Alltel DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH: Friday Night Notebook
FLORIDA TOUR 2009 PIT NOTES
Friday - February 13
*Mills Joins Alltel All-Star Traveling Team…Round number three of the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH at Volusia for Big-Blocks is over and Advance Series DIRTcar Big-Block racer Jamie Mills has thrown his name in the hat for fans to vote as he is now in the running for the lucrative $10,000 top prize awarded to just one winning driver. “I think some should go to charity,” remarked Mills about why fans should choose him as the Alltel All-Star. “It’s like free money, it’s like hitting the lottery so make sure it goes to good use. It really brings professionalism to dirt track racing. They’ve got a Jumbo-tron up there. I was watching the consi while we were waiting to draw and it’s just awesome what they’ve done here to make it fan friendly. We need fans all over the United States to make this work and Alltel has made it great.” The Alltel All-Star candidates and their text message Letter Codes include: Big-Block Modifieds – Pat Ward (i), Jamie Mills (L); Sprint Cars – Donny Schatz (b); Stevie Smith (d); Joey Saldana (f); UMP DIRTcar Modifieds – Jared Landers (a), Austin Dillon (c), Randy Hall (e); UMP DIRTcar Super Late Models – Darren Miller (g), Earl Pearson Jr. (h), Dan Schlieper (j); World of Outlaws Late Models – Josh Richards (k). Fans can vote by visiting www.AlltelAllStar.com or texting their drivers code to 247253.
*Vauter Trades Clubs For Cars…His family business is golf although his personal passion is motorsports, and when its winter time up north Dan Vauter finds a way to head south when there’s racing on tap at Volusia Speedway Park. Fresh off one of his most productive seasons highlighted by three feature wins and 2nd in points at Penn-Can, the Forest City, Pennsylvania pilot has a pair of Bicknell rides and the Troyer car used in Florida at his disposal in 2009. “We’d like to follow more of the Advance Series but our location and lack of a weekly home track for points makes it tough for us to be a regular,” noted Vauter, 23, whose grandfather Paul Vauter converted the family-owned Meadow Breeze Farm into Panorama Golf Course in the early 1960s, with the former dairy barn renovated to become the clubhouse upon opening in 1964. “We led for the first time down here on Wednesday and 4th-place was almost like a feature win, but I think we can still do more before the week is over. We’re getting more confidence with every race.”
*Maryland Modifieds…Of the eight states and two Canadian provinces represented by Big-Block Modified teams in the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals, Jeff Brown and brother in-law Brad Trice are the lone contenders carrying Maryland on their shoulders for the week of speed in Florida. First visiting Volusia in 2007, Brown failed to qualify in two attempts and turned the wheel of his no. 9 Chesapeake Paving/Bicknell mount over to Brad with the same outcome. A division rookie in 2003, last summer marked Brown’s first full season in a Big-block and he finished 10th in points at Delaware Int’l Speedway posting a 2nd-place feature race best. “We were really green in ’07 and coming back there’s a lot more experience to draw from,” said Brown, 42, who suffered through steering issues on Wednesday (finished 21st) before a broken driveshaft sidelined him the next night in qualifying. “We’d love to finish in the top-10 but you have to be on the track at the end to do that.” Employed as an equipment operator under Chesapeake Paving & Excavating owner Brown, Trice qualified for his first-ever Big-Block main in the opener (18th) and added 21st and 16th-place tallies since. Team Troyer mainstay and Northeast Modified Hall of Fame award winning mechanic Randy Kisacky has served as his crew chief throughout the week. “I’ve learned so much from Randy already and there’s a long way to still to go,” said Trice, 26, son of former Georgetown Speedway points champion Gary Trice, who began racing go-carts at age 12, plans to run Delaware all year and hit the specials at Georgetown in between. “What it comes down to now is getting a good start in the heat, qualifying and starting up front. I’d love to come away with a top-10.”
*Greene Between Rocks & Hard Places…Pennsylvanian Darwin Green arrived in Barberville for qualifying on Wednesday already having four races under his belt in the Sunshine State. Following a unique schedule of events, Greene steered a Modified for owner Terry Zacharias on the asphalt at New Smyrna Speedway before unloading his Greene Quality Bluestone no. 1 Blue Diamond Tools/Bicknell mount ready to throw the clay at Volusia. “8 races in 10 days, now that’s a dream vacation,” beamed Greene, 38, who posted a 10th-place best at New Smyrna and made the first three shows at VSP, opening in 17th on Wednesday. The highly motivated driver from Susquehanna, Pa. captured his first career Modified win at Penn-Can last summer and as a record-setting cross-country runner in high school, lap after lap jogged around his car in victory lane in one of the most popular wins of the season. “Racing is something I think about every day and take to bed with me every night. I grew up a few minutes from ‘The Can’ and heard the motors revving every weekend. When you play the game, imagining every scenario and what you would do when you get that first win, I just did what came natural. Now I’m living that dream every time I buckle in,” remarked Greene, who mines bluestone quarries throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania primarily during the summer months, leaving the winter, spring and fall to indulge his appetite for dueling on the dirt.
*Rauscher Racing Again…In a reversal of fortune ---married for the past 27 years and traveling to Florida annually for the last 26 winters--- Dave Rauscher is contending in his third straight February at Volusia. His no. 48too Monadnock Disposal Service/Bicknell entry carried him to 14th on Thursday for the best ride of his short career on the ultra-fast half-miler. “Coming to Florida has always been about having fun, and now that the family is grown up I’m just moving that aspect from the stands to the pits,” said Rauscher, 53, manager of Magee Transportation Services by day, who scored no better than 21st the two years prior. “Things feel a lot better this week, we’re not only qualifying, we’re actually getting in some laps and finishing races. And when you’re out their racing you can’t help but have fun. We’ll keep coming back as long as things stay that way.”
*Vacation Plans On Hold…An annual traveler to Volusia for the wintertime bash throughout the new millennium, Rich Scagliotta is still in search of his first top-10 feature finish after 20 main events. He opened the ’09 Alltel DIRTcar Nationals with a 14th-place tally aboard his no. 8 Central Jersey Trailer & Hitch Depot-Adamsville Maintenance/Troyer entry although a first lap tangle on Friday forced him pitside with just one lap to his credit. “This is our vacation, not working our regular job and putting all the time into racing at the track. We’ll watch the Daytona 500 on Sunday then head home, all the guys have to get back to work next week. Volusia is always a challenge, its kinda like Hagerstown out there, you have to start up front or get by the guys ahead of you early. The track is so heavy and everybody is fast, the longer things go the harder it is for us to make a move.”
*Three Times A Charm For Friesen…In his Advance Series Big-Block Modified debut this week at Volusia, third-generation chauffeur James Michael Friesen needed three days to make the starting grid but it was well worth the wait for the rising star with his racing roots firmly entrenched in the city of St. Catharines, Ontario. Two successive DNQs were quickly forgotten as Friesen outlasted Jimmy Horton to take a checkered flag in the second qualifying heat and place 15th in the 30-lap main event on Friday. “We’ve just been doing a lot of learning trying to get comfortable and chasing away the nerves, racing out here against my heroes has certainly been a real treat,” remarked Friesen, 24, who only logged about a dozen laps the first two days, crashing on the frontstretch on day two resulting in heavy front-end damage to the no 52 Blue Moon Special powered by an Al Blanchard-prepared New Generation Racing Engine. “Despite the limited track time, this has still been a great experience and I’ll do my damndest to come back here next year and every year I can after that.”
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 and VP Racing Fuels. Promotional partners include Rite Aid Corporation, Dig Safely New York and the University of Northwestern Ohio and the contingency sponsors are Bars Leaks, Bert Transmission, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Crane Cams, Ferris Industries, Holley HP Carburetors, Integra Shocks, Intercomp, KSE Racing Products, Motorsports Safety Systems, Penske Shocks, Racing Electronics, Rislone Oil Stabilizer and Wrisco Industries.
Friday - February 13
*Mills Joins Alltel All-Star Traveling Team…Round number three of the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH at Volusia for Big-Blocks is over and Advance Series DIRTcar Big-Block racer Jamie Mills has thrown his name in the hat for fans to vote as he is now in the running for the lucrative $10,000 top prize awarded to just one winning driver. “I think some should go to charity,” remarked Mills about why fans should choose him as the Alltel All-Star. “It’s like free money, it’s like hitting the lottery so make sure it goes to good use. It really brings professionalism to dirt track racing. They’ve got a Jumbo-tron up there. I was watching the consi while we were waiting to draw and it’s just awesome what they’ve done here to make it fan friendly. We need fans all over the United States to make this work and Alltel has made it great.” The Alltel All-Star candidates and their text message Letter Codes include: Big-Block Modifieds – Pat Ward (i), Jamie Mills (L); Sprint Cars – Donny Schatz (b); Stevie Smith (d); Joey Saldana (f); UMP DIRTcar Modifieds – Jared Landers (a), Austin Dillon (c), Randy Hall (e); UMP DIRTcar Super Late Models – Darren Miller (g), Earl Pearson Jr. (h), Dan Schlieper (j); World of Outlaws Late Models – Josh Richards (k). Fans can vote by visiting www.AlltelAllStar.com or texting their drivers code to 247253.
*Vauter Trades Clubs For Cars…His family business is golf although his personal passion is motorsports, and when its winter time up north Dan Vauter finds a way to head south when there’s racing on tap at Volusia Speedway Park. Fresh off one of his most productive seasons highlighted by three feature wins and 2nd in points at Penn-Can, the Forest City, Pennsylvania pilot has a pair of Bicknell rides and the Troyer car used in Florida at his disposal in 2009. “We’d like to follow more of the Advance Series but our location and lack of a weekly home track for points makes it tough for us to be a regular,” noted Vauter, 23, whose grandfather Paul Vauter converted the family-owned Meadow Breeze Farm into Panorama Golf Course in the early 1960s, with the former dairy barn renovated to become the clubhouse upon opening in 1964. “We led for the first time down here on Wednesday and 4th-place was almost like a feature win, but I think we can still do more before the week is over. We’re getting more confidence with every race.”
*Maryland Modifieds…Of the eight states and two Canadian provinces represented by Big-Block Modified teams in the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals, Jeff Brown and brother in-law Brad Trice are the lone contenders carrying Maryland on their shoulders for the week of speed in Florida. First visiting Volusia in 2007, Brown failed to qualify in two attempts and turned the wheel of his no. 9 Chesapeake Paving/Bicknell mount over to Brad with the same outcome. A division rookie in 2003, last summer marked Brown’s first full season in a Big-block and he finished 10th in points at Delaware Int’l Speedway posting a 2nd-place feature race best. “We were really green in ’07 and coming back there’s a lot more experience to draw from,” said Brown, 42, who suffered through steering issues on Wednesday (finished 21st) before a broken driveshaft sidelined him the next night in qualifying. “We’d love to finish in the top-10 but you have to be on the track at the end to do that.” Employed as an equipment operator under Chesapeake Paving & Excavating owner Brown, Trice qualified for his first-ever Big-Block main in the opener (18th) and added 21st and 16th-place tallies since. Team Troyer mainstay and Northeast Modified Hall of Fame award winning mechanic Randy Kisacky has served as his crew chief throughout the week. “I’ve learned so much from Randy already and there’s a long way to still to go,” said Trice, 26, son of former Georgetown Speedway points champion Gary Trice, who began racing go-carts at age 12, plans to run Delaware all year and hit the specials at Georgetown in between. “What it comes down to now is getting a good start in the heat, qualifying and starting up front. I’d love to come away with a top-10.”
*Greene Between Rocks & Hard Places…Pennsylvanian Darwin Green arrived in Barberville for qualifying on Wednesday already having four races under his belt in the Sunshine State. Following a unique schedule of events, Greene steered a Modified for owner Terry Zacharias on the asphalt at New Smyrna Speedway before unloading his Greene Quality Bluestone no. 1 Blue Diamond Tools/Bicknell mount ready to throw the clay at Volusia. “8 races in 10 days, now that’s a dream vacation,” beamed Greene, 38, who posted a 10th-place best at New Smyrna and made the first three shows at VSP, opening in 17th on Wednesday. The highly motivated driver from Susquehanna, Pa. captured his first career Modified win at Penn-Can last summer and as a record-setting cross-country runner in high school, lap after lap jogged around his car in victory lane in one of the most popular wins of the season. “Racing is something I think about every day and take to bed with me every night. I grew up a few minutes from ‘The Can’ and heard the motors revving every weekend. When you play the game, imagining every scenario and what you would do when you get that first win, I just did what came natural. Now I’m living that dream every time I buckle in,” remarked Greene, who mines bluestone quarries throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania primarily during the summer months, leaving the winter, spring and fall to indulge his appetite for dueling on the dirt.
*Rauscher Racing Again…In a reversal of fortune ---married for the past 27 years and traveling to Florida annually for the last 26 winters--- Dave Rauscher is contending in his third straight February at Volusia. His no. 48too Monadnock Disposal Service/Bicknell entry carried him to 14th on Thursday for the best ride of his short career on the ultra-fast half-miler. “Coming to Florida has always been about having fun, and now that the family is grown up I’m just moving that aspect from the stands to the pits,” said Rauscher, 53, manager of Magee Transportation Services by day, who scored no better than 21st the two years prior. “Things feel a lot better this week, we’re not only qualifying, we’re actually getting in some laps and finishing races. And when you’re out their racing you can’t help but have fun. We’ll keep coming back as long as things stay that way.”
*Vacation Plans On Hold…An annual traveler to Volusia for the wintertime bash throughout the new millennium, Rich Scagliotta is still in search of his first top-10 feature finish after 20 main events. He opened the ’09 Alltel DIRTcar Nationals with a 14th-place tally aboard his no. 8 Central Jersey Trailer & Hitch Depot-Adamsville Maintenance/Troyer entry although a first lap tangle on Friday forced him pitside with just one lap to his credit. “This is our vacation, not working our regular job and putting all the time into racing at the track. We’ll watch the Daytona 500 on Sunday then head home, all the guys have to get back to work next week. Volusia is always a challenge, its kinda like Hagerstown out there, you have to start up front or get by the guys ahead of you early. The track is so heavy and everybody is fast, the longer things go the harder it is for us to make a move.”
*Three Times A Charm For Friesen…In his Advance Series Big-Block Modified debut this week at Volusia, third-generation chauffeur James Michael Friesen needed three days to make the starting grid but it was well worth the wait for the rising star with his racing roots firmly entrenched in the city of St. Catharines, Ontario. Two successive DNQs were quickly forgotten as Friesen outlasted Jimmy Horton to take a checkered flag in the second qualifying heat and place 15th in the 30-lap main event on Friday. “We’ve just been doing a lot of learning trying to get comfortable and chasing away the nerves, racing out here against my heroes has certainly been a real treat,” remarked Friesen, 24, who only logged about a dozen laps the first two days, crashing on the frontstretch on day two resulting in heavy front-end damage to the no 52 Blue Moon Special powered by an Al Blanchard-prepared New Generation Racing Engine. “Despite the limited track time, this has still been a great experience and I’ll do my damndest to come back here next year and every year I can after that.”
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 and VP Racing Fuels. Promotional partners include Rite Aid Corporation, Dig Safely New York and the University of Northwestern Ohio and the contingency sponsors are Bars Leaks, Bert Transmission, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Crane Cams, Ferris Industries, Holley HP Carburetors, Integra Shocks, Intercomp, KSE Racing Products, Motorsports Safety Systems, Penske Shocks, Racing Electronics, Rislone Oil Stabilizer and Wrisco Industries.
posted by apexonephoto.com at
12:30 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home