Mills Ends Ward Streak With Narrow Alltel DIRTcar Nationals Big-Block Triumph At Volusia!

Mills Breaks Ward Stronghold With Alltel Nationals Big-Block Win At Volusia

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Barberville, FL – February 13, 2009 – By Tom Skibinski, Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series PR Director

Following two straight days of misfortune in the 38th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH, Friday the 13th was a blessing for Jamie Mills as he outlasted a late-race charge by Billy Decker to claim a narrow victory at Volusia Speedway Park.

Mills’ third career Advance Auto Parts Big-Block Modified feature win at the popular Barberville, Florida speedplant was worth $2,000 for the Blue Hen Racing team.

“I tell you what, our guys worked their butts off today and they really deserve this win,” exclaimed Mills, 38, who charged from 20th into the front-five on Wednesday before fading to sixth at the line while running on six cylinders. A turn one crash after completing just a dozen circuits dropped him to 25th on Thursday forcing his team to set the alarm for an early wake-up call on Friday morning.

“Tonight I even lost the power steering about the 20th lap. Hate to brag but I think I could’ve probably lapped most …..I don’t know who was behind me, that last 7 or 8 laps I figured I’m gonna wrestle this thing and it was a gorilla but we got it done. It’s either feast or famine for us here lately, we had two bad nights so hopefully we can turn it around and get that $5 grand tomorrow night,” added Mills, who last reached victory lane at Volusia in 2005, with his first checkered flag in Florida taken in 2000.

Over the final five laps Decker cut a half straightaway deficit to just three car-lengths at the stripe to secure runner-up honors in his ’09 Alltel DIRTcar Nationals Big-Block debut. Dale Planck settled into third for his second climb up the podium this week while Thursday night runner-up Matt Sheppard and opening night third-place finisher Andy Bachetti rounded out the front-five in the 30-lap finale.

Early race leader Jimmy Horton, second-generation upstart Rex King Jr., pole-sitter Randy Chrysler, two-time Florida Tour ’09 winner and points leader Pat Ward, and 2008 DIRTcar Racing Northeast Motorsports Safety Systems/G-FORCE Big-Block Modified Rookie of the Year By ButlerBuilt Larry Wight filled out the final top-10.

Luck of the draw among the top-two qualifiers in each heat put Chrysler on the point yet outside pole-sitter Horton carried the momentum high out of turn four to lead the 26-car pack around the fast half-miler. A turn one-two jam-up sent Guy Sheldon and Rich Scagliotta into the pits with just one lap complete, while Brad Trice and Wight rejoined the field and Jeremy Markle returned to the track two laps down. With the yellow lights still on, Ward made an unexpected trip down pit row to change a left-rear tire.

Back under green flag conditions, Horton was only able to hold back Mills for just one more lap as the Delaware driver blasted from sixth aboard the no. 30 I.G. Burton Car Dealership/Bicknell machine and forged the final lead change on lap three in a bold three-wide maneuver down the back stretch that disposed of both Horton and Chrysler.

In one of the most dramatic incidents of Race Weeks ’09 ---definitely the most serious in three days of Big-Block racing--- veteran Alan Johnson slammed into the parked vehicle of Jeff Brown between turns three and four to force out a rare red flag. ‘A.J. Slideways’ was uninjured after the spectacular spill yet owner Bob Schneider’s wadded up Troyer mount was scraped off the track and loaded into the hauler to begin an early trip back up north.

With a pair of caution periods also slowing the initial two feature races, the second yellow flag flew on lap six in Friday’s main when Keith Flach slowed low exiting the first turn. Ward was once again involved in the early race mishap that turned out to be the last break in the action as the final 25 laps were run off caution-free with an unexpectedly close finish filling the bill.

“I just thought the lapped cars were holding (Jamie) up a little bit, he was really hooked up I’ll tell you,” remarked Decker, 44, crowned the overall Hoosier Tire Mr. DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Champion in 2008, after the LJL Racing no. 91 Gypsum Wholesalers/Bicknell mount fell just a half-second short of Mills at the line. “Obviously, something happened because we closed on him pretty fast right at the end.”

“Our car was pretty good, too. I was having a fun time dicing it out with Dale, I’d miss a turn and he’d sneak it up in there. I was just roughing it up there on the cushion at the end and had a lot of fun doing it,” Decker added.

With non-stop action circling the entire track in the latter stages, the battle for position carried on as 15th-place starting Planck and 13th starter Sheppard crowded the top-five before the halfway mark. Horton was the last to be left out with a handful of laps to go as Bachetti dropped him from the front-five as the last laps clicked off.

“This place is really a lot of fun,” offereed Planck, 38, after pulling to within eight points of ninth-place finisher Ward in the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals standings with just one more show on the docket. “Last night we just missed the set-up totally. I had a good car in the heat race (Thursday), changed everything around and I shouldn’t have changed a thing.”

“Tonight we didn’t have so good a heat race, changed stuff around and it was better. I seem to go from one extreme to another, either last or first. But as long as the car turns ….. its gotta be able to turn here. We’ve got one more chance tomorrow, maybe its our turn finally to have it all fall into place,” Planck said.

Planck and the rest of the field will get one more chance to catch Ward as the Advance Auto Parts Modifieds return to Volusia for their last appearance this weekend. DIRTcar Racing Northeast's Big-Block stars battle in the fourth and final round on Saturday, February 14 as a $5,000-to-win 50-lap championship event determines the 2009 Alltel DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH points champion.

Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series – Volusia Speedway Park, February 13, 2009

38th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH Event #3

BIG-BLOCK MODIFIED FEATURE

FIN STR CAR# DRIVER/HOMETOWN

1 6 30 Jamie Mills/Milford,DE($2,000)

2 9 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY

3 15 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY

4 13 9s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY

5 22 34 Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA

6 2 5 Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ

7 10 165 Rex King Jr./Bristolville,OH

8 1 88k Randy Chrysler/Lewiston,NY

9 16 42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY

10 23 99L Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY

11 7 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ

12 17 22c Mario Clair/St-Edmond,QUE

13 4 85 Dan Vauter/Forest City,PA

14 20 26 Dave Camara/Poultney,VT

15 3 52 James Friesen/St.Catharines,ONT

16 24 33t Brad Trice/Parsonsburg,MD

17 12 17 Sean Beardsley/Central Square,NY

18 18 79 Jeremy Markle/Port Jervis,NY

19 25 1 Darwin Greene/Susquehanna,PA

20 19 43 Keith Flach/Ravena,NY

21 26 32 Jim Rasey/Southington,OH

22 5 62 Matt Jester/Lincoln,DE

23 8 29 Jeff Brownell Jr./Waterloo,NY

24 11 14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY

25 14 8 Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ

26 21 42 Guy Sheldon/Nassau,NY

DID NOT QUALIFY(6)

07-Tim Kerr/Picton,ONT

5b-Brian Sadler/Erie,PA

9-Jeff Brown/Parsonsburg,MD

t21-Roger Chrysler/Lewiston,NY

48too-Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY

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

Lap Leaders: Horton (1-2), Mills (3-30).

Cautions: 2 (lap 2, lap 6) ; 1 RED FLAG (lap 4).

QUALIFYING

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

#1: Mills, Jester, Hearn, King, Sheppard, Ward, Flach, Bachetti, Rauscher, Wight, J.Johnson (spec), Rasey.

#2: Friesen, Horton, Brownell, A.Johnson, Scagliotta, Clair, Camara, Trice, Kerr, Sadler, Brown.

#3: Ra.Chrysler, Vauter, Decker, Beardsley, Planck, Markle, Sheldon, Greene, Ro.Chrysler, Chicoine.

Consolation Round (10 laps, top 5 finishers transferred to feature)

#1: Bachetti, Wight, Trice, Greene, Rasey, Kerr, Rauscher, Chicoine, Ro.Chrysler, Sadler, Brian Carter (spec), Brown (DNS).


Alltel DIRTcar Nationals Point Standings (through Feb. 13, 2009)

PTS CAR# DRIVER / HOMETOWN

160 42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY

152 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY

146 34 Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA

136 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ

126 30 Jamie Mills/Milford,DE

114 29 Jeff Brownell Jr./Waterloo,NY

111 43 Keith Flach/Ravena,NY

109 85 Dan Vauter/Forest City,PA

105 9s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY

104 26 Dave Camara/Poultney,VT

102 5 Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ

95 62 Matt Jester/Lincoln,DE

92 14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY

92 165 Rex King Jr./Bristolville,OH

85 32 Jim Rasey/Southington,OH

84 88k Randy Chrysler/Lewiston,NY

82 99L Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY

80 22c Mario Clair/St-Edmond,QUE

74 33t Brad Trice/Parsonsburg,MD

73 1 Darwin Greene/Susquehanna,PA

70 8 Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ

67 17 Sean Beardsley/Central Square,NY

66 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY

64 07 Tim Kerr/Picton,ONT

60 48too Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY

60 79 Jeremy Markle/Port Jervis,NY

54 42 Guy Sheldon/Nassau,NY

48 52 James Friesen/St.Catharines,ONT

43 97 Michel Chicoine/Ste-Cecile,QUE

42 9 Jeff Brown/Parsonsburg,MD

40 33 Ray Swinehart/Bechtelsville,PA

30 5b Brian Sadler/Erie,PA

30 t21 Roger Chrysler/Lewiston,NY

10 923 Colin Jackson/Peckville,PA


2009 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modified Roster (33)

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

14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY Thompson Road Tavern-Circle S Stables/Troyer/Kevlar

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 Barberville,FL

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.