car rolling through the middle and that’s where the lapped traffic was. So it kind of put the pinch on me and opened his door. Sometimes you win on lapped traffic and sometimes you lose, no big deal.”
“Its tough the first couple laps (LM to Mod) you jump in but once you get a few hot laps in its okay. It just comes right back to second nature really. This is what I started driving so it comes right back. These guys right here, they’re in this game, in their element, and we’ve been out of it awhile so we still sometimes pick wrong. But I couldn’t ask for a better car tonight, this is the best I’ve been at Canandaigua. And this is what racing’s all about. You can use all 3-4 grooves of racing and it was black slick from top to bottom, the way it should be. They did a great job to turn this track around from last night. It was in beautiful shape, I’m just glad to be able to come here and run competitively,” Fuller remarked.
Aside from DIRTcar NE win leader Decker, undoubtedly the hottest driver in Advance Series competition over the last month has been Clifton Springs, New York chauffeur Tomkins, whose third-place finish on Saturday accompanied by two wins, a pair of seconds, another third and fourth in the past seven races have been the best among tour travelers.
“I have to thank my crew, we weren’t very good tonight even though we time trialed decent and ran decent in the heat,” admitted Tomkins, 42, who finished second in points at Canandaigua to 10-time track champion Paine despite netting four feature wins during the regular season. “We just knew something was missing.”
“Mike (Payne, crew chief) went through the car after our heat and found something, finally. We made some adjustments to it, still not perfect, but it was good enough for third. Anytime you can pass Billy Decker anywhere, and I did it three times tonight, and finish behind two great drivers, probably the best Modified driver ever and Fuller’s no slouch, I gotta say that’s a pretty good night.”
“That last caution I didn’t need because we were good in traffic. I felt like I could move around a little bit better than those guys in traffic, until that last caution. Then the car wasn’t quite as good even though I was catching them again. Just had to get it to run the line I wanted but its still a great race car. Its been phenomenal since we brought it out (mid-August), so easy to drive, and our Mastin motor is a big part of it. I keep telling Mike he could probably drive it fast, too. Once again, I have to thank Doug (Dulen, owner) for putting up with us and of course putting the money behind us. Without all the people you see around we wouldn’t be standing right here,” pointed out Tomkins, who owns 43 feature wins (6th all-time) at Canandaigua with two coming in the series.
The 2008 Advance Auto Part Super DIRTcar Series returns to action next Saturday, September 27 when Rolling Wheels Raceway Park hosts the 22nd World Series Weekend highlighted by the BPG 200 for Big-Blocks.
Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Race #23 – Canandaigua Speedway, September 20, 2008 ‘Labatt Blue 100’ Big-Block Modified Event Summary
Feature
FIN STR CAR# DRIVER
1 1 1j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY($6,000)
2 5 19 Tim Fuller/Edwards, NY
3 4 84 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
4 2 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
5 17 99 Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY
6 6 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
7 9 7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY
8 14 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
9 16 32c Vic Coffey/Leicester,NY
10 11 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
11 7 9s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
12 18 3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY
13 12 99 Charlie Donk/Macedon,NY
14 8 29 Jeff Brownell Jr./Waterloo,NY
15 22 49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY
16 23 99L Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY®
17 24 6 Pat O’Brien/Kingston,ONT
18 15 99b Chuck Bower/Lansing,NY
19 27 19h Chris Higgins/Syracuse,NY®
20 20 87 Shawn Donath/S. Onondaga,NY®
21 10 91h Chad Homan/Macedon,NY
22 19 fx1 Frankie Caprara/Watertown,NY
23 28 44 Shannon Whaley/Pavilion,NY
24 25 13 Tony Steiner/Jamesville,NY®
25 13 79 Mike Storms/Wantage,NJ®
26 30 28p Eldon Payne,Jr./Hopewell,NY
27 29 7g Paul Guererri/Geneva,NY®
28 3 6t Pete Taylor/Marcellus,NY
29 21 56 Vince Vitale/Phoenix,NY
30 26 27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
EVENT SUMMARY:
LAP LEADERS: A.Johnson (1-6), Fuller (7-41), A.Johnson (42), Fuller (43-85), A.Johnson (86-100).
CAUTIONS: 2 (laps 38-42, lap 63-66).
HEAT WINNERS: Fuller, Hearn, Homan, Sheppard.
DIG SAFELY NEW YORK LAST CHANCE RACE WINNER: Vitale.
BICKNELL RACING PRODUCTS WINNER AWARD: Alan Johnson.
CRANE CAMS WINNER AWARD: Alan Johnson.
RISLONE OIL STABILIZER & TREATMENT WINNER AWARD: Alan Johnson.
BARS LEAKS RUNNER-UP AWARD: Tim Fuller.
CRANE CAMS RUNNER-UP AWARD: Tim Fuller.
SYRACUSE RITE AID 200 QUALIFIER: Tim Fuller (P).
HALFWAY LEADER: Tim Fuller.
BERT/KSE RACING PRODUCTS HARD CHARGER AWARD: Ryan Phelps.
HOLLEY HARD LUCK AWARD: Frankie Caprara.
PENSKE POWER POSITION AWARD (21st): Chad Homan.
INTEGRA SHOCKS FAST TIME AWARD: Tim Fuller (17.660sec/101.925mph).
TOTAL PURSE: $27,575.
CARS ENTERED: 33.
NEXT EVENT: Rolling Wheels Raceway Park “BPG 200” – September 27, 2008.
DID NOT QUALIFY(3)
45m-Mike Ward/Genoa,NY
50-Don Slover/Bath,NY
109-Terry Knoblock/Warners,NY
QUALIFYING
FAST AVE
TIME MPH CAR# DRIVER
1 17.660 101.925 19 Tim Fuller/Edwards, NY
*$100 Integra Shocks Fast Qualifier Award
2 17.763 101.334 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
3 17.906 100.525 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
4 18.017 99.906 1j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY
5 18.078 99.569 84 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
6 18.109 99.398 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
7 18.136 99.250 6t Pete Taylor/Marcellus,NY
18.136 99.250 32c Vic Coffey/Leicester,NY
9 18.170 99.064 99 Charlie Donk/Macedon,NY
10 18.255 98.603 29 Jeff Brownell Jr./Waterloo,NY
11 18.262 98.565 91h Chad Homan/Macedon,NY
12 18.280 98.468 9s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
13 18.281 98.463 79 Mike Storms/Wantage,NJ®
14 18.338 98.157 3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY
15 18.344 98.125 99b Chuck Bower/Lansing,NY
16 18.393 97.863 7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY
17 18.441 97.609 56 Vince Vitale/Phoenix,NY
18.441 97.609 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
19 18.494 97.329 fx1 Frankie Caprara/Watertown,NY
20 18.532 97.129 87 Shawn Donath/S. Onondaga,NY®
21 18.566 96.951 99L Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY®
22 18.568 96.941 13 Tony Steiner/Jamesville,NY®
23 18.580 96.878 49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY
24 18.584 96.858 6 Pat O’Brien/Kingston,ONT
25 18.624 96.649 99r Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY
26 18.659 96.468 19h Chris Higgins/Syracuse,NY®
27 18.669 96.417 27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
28 18.678 96.370 44 Shannon Whaley/Pavilion,NY
29 18.769 95.903 7g Paul Guererri/Geneva,NY®
30 18.968 94.897 109 Terry Knoblock/Warners,NY
31 19.130 94.093 28p Eldon Payne,Jr./Hopewell,NY
32 19.320 93.168 45m Mike Ward/Genoa,NY
33 21.641 83.175 50 Don Slover/Bath,NY
Heat Races (10 laps, top 5 finishers transferred to feature, top 3 went to re-draw)
#1: Fuller, Tomkins, Donk, Storms, R.Phelps, Vitale, Wight, Guererri.
#2: Hearn, Brownell, Decker, J.Phelps, Haers, Steiner, Higgins, Knoblock.
#3: Homan, Planck, Taylor, Bower, Caprara, Dunn, D.Johnson, Payne.
#4: Sheppard, A.Johnson, Paine, Coffey, Donath, Whaley, O’Brien, Ward, Slover.
Dig Safely New York Last Chance Race (10 laps, top 10 finishers to feature)
#1: Vitale, Dunn, Wight, O’Brien, Steiner, D.Johnson, Higgins, Whaley, Guererri, Payne, Knoblock, Slover, Ward (DNS).
Overall Hoosier Tire Mr. DIRTcar Big-Block Modified
Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Point Standings (Thru Sept. 20, 2008)
Rank No. Driver Total Series Bonus Diff Wins T-5 T-10 Starts
1 91 Billy Decker 2197 1897 300 0 10 17 21 22
2 77x Dale Planck 2026 1734 292 -171 3 16 19 22
3 98h Jimmy Phelps 1964 1690 274 -233 1 12 20 22
4 20 Brett Hearn 1948 1660 288 -249 2 9 19 22
5 84 Gary Tomkins 1889 1593 296 -308 2 9 18 22
6 9s Matt Sheppard 1751 1467 284 -446 1 7 16 22
7 FX1 Frankie Caprara 1632 1340 292 -565 0 2 13 22
8 7x Steve Paine 1573 1281 292 -624 0 8 9 21
9 99 Ryan Phelps 1487 1231 256 -710 0 0 7 22
10 3 Justin Haers 1472 1214 258 -725 0 2 13 21
11 14J Alan Johnson 1425 1137 288 -772 2 4 10 18
12 49 Billy Dunn 1333 1081 252 -864 0 0 2 22
13 27J Danny Johnson 1322 1182 140 -875 0 4 6 22
14 99L Larry Wight® 1050 828 222 -1147 0 0 1 19
15 6 Pat O’Brien 949 665 284 -1248 0 0 2 15
16 29 Jeff Brownell Jr 820 590 230 -1377 0 0 1 13
17 42B Kevin Bates 691 439 252 -1506 0 0 0 12
18 99b Chuck Bower 610 364 246 -1587 0 0 0 10
19 79 Mike Storms® 549 295 254 -1648 0 0 1 6
20 91h Chad Homan 498 280 218 -1699 0 0 0 7
21 5 Jason Potter 489 239 250 -1708 0 0 0 7
22 16 Mike Bowman 475 243 232 -1722 0 0 0 7
23 56 Vince Vitale 470 228 242 -1727 0 0 0 5
24 88 Steve Hulsizer 463 221 242 -1734 0 0 0 5
25 48T Dave Rauscher 453 227 226 -1744 0 0 1 6
26 93 Ryan Bartlett 443 193 250 -1754 0 0 0 5
27 4 Andy Bachetti 441 153 288 -1756 1 1 1 1
28 44 Shannon Whaley 438 236 202 -1759 0 0 0 6
29 71 David VanHorn Jr 431 171 260 -1766 0 0 0 3
30 32c Vic Coffey 421 255 166 -1776 0 1 1 4
31 21 Derrick Podsiadlo 420 184 236 -1777 0 0 0 7
32 74 J.R. Heffner 410 146 264 -1787 0 1 1 1
33 62s Tom Sears Jr. 410 142 268 -1787 0 0 0 4
34 98 Eddie Marshall 407 145 262 -1790 0 1 1 1
35 77F Mark Flach Jr. 403 135 268 -1794 0 1 1 1
36 24 Chris Shultz 402 146 256 -1795 0 0 0 2
37 1x Willy Decker 402 126 276 -1795 0 0 1 2
38 8 Rob Bellinger 388 132 256 -1809 0 0 0 4
39 89b Todd Burley 378 120 258 -1819 0 1 1 3
40 13 Tony Steiner® 377 219 158 -1820 0 0 0 4
41 43 Keith Flach 375 123 252 -1822 0 0 0 3
42 33.3 Tommy Meier 373 125 248 -1824 0 0 1 1
43 6 Pete Taylor 366 168 198 -1831 0 0 0 4
44 19 Chuck McKee 366 96 270 -1831 0 1 1 1
45 99 Charlie Donk 362 110 252 -1835 0 0 0 2
46 24 Jim Witko Jr. 354 92 262 -1843 0 0 0 2
47 53e Ric Hill 353 121 232 -1844 0 0 1 2
48 47 Jerry Higbie 351 85 266 -1846 0 1 1 1
49 90 Scott Parliament 350 88 262 -1847 0 0 0 2
50 115 Kenny Tremont 349 79 270 -1848 0 0 0 1
Advance Auto Parts DIRTcar Modified Entries – September 20 (33)
CAR# DRIVER / HOMETOWN TEAM (Sponsor / Chassis / Engine)
1j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY Jake Spraker Used Cars & Trucks-Spra-King Racing/Bicknell/JPM
fx1 Frankie Caprara/Watertown,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
6 Pat O’Brien/Kingston,ONT 730 Truck Stop-Gypsum Logistics-Milestone Concrete/Bicknell/Enders
6t Pete Taylor/Marcellus,NY K2 Motorsports/Troyer/Finger Lakes
7g Paul Guererri/Geneva,NY® Pumphouse Tavern-Gevo’s Rears & Gears-Al Raymond Collision/Bicknell/Tim Johnson
7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY Tallmadge Tire-Swarthout Recycling-Instant Heat Wood Pellets/Troyer/Finger Lakes
9s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY JB Motor Sports-BPG/Chad Sinon Motorsports/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
13 Tony Steiner/Jamesville,NY® NY Tech Supply-Antonio’s Restaurant/Troyer/Finger Lakes
19 Tim Fuller/Edwards, NY Street Wise Fight Wear-JL Motorsports-G&R Auto Parts/TEO/Enders
19h Chris Higgins/Syracuse,NY® Line-X Spray On Bedliners-American Traditions-TRS/Bicknell/Higgins Performance
20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ Madsen Motorsports-Wentworth Custom Homes-Kruger-WLR/TEO/Enders
27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY Bill Green Excavating-Johnson Racing-Twin G Motorsports/Troyer/Chevrolet
28p Eldon Payne,Jr./Hopewell,NY Monroe Sand & Gravel-Payne’s Tiltbed Service-Original Pizza Loga/TEO/FingerLakes
29 Jeff Brownell Jr./Waterloo,NY JB Motor Sports-Seneca Auto Sales/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
32c Vic Coffey/Leicester,NY Sweeteners Plus-Integra Shocks-CME,Inc./Troyer/C.C. Performance
44 Shannon Whaley/Pavilion,NY Davis Trailer World-D&M Precision/Bicknell/Morrison
45m Mike Ward/Genoa,NY Cal-East Collision & Street Rods/Bicknell/Chet Ward
49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY Number One Speed-American Traditions-Fast Lube Watertown/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
50 Don Slover/Bath,NY Slover Racing/Bicknell/Velton Slover
56 Vince Vitale/Phoenix,NY V & V Racing/Troyer/Enders
77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY RezX Racing-Grow It Hydroseeding-Action Race Parts-Teo Fab./TEO/Kevlar
79 Mike Storms/Wantage,NJ® Mike Sparta Trucking-Skyline Construction-Four Star Transmissions/TEO/Morrison
84 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY Honeoye Auto Parts-Red Parker & Son Excavating/Bicknell/Mastin
87 Shawn Donath/S. Onondaga,NY® Red Line Synthetic Oil-Behron Auto Glass/Troyer/Bill Daniels
91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY Gypsum Wholesalers-Stadium Int’l-Quality Hardwoods/Bicknell/Enders
91h Chad Homan/Macedon,NY DigTrack.com-Bytronics,Inc./Bicknell/Campbell
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
99 Charlie Donk/Macedon,NY Original Pizza Logs-Turner Automotive-Ron Donk Excavating/Troyer/Mastin
99b Chuck Bower/Lansing,NY Ingles Performance-Daggett Insurance-Bradco Supply/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
99L Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY® Gypsum Express,Ltd./Bicknell/Enders
109 Terry Knoblock/Warners,NY Kennedy Hardwood-County Line Choppers/Troyer/Port City Machine
Pot Holes: While older brother Alan Johnson sported a 2009 Bicknell chassis in victory lane, Danny Johnson was scored dead-last after completing just 10 laps aboard the retro ’92 Troyer Mud Buss ….. Steve Paine signed autographs nearby during the day as part of the Rite Aid Super DIRT Week promotion, setting an off-track record as 90 complimentary tickets for Canandaigua’s Advance Series show that same evening were handed out to fans in 12 minutes ….. A quiet 4th-place finish for Billy Decker still extended his overall Mr. DIRTcar Championship points lead by 21 markers over runner-up Dale Planck who settled for 10th-place on Saturday ….. Gary Tomkins’ brand-new red, white & blue paint scheme showed off his recent affiliation with the Rochester (NY) Americans hockey team as a prominent player adorned the rear quarter-panel of the #84 car. “Thanks to Adam Ross for putting the deal together,” Tomkins said. “The body panels showed up yesterday and we just put them on this morning. Its obviously a beautiful car and hopefully the start of good relationship with the club” ….. Canandaigua Speedway Modified mainstay Charlie Donk was proudly boasting the addition of new partner K&D Disposal, with the Palmyra, New York-based company expected to a play a larger sponsorship role next year as the Original Pizza Logs no. 99 Turner Automotive-Ron Donk Excavating/Troyer team is already outlining plans for the ’09 season.
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 final Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series point event of the month arrives next weekend at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park before teams make their final run toward the coveted overall Hoosier Tire Mr. DIRTcar Championship in October. Activity culminates on Saturday, September 27 with the $10,000-to-win BPG National 200 during the 22nd World Series of DIRT Track Racing Weekend presented by Taylor Rental of Auburn at Rolling Wheels.
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 Rain-Cancelled
Sat-Sep 20 Canandaigua Speedway A.Johnson/Tim Fuller(P)
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.
