Elbridge, NY — September 26, 2009 – By Tom Skibinski, Super DIRTcar Series PR Director
*Bill Moore Jr. Photo
Three weeks earlier Matt Sheppard had paced the field for 87 laps at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park and came away empty. Saturday night Sheppard led the final 57 circuits and this time it was good enough to give ‘Super Matt’ his Super DIRTcar Series-high sixth win of the season as rain shortened the ‘World Series 100’ to 68 laps.
And maybe more valuable than the $6,000 winner’s share and 100-points towards the overall Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Championship, Sheppard was rewarded with a guaranteed seventh starting position in the 38th running of the Rite Aid 200 Presented By Ferris & Snapper Mowers that brings the curtain down on Super DIRT Week Oct. 11 at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse.
“Man, I wanted it to pour (after lap 50) out there,” remarked Sheppard, 27, who nosed ahead of front row starter Jimmy Phelps on a lap 12 restart, then was the first under the checkered flag when forecasted showers finally hit the Elbridge oval to make the racing surface unsafe for both man and machine. “Thought this place owed me one after the last time here.”
“Never won a Big-block race here before, but I’ve been close so many times it seems. Feels real good to finally get that first one done,” beamed Sheppard, following his DIRTcar Northeast-leading 19th open-wheel feature win of the season.
Fellow Waterloo, New York driver Steve Paine took advantage of an ignition problem from near race-long runner-up Phelps that forced out the sixth and final caution to cross the line in second, followed by current Mr. DIRTcar points leader Brett Hearn, May winner at Rolling Wheels Tim Fuller, and 18th-place starter Justin Haers.
Himself a three-time series winner during the 2009 campaign, Hearn’s third-place finish proved to be as significant as a win after Sheppard drew his number allowing the Sussex, N.J. speedster to join him on row four to kick off the richest Big-Block Modified race in the country in October.
“It’s a huge luxury to be starting 7th or 8th in that race and not have to worry about how you time trial,” said Hearn, 51, a five-time winner of DIRTcar NE’s prized jewel, although the ‘Corporate Jet’ has not pulled into victory lane on Sunday at the Syracuse Mile since 1995. “That really takes a lot of pressure off us.”
Sheppard’s second straight tour triumph coupled with Hearn’s third-place tally cuts the deficit to 83 points going into the Rite Aid finale over Columbus Day Weekend. With the 150-point schedule intact for the only 200-lap event of the year, Hearn needs to finish in 21st-place or better to lock up an unprecedented seventh overall Mr. DIRTcar title and close out DIRTcar’s 34th consecutive season of operation all alone at the top.
Teamed this year with JB Motorsports in the no. 9s Xtreme Lubricants/Bicknell entry, Sheppard has done almost everything in his power to close the gap on Hearn. Just one more dose of good fortune could be the difference as the 2000 Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman champion awaits a final chance to take top honors in the highest Modified class.
“This car was just awesome tonight,” said Sheppard, who leads all title contenders with 689 laps led, nearly double that of Hearn, while posting series-high totals of eight qualifying heat race wins and six Integra Shocks Fast Times. “We hemmed and hawed about which car we were gonna run tonight, whether the car we used the last time we were here or this one. I think we made the right choice.”
Heat four winner Phelps out-gunned pole-sitter Alan Johnson to open the scheduled 100-lap feature while sixth-place starter Sheppard shared the third row, two spots behind Hearn on the 30-car grid. At the end of the opening circuit Sheppard was already on the move, and the second-generation pilot cruised into second just as a slowing Mike Ward machine was enough to bring out the first caution on lap three.
Sheppard’s teammate Jeff Brownell Jr. suffered a blown right-rear tire to require a second yellow flag with 10 in the books and with threatening skies overhead the ensuing lap 12 restart was the perfect time for ‘Super Matt’ to forge the final lead change. Three more caution periods slowed the action during the first half of the race, with Tom Sears Jr., Lance Willix II and top-five running Billy Decker —lost his breaks on lap 37 and flew off the track in turn three— the primary culprits.
By lap 50 Sheppard continued to drive away at will from his nearest challengers Phelps and Hearn while ninth and tenth-place starters Paine and Fuller could do no better in their attempt to run down the leaders. Just as Sheppard rode under head flagman Matt Burdick’s crossed flags to signal halfway home, the first wave of rainfall arrived and every drop was easily visible in the track-wide lights overhead.
Talented teenager Larry Wight looped his Gypsum mount in turn one after frontstretch contact with Brownell to incur the sixth caution period on lap 54. By this time the rain had grown steadier and gusting winds carried the flags sideways as the lamp posts teetered in the wake. When Phelps slid off the track high in turn two for the final slowdown on lap 63, the green lights would never return as only dangerous conditions prevailed during the closing stages and forced officials to stand by their call.
“Getting the Syracuse spot is huge,” added Sheppard, last year’s Rite Aid 200 runner-up, who recently captured Big-Block point championships at both Brewerton and Canandaigua speedways, and settled for third on the final chart at Cayuga County Fair Speedway. “If you go (SDW) and something stupid happens or you have a bad day in time trials, you know you’re starting 7th no matter what. That takes away a lot of stress right there, which carries through to the weekend and hopefully we can take advantage.”
Quietly finding his way into second in the feature, it was Paine’s best finish by far this season on tour aboard the familiar yellow Tallmadge Tire no. 7x Swarthout Recycling-Instant Heat Wood Pellets/Bicknell Modified machine.
“The longer the green was out the better compared to the guys in front of me,” figured Paine, 51, after registering just his fourth top-five finish in the opening 19 SDS shows, with his third-place showing at Rolling Wheels on Labor Day the best previous outcome. “Think Matt was just too fast all night, 2nd is probably as far as we were gonna go so its okay.”
“I like to run the bottom and hate to go to the top early but if I have to, I have to. If it kept raining I was going to have to because I was slipping really bad on the bottom with the water. But in the end it all worked out, we were able to save 40 laps on the race car and take it home in one piece,” Paine said.
Although owning half as many series wins (3) as Sheppard this season, Hearn was still upbeat about his 13th top-five series finish of the season steering the potent Madsen Motorsports no. 20 Wentworth Custom Homes-Kruger-WLR-BPG/TEO entry.
“Matt’s got a really good hot rod right now, certainly tough to catch it,” said Hearn, who added his all-time series best 103rd victory at Rolling Wheels back on Labor Day. “So the points deal is gonna come down to Syracuse like we expected it would.”
“I guess two of the guys (Phelps & Decker) got eliminated mathematically tonight, so we’ll just keep truckin’ on for the stretch run. Got a lot of preparation to do this week, a lot of work to do to get ready for Syracuse and we’re looking forward to it.”
With Hearn (1,973 pts) doing his best to pull away from his closest challengers, runner-up Sheppard (1,890) remains the only outside threat in his bid for a record seventh career Mr. DIRTcar Championship heading into Super DIRT Week at the State Fairgrounds. The 38th Annual Super DIRTcar Series Rite 200 Presented By Ferris & Snapper Mowers is set for Sunday, October 11 and Hearn is already a five-time race winner in the Salt City showdown.
Super DIRTcar Series Race #19 – Rolling Wheels Raceway Park, September 26, 2009 ‘World Series 100’ Big-Block Modified Event Summary
FIN STR CAR# DRIVER
1 6 9s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY ($6,000)
2 9 7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY
3 3 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
4 10 74 Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY
5 18 3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY
6 1 14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY
7 22 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
8 5 42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
9 8 29 Jeff Brownell Jr./Waterloo,NY
10 11 27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
11 28 91x Michael Storms/Wantage,NJ
12 21 49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY
13 19 99b Chuck Bower/Lansing,NY
14 12 48too Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY
15 25 21 Derrick Podsiadlo/Penn Yan,NY
16 2 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
17 30 8 Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ
18 26 X Chad Phelps/Mexico,NY
19 16 99L Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY
20 15 91h Chad Homan/Macedon,NY
21 20 5h Chris Hile/Syracuse,NY
22 29 26 Rick Richner/Niagara Falls,NY
23 7 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
24 27 44 Shannon Whaley/Pavilion,NY
25 14 99 Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY
26 17 16w Lance Willix II/Theresa,NY
27 23 62s Tom Sears Jr./Clay,NY
28 13 45m Mike Ward/Genoa,NY
29 24 18 Sean Beardsley/Central Square,NY
30 4 84 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
GATER RACING NEWS LAP LEADERS: J.Phelps (1-11), Sheppard (12-68).
CAUTIONS: 7 for 23 laps.
HEAT WINNERS: Fuller, Decker, Brownell, J.Phelps.
DIG SAFELY NEW YORK LAST CHANCE RACE WINNERS: Dunn, Planck.
BICKNELL RACING PRODUCTS WINNER AWARD: Matt Sheppard.
RISLONE OIL STABILIZER & TREATMENT WINNER AWARD: Matt Sheppard.
BARS LEAKS RUNNER-UP AWARD: Steve Paine.
SYRACUSE RITE AID 200 QUALIFIERS: Matt Sheppard (7th), Brett Hearn (8th).
HALFWAY LEADER: Matt Sheppard.
BERT/KSE RACING PRODUCTS HARD CHARGER AWARD: Michael Storms.
XTREME LUBRICANTS SLICK MOVE OF THE RACE AWARD: Jeff Brownell Jr.
PENSKE POWER POSITION AWARD (11th): Michael Storms.
INTEGRA SHOCKS FAST TIME AWARD: Billy Decker (20.646sec/108.980mph).
TOTAL PURSE: $27,750.
CARS ENTERED: 40.
NEXT EVENT: New York State Fairgrounds “Rite Aid 200 Presented By Ferris & Snapper Mowers” – October 11, 2009.
DID NOT QUALIFY(10)
8r-Rob Bellinger/Dexter,NY
13-Tony Steiner/Jamesville,NY
15-Brett Tonkin/Carbondale,PA
t21-Roger Chrysler/Lewiston,NY
22c-Mario Clair/St-Edmond,QUE
27d-Clayton Benedict/Akwesasne,ONT
37c-Eric Fisher/Bluff Point,NY
85-Dan Vauter/Forest City,PA
88k-Randy Chrysler/Lewiston,NY
111-Shane Donath/South Onondaga.NY
QUALIFYING
FAST AVE
TIME MPH CAR# DRIVER
1 20.646 108.980 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
*$100 Integra Shocks Fast Qualifier Award
2 20.733 108.523 9s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
3 20.769 108.335 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
4 20.869 107.815 29 Jeff Brownell Jr./Waterloo,NY
5 20.914 107.583 99L Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY
6 20.920 107.553 84 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
7 20.923 107.537 99 Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY
8 20.927 107.517 3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY
9 21.001 107.138 7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY
10 21.015 107.066 42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
11 21.027 107.005 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
12 21.038 106.949 74 Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY
13 21.152 106.373 48too Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY
14 21.161 106.328 91h Chad Homan/Macedon,NY
15 21.179 106.237 14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY
16 21.373 105.273 5h Chris Hile/Syracuse,NY
17 21.384 105.219 91x Michael Storms/Wantage,NJ
18 21.406 105.111 49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY
19 21.482 104.739 45m Mike Ward/Genoa,NY
20 21.522 104.544 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
21 21.614 104.099 62s Tom Sears Jr./Clay,NY
22 21.627 104.037 16w Lance Willix II/Theresa,NY
23 21.643 103.960 8 Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ
24 21.645 103.950 27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
25 21.659 103.883 X Chad Phelps/Mexico,NY
26 21.691 103.730 22c Mario Clair/St-Edmond,QUE
27 21.713 103.625 18 Sean Beardsley/Central Square,NY
28 21.721 103.586 99b Chuck Bower/Lansing,NY
29 21.745 103.472 44 Shannon Whaley/Pavilion,NY
30 21.753 103.434 13 Tony Steiner/Jamesville,NY
31 21.879 102.838 27d Clayton Benedict/Akwesasne,ONT
32 21.947 102.520 15 Brett Tonkin/Carbondale,PA
33 21.980 102.366 111 Shane Donath/South Onondaga.NY
34 22.043 102.073 37c Eric Fisher/Bluff Point,NY
35 22.056 102.013 26 Rick Richner/Niagara Falls,NY
36 22.075 101.925 88k Randy Chrysler/Lewiston,NY
37 22.271 101.028 85 Dan Vauter/Forest City,PA
38 22.307 100.865 t21 Roger Chrysler/Lewiston,NY
39 22.422 100.348 8r Rob Bellinger/Dexter,NY
40 -NT- —– 21 Derrick Podsiadlo/Penn Yan,NY
Heat Races (10 laps, top 5 finishers transferred to feature; top 3 redrew)
#1: Fuller, Rauscher, Tomkins, M.Ward, Willix, Podsiadlo, Ra.Chrysler, Whaley, Benedict, Ro.Chrysler.
#2: Decker, Sheppard, Hearn, R.Phelps, Haers, Dunn, Sears, Donath, Richner, Steiner.
#3: Brownell, Paine, P.Ward, Homan, Bower, Planck, Fisher, Scagliotta, Tonkin, Clair.
#4: J.Phelps, A.Johnson, D.Johnson, Wight, Hile, C.Phelps, Beardsley, Storms, Bellinger, Vauter.
Dig Safely New York Last Chance Races: (10 laps, top 5 finishers transferred to feature)
#1: Dunn, Sears, Podsiadlo, Whaley, Richner, Ro.Chrysler, Benedict, Steiner, Ra.Chrysler, Donath.
#2: Planck, Beardsley, C.Phelps, Storms, Scagliotta, Clair, Bellinger, Fisher, Tonkin, Vauter.
Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modified Point Standings (Thru Sept. 26, 2009)
No. Driver Total Series Bonus Diff Home Track Wins Top 5 Top 10 Starts
20 Brett Hearn 1973 1613 360 0 Lebanon Valley 3 13 17 19
9s Matt Sheppard 1890 1530 360 -83 Canandaigua 6 11 13 19
91 Billy Decker 1807 1447 360 -166 Brewerton 4 10 10 19
98H Jimmy Phelps 1803 1443 360 -170 Brewerton 1 8 14 19
3 Justin Haers 1671 1311 360 -302 Can Am 0 4 13 19
84 Gary Tomkins 1561 1201 360 -412 Canandaigua 0 5 10 19
99 Ryan Phelps 1530 1170 360 -443 Brewerton 2 5 9 19
27J Danny Johnson 1505 1145 360 -468 Cayuga County 0 2 10 19
14J Alan Johnson 1291 931 360 -682 Fulton 1 4 9 14
4 Mike Storms 1268 908 360 -705 Fulton 0 0 2 19
99L Larry Wight 1232 872 360 -741 Fulton 0 0 0 19
29 Jeff Brownell Jr. 1228 868 360 -745 Glen Ridge 0 3 7 14
77x Dale Planck 1213 1033 180 -760 Cayuga County 0 2 6 18
7x Steve Paine 1201 841 360 -772 Canandaigua 0 4 9 12
49 Billy Dunn 1188 828 360 -785 Can Am 0 1 3 16
8 Rich Scagliotta 832 532 300 -1141 Canandiagua 0 0 1 9
74 Tim Fuller 768 648 120 -1205 Cayuga County 1 4 5 9
18 Sean Beardsley 689 329 360 -1284 Fulton 0 0 0 7
99B Chuck Bower 672 312 360 -1301 Fulton 0 0 0 7
FX1 Frankie Caprara 643 283 360 -1330 Can Am 0 0 2 5
6 Pat O’Brien 637 337 300 -1336 Brewerton 0 1 2 6
62 Tom Sears Jr. 625 265 360 -1348 Fulton 0 0 0 5
02 Roy Bresnahan 615 255 360 -1358 Fulton 0 0 1 5
21 Derrick Podsiadlo 593 233 360 -1380 Canandaigua 0 0 1 5
44 Shannon Whaley 585 225 360 -1388 Canandaigua 0 0 0 5
8R Rob Bellinger 577 217 360 -1396 Canandaigua 0 0 0 5
33 Mike Mahaney 575 215 360 -1398 Cayuga County 0 0 0 5
34b Andy Bachetti 538 178 360 -1435 Lebanon Valley 0 1 2 2
43 Keith Flach 536 176 360 -1437 Lebanon Valley 0 0 0 3
77F Mark Flach Jr. 527 167 360 -1446 Lebanon Valley 0 1 2 2
98 Eddie Marshall 526 166 360 -1447 Lebanon Valley 0 1 1 2
57 Donnie Corellis 525 165 360 -1448 Lebanon Valley 0 1 2 2
91 Chad Homan 523 163 360 -1450 Canandaigua 0 0 1 3
60 Brian Berger 492 132 360 -1481 Lebanon Valley 0 1 1 2
24v Bobby Varin 488 128 360 -1485 Glen Ridge 0 1 1 2
X Chad Phelps 486 126 360 -1487 Fulton 0 0 0 2
42p Pat Ward 482 122 360 -1491 Brewerton 0 1 5 8
83x Tim Sears 480 120 360 -1493 Fulton 0 0 0 3
88 Kroy Sandstedt 475 115 360 -1498 Lebanon Valley 0 0 1 2
42 Guy Sheldon 471 111 360 -1502 Lebanon Valley 0 0 1 2
19H Chris Higgins 468 108 360 -1505 Can Am 0 0 0 2
07 Tim Kerr 468 108 360 -1505 Can Am 0 0 0 2
10 Tim Currier 461 101 360 -1512 Cayuga County 0 0 0 2
16 Mike Bowman 460 100 360 -1513 Fulton 0 0 0 2
13 Tony Steiner 457 97 360 -1516 Fulton 0 0 0 1
2 Dave Axton 456 96 360 -1517 Cayuga County 0 0 0 2
24 Jim Witko Jr. 456 96 360 -1517 Brewerton 0 0 0 2
37c Eric Fisher 455 95 360 -1518 Cayuga County 0 0 0 2
87x Paul Gilardi 452 92 360 -1521 Lebanon Valley 0 0 0 2
115 Kenny Tremont. 451 91 360 -1522 Lebanon Valley 0 0 0 2
42B Kevin Bates 451 91 360 -1522 Brewerton 0 0 0 2
Super DIRTcar Series Modified Entries – September 26 (40)
Car# Driver/Hometown Team (Sponsor / Chassis / Engine)
X Chad Phelps/Mexico,NY Haun Welding Supply-Ashley Winery-Midstate Tree Service/Troyer/Morrison
3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY Phelps Cement Products-SMV Motorsports-Jeff Jolly Masonry/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
5h Chris Hile/Syracuse,NY Ernie Kreis & Son-Fastline Performance-P&M Fabrication/Bicknell/Morrison
7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY Tallmadge Tire-Swarthout Recycling-Instant Heat Wood Pellets/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
8 Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ Central Jersey Trailer & Hitch Depot-Adamsville Maintenance/Troyer/Feil
8r Rob Bellinger/Dexter,NY U-Store of Watertown-Westward Painting-Coffin Excavation/Troyer/Mastin
9s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY Xtreme Lubricants/Bicknell/C.C. Performance
13 Tony Steiner/Jamesville,NY NY Tech Supply-Tech Tire Repairs/Bicknell/Donath
14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY Bully’s Truck Stop-CFF,Inc.-Raymond’s Car Care/Bicknell/Jimmy D’s Speed
15 Brett Tonkin/Carbondale,PA Grimm Construction-G&G Towing/Bicknell/Wally Fiehl
16w Lance Willix II/Theresa,NY SUNY Canton-Nor-Shir Construction/Bicknell/Morrison
18 Sean Beardsley/Central Square,NY Pipe Pros-Bradco Supply-Blackburn Truck Bodies/Troyer/Moshier
20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ Madsen Motorsports-Wentworth Custom Homes-Kruger-WLR-BPG/TEO/Enders
21 Derrick Podsiadlo/Penn Yan,NY Penn Yan Mini Storage-Keuka Restaurant/TEO/Finger Lakes
t21 Roger Chrysler/Lewiston,NY Frontenac Water-Randy’s Smoke Shop-Joey’s Sneeks/Bicknell/Jeff Nicholson
22c Mario Clair/St-Edmond,QUE Batiments JDL-Motel Drummond-Freightliner Drummond/Bicknell/Morrison
26 Rick Richner/Niagara Falls,NY National Vacuum-Jetport Lounge-Lazy Lakes Camping Resort/Bicknell/Gor-Den
27d Clayton Benedict/Akwesasne,ONT Thompson Motorsports-SUNY Canton/Troyer/Dan Bedell
27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY Thompson Motorsports-SUNY Canton/Troyer/Dan Bedell
29 Jeff Brownell Jr./Waterloo,NY Xtreme Lubricants/Bicknell/C.C. Performance
37c Eric Fisher/Bluff Point,NY Bully Hill Vineyards-Fisher Tree Service-Daily Electric/Ozcar/Finger Lakes
42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY Gypsum Express,Ltd./Bicknell/Kevlar
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
48too Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY Magee Transportation Services-Monadnock Disposal Service/Bicknell/Morrison
49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY Number One Speed-American Traditions-Fast Lube Watertown/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
62s Tom Sears Jr./Clay,NY Mullen Industrial-Trackman Equipment/Bicknell/Chevrolet
74 Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY Smith Bros. Concrete Foundations-Hudson Valley Concrete Pumping/TEO/Precision
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-Rochester Americans-National Guard/Bicknell/Mastin
85 Dan Vauter/Forest City,PA Sportsburg.com-Community Bank & Trust/Bicknell/Enders
88k Randy Chrysler/Lewiston,NY Signal Cigarettes-Randy’s Smoke Shop/Bicknell/JanCen
91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY Gypsum Wholesalers-Stadium Int’l-Quality Hardwoods/Bicknell/Kevlar
91h Chad Homan/Macedon,NY DigTrack.com-North Eastern Pool & Spa/Bicknell/Campbell
91x Michael Storms/Wantage,NJ Gypsum Wholesalers-Stadium Int’l-Quality Hardwoods/Bicknell/Kevlar
98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY Mohawk N.E.-New England Race Fuels-Joe Gibbs Racing Oil/Troyer/Bruneau-F-L
99 Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY Big Red Towing-Dave Miller Auto Body/Bicknell/Enders
99b Chuck Bower/Lansing,NY Ingles Performance-United Fasteners-Bradco Supply/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
99L Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY Gypsum Express,Ltd./Bicknell/Kevlar
111 Shane Donath/South Onondaga.NY Prevo Motorsports-Fellows Trucking-Bradco Supply/Bicknell/Enders
SKIDMARKS
Rescheduled ‘Sarvertown 75’ Shelved At Lernerville: The Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modified event at Lernerville Speedway, which was originally scheduled for Friday, September 11 and later rescheduled for Friday, October 23, following the completion of qualifying has been cancelled. The DIRTcar Round Up Steel City Stampede Modified events will now be the season championship for the BRP Modified Series with a 30-lap feature as part of the Western PA/Ohio-based BRP Tour paying $2,000 to win. Tickets and pit passes purchased for the September 11 event may be used at face value for the Steel City Stampede.
Super DIRT Week Website Active: On-line activity continues to grow with the official site for Super DIRT Week providing valuable information about DIRTcar Racing Northeast’s crown jewel event staged at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse. This year’s 38th edition runs October 7-11, 2009 and features 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.
VP Racing Fuels Official SDW Fuel Supplier: Already recognized as the ‘Official Fuel of DIRTcar Racing’ and the Super DIRTcar Series, VP Racing Fuels is also the ‘Official Fuel Supplier’ of Super DIRT Week XXXVIII, Oct. 7-11, at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse. Throughout the 2009 season in the DIRTcar Racing Northeast Region the only fuels allowed in the Big-Block Modified and 358-Modified divisions at sanctioned events have been VP110 and C12. That will continue during Super DIRT Week with the fast time trialer/qualifier in the Rite Aid 200 presented by Ferris & Snapper Mowers and 358-Modified Championship both receiving a $1,000 fuel certificate.
UPCOMING EVENT
Just one more event remains on the 2009 Super DIRTcar Series schedule and that is the nationally recognized ‘Rite Aid 200 Presented By Ferris & Snapper Mowers’ to close out Super DIRT Week XXXVIII at the New York State Fairgrounds. Syracuse is the lone 200-lapper on the ’09 agenda with 150 points on the line for the winner and 50 points awarded to start.
2009 Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modified Schedule
NP=Non-Point event; SP=Show-Up Point event.
*All events subject to change.
DAY-DATE TRACK WINNER/LOCATION
Wed-Feb 11 Volusia Speedway Park-NP Pat Ward
Thr-Feb 12 Volusia Speedway Park-NP Pat Ward
Fri-Feb 13 Volusia Speedway Park-NP Jamie Mills
Sat-Feb 14 Volusia Speedway Park-NP Brett Hearn
Sat-Mar 28 Hagerstown Speedway rain-cancelled
Sun-Apr 26 Big Diamond Raceway Duane Howard
Sat-Jun 6 Lebanon Valley Speedway Matt Sheppard
Sun-Jun 7 Airborne Speedway rain-cancelled
Wed-Jun 17 Orange Co Fair Speedway Billy Decker
Fri-Jul 3 Ransomville Speedway Brett Hearn
Sat-Jul 4 Fulton Speedway Alan Johnson
Great Canadian Tour
Thr-Jul 9 Brockville Ont Speedway B.Hearn/Pat O’Brien
Fri-Jul 10 Autodrome Granby B.Decker/Jimmy Phelps
Sat-Jul 18 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway Ryan Phelps
Sun-Jul 19 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway R.Phelps ($20,000-to-win)/Tim Fuller
Mon-Aug 3 Merrittville Speedway M.Sheppard/Pat Ward
Fri-Aug 7 Brewerton Speedway M.Sheppard/Danny Johnson
Sat-Aug 8 Canandaigua Speedway T.Fuller/Gary Tomkins
Fri-Aug 21 Can-Am Motorsports Park M.Sheppard/Dale Planck
Sun-Aug 23 Cornwall Motor Speedway J.Phelps/Pierre Dagenais
Thr-Aug 27 Lebanon Valley Speedway B.Decker ($17,500-to-win)/Eddie Marshall
Sun-Sep 6 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway B.Decker/Justin Haers
Mon-Sep 7 Rolling Wheels Raceway B.Hearn/Steve Paine
Sun-Sep 20 Autodrome Drummond M.Sheppard/David Hebert
Sat-Sep 26 Rolling Wheels Raceway M.Sheppard (7th), B.Hearn (8th)
Sun-Oct 11 New York State Fairgrnds Syracuse,NY ($50,000-to-win)
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 Rite Aid Corporation www.riteaid.com, 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.
