Hearn Captures Alltel DIRTcar Nationals Big-Block Finale At Volusia, Ward Earns Points Title!

*Bob Armbruster Photo Attachment

Hearn Beats Rain, Bachetti To Continue Volusia Alltel DIRTcar Nationals Streak

*For more News, Notes & Points, log into www.superdirtcarseries.com

Barberville, FL – February 14, 2009 – By Tom Skibinski, Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series PR Director

Brett Hearn just loves Valentine’s Day. Especially when its spent in victory lane at Volusia Speedway Park with a $5,000 check written in his name.

For the fifth time in the past six Advance Auto Parts Series Big-Block Modified mains held on February 14 at the popular Barberville, Florida oval, Hearn has been the first under the checkered flag. The New Jersey speedster wrestled the lead away from Andy Bachetti with nine laps to go and held on to close out the 38th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH with his 19th career triumph in the Sunshine State on Saturday.

Two-time Florida Tour ’09 feature winner Pat Ward posted his third top-five finish in the four-race mini tour to secure his second Alltel DIRTcar Nationals points title.

“It’s always good to win the big one, this will make the trip home very sweet,” remarked Hearn, 50, who continued his streak in gator country, winning at least one feature every year but 2007 since the DIRTcar Modifieds from the Northeast returned to Volusia in 1998. Hearn owns 19 victories in race weeks competition which is the standard for all divisions traveling south in the winter time. “After last night we tried a couple things.”

“We’ve been messing around like we normally do down here but I was really getting worried we were going to get shut out. I said we just gotta keep working. A lot of credit has to go to Andrew (Phillips, crew chief) and the crew for talking me into staying with this car for another night instead of unloading the old one. But it was on tonight, just a matter of perseverance,” Hearn figured.

Bachetti’s second-place run was good enough to place him second on the final points chart with Matt Sheppard and reigning Mr. DIRTcar Champion Billy Decker leading Ward across the stripe to fill out the front-five. Friday night winner Jamie Mills, Dale Planck, Jimmy Horton, Keith Flach and Frenchmen Mario Clair rounded out the top-10, the last to complete the entire 50-lap distance.

Pole-sitter Bachetti out-dragged front-row partner Billy Decker after a pre-race draw determined the first three rows in the 26-car Big-Block field. Ohioan Rex King Jr. came to a stop in turn four and on the ensuing restart Decker took command wheeling the LJL Racing no. 91 Gypsum Wholesalers-Stadium Int'l-Quality Hardwoods/Bicknell mount.



Three more cautions over the next four laps kept the field in check, with Tim Kerr spinning in turn three/four and Dave Rauscher being towed off for his involvement in the same incident on lap nine. King slid high to come to rest in turn three/four on the 11th circuit, with tour rookie Brian Sadler parking his no. 5 McLallen Construction-Perkins Law Group/Bicknell high in turn one to bring out the yellow lights on the following circuit.



Bachetti remained on Decker’s rear bumper through every slowdown until returning to the point on the lap 12 restart. When Delaware driver Matt Jester looped out of turn three to instigate the final caution period, the ‘Wild Child’ led Hearn, Decker, Ward and Sheppard with nearly 30 laps left to run.



With the green lights remaining on for good, the leaders reached traffic at the halfway mark as they jockeyed for position lap after lap during the second half of the race. While Bachetti and Hearn seemed to pull away at will, Ward improved to third with 15 laps to go before losing his brakes and opening back up the door for Sheppard and Decker to pass through on lap 38.



Inching closer and closer with each passing lap, Hearn finally slipped under Bachetti in turn three on lap 42 and when the checkered flag unfurled the ‘Jet’ had authored a resounding victory by a full five car-lengths at the stripe.



“I was just watching Andy running the cushion and I knew sooner or later I was going to have to try and get down the middle to make something happen like I did late in the race on Thursday,” noted Hearn, following his 16th career win at Volusia to improve his DIRTcar Big-Block total to 346 which keeps him second on the all-time list. “Every time I started going down there I began gaining just a little bit, then we got into lapped cars which always plays a factor.”



Joining the top-three finishers and Ward in victory lane was Jeff Brownell, who participated in the awards ceremonies that presented $500 in cash and $500 in in Xtreme Lubricants Gear Lube and/or Hi-Performance Race Oil to the overall Big-Block Modiied winner.



“First, I have to thank Jeff as this is the first point fund we’ve run for down here,” said Ward, who earned his first Florida Tour title in 2004 by a scant two points over Hearn and Doug Hoffman. “He’s got top teams out there we’re running against and we appreciate his help.”



“The Gypsum car was good all week. Tonight I was coming on, had a good line and was moving in on Brett and Andy until losing a brake line. Those guys were still sailing. We’re happy with fifth and we’ll take her. I knocked the rear-end out of the car last night and the guys worked all day and the car was good all week wherever we put it,” Ward said.



With the 2009 Alltel DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH safely in the recordbook, teams packed up and headed home to get ready for the start of DIRTcar Northeast's 34th season at their hometrack. The first major event of the points season is the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modified opener scheduled at Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway on Saturday, March 28.



Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series – Volusia Speedway Park, February 14, 2009

38th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH Event #4

BIG-BLOCK MODIFIED FEATURE

FIN STR CAR# DRIVER/HOMETOWN

1 5 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ($5,000)

2 1 34 Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA

3 10 9s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY

4 2 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY

5 6 42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY

6 11 30 Jamie Mills/Milford,DE

7 16 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY

8 18 5 Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ

9 4 43 Keith Flach/Ravena,NY

10 8 22c Mario Clair/St-Edmond,QUE

11 12 17 Sean Beardsley/Central Square,NY

12 21 85 Dan Vauter/Forest City,PA

13 19 99L Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY

14 3 29 Jeff Brownell Jr./Waterloo,NY

15 14 52 James Friesen/St.Catharines,ONT

16 20 97 Michel Chicoine/Ste-Cecile de Milton,QUE

17 15 32 Jim Rasey/Southington,OH

18 7 42 Guy Sheldon/Nassau,NY

19 27 t21 Roger Chrysler/Lewiston,NY

20 28 07 Tim Kerr/Picton,ONT

21 25 88k Randy Chrysler/Lewiston,NY

22 26 79 Jeremy Markle/Port Jervis,NY

23 9 8 Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ

24 24 1 Darwin Greene/Susquehanna,PA

25 13 165 Rex King Jr./Bristolville,OH

26 17 62 Matt Jester/Lincoln,DE

27 23 5b Brian Sadler/Erie,PA

28 22 48too Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY

29 29 3g Jimmy Johnson/Bloomingburg,NY

DID NOT QUALIFY(3)

9-Jeff Brown/Parsonsburg,MD

26-Dave Camara/Poultney,VT

33t-Brad Trice/Parsonsburg,MD

Lap Leaders: Bachetti (1-2), Decker (3-11), Bachetti (12-41), Hearn (42-50).

Cautions: 5 (lap 32, lap 9, lap 11, lap 12, lap 18).

QUALIFYING

Heat Races (10 laps, top 7 finishers transferred to feature)

#1: Ward, Flach, Sheldon, Sheppard, King, Planck, Wight, Rauscher, Ra.Chrysler, Trice, Kerr.

#2: Bachetti, Brownell, Clair, Mills, Friesen, Jester, Chicoine, Sadler, Markle, J.Johnson, Camara.

#3: Hearn, Decker, Scagliotta, Beardsley, Rasey, Horton, Vauter, Greene, Ro.Chrysler, Brown (DNS).



Alltel DIRTcar Nationals Point Standings (FINAL)

PTS CAR# DRIVER / HOMETOWN

208 42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY

202 34 Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA

196 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY

196 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ

172 30 Jamie Mills/Milford,DE

157 9s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY

151 43 Keith Flach/Ravena,NY

144 29 Jeff Brownell Jr./Waterloo,NY

144 5 Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ

143 85 Dan Vauter/Forest City,PA

118 22c Mario Clair/St-Edmond,QUE

116 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY

115 62 Matt Jester/Lincoln,DE

114 26 Dave Camara/Poultney,VT

114 99L Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY

112 165 Rex King Jr./Bristolville,OH

111 32 Jim Rasey/Southington,OH

106 88k Randy Chrysler/Lewiston,NY

103 17 Sean Beardsley/Central Square,NY

93 1 Darwin Greene/Susquehanna,PA

92 14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY

90 8 Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ

87 07 Tim Kerr/Picton,ONT

84 33t Brad Trice/Parsonsburg,MD

81 79 Jeremy Markle/Port Jervis,NY

80 48too Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY

79 42 Guy Sheldon/Nassau,NY

76 52 James Friesen/St.Catharines,ONT

70 97 Michel Chicoine/Ste-Cecile,QUE

54 t21 Roger Chrysler/Lewiston,NY

52 9 Jeff Brown/Parsonsburg,MD

50 5b Brian Sadler/Erie,PA

40 33 Ray Swinehart/Bechtelsville,PA

10 923 Colin Jackson/Peckville,PA



2009 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modified Roster (32)

Car# Driver/Hometown Team (Sponsor / Chassis / Engine)

07 Tim Kerr/Picton,ONT Bronskill & Coe-Greenbush Electric-Kerr Construction/Bicknell/Enders

1 Darwin Greene/Susquehanna,PA Greene Quality Bluestone-Blue Diamond Tools-TJ's NAPA/Bicknell/Jensen Tech

3g Jimmy Johnson/Bloomingburg,NY Budweiser (LaRusse Distributing)-Valvoline-Lajoie Seats/TEO/GM

5 Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ Lincoln Auto Body-Schmidt Racing/Troyer/JPM

5b Brian Sadler/Erie,PA McLallen Construction-Perkins Law Group/Bicknell/Honest Abe

8 Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ Central Jersey Trailer & Hitch Depot-Adamsville Maintenance/Troyer/Feil

9 Jeff Brown/Parsonsburg,MD Chesapeake Paving/Bicknell/JB Auto & Machine

9s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY Xtreme Lubricants-Seneca Auto Sales/Bicknell/C.C. Performance

17 Sean Beardsley/Central Square,NY Behron Auto Glass-Town Mechanical-JIR Motorsports/Troyer/Moshier

20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ Madsen Motorsports-Wentworth Custom Homes-Kruger-WLR-BPG/TEO/Enders

t21 Roger Chrysler/Lewiston,NY Iroquois Water-Randy's Smoke Shop-Joey's Sneaks/Bicknell/JanCen

22c Mario Clair/St-Edmond,QUE Bully's Truck Stop-Bert Transmission-Batiments JDL/Bicknell/Morrison

26 Dave Camara/Poultney,VT Camara Slate Products/TEO/Finger Lakes

29 Jeff Brownell Jr./Waterloo,NY Xtreme Lubricants-Seneca Auto Sales/Bicknell/C.C. Performance

30 Jamie Mills/Milford,DE I.G.Burton Car Dealership-ReMax Realtor-L&W Ins./Bicknell/DDE

32 Jim Rasey/Southington,OH Twin Oaks Services South-Alcon Mechanical/Dirt Wheels/Minors Performance

33t Brad Trice/Parsonsburg,MD Chesapeake Paving-Delmarva Improvement Services/Troyer/JB Auto & Machine

34 Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA Steve Hough Motors/PMC/JPM

42 Guy Sheldon/Nassau,NY Judd Construction-Heinz Inc./PMC/42 Racing

42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY Gypsum Express,Ltd./Bicknell/Chevrolet

43 Keith Flach/Ravena,NY Flach Crane & Rigging-Gould Erectors & Riggers/TEO/Enders

48too Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY Magee Transportation Services-Monadnock Disposal Service/Bicknell/Morrison

52 James Friesen/St.Catharines,ONT Blue Moon Potatoes-New Generation Racing Engines/Bicknell/Al Blanchard(NG)

62 Matt Jester/Lincoln,DE Clearview Forms-Smith Concrete/TEO/Dan Denny(DDE)

77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY RezX Racing-Grow It Hydroseeding-Action Race Parts-Teo Fab./TEO/Kevlar

79 Jeremy Markle/Port Jervis,NY Len & Jo's Restaurant-Advance Recovery/Bicknell/Precision

85 Dan Vauter/Forest City,PA Sportsburg.com-Community Bank & Trust/Troyer/Enders

88k Randy Chrysler/Lewiston,NY Signal Cigarettes-Randy's Smoke Shop-Jacobs Tobacco Co./Bicknell/JanCen

91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY Gypsum Wholesalers-Stadium Int'l-Quality Hardwoods/Bicknell/Chevrolet

97 Michel Chicoine/Ste-Cecile de Milton,QUE GMCI Express-E.Beaudry Enterprises/Bicknell/Enders

99L Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY Gypsum Express,Ltd./Bicknell/Chevrolet

165 Rex King Jr./Bristolville,OH Jim Brown Seed Sales-Meander Homes-Reese Services/Bicknell/Jim Bailey



2009 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Schedule

NP=Non-Point event; SP=Show-Up point event;

TBA=To Be Announced; TBD=To Be Determined.

DAY-DATE TRACK LOCATION/WINNER

Wed-Feb 11 Volusia Speedway Park Pat Ward

Thr-Feb 12 Volusia Speedway Park Pat Ward

Fri-Feb 13 Volusia Speedway Park Jamie Mills

Sat-Feb 14 Volusia Speedway Park Brett Hearn

Sat-Mar 28 Hagerstown Speedway Hagerstown,MD

Sun-May 24 -TBA-

Sat-Jun 6 Lebanon Valley Speedway West Lebanon,NY

Sun-Jun 7 Airborne Speedway Plattsburgh,NY

Sat-Jun 13 Fulton Speedway Fulton,NY

Fri-Jul 3 Ransomville Speedway Ransomville,NY

*** GREAT CANADIAN TOUR ***

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

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

Sun-Sep 6 Cayuga Co.Fair Speedway Weedsport,NY

Mon-Sep 7 Rolling Wheels Raceway Elbridge,NY

Fri-Sep 18 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

-TBA- Orange Co.Fair Speedway Middletown,NY

-TBD- Big Diamond Raceway Minersville,PA

-TBD- Cayuga Co.Fair Speedway Weedsport,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 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.