Russ Wood, Jeff Bloom win Fastest Short Track Show in the World

Friday, June 12, 2009, Toledo, OH – The Fastest Short Track Show in the World just may be one of my favorite races of the year. What is the fastest short track show in the World? It’s lighting fast ISMA Super Modified’s and the always fast AVSS Super Sprints racing on the high banked half mile in Toledo, Ohio. This event is the only ISMA race on the schedule that uses qualifying to determine starting position. After a rainout in 2008 both series were ready to tackle the low 13, high 12’s track records set in 2007. Back in May Frank Kimmel won the ARCA pole with a 16.265 in a stock car. With 27 Supers and 25 Sprints filling the pits the early afternoon crowd had gathered for the once yearly show. ISMA hit the track first and the ‘Rowley Rocket’ Chris Perley took the famed black #11 to the track for a blistering 12.893 second lap, the first sub 13 second lap for a supermodified at Toledo. This also broke Cameron Dodson’s 2007 AVSS record of 12.902. The bragging rights had been won by the East coaster’s in their bad ass lightweight big block machines.

Next up would be the Winged warriors of the AVSS, the series who race out of Michigan and hit tracks in Ohio, Indiana and Ontario as well. Canadian Ryan Litt would start out fast on his qualifying lap, but would only make it into turn one when disaster would strike. Coming out of turn two, the left rear hub would break sending the orange and white #07 Beast chassis spinning hard and fast into the back stretch retaining wall. After losing both wings and taking out the track safety light the OTC, BS&B Radiator sponsored sprinter would come to a stop just past midway on the straight away. With in seconds Ryan would pop out of the car unscathed. Litt had previously told me of how fun it was running Toledo “flat out the whole way round”. After some repairs to the track and cleanup AVSS qualifying would resume. The Dowker powered #42 of Jason Blonde would blister the track with a 12.774 lap reclaiming the title of fastest short track series. The rest of qualifying would be uneventful.

After heat race wins by Mike Ordway Jr., Jeff Holbrook and Trent Stephens all 27 cars would line up for the 50 lap feature. Mike Lichty would lead early, losing the lead to Dave Shullick Jr on lap 29. 1oth place starter Perley would drop back as far as 13th. After a short caution for the #35 of Jeff Holbrook spinning in turns 1 and 2, the field would bunch up on the restart taking out Mark Sammut, Jeff Abold, Johnny Benson Jr.,Vern Romanski and several other cars out of the race. On lap 48 Bobby Bond’s 25 would slam the wall coming out of turn four, at the green Shullick would lose power bunching up the field. 2nd place Lichty would spin, 3rd place Perley would get a flat tire, relegating both cars to the back of the field with 2 remaining. This handed the lead to the Sweet Manufacturing Ltd. #29 of Russ Wood who had been running in the top 5 all night. With 2 to go Wood would claim the top spot at the checkers, followed by Ordway and Perley. Stevens was fourth and Lichty fifth, followed by Randy Burch, Mark Sammut, Rich Reid, Shullick Jr. and Ben Seitz.

Next up was the 30 lap feature for the Super Sprints. Michigan racing veteran Jeff Bloom would start the Eldora Speedway sponsored #26 on pole, with #9 Chad Goff starting 2nd. Bloom would keep the lead the entire race. This doesn’t mean that the race was boring, far from it. On the last lap Goff would pull up on the inside of Bloom who would manage to win by just a few feet. Kyle Flint would come home 3rd, Ryan Davis 4th and Blonde in 5th. Heat race wins would go to Goff, Jeff Banyas and Jimmy McCune. Davis would win the last chance race.

Kasey Kahne Racing - Ollie's expand sponsorship association

OLLIE’S BARGAIN OUTLET EXPANDS SPONSORSHIP ASSOCIATION WITH KASEY KAHNE RACING

Retailer to sponsor USAC and World of Outlaws cars driven by Brad Sweet and Craig Dollansky

Mooresville, N.C. (June 1, 2009) -- Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, Inc. announced today the expansion of its long-term association with race car driver Kasey Kahne by serving as a primary sponsor of Kasey Kahne Racing’s #49 USAC Sprint & Midget Car Series team driven by Brad Sweet. The 23-year-old California native is one of the top young drivers in USAC, finishing third and eighth in the 2008 USAC Midget Car and Sprint Car standings respectively.

“Kasey believes Brad will be one of the next big racing stars, so Ollie’s Bargain Outlet wants to play a big role in further developing Brad’s career,” said Mark Butler, President & CEO of Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, the Mid-Atlantic’s largest retailer of closeout, surplus and salvage merchandise. “Plus, many of our customers are avid short track racing fans throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and we are glad to support very competitive racing on a local level, of course at a great value.”

In addition to the #49 car primary sponsorship, Ollie’s will serve as associate sponsor with Kasey Kahne Racing’s World of Outlaw Series #19 team driven by Craig Dollansky. In 2000, Dollansky was the World of Outlaws GUMOUT Series point champion and has finished seventh or better with the “Outlaws” each season since, with the exception of 2003. The Minnesota native currently sits fifth in the 2009 World of Outlaws Sprint Car standings.

“I’m really grateful that Ollie’s has agreed to support both teams at Kasey Kahne Racing, despite these challenging economic times,” said Kahne. “Mark Butler and Ollie’s have always supported the Kasey Kahne Foundation by sponsoring short track events and together we have raised more than $200,000 for various charitable initiatives.”

While evolving from a USAC Midget champion and Sprint Car Driver of the Year to a premier NASCAR driver, Kahne has never forgotten his racing roots as his Kasey Kahne Racing team continually fields some of the best short track race cars in the country.

“Since I started working with Ollie’s in 2003, it has since doubled its size and is now expanding into North Carolina,” Kahne added. “As many race fans struggle to get through this recession, Ollie’s offers many everyday products at deeply discounted prices, which goes a long way to helping the racing community.”

About Ollie’s Bargain Outlet

Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, founded in 1982, is the largest retailer of closeouts, salvage and surplus merchandise in the Mid-Atlantic region. Famous for its signature catch-phrase Good Stuff Cheap, Ollie’s offers a huge variety of famous brand name merchandise at savings from 30-percent to 70-percent off the regular retail price, and the assortment is always changing. Ollie’s Bargain Outlet operates more than 70 stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, Ohio, West Virginia, New York and North Carolina.



###



PRESS CONTACTS:



Ollie’s Bargain Outlet:

Jamie Lettis

717-232-5554

jlettis@neimangroup.com

http://www.olliesbargainoutlet.com/



Kasey Kahne Racing:

Steve Pegram

704-235-5782

spegram@mmi98.com

http://www.kkr9.com/

Ryan Gillenwater post 1st Buckeye Suoer Sprints win at Flat Rock Speedway

Saturday, May 17, 2009 – Ryan Gillenwater would post his 1st win with the Buckeye Super sprints, a pavement 305 winged sprint car series who race in Ohio, New York and Michigan. Talon Stephens would set fast time of the 10 cars entered at 10.688. Heat race winners were Zach Gibson and Tommy Kunz.

Starting in eighth place, he would take the lead late in the 25 lap feature. After several attempts to get the feature started Tim Buchanan would end up on the hook, and Tyler Dunn would restart from the rear. Chad Wilson would lead from the start, after Tim Buchanan and Dave Saxer would fall out. From then on the race would run green, until lap 17. A spinning Tommy Kunz would bring out the yellow and Gillenwater would restart 3rd behind Chad Wilson and Zach Gibson. With two laps to go he would pass Gibson in turn 3 and 4 and in the next turn pass Wilson for the lead. An elated Gillenwater would celebrate in Flat Rock Victory Lane with his proudest suppporters his mother and father.

KEN SCHRADER to be in the Field When the World of Outlaw Late Models Visit OHSWEKEN Speedway June 18th

For Immediate Release – Ken Pelkie, OHSWEKEN Speedway
 
KEN SCHRADER to be in the Field When the World of Outlaw Late Models Visit OHSWEKEN Speedway June 18th
 
Ohsweken Speedway Special Events Coordinator Ken Pelkie is pleased to announce that Ken Schrader has confirmed his participation with the World of Outlaw Late Models when they invade the speedway June 18th. Further information on his appearance including a meet and greet autograph session will be announced in the coming days as details are worked out.
 
Meanwhile, ADVANCED TICKET SALES for this summer's special events at Ohsweken Speedway featuring the World of Outlaw Late Models on June 18th; World of Outlaw Sprints on July 28th & 29th; and the 5th Annual Canadian Sprint Car Nationals September 18th & 19th continue to be on sale from 8:00 AM till 8:00 PM, Mondays through Thursdays. Plenty of tickets remain for the Late Model show while the sale of the Sprint Car shows continues to be brisk. Sales of the two day tickets offering a $10 saving for the World of Outlaw Sprint shows scheduled for July will remain in place until race day.
 
Ticket requests continue to be taken by phone only (1-888-720-7223). Credit card payment in full will be required at the time of purchase. Tickets will then be mailed directly to your home. NO TICKETS WILL BE HELD WITHOUT PAYMENT.
 
NO TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AT THE TRACK UNTIL RACE DAY.
NO OTHER OUTLETS WILL BE HANDLING OHSWEKEN TICKET SALES.
 
"We want to emphasize that good tickets remain for all events" stated ticket coordinator Cheryl Pelkie. "With approximately 8,000 seats now located at the facility, everyone wishing to attend should have an opportunity to purchase a quality reserved seat. We also want everyone to know that approximately 1,000 seats will be held back and made available on race day for walk ups" Pelkie concluded.
 
Tickets previously purchased have begun to be released for mailing this week and should be arriving in mailboxes within the next few days. Anyone not receiving their tickets by June 1st is urged to call the ticket line at 1-888-720-7223 to arrange tracking.
  
 
PLEASE FOLLOW THESE STEPS WHEN ORDERING YOUR TICKETS :
 
Check the seating chart to determine where you would like your seats located. Pick two or three options as your first choice may not be available.
 
o   Phone (1-888) 720-7223
(IF THE PHONE LINE IS BUSY PLEASE TRY AGAIN.)
If the line remains busy, please leave a message and every effort will be made to return your call when the lines become free. Return calls will be made up to 11:00PM that day. If you do not receive a return call, please try again the following day until you have been contacted.
 
Be prepared to provide:
o   Your full name;
o   Phone number (including area code)
o   Your street address, town or city, province or state, and postal or zip code;
o   Number of Adult seats requested;
o   Number of Child (12 & under) seats requested;
 
Once you have decided on the tickets you want you will be asked for:
ð  Your credit card type (Master Card or VISA only) and number;
ð  The credit card expiry date;
ð  The credit card security code;
 
Once the credit card is accepted, an authorization number will be generated completing the transaction.
Your tickets will then be placed in normal mail to your address.
ALTERNATE METHODS OF PAYMENT MAY BE ARRANGED.
 
Be sure to keep up on all the latest "Friday Night Thunder" news from Ohsweken Speedway by logging on to the official website at www.ohswekenspeedway.com.
 

Wayne Chinn wins Oakshade Raceway feature

Saturday, May 2, 2009 – Where to race? That was the question posed to many dirt late model racers in the Buckeye State. The WoO Late Model show for KC Raceway was cancelled, the state had been pounded by rain in the days leading up to this racing weekend and many Saturday night shows had been called on Friday.

Bradford, OH racer and former Lucas Oil rookie of the year Wayne Chinn and crew settled on Oakshade Raceway. This UMP track in the Northwest corner of the state, is a late model heavy track. Drawing 40-50 cars a night is a weekly thing. Chinn had decided to drop off the Lucas Oil series in favor of running more local shows. Since making that decision three weeks ago, Wayne has four wins and a 2nd place finish in 5 races. Not bad stats for 2 weekends of racing. Whether you want to call this Cherry Pickin or not is your call. The dictionary definition states this “the activity of pursuing the most lucrative, advantageous, or profitable among various options and leaving the less attractive ones for others”. My thoughts are we may see more national level drivers do the same thing. This can be a bad thing if you are a local weekly racer who never leaves his home track. I also think running against a guy who has a lot of traveling experience like this week in and week out will help these local drivers. I do not think it guarantees that Wayne will win every show he enters. How many guys run a track weekly, who rarely have a chance of winning, or even making the show? There are no givens in racing, but a lot of work, and luck. Did Wayne ever win any Lucas races, or a dirt late model crown jewel? I have seen a lot of really good drivers/cars wreck in lapped traffic while leading a race. The ALMS regulars will give him some competition, when he races with them. If he keeps winning, I think it will win him have fans and also win him some boo’s. A rivalry is an excellent thing for racing, be it a regional series or something more national. People will want to see him get beat, drivers will want to beat him. No one wins forever, and no one wins every race. I feel it is a good thing, and hope they keep winning. Soon enough that will get boring, and he will move back to racing with a National series.

Eddie Hoffman wins Glassbreaker 125 for the 2nd time! Tim Shaffer wins at Fremont for the 2nd week in a row!

April 25th, 2009 - Speaking of doing things twice, I decided I should shoot 2 races in 1 day. Actually I shot 14 races, (3 features, 1 consi and 10 heat races). But I did shoot at 2 different tracks, with dirt and asphalt surfaces, late models, modifieds and sprints cars.

I started out my day by travelling to one of my favourite asphalt racetracks, the famed high banked half mile known as Toledo Speedway. I have been going to Toledo for probably 25+ years, although I just started to shoot there in 2006. There was 29 ASA Late Models on hand. 2008 Nationwide Rookie of the Year Landon Cassill was in a Port City Racing house car. Ross Kenseth, 15 year-old son of Matt Kenseth was also in the field, having moved up from Limited Late Models in 2008. The majority of the drivers in this division are from the Northern Illinois, Southern Wisconsin area which is well known for some serious asphalt late model racing. One of the more experienced racers in the field is the driver of the Lisa Thomas Salo, red #8 Monte Carlo Fast Eddie Hoffman of Wheaton, Illinois. I have seen this 2nd generation driver win numerous races. Whether it's at home at Illiana Speedway, down South in Nashville or at Toledo Speedway, Hoffman and the whole TK racing team are a threat to win in the CRA Super Series or the ASA Late Model Series. Griffin McGrath would lead the field to green and hold that spot until spinning into the turn three wall. Hoffman would pit on this caution for some changes to his car, this would prove to be a wise decision. Iowan Landon Cassill would make his way out front in the #61 Port City Racing hot rod with the #25 Bain's Farm and Fleet of Wisconsin driver Ross Kenseth not far behind. On lap 65, the #89 car of Matt Bryne would spin coming out of turn two taking out the 1st and 1nd place cars of Cassill and Kenseth. Cassill would be done for the day, finishing 18th with Kenseth making it back out, finishing 14th several laps down. This would hand the lead over to the #88 of Minnesota driver Trent Snyder who would be eventually tracked down by Hoffman and come home 3rd. The series will be back in action at Illiana Motor Speedway on May 9th.

Also on hand were the USA Modifieds series. This group of die hard modified racers, had 26 cars on hand. Veteran racer Steve Christman would win their 50 lap feature. I did have to leave before this race started, so I do not have much to report on this event.

After leaving Toledo, I took a short 30 minute drive East down the Ohio Turnpike to Fremont Speedway. Now if you have never been to Fremont, it has that PA Posse style of fan. The ones who could watch 4 divisions of sprint cars, 7 nights a week. The Fremont/Attica Sprint Title had started the previous night at Attica Raceway. This is a series that races all summer long on Fridays and Saturdays between the two tracks. 34 410's and 28 305's filled the fairgrounds pits.


The place has a lot of sprint car royalty in the pits. Hall of famer Tim Shaffer, WoO Manzanita winner and former All-Star Champion Chad Kemenah were both present.

Jeep Van Wormer wins at Eldora

Rossburg, OH - Saturday, April 18, 2009 saw my 1st trip of the season to the famed farmland in Western Ohio known as Eldora Speedway. This trip also opened my eyes to importance of having GPS as race fan. As I traveled south down I-75, just before Bowling Green traffic came to a grinding halt. After a consultation with my Iphone and a short detour on a Saturday afternoon through the college town of Bowling Green, I was back on the Interstate and on my way. R@%N and interstate backup's are the bain of the short track racing industry across the country. Whether it's orange cones or a Celica burnt to a crisp sitting on the shoulder, these are the things I can never remember when I am jonesing for a race in the middle of a Canadian winter.

As I pulled into the parking lot, that familiar exhilaration of a night of springtime racing without the forecast of rain hit my brain. This was my first trip to the Big E since this same race one year ago. Brian Ruhlman had scored that victory in the American Late Model Series event. The UMP modifieds and the Eldora stock cars shared the card this year as well. 123 cars in the pits, 46 late models and 48 mods. The first thing to greet me was the under construction hospitality suites. I although I have never been to Knoxville Speedway, they appear to have the same look as the Sprint Car Hall of Fame. Nothing that interferes with the track, no shadows cast onto the track, they have plenty of room for them. The traditionalists will argue its not the same, "it's like Nascar", but if thats what is going to make you stay home, then go right ahead. I spend almost all of my time at the track in the infield, so I won't miss the gravel they know occupy in turn three. Racing is grimy, dirty, sweaty, loud and sometimes disappointing, but many of us wouldn't have it any other way. As for how this will impact where people can sit in turn three I am unsure. My thoughts are that the people in the suites aren't there for the races anyway. It is meant to help the track with their sponsorship, help out local companies with advertising and thanking their customers. If they happen to create a few new fans, then thats great.

A pleasant suprise during this trip was seeing 5 of the 123 cars present were Canadians. 3 of whom are regulars at South Buxton Raceway, where I have been the track photographer for the last 2 seasons. Justin Coulter would win his B-main in his bright red 5c Bob Pearce modified to make the A-main. Tim Richardson would finish 5th in his B-main and miss the transfer. After running 2nd most of his heat and knocking down the frontstretch wall he would end up 5th in that race as well. Wallaceburg's Chris Ross, who races in the US the majority of the season would struggle in his heat race after contact with another car in turn 2, after some repairs he would start on the tail of his B-main and finish 3rd. Through a provisional he made it in to the feature, and would pull off early and coming home 20th. Brothers Mark and Dale Glassford would race at Attica the night before and stay over for a full weekend of racing. Both drivers had never even been to Eldora before and were excited to race on the historic half mile. Mark finished 10th, and Dale would finish 6th in the 4th heat of the night. When it came time for there B-main, Mark wound up in 7th, and Dale in 4th. Since the B-mains only took the top 2 cars, that meant the #60 and #90 were parked for the night. This allowed them to not only do some racing but also take in the A-main as fans.

When it came to the A-main, Jeep Van Wormer would work his way from 16th place to 1st and take home his 3rd consecutive win.

Darren Hagen wins JEG'S Crown Midget Super Nationals

PHOTO BY JAMES MACDONALD
COLUMBUS, OH - Darren Hagen would lead all 40 laps to win in USAC's return to the Nuckles Family speedway. Jeg's was the title sponsor of the Jeg's Crown Midget Supernationals. 29 cars would qualify for the event with 23 taking the green flag for the A-main.

*
QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Bobby East, 4, Klatt-13.322; 2. Jerry Coons Jr., 11, Wilke-13.362; 3. Cole Whitt, 1, Kunz-13.366; 4. Caleb Armstrong, 7C, C & A-13.462; 5. Dakoda Armstrong, 7A, C & A-13.470; 6. Levi Jones, 20, Stewart-13.477; 7. Darren Hagen, 3, RFMS-13.478; 8. Brad Kuhn, 17B, RW-13.499; 9. Chad Boat, 30, Boat-13.501; 10. Kevin Swindell, 67, Kunz-13.504; 11. Tracy Hines, 21, Stewart-13.515; 12. Chris Windom, 17, Windom-13.521; 13. Bobby Santos III, 98, Santos-13.533; 14. Brad Sweet, 49, Kahne-13.544; 15. Kyle Jones, 15, Beach-13.555; 16. Mario Clouser, 06, Clouser-13.564; 17. Brian Olson, 77, Olson-13.567; 18. Zach Daum, 5D, Daum-13.579; 19. Kyle Hamilton, 83, Hamilton-13.608; 20. Mario Marietta, 85, Marietta-13.619; 21. Adam Kramer, 2, Kramer-13.678; 22. A.J. Fike, 69, RFMS-13.716; 23. Cale Conley, 97, Kunz-13.725; 24. Ricky Ehrgott, 8, Rev 1-13.878; 25. Kevin Studley, 57, Studley-13.950; 26. Joe Liguori, 28, Owen-14.058; 27. Brad Noffsinger, 96, Noffsinger-14.242; 28.
Chad Atkinson, 39, Atkinson-14.284; 29. Buddy Lowther, 31, Lowther-14.469.
*
FIRST HEAT:

(8 laps) 1. Kramer, 2. Santos, 3. East, 4. Boat, 5. Olson, 6. D.Armstrong, 7. Studley, 8. Lowther. NT
*
SECOND HEAT:

(8 laps) 1. Fike, 2. Daum, 3. Swindell, 4. Sweet, 5. Coons, 6. L.Jones, 7. Liguori. NT
*
THIRD HEAT

(8 laps) 1. Hines, 2. Hagen, 3. Conley, 4. K.Jones, 5. Whitt, 6. Noffsinger, 7. Hamilton. NT
*
FOURTH HEAT

(8 laps) 1. Ehrgott, 2. Marietta, 3. Clouser, 4. Windom, 5. C.Armstrong, 6. Kuhn, 7. Atkinson. NT
*
SEMI

(12 laps) 1. Coons, 2. Whitt, 3. D.Armstrong, 4. C.Armstrong, 5. Kuhn, 6. Olson, 7. L.Jones, 8. Hamilton, 9. Studley, 10. Noffsinger, 11. Liguori, 12. Atkinson, 13. Lowther. NT
*
FEATURE:

(40 laps) 1. Darren Hagen, 2. Caleb Armstrong, 3. Cole Whitt, 4. Dakoda Armstrong, 5. Jerry Coons Jr., 6. Bobby East, 7. Brad Kuhn, 8. Kevin Swindell, 9. Chad Boat, 10. Bobby Santos III, 11. Cale Conley, 12. Brad Sweet, 13. Brian Olson, 14. Kyle Jones, 15. Mario Clouser, 16. Levi Jones, 17. Mario Marietta, 18. Zach Daum, 19. A.J. Fike, 20. Ricky Ehrgott, 21. Chris Windom, 22. Tracy Hines, 23. Adam Kramer. NT
*
FEATURE LAP LEADERS:

Laps 1-40 Hagen.

Advance Series Stopped By Rain At Hagerstown, Big Diamond Next On Tour April 26!

‘09 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Opener At Hagerstown Rained On

Weedsport, NY – March 28, 2009 – By Tom Skibinski, Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series PR Director

The Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series event scheduled to open the season at Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway on Saturday, March 28 has been cancelled. Falling victim to wet weather for the fourth time in a decade ---2nd straight year--- the ‘North-South Shootout’ special for Big-Block Modifieds will not be rescheduled.

“It’s a shame having to miss out on Hagerstown for another year,” said Cory Reed, DIRTcar Racing Northeast Director of Competition & Track Sanctioning. “Its one of the favorites for both our fans and the race teams, certainly a tough way to kick off the season. We had a great field lined up, all we can do now is gear up for the next show.”

The next race date listed on the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series schedule is Sunday, April 26 when the top tour travelers invade the Keystone State. The trip to Big Diamond Raceway will mark just the third-ever series event staged at the popular Minersville, Pennsylvania oval since the tour originated in 1980. The 2009 ‘Spring Fever’ format at Big Diamond opens with Integra Shocks Time Trials and concludes with a 75-lap feature race finale for the Big-Blocks with a top prize of $6,000 waiting for the winner.

Another all-star cast of cars is expected to sign in at BDR, led by past race winners Brett Hearn (2004) and Alan Johnson (2003), reigning overall Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar points king Billy Decker and a full field of the best Big-Block Modified teams from around the entire DIRTcar Northeast circuit.

The Advance Series is not the only event that has been prone to poor weather at Hagerstown lately, with promoter Frank Plessinger’s legendary speedplant losing its season-opener for the seventh consecutive season on February 21. A second try the following weekend also fell victim to unfavorable conditions before Richie Pratt Jr. finally claimed the Big-Block lid-lifter on March 7. Advance Series star Matt Sheppard copped the Small-Block special run the ensuing weekend.

Heading into the weekend, more than a half-inch of rain overnight Friday left the speedway grounds saturated by Saturday morning. An 80% chance of showers forecasted that evening and more inclement weather predicted Sunday left track and series officials with little choice but to cancel the long-anticipated show. The announcement was made by 7:30am in an effort to contact many of the traveling teams as well as alert race fans that were planning to attend the traditional spring stop in Maryland.

2009 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series 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 Minersville,PA

Sat-Jun 6 Lebanon Valley Speedway West Lebanon,NY

Sun-Jun 7 Airborne Speedway-SP Plattsburgh,NY

Wed-Jun 17 Orange Co Fair Speedway Middletown,NY

Fri-Jul 3 Ransomville Speedway Ransomville,NY

Sat-Jul 4 Fulton Speedway Fulton,NY

Thr-Jul 9 Brockville Ont Speedway Brockville,ONT

Fri-Jul 10 Autodrome Granby Granby,QUE

Sat-Jul 11 Autodrome Drummond Drummondville,QUE

Sun-Jul 12 Cornwall Motor Speedway Cornwall,ONT

Sat-Jul 18 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway Weedsport,NY

Sun-Jul 19 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway Weedsport,NY ($20,000-to-win)

Mon-Aug 3 Merrittville Speedway Thorold,ONT

Fri-Aug 7 Brewerton Speedway Brewerton,NY

Sat-Aug 8 Canandaigua Speedway Canandaigua,NY

Fri-Aug 21 Can-Am Motorsports Park LaFargeville,NY

Thr-Aug 27 Lebanon Valley Speedway West Lebanon,NY ($17,500-to-win)

Sun-Sep 6 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway Weedsport,NY

Mon-Sep 7 Rolling Wheels Raceway Elbridge,NY

Fri-Sep 11 Lernerville Speedway Sarver,PA

Sat-Sep 19 -TBA-

Sat-Sep 26 Rolling Wheels Raceway Elbridge,NY

Sun-Oct 11 New York State Fairgrnds Syracuse,NY ($50,000-to-win)

Sun-Oct 18 -TBA-

Sun-Oct 25 -TBA-



DIRTcar Racing Northeast main office is located in Weedsport, New York on the Cayuga County Fairgrounds www.cayugacountyfairspeedway.com, home of the 2009 DIRTcar All-Star Weekend, July 17-19, featuring Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Championship Series events for Sportsman and Big-Block Modifieds in the richest short-track show of its kind in the nation --- the $20,000-to-win Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series “DIRTcar All-Star 100” on Sunday, July 19.



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 www.advanceautoparts.com.



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 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.

Countdown Gaining Speed Toward Hagerstown Advance Series Showdown!

3 Days ….. Countdown To Hagerstown North-South Shootout Continues!

Weedsport, NY – March 25, 2009 – By Tom Skibinski, Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series PR Director

The 2009 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series opener, 7th Annual North-South Shootout at Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway on Saturday, March 28 is just three days away.

Commemorating the 10th Anniversary of Series partnership with Advance Auto Parts based in Roanoke, Virginia, those top-10 drivers in the final 2008 Advance Auto Parts Series Mr. DIRTcar Big-Block Modified will be profiled for each of the 10 days leading up to the event.

This talented group of drivers has accounted for 207 Advance Series race victories from the list of 67 drivers taking checkered flags in 619 tour events held at 45 speedways around the Northeast since 1980. Along with 870 DIRTcar Northeast Big-Block feature wins and 63 track point titles, these same 10 drivers have amassed nine overall Mr. DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Championships and all are expected back to compete full-time with the ’09 Advance Auto Parts Series, beginning with the Spring lid-lifter at Hagerstown.



Third-year tour follower Dale Planck from Cortland, New York was strong from the outset, collecting two of the opening four checkered flags before adding a third on Canadian soil and holding on for third-place in the final Advance Series standings. The ‘Natural’ locked up three Integra Shocks Fast Times aboard the RezX Racing no. 77X Grow It Hydroseeding-Action Race Parts/TEO mount, ending the season second-best in both laps led (287) and heat race wins (9).



Second-generation standout Planck solidified his tour status during the summer of ‘06, breaking out to score his first career Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series victory at Cornwall Motor Speedway and following up the next night by setting his initial Integra Shocks Fast Time at Autodrome Drummond. With a new team putting him into a contending position every time out last season, Planck looks to expand on his total of five Advance Series wins and five fast times.



Planck has qualified twice for the ‘North-South Shootout’ at Hagerstown Speedway, finishing 19th after a heat race win in 2007 while mechanical issues sidelined him with just 10 laps scored (28th) in his ’04 debut.



2008 Overall Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Modified/

Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Point Standings (Top-10)

®-Rookie

Rank No. Driver Points Series Bonus Diff. Wins Top-5 Top-10 Starts

1 91 Billy Decker 2,495 2,195 300 0 10 18 24 26

2 98h Jimmy Phelps 2,293 2,019 274 -202 1 14 23 26

3 77x Dale Planck 2,251 1,959 292 -244 3 16 21 26

4 84 Gary Tomkins 2,204 1,908 296 -291 2 11 21 26

5 20 Brett Hearn 2,164 1,876 288 -331 2 9 20 26

6 9s Matt Sheppard 2,143 1,859 284 -352 1 9 18 26

7 FX1 Frankie Caprara1,904 1,612 292 -591 0 2 14 26

8 7x Steve Paine 1,852 1,560 292 -643 0 9 11 25

9 99 Ryan Phelps 1,795 1,539 256 -700 0 1 8 26

10 3 Justin Haers 1,738 1,480 258 -757 0 2 14 25



The 11th Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series season begins on March 28, 2009 with the 7th North-South Shootout at Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway. Further track information is available at http://www.hagerstownspeedway.com/ and the DIRTcar Northeast Office (315/834-6606) is open during weekdays. Log into the homepage at http://www.superdirtcarseries.com/ anytime to find out more about the entire circuit.



DIRTcar Racing Northeast main office is located in Weedsport, New York on the Cayuga County Fairgrounds http://www.cayugacountyfairspeedway.com/, home of the 2009 DIRTcar All-Star Weekend, July 17-19, featuring Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Championship Series events for Sportsman and Big-Block Modifieds in the richest short-track show of its kind in the nation --- the $20,000-to-win Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series “DIRTcar All-Star 100” on Sunday, July 19.



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/.



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 http://www.hoosiertire.com/ and VP Racing Fuels http://www.vpracingfuels.com/. Promotional partners include Rite Aid Corporation http://www.riteaid.com/, Dig Safely New York http://www.digsafelynewyork.com/ and the University of Northwestern Ohio http://www.unoh.com/ and the contingency sponsors are Bars Leaks http://www.barsproducts.com/, Bert Transmission http://www.berttransmission.com/, Bicknell Racing Products http://www.bicknellracingproducts.com/, Bilstein Shocks http://www.bilstein.com/, Brodix Cylinder Heads http://www.brodix.com/, Ferris Industries http://www.ferrisindustries.com/, Integra Shocks http://www.integrashocksandsprings.com/, Intercomp http://www.intercomp-racing.com/, KSE Racing Products http://www.kse-racing.com/, Motorsports Safety Systems http://www.motorsportssafetysystems.com/, Penske Shocks, http://www.penskeshocks.com/, Racing Electronics http://www.racingelectronics.com/, Rislone Oil Stabilizer http://www.barsproducts.com/ and Wrisco Industries http://www.wrisco.com/.