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TRI-CITY
SPEEDWAY MAJOR PART OF DIRTcar WESTERN REGIONAL POINT CHASE IN 2008 March 23, 2008 FRANKLIN, PA … With the 2008 racing season ready to begin at Tri-City Speedway on Sunday April 27th, the Engles Trucking DIRTcar Big Block Modified drivers and teams will once again be able to compete for extra cash in the DIRTcar Western Regional point chase. “Last year, our Big Block Modified teams were part of the inaugural DIRTcar Western Regional point chase,” noted Tri-City Co-Promoter Mike Graham. “However, we found that some of them were not aware of the substantial benefits offered by the program in 2007.” As a result, Tri-City and Lernerville Speedways, which are the anchor tracks for the DIRTcar Western Regional title, elected to drop their home-based Big Block Modified Challenge Series after only two years in order to focus more attention on the DIRTcar Western Regional point chase. “Running well at Lernerville and Tri-City on a weekly basis is the key to winning the regional title,” said Graham. “The Challenge Series focused on driver and team performance in a handful of events. Now, with more emphasis on the regional championship, peak consistency and performance are a necessity for the entire season.” In 2007, Brian Swartzlander of Leechburg, Pa., added to his career records by winning the DIRTcar Western Regional title. The 2007 Lernerville track champion barely edged the 2007 Tri-City track champion Kevin Bolland of New Brighton, Pa., for the title. Other drivers finishing in the top 15 that received cash or awards included Jeremiah Shingledecker of Stoneboro, Pa., Rex King of Bristolville, Ohio, Del Rougeux Jr. of Frenchville, Pa., Russell King of Bristolville, Ohio, Dave Murdick of Slippery Rock, Pa., Jim Weller of Hubbard, Ohio, J.R. McGinley of Fairmount City, Pa., Skip Moore of Jackson Center, Pa., Tom Winkle of Mars, Pa., Mike Turner of Butler, Pa., Chris Schiffer of Franklin, Pa., Carl Murdick of Butler, Pa., and Dave Schrader of Endeavor, Pa. For 2008, all of those drivers are expected to return to compete for the DIRTcar Western Regional title with the exception of Russell King and Schiffer. King, who won the 2007 BRP Modified Tour title, intends to focus most of his attention on his new King Motorsports Late Model venture in 2008. Schiffer has indicated a desire to take some time away from racing to spend with his family. The remaining drivers will be joined by other top notch competitors in the title chase, including Rex King Jr. of Bristolville, Ohio, Jim Rasey of Southington, Pa., Joe Crawford of Polk, Pa., Rob Kristyak of Bristolville, Ohio, Rob Curtis of Greenville, Pa., Andy Priest of New Castle, Pa., Brad Rapp of Shippenville, Pa., Rick Hall of Sandy Lake, Pa., Matt Baker of Seneca, Pa., and rookies Duane Botelho of Kennerdell, Pa., and 14-year-old Kyle Fink of Strattanville, Pa., whose father, Brian, was the 1996 Tri-City track champion. This season, each driver and team will accumulate points for the DIRTcar Western Regional title based on their best 12 finishes from all races combined. Those races include all of the DIRTcar Big Block Modified events at Tri-City and Lernerville. In addition, each event on the 2008 BRP Modified Tour will count for the title. Two additional events are the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series races at Ransomville (N.Y.) Speedway on July 3rd and Merrittville (Ont.) Speedway on August 4th. Regional point events may be of any distance and may be either home track point events, part of a special mini-series or special events at tracks within the Western Region. The regional points will be maintained separately from track points, and the chase will end on September 1st. The DIRTcar Western Regional championship awards point fund money and awards valued at $6,725 to the top 15 drivers at season’s end. The champion collects $1,800 with cash awards paid through tenth place. The next five drivers will receive a 2009 DIRTcar Big Block Modified license. In total, the DIRTcar regional point chases will award over $20,000 to drivers and teams throughout the Northeast. “Last year was a stepping stone for Big Block teams as for the first time drivers had the opportunity to race for regional point funds outside the boundaries of the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series and their local track championships,” said Cory Reed, DIRTcar Racing NorthEast Director of Competition & Track Sanctioning. “The addition of regional awards offered further incentive to race at DIRTcar tracks on a weekly basis when not chasing the Advance Series. “DIRTcar remains the leading short track organization in the country and the funds offered in ’08 continue to make it the most lucrative regional post-season awards program for weekly racers found anywhere,” Reed continued. “There’s a lot at stake for competitors in all of our divisions with more of the wealth spread through the ranks, something that will get more racers involved over time.” For further questions regarding the 2008 DIRTcar Regional Racing Series format, please contact Cory Reed in the DIRTcar NorthEast Office (315-834-6606) during normal business hours or log into the DIRTcar homepage at www.dirtcar.com to find out more about the entire circuit. Tri-City opens on Sunday April 27th with its first five-star show of the season featuring the Engle Trucking DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds, 4 Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Models, RPM Auto Sales/Sherry Shawgo Real Estate E Mods, E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks, and Klapec Auto Body Sunday Night Thunder Cars. Gates open at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. Adult grandstand admission is $11. Tri-City Speedway is owned and operated by Roger and Susie Crick and Mike and Margaret Graham. They have promoted Sunday night racing at the popular facility since they reopened it in 1996. The DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds, FASTRAK Late Models, E Mods, Pro Stocks and Thundercars race each week at the Venango County half-mile dirt oval. Tri-City is located seven miles north of Franklin, Pa., off State Route 417. DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Points Structure for Western Regional Events: Pos. Pts. Pos. Pts. 1. 60 13. 32 DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Regional Championship Point Funds Pos. Point Fund 1. $1800 Total $6725 DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Western Regional Events (Best 12 Finishes): Lernerville, Tri-City, Ransomville (July 3), Merrittville (August 4), BRP Modified Tour events. |