Contact: World Racing Group
Kevin Kovac, World of Outlaws Late Model Series P.R. Director
704-254-7929 • kkovac@dirtcar.com
Rocket Chassis Wins World of Outlaws Late Model Series Chassis Builders
Challenge Award For Fifth Consecutive Season
CONCORD, NC – Dec. 29, 2008 – And the beat goes on for Rocket Chassis.
The Shinnston, W.Va.-based manufacturer ruled the World of Outlaws Late Model
Series once again in 2008, winning the national tour’s Chassis Builders
Challenge Award for the fifth consecutive season.
Rocket remains the only company to capture the top chassis builders’ honor since
the World Racing Group began operating the WoO LMS in 2004 – an achievement that
Rocket co-owner Mark Richards acknowledged but modestly deflected.
“That’s what they tell me,” a smiling Richards said when asked about his firm’s
five-year WoO LMS winning streak after accepting the award during the tour’s
2008 awards banquet on Dec. 11 in Orlando, Fla. “It’s a tribute to the good
racers in our stuff who have confidence in what we build, take it and do a good
job with it.
“And I have to thank all of our employees back at Rocket Chassis,” he added,
hailing the 14 fulltimers (not including himself and partner Steve Baker) who
comprise the company’s workforce.
The 2008 WoO LMS Rocket army was led by Darrell Lanigan, whose unprecedented run
of consistency brought him the tour’s $100,000 points title for the first time
in his career. Lanigan became the third consecutive driver to capture the WoO
LMS championship behind the wheel of a Rocket machine, following Steve Francis
(2007) and Tim McCreadie (2006).
“He deserves it,” the 48-year-old Richards said of Lanigan, a Rocket loyalist
for more than a decade who has developed a close relationship with Richards.
“He’s been with this whole Outlaw deal since it started (under the WRG banner)
and I know he’s wanted to get a championship knocked down at some point. It’s an
accomplishment to be proud of and I think it means a lot to him.
“We’re happy that Darrell got a chance to win one. He’s been a great supporter
of Rocket Chassis and he’s a great guy to travel with (on the WoO LMS).”
Overall Rocket Chassis registered victories in 27 of the ’08 season’s 43 A-Mains
(a win percentage of 62.7%), paced by the series-leading six triumphs scored by
both Francis and Josh Richards, the 20-year-old son of Rocket’s head man. In
addition, Rocket drivers swept the top-six positions and eight of the top 10
spots in the final points standings. Lanigan was followed by Josh Richards
(second), Francis (third), Shane Clanton (fourth), Chub Frank (fifth), Shannon
Babb (sixth), Tim Fuller (ninth) and Rookie of the Year Vic Coffey (10th).
Rocket’s spectacular ’08 campaign – no other chassis manufacturer won more than
five WoO LMS events – returned the well-known shop to dominator status on the
tour after below-average results the previous year. While Rocket won the 2007
WoO LMS Chassis Builders Challenge and boasted seven of the top 10 drivers in
the points standings, the company’s victory total (19) and win percentage
(43.2%) were its lowest ever on the series.
Mark Richards attributed Rocket’s reduced 2007 numbers to a slow start that
resulted from some significant changes in the manufacturer’s core WoO LMS group.
With key Rocket racers McCreadie and Dale McDowell not returning as tour
regulars and Rick Eckert switching chassis builders, it took a while to get
everyone running Rockets with the Outlaws “back together and on the same page,”
said Richards.
The new-look Rocket group began to hit its stride late in 2007 and the success
carried over to ’08.
“Oh yeah, it was a big plus for us to get a ‘team’ of guys back together who are
willing to work together and share information,” said Richards, analyzing
Rocket’s success in ’08. “And I think we’re going to be even stronger next
year.”
Richards is determined to maintain Rocket’s historic control of the headlines on
the WoO LMS. Rocket cars have won 118 of the 197 tour A-Mains contested since
2004 – a sterling win percentage of 59.8% – and claimed no fewer than seven of
the top 10 drivers in the points standings in any season.
In that vein, Richards has already overseen an extensive testing session with an
eye on 2009. In early December he traveled south with his son, Francis, Clanton
and McCreadie to spend several days experimenting at Golden Isles Speedway in
Brunswick, Ga., Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla., and East Bay Raceway
Park in Gibsonton, Fla.
Richards hauled two dirt Late Models to the test session – one of his familiar
No. 1 house cars and an Ernie Davis-owned No. 25 that his son drove in selected
non-WoO LMS events. The Davis machine sported new front and rear suspension
geometry and a new Integra Shock package that Josh and mechanic Robby Allen
experimented with in 2008 in hopes of applying the ideas to ’09 Rocket models.
“We wanted to get a feel for where the new car stacks up with our cars that were
running well at the end of the season,” said Richards, noting that Rocket’s
‘new’ front-end chassis is adaptable to race as either a ‘blue’ or ‘black’
front-end machine. “We had Josh’s (No. 1) car (McCreadie was an extra driver for
Richards’s two cars), Shane’s car and Steve’s car set up like they were at the
end of (2008) so we could see how the new car ran against them.
“We felt like we got in a real good test and learned a lot. We think the new car
will be a definite improvement.”
The 2009 WoO LMS kicks off on Feb. 12 and 14 with two dates during the 38th
annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville,
Fla.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit
www.worldofoutlaws.com.
Contact: World Racing Group
Kevin Kovac, World of Outlaws Late Model Series P.R. Director
704-254-7929 • kkovac@dirtcar.com
Home For The Holidays: How The World of Outlaws Late Model Series Stars Are
Spending Their Rare Time Off
CONCORD, NC – Dec. 24, 2008 – The holiday season is a rare joy for the stars of
the World of Outlaws Late Model Series – a once-a-year stretch during which the
busy fulltime professional race car drivers absolutely, positively don’t have
any competitive events keeping them away from home.
So how are the top 10 drivers in the 2008 WoO LMS points standings taking
advantage of their time off? For the most part, they’ll be catching up with
family and friends.
No WoO LMS regular, of course, has a larger family than veteran Chub Frank – and
thus no driver hosts a bigger holiday bash than the 46-year-old owner/operator
who finished fifth in the national tour’s 2008 points standings.
Frank, whose grandmother had 18 children, opened up his race shop in Bear Lake,
Pa., last Saturday (Dec. 20) for his annual day-long holiday bash that was
attended by over 100 of his relatives and dozens of his friends. Santa Claus
made an appearance during the afternoon to visit with the kids, and then after 7
o’clock “the adult party started,” said a smiling Frank, whose expansive shop
features a bar area filled with memorabilia from his racing career.
Christmas Day is actually much more intimate for Frank. He spends it at his home
with a smaller gathering that includes his wife Mary, Mary’s two children and
their two grandchildren.
As for New Year’s Eve, Frank doesn’t have any big plans. There will likely be
some action in his bar, but he’ll be more focused on the vacation he’ll begin
three days later. Frank and his wife will be one of many racers on the 15th
annual ‘Cruise With The Champions,’ which from Jan. 4-11 will visit several
western Caribbean ports-of-call, including Belize, Honduras, Grand Cayman and
Cozumel…
Joining Frank on the ‘Cruise With The Champions’ will be 2007 WoO LMS champion
Steve Francis, who also happens to come from a family that rivals Frank’s in
size. But while Francis’s father had seven siblings and his mother had eight,
there’s no Frank-like holiday family reunion.
“We go to my parents’ house in Ashland (Ky.) for Christmas and I’ll see a lot of
relatives I get to see only once a year,” said Francis, who finished third in
the 2008 WoO LMS points standings. “But our family has gotten kinda spread out,
so the gathering isn’t as big as it was when I was growing up.”
Francis, 41, relishes the holidays because it’s his opportunity to spend more
time with his girlfriend Jennifer, who didn’t make as many road trips with him
in ’08 as she had in the past due to work commitments at home, and his
10-year-old daughter Alexis (from a previous relationship).
“I get a little time to just kick back and relax,” said Francis, “and actually
kind of enjoy my home.”
And coming off a season in which he earned nearly $250,000 on the WoO LMS alone
driving for Dale Beitler’s team, Francis will no doubt have to spend some of his
racing cash to fulfill the Christmas wishes of his girls.
“Jennifer wants new wheels for her car,” quipped Francis, “and my daughter wants
that Guitar Hero game.”
Does Francis have a Christmas present in mind for himself?
“I’m fortunate – I don’t want for a lot,” he said. “Well, maybe one thing – a
World of Outlaws championship in 2009. I’ll take that as a Christmas present.”…
The biggest money-winner on the 2008 WoO LMS was Darrell Lanigan, whose $100,000
prize for capturing the tour points title pushed his total earnings to $245,467.
But Lanigan’s daughters – Tiffany, 7, and Brittney, 4 – apparently haven’t
factored dear old Dad’s 100-grand check into their Christmas wish lists.
“Nah, they didn’t ask for anything bigger because I won the championship,”
laughed Lanigan, who became the fifth different WoO LMS champion in as many
years. “The older one wants an electric scooter, and the other one wants a baby
doll.”
The 38-year-old Lanigan, who returned to his Union, Ky., home earlier this week
after flying to Nebraska on Sunday to pick up a new S&S hauler and trailer for
his ’09 WoO LMS travels, will spend Christmas Day at the nearby residence of his
girlfriend Erin Dailey’s parents. He has no getaway planned for New Year’s Eve –
he vacationed with Dailey in Miami last month – so he’ll use the holiday week to
get some preparatory work done at his shop….
Clint Smith is another Outlaw who will trade fun for hard work in the shop
during the holidays. Coming off a grueling season in which ‘Cat Daddy’ slipped
to eighth in the WoO LMS points standings following a career-high third-place
finish in 2007, he’s focused on making a big rebound in ’09.
“I’ll spend some time with my next-of-kin – go to my mom’s, my dad’s and my
sister’s places,” said Smith, 43, of Senoia, Ga. “But other than that, we’ll be
working on the race cars.
“We ran 112 shows this year, so our equipment is worn out. We have a lot of work
to do. We’re building one brand-new car and we’ve got five others to re-do, and
we’ve got to get our motors back.”
Smith, whose workload might even prompt him to skip the ‘Cruise With The
Champions’ that he annually enjoys, is looking forward to spending time with his
16-year-old daughter, Jenna, between his sessions at the garage. He said she
hasn’t asked him for a major present this year.
“She got a (highway) car last year,” smiled Smith, “so it’d be hard to out-do
that.”…
Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga., will take it a bit easier this holiday
season than his fellow Peach State Outlaw.
After enjoying the best campaign of his dirt Late Model career in 2008 (four
wins and a fourth-place finish in the WoO LMS points plus a World 100 victory),
the 33-year-old Clanton will get away from the racing grind with his wife
Jennifer and son Ryan, who turns six in January. They’ll partake in a Christmas
Eve dinner at Clanton’s mother’s house, spend Christmas Day at home (“We’ll just
let Ryan play with his new toys as much as he can,” said Clanton) and then head
out on the 28th for a week-long Caribbean cruise with more than 50 people,
including Clanton’s mother; his car owner Ronnie Dobbins; his RSD Enterprises
teammate Tony Knowles; WoO LMS regular Rick Eckert and his wife Crystal; and ’08
Belleville (Kans.) High Banks WoO LMS winner Kelly Boen of Henderson, Colo.
“We’re looking forward to the cruise,” said Clanton, who is bringing his son
along on the trip that will visit Grand Cayman and Cozumel. “It’s going to be
fun to get away with the whole family and a lot of friends.”…
Before flying south to hook up with Clanton and Co. for the holiday cruise,
York, Pa.’s Eckert, his wife and 19-year-old daughter Courtney will be part of
probably the biggest Christmas family gathering this side of Chub Frank.
On Christmas Day, Eckert, who turned 43 on Dec. 14 and is in the midst of
building a new shop to house his Raye Vest-owned racing equipment, will take his
brood to his parents’ home for a dinner that will include more than 60 of his
relatives.
“It takes several tables to handle everybody,” said Eckert, who has five
siblings. “We have a big family.”…
Young WoO LMS sensation Josh Richards has a holiday trip planned, but he’ll go
north to chase cold weather rather than the warm sun of the Caribbean.
Richards, 20, of Shinnston, W.Va., will spend several days before and after New
Year’s Day at the Holiday Valley ski resort in Ellicottville, N.Y., south of
Buffalo. His travel group will include his family (father and team owner Mark
Richards, mother Tina and sister Morgan); his girlfriend; his buddy and fellow
racer Jared Hawkins; well-known dirt Late Model mechanic Robby Allen and his
wife; Brian Daugherty of Integra Shocks; and possibly 2006 WoO LMS champion Tim
McCreadie.
“I enjoy skiing, but I don’t get a chance to go as much as I’d like to,” said
Richards, who tied Francis for the most wins on the 2008 WoO LMS and finished a
career-high second in the points standings. “It’s gonna be a great time spending
a few days up there at Holiday Valley.”
Richards’s holiday season also includes an affair with his mother’s side of the
family (it happened last Saturday night) and a Christmas Eve get-together at his
aunt’s home with his father’s family…
Christmas 2008 will be special for Shannon Babb – it is, after all, his first
holiday season as a married man. He tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend,
Emalie Meyer, in November.
And Babb, whose first season as a WoO LMS regular ended with a sixth-place
finish in the points standings, has a busy schedule of family activities.
Babb celebrates his 35th birthday on Christmas Eve, so Emalie will host a
birthday/holiday party at their home in Moweaqua, Ill. The gathering’s guest
list includes, among others, their parents, grandparents and siblings.
Then on Christmas Day Babb and his bride will be on the move all day. They’ll
begin by opening presents together at their home, then head to Babb’s parents’
home around 10 or 11 a.m. to exchange presents; Babb’s grandparents’ house
around 1 or 2 p.m. for more gift-giving; and finally Emalie’s grandparents’
residence two-and-a-half hours away in Mount Vernon, Ill., to open presents with
her family.
After such a busy holiday on top of a grueling 2008 racing season, it’s not
surprising that Shannon and Emalie might not hit the road for a New Year’s Eve
trip.
“We are seriously contemplating staying home (on New Year’s Eve) with a bottle
of wine and the Hunting Channel,” laughed Emalie. “Most likely we will be
staying home and ringing in our first New Year married together.”
The new Mr. and Mrs. Babb did just return on Sunday from a late ‘honeymoon’ in
Texas and Mexico. They made several hunting excursions, during which Shannon –
an expert hunter – shot a 16-point Mule Deer Buck and Emalie shot her first
6-point Whitetail Buck…
The last two WoO LMS Rookies of the Year – Tim Fuller (2007) and Vic Coffey
(2008) – will try to dodge snowflakes while spending the holidays in their
native upstate New York.
Fuller, 41, of Watertown, N.Y., is preparing for a wild Christmas morning. He
expects his daughter Ainsley, who turns four in January, to be more in tune with
the holiday than she’s ever been.
“I’m sure she’s going to wake us up at the crack of dawn,” said Fuller, noting
that a life-like ‘Biscuit the Dog’ toy tops Ainsley’s Christmas wish list. “It’s
game-on. She’ll be zipping off the walls.”
Fuller, his wife Lori, Ainsley and Lori’s 14-year-old daughter MacKenzie will
make the short drive to Lori’s grandparents’ home for a large Christmas Day
family gathering.
“Lori’s grandfather makes homemade wine,” Fuller said when asked for one of the
holiday affair’s highlights. “You have a couple glasses of that and man, you’re
flying. It’s some powerful stuff.”
Fuller, who won twice en route to a ninth-place finish in the 2008 WoO LMS
points standings, isn’t making a New Year’s Eve trip with his wife this year.
But they’ll probably make a stop at a party hosted by Lori’s uncle, where “all
kinds of shenanigans will be going on,” he quipped.
Meanwhile, Coffey, 37, who finished 10th in the ’08 points standings, will enjoy
his first Christmas with eight-month-old son Kasey. His wife, Jillian, gave
birth to the couple’s first child in April just before Coffey dived head-first
into his rookie season as a WoO LMS traveler.
“On Christmas Eve we’ll go to Jill’s cousins’ for a dinner,” said Coffey, who
will also have his two children from a previous marriage, Shelby, 13, and Kyle,
12, on Christmas Day. “Then on Christmas we’ll go to Jill’s parents’ house, and
the day after Christmas we’ll have a get-together with my brother and sister.”
There will certainly be plenty of racing talk on Christmas Day at Coffey’s
in-laws’. Jillian’s parents own Phelps Cement Products, a longtime backer of
DIRTcar Modified racing in central New York, and her brother, Justin, is a
big-block Modified regular who follows the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar
Series.
As for New Year’s Eve, Coffey, who moved into a new home in Caledonia, N.Y.,
earlier this year, said he might take his older kids skiing…
Happy Holidays from the staff of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, which
kicks off the 2009 season on Feb. 12 and 14 during the 38th annual Alltel
DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit
www.worldofoutlaws.com.
Contact: World Racing Group
Kevin Kovac, World of Outlaws Late Model Series P.R. Director
704-254-7929 • kkovac@dirtcar.com
Josh Richards Already Eyeing February’s Alltel DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH At
Florida’s Volusia Speedway Park
BARBERVILLE, FL – Dec. 21, 2008 – It’s never too early for a driver to start
thinking about an upcoming event at a track where he excels.
So it goes with Josh Richards, the young World of Outlaws Late Model Series
sensation who heads into the holidays with visions of February’s 38th annual
Alltel DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park dancing through his
head.
Richards, 20, has a sparkling performance record at the fast half-mile oval
outside Daytona Beach, which hosts 12 consecutive nights of DIRTcar racing from
Feb. 3-14. Dirt Late Models will headline six programs, including four UMP
DIRTcar Racing-sanctioned events (Feb. 9, 10, 11 and 13) and two World of
Outlaws Late Model Series shows (Feb. 12 and 14).
“Volusia definitely ranks up there as one of my favorite tracks,” said Richards,
a product of Shinnston, W.Va., who won the 2008 WoO LMS season opener at Volusia
en route to a career-high second-place finish in the national tour’s points
standings. “I like wide-open places where you can carry a lot of momentum, and
that’s how you race there. It just fits my style.”
That would be an understatement. From his first laps at the well-known
speedplant, it was apparent that Richards had a special ability to hustle around
the D-shaped track.
Richards made his Volusia debut as a 16-year-old WoO LMS rookie on Feb. 16,
2005, in a UMP DIRTcar-sanctioned event. After missing the first two nights of
that year’s Alltel DIRTcar Nationals because he had to minimize his missed days
of high-school classes, ‘Kid Rocket’ promptly won his heat race and finished a
noteworthy sixth in the 30-lap feature.
Two nights later Richards turned heads again, roaring from the ninth starting
spot in the 40-lap UMP DIRTcar finale of the 2005 Alltel DIRTcar Nationals to
run second behind the legendary Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., before a blown
engine on the final lap relegated him to a heartbreaking 13th-place finish. He
also set fast time during the following evening’s WoO LMS program, but
mechanical problems left him with a 17th-place finish in the A-Main.
And over the past two years few drivers have been more on their game at Volusia
than Richards. In his last four WoO LMS starts there he hasn’t finished worse
than fourth, and he has a second-place finish in UMP DIRTcar competition during
each of the past two Alltel DIRTcar Nationals meets.
Richards scored his first top-five finish at VSP on Oct. 14, 2006, placing
fourth in the WoO LMS season-ending Gator 100. He followed that with a victory
in the 2007 WoO LMS season-opener (the only Outlaw show completed during that
year’s Alltel DIRTcar Nationals) and a win and third-place finish in the tour’s
portion of the February 2008 Nationals.
“I’ve always felt comfortable there,” Richards said of the sweeping track. “I
can’t wait to get back there in February. It gives you a lot of confidence when
you start the (WoO LMS points) season at a track where you know you’ve had a lot
of success in the past.
“I know it’s crazy that we’ve won the (WoO LMS) opener two years in a row, but
we’re gonna try to do it again.”
Richards is certainly working toward a strong burst out of the ’09 starting gate
at Volusia. In fact, he’s already built two new Rocket cars with his crew in the
month-and-a-half since the 2008 campaign concluded.
Noteworthy is the news that Richards will have a new blue, black and silver
color scheme on his Mark Richards Racing Enterprises No. 1 machines when the
Alltel DIRTcar Nationals kicks off. It will mark the first significant redesign
of the graphics package on his father’s familiar Rocket house cars in seven
years.
“We thought it was time to change the look of the cars,” said Richards, who has
spent his entire career racing with a blue-and-yellow color scheme on his
father’s machines. “(Ron) Slavic has already lettered the new cars and I think
they look pretty cool. The only colors on them other than blue, black and silver
will be in the product decals.”
Tickets are currently on sale for the 38th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals by
UNOH. Fans can purchase tickets for each individual night or take advantage off
the ‘Super Ticket’ deals that offer seats for all the events contested by each
headline division, including the six-day dirt Late Model meet (Feb. 9-14); the
six-day Sprint Car portion (Feb. 3-8); eight nights of UMP DIRTcar Modified
action (Feb. 3-10); and four Advance Auto Parts DIRTcar big-block Modified dates
(Feb. 11-14).
For tickets visit
www.volusiaspeedwaypark.com or
www.dirtcarnationals.com, or
call the Volusia Speedway Park office at 386-985-4402.
More information on the WoO LMS is available by logging on to
www.worldofoutlaws.com.
Contact: World Racing Group
Kevin Kovac, World of Outlaws Late Model Series P.R. Director
704-254-7929 • kkovac@dirtcar.com
Perfect Season Brings Cornett Racing Engines 2008 World of Outlaws Late Model
Series Crane Cams Engine Builders Challenge Award
CONCORD, NC – Dec. 17, 2008 – For an engine builder, a season can’t go much
better than the one Jack Cornett just experienced.
The chief of Cornett ‘Thunder & Lightning’ Racing Engines had his powerplants
bolted into the cars of three fulltime World of Outlaws Late Model Series
drivers in 2008 – and the trio of superstars swept the top-three spots in the
national tour’s points standings.
Thanks to WoO LMS champion Darrell Lanigan, runner-up Josh Richards and
third-place Steve Francis, the 52-year-old Cornett’s venerable shop in Somerset,
Ky., was recognized as the winner of the circuit’s 2008 Crane Cams Engine
Builders Challenge Award.
The affable Cornett modestly directed the credit to his high-profile clients
after collecting the WoO LMS engine-builders trophy for the second time in the
last three years.
“We’re always trying to make our engines more reliable and find more horsepower,
but the biggest deal was the three cars we happened to have motors in (on the
2008 WoO LMS),” said Cornett, who was honored during the WoO LMS ‘Night of
Champions’ Awards Banquet on Dec. 11 at the International Plaza Resort & Spa in
Orlando, Fla. “Those guys had awesome years. They did the job for us.”
While 2008 marked the first time that Cornett constructed the powerplants used
by a WoO LMS champion, it’s just the latest honor on his sparkling dirt Late
Model resume. His company’s major series championships include four Hav-A-Tampa/UDTRA/Xtreme
Dirtcar titles (1995 and ‘98 with Scott Bloomquist, 2001-2002 with Rick Eckert)
and the 1987 UMP DIRTcar national crown (John Gill). Among his crown-jewel event
wins are four Dirt Track World Championships (1990 and ‘95 with the late Jack
Boggs, 2003 with Lanigan and 2004 with Eckert), three World 100s (Bloomquist in
’90, Boggs in ’95 and Jimmy Owens in 2007) and three Dream 100s (Bloomquist in
’95, Lanigan in 2003 and Steve Casebolt in ’07).
All this from a man who began his racing career as a driver in the asphalt Late
Model ranks.
“I drove on-and-off for about 10 years (in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s), mostly
around home at tracks like Louisville Motor Speedway,” said Cornett, who also
spent a couple years competing with the ARCA stock-car series. “I wanted to be a
driver first. Obviously that didn’t pan out too well, but I found out I could
build a pretty good engine along the way.”
Cornett learned the motor-building ropes as an understudy to his father Red, who
started the engine business over 30 years ago, and through trial-and-error
assembling powerplants for his own cars. He developed a solid reputation for his
workmanship, attracting the attention of local dirt Late Model racers.
“When I started racing guys saw my personal stuff ran good and didn’t blow up,
so they started coming to me and asking if I’d build them a motor,” said
Cornett. “We really didn’t have too much asphalt racing around home – it was
mostly dirt – so my customer base started in dirt and grew from there.
“John Gill, when he drove the old Indiana ‘1’ car in the mid ‘80s, came through
with some of our first big wins against top-notch competition. Then we started
doing Bloomquist’s stuff in ’88 and everything really picked up.”
Cornett took the reins of his father’s shop in the mid ‘80s with just one
employee under him. He now counts nine fulltimers working at his facility, which
has expanded to the point where he needs to add on to the building.
The well-known ‘Thunder & Lightning’ part of his firm’s title developed over the
years.
“Some guy who used to work for Bloomquist and did decals on the side came up
with the ‘Thunder,’” said Cornett. “When I started doing the motors for Mark
(Richards, who fields the Rocket Chassis house cars driven by his son Josh), he
said, ‘I don’t want to call it ‘Thunder,’ so let’s call the Chevrolets
‘Lightning.’
“It stuck after that – our Fords are ‘Thunder’ and our Chevys are ‘Lightning.’”
The 20-year-old Josh Richards has felt nothing but the power of Cornett Chevy
‘Lightning’ motors under his right foot since he began driving his father’s
equipment in 2004. But Francis, 41, used Cornett Chevrolets this season for the
first time in his career, joining his fellow Kentuckian’s fold after parking his
own team to drive for Maryland’s Dale Beitler, who already had a stockpile of
Cornett engines.
“Me and Steve are both from Kentucky and just three hours apart, but it just
never happened with us until this year,” said Cornett. “It was great to finally
work with him.”
Lanigan, meanwhile, has been a devotee to Cornett’s Ford ‘Thunder’ engines for
15 years. The 38-year-old has developed a close friendship with Cornett, who
also built engines for Lanigan’s short pavement foray into ARCA and NASCAR Busch
Series competition from 1998-2001.
Cornett wasn’t surprised that Lanigan, who has been a WoO LMS regular since
2004, emerged as the tour’s champion this season by the largest points margin in
history.
“He’s a really good shoe,” said Cornett, whose workload is split almost evenly
between Chevrolet and Ford engines. “He had all the talent to make it in NASCAR
if he had met the right people at the right time, but it seemed like when he
finally gave up on that dream and came back to dirt he was refocused and more
determined than ever to do good on dirt.
“He’s gotten older and matured, and man, he knows his race car. Your best
drivers are all that way. They have to know, ‘When I change this spring or put
this tire on, this is the feel it gives me.’ If you can’t do that as a driver,
you ain’t gonna continue to run up front.”
Lanigan and Cornett’s other boys were certainly stalwarts at the front of the
WoO LMS pack in 2008. Richards and Francis finished tied for the tour’s win lead
with six victories apiece; Lanigan scored a modest two triumphs, but he rolled
off an unprecedented streak of 15 consecutive top-five finishes en route to a
series-leading 25 top-five and 36 top-10 placings in 43 events.
“When Darrell was rolling to those 15 straight top-fives (from May 4-July 16), I
thought he might be able to pull this thing off,” said Cornett, who led all
engine builders with 15 WoO LMS wins in 2008 (Jimmy Owens also earned him a
victory). “And with Josh and Steve both running good also, I thought, Hell, if
we don’t win (the WoO LMS title) this year, we ain’t ever gonna win it.”
Cornett earned his WoO LMS crown – and second and third place to boot. It’s the
first time in tour history that one engine builder swept the top-three spots in
the points standings.
“It’s awesome to have a season like this on a top-notch series like the World of
Outlaws,” said Cornett. “It’s always been a dream of mine to be considered one
of the best of the best (in the engine-building game).”
There’s simply nothing Cornett would rather be doing than putting together
race-winning engines.
“It’s the only job I’ve ever had,” bottom-lined Cornett. “My dad – who’s 92 and
still comes to work every day – tells me all the time: ‘When you get to do
something you love to do for your living, you’re one lucky individual.’”
The 2009 WoO LMS kicks off on Feb. 12 and 14 with two dates during the 38th
annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit
www.worldofoutlaws.com.
Contact: World Racing Group
Kellen Burns, DIRTcar PR
704-707-0218 • kburns@dirtcar.com
Annual UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals ‘Hell Tour’ Showcases 27 Dirt Late Model
Races in 31 Days
ORLANDO, FL — Dec. 12, 2008 — The 21st annual UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals tour
is the most grueling month in any form of motorsports. The 2009 series — also
known as the “Hell Tour” — is one of the most challenging in history with 27
Super Dirt Late Model races in 31 days. More than anything, the schedule
released this week at the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show is a matter of
survival, a true reality show.
The Summer Nationals is a journey that pits man and his machine against the best
dirt tracks in the Midwest. It’s the series that helped to launch the legendary
careers of Billy Moyer and Scott Bloomquist, as well as current World of Outlaws
Late Model Series star Shannon Babb.
“Running the Summer Nationals tour is one of the toughest things a Dirt Late
Model team can attempt,” said UMP DIRTcar Racing Director Sam Driggers. “To
accomplish the feat, to survive to finale at Oakshade, is an accomplishment that
won’t be forgotten. Whether it’s the racers, the officials or the fans, the tour
showcases everything that’s great about dirt track racing.”
The month of hell kicks off June 11 at Indiana’s Brownstown Speedway. It winds
through Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, Tennessee and Missouri before reaching the
championship night on July 11 with the 12th Annual “Birthday Race” at Oakshade
Raceway in Wauseon, Ohio.
Among the tracks visited along the 4,500 miles on this year’s circuit are new
and familiar. Farmer City Raceway and Macon Speedway, which have each featured
an amazing 21 Summer Nationals races since 1988, are again on this year’s slate.
Three new dates also tag this year’s UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals tour. For the
first time, the “Hell Tour” will invade Clay Hill Motorsports Park, Shepp
Speedway and Waynesfield Motorsports Park.
“There are still tracks out there that really want a date, but we’ve found that
this is about as far as anyone can go for a month straight,” Driggers said.
Illinois leads the way with 18 events on the schedule, followed by three events
in Indiana, two events in Ohio and Tennessee and one each in Missouri and
Kentucky.
Two-time and defending UMP DIRTcar Super Late Model and Summer Nationals
champion Dennis Erb Jr., of Carpentersville, Ill., is expected to defend his
title. Erb’s attempt at the “three-peat” won’t be easy, facing not only the
grueling schedule but also tough drivers like Jason Feger, of Bloomington, Ill.;
Wes Steidinger, of Fairbury, Ill.; and Jeep Van Wormer of Pinconning, Mich.
For more information on UMP DIRTcar Racing, visit
http://www.dirtcar.com.
2009 UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals Schedule
Race Date Day
Track
Location
1. June 11 Thursday Brownstown
Speedway Brownstown, IN
2. June 12 Friday Kankakee Motor
Speedway Kankakee, IL
3. June 13 Saturday Kamp Motor
Speedway Boswell, IN
4. June 14 Sunday Quad City
Raceway East Moline, IL
June 15 Monday Off
5. June 16 Tuesday Highland
Speedway Highland, IL
6. June 17 Wednesday Belle Clair
Speedway Belleville, IL
7. June 18 Thursday Charleston
Speedway Charleston, IL
8. June 19 Friday Farmer City
Raceway Farmer City, IL
9. June 20 Saturday Clarksville
Speedway Clarksville, TN
10. June 21 Sunday Tri-State
Speedway Haubstadt, IN
June 22 Monday Off
11. June 23 Tuesday I-57/ I-64
Raceway Mt. Vernon, IL
12. June 24 Wednesday To Be Announced
13. June 25 Thursday Clay Hill Motorsports
Park Atwood, TN
14. June 26 Friday Paducah International
Raceway Paducah, KY
15. June 27 Saturday Fairbury
Speedway Fairbury, IL
16. June 28 Sunday Lincoln
Speedway Lincoln, IL
June 29 Monday Off
17. June 30 Tuesday Peoria
Speedway Peoria, IL
18. July 1 Wednesday Morgan County
Speedway Jacksonville, IL
19. July 2 Thursday Macon
Speedway Macon, IL
20. July 3 Friday Quincy
Raceways Quincy, IL
21. July 4 Saturday I-55
Raceway Pevely, MO
22. July 5 Sunday Vermilion County
Speedway Danville, IL
July 6 Monday Off
23. July 7 Tuesday Shepp
Speedway Alexander, IL
24. July 8 Wednesday Spoon River
Speedway Canton, IL
25. July 9 Thursday La Salle
Speedway La Salle, IL
26. July 10 Friday Waynesfield Motorsports
Park Waynesfield, OH
27. July 11 Saturday Oakshade
Raceway Wauseon, OH
Contact: World Racing Group
Kevin Kovac, World of Outlaws Late Model Series P.R. Director
704-254-7929 • kkovac@dirtcar.com
Darrell Lanigan Collects $100,000 Championship Prize During Thursday Night’s
2008 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Awards Banquet
ORLANDO, FL – Dec. 11, 2008 – Darrell Lanigan hates standing in front of a crowd
to deliver a speech.
But the 38-year-old driver from Union, Ky., happily cast aside his fears on
Thursday night to accept the 2008 World of Outlaws Late Model Series
championship during the tour’s ‘Night of Champions’ Awards Banquet at the
International Plaza Resort & Spa in Orlando, Fla.
“For $100,000,” quipped Lanigan, noting his lucrative six-figure title prize, “I
can do it.”
Lanigan’s much-anticipated moment in the spotlight capped the fifth annual gala
affair, which was held in conjunction with the nearby Performance Racing
Industry Trade Show for the second consecutive year. Nearly $400,000 in
points-fund cash for handed out by officials of the World Racing Group, the
operator of the WoO LMS since 2004.
After taking some ribbing from several fellow racers about his famed aversion to
formal public speaking, Lanigan addressed the banquet gathering with a smile on
his face.
“As you guys know, I don’t like to be up here speaking,” said Lanigan, who had
prepared remarks but largely spoke off-the-cuff when called to the stage. “I’d
much rather be on the racetrack, but it’s been a long year and I want to thank a
lot of people.”
Lanigan’s roll-call of appreciation for his first career WoO LMS points crown
began with his 35-year-old head mechanic Chris Burton, who earlier in the night
was named the 2008 WoO LMS Crew Chief of the Year by a vote of the tour’s crew
chiefs and officials. He also mentioned his second fulltime crewman, Thomas
McDowell; car builders Mark Richards and Steve Baker of Rocket Chassis; longtime
engine builder Jack Cornett; and his list of sponsors, including Fusion Energy,
which became the primary backer of Lanigan’s self-owned team late in the season.
The people and companies Lanigan listed provided the quality help and top-notch
equipment that propelled him to a spectacularly steady campaign, which he ended
with the largest championship-winning margin (160 points) in WoO LMS history.
His 2008 victory total numbered a modest two A-Main wins, but he seized control
of the points standings by stringing together an unprecedented streak of 15
consecutive top-five finishes en route to a series-leading 25 top-five and 36
top-10 placings in 43 events.
Lanigan, who also received a custom-made championship ring and trophy from WRG
Chief Executive Officer Brian Carter, had his total ’08 earnings on the WoO LMS
pushed to nearly $250,000 by the 100-grand check he collected on Thursday night.
“We had an awesome year,” said Lanigan, whose best previous points finish in
four seasons on the WoO LMS was fifth, in 2006. “We got on a roll and had luck
on our side, and we accomplished our goal of winning a World of Outlaws
championship.”
Lanigan reserved his strongest comments for his competition on the national
tour.
“It’s an honor to be up here tonight,” said Lanigan, gazing out at the banquet
hall, “and it’s a privilege to be racing with you guys. You are the best group
of guys with any series out there.
“When you race with you guys, it’s like racing with family. When you’re at the
track or going down the road, there’s always someone there to help you whenever
problems happen.”
One of Lanigan’s extended WoO LMS family members during the past season was Josh
Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., who received a $60,000 check for finishing a
career-high second in the 2008 points standings. The 20-year-old sensation
hailed Lanigan when he stood behind the podium on stage.
“I’d like to congratulate ‘Uncle’ Darrell, Chris (Burton) and Thomas (McDowell)
on an awesome year,” said a smiling Richards, who knows Lanigan well because
their teams travel together throughout the season. “To have 15 top-five finishes
in a row is just crazy.”
Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., who was unseated as WoO LMS titlist by Lanigan,
provided his fellow Kentuckian a glimpse into life as a champion after accepting
a $40,000 check for finishing third in the 2008 points standings.
“You’ll learn to appreciate this thing next year,” the 41-year-old Francis said
of holding the WoO LMS throne. “I didn’t realize how much it would mean until
the next year, and you will too Darrell.”
Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga., received $35,000 for finishing fourth in the
points standings, while Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., pocketed $30,000 for
placing fifth.
Rounding out the top 10 in the standings was Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill.
($25,000), Rick Eckert of York, Pa. ($24,000), Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga.
($23,000), Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y. ($22,000) and Vic Coffey of Leicester,
N.Y. ($10,500).
The top-10 drivers were all in on hand for the awards banquet. Also in
attendance was 2006 WoO LMS champion Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., who came
to help celebrate the 2008 Rookie of the Year award earned by his Sweeteners
Plus Racing teammate Vic Coffey.
Coffey, 37, received an additional $15,000 for winning the Rookie of the Year
honor. A standout from the Northeast’s DIRTcar big-block Modified ranks like
former WoO LMS Rookie of the Year winners McCreadie (2004) and Fuller (2007),
Coffey ran away with the first-year traveler title, which was determined using a
driver’s best 30 finishes on the tour.
“It’s an honor for me to be up here and to race with these guys, who I consider
the best dirt Late Model racers in the country,” Coffey told the banquet crowd.
“It was a learning experience for us, but it was a good year.
“All the guys in this room, no matter how busy they are, when we have a question
or need some help, they’ll always take time to help. That means a lot to me and
our race team.”
Rocket Chassis of Shinnston, W.Va., was recognized as the winner of the 2008 WoO
LMS Chassis Builders’ Challenge – the fifth straight year that the company
co-owned by Mark Richards and Steve Baker has earned the nod. Eleven drivers won
WoO LMS A-Mains using Rocket cars in 2008, giving the manufacturer 27 victories
in 43 events.
“It’s a tribute to the good racers in our stuff who have confidence in what we
build, take it and do a good job with it,” said Mark Richards, who accepted the
accolades. “We’re always honored to win this award.”
Cornett ‘Thunder & Lightning’ Racing Engines in Somerset, Ky., was announced as
the winner of the 2008 WoO LMS Crane Cams Engine Builders’ Challenge. It was the
first such honor for company owner Jack Cornett, who saw Lanigan, Richards and
Francis sweep the top-three spots in the points standings using his powerplants.
“It’s an awesome feeling,” said Cornett, 52. “I’ve been trying to win this thing
for five years. It’s not an easy thing to do.”
WRG Chief Operating Office Tom Deery honored Mike Graham and Roger Crick, who
operate Tri-City Speedway in Franklin, Pa., as the 2008 WoO LMS Promoters of the
Year.
Graham and Crick, who were unable to attend the awards banquet, brought the WoO
LMS to their half-mile oval for the first time in 2005. Since then they’ve made
the tour the centerpiece of their Oil Region Labor Day Classic, a two-day
extravaganza of speed and post-race fun that has become a true event on the
Northeast’s racing calendar.
WoO LMS director Tim Christman closed the evening’s program with a short
address.
“Everyone in this room from a competitor standpoint has won a championship,”
said Christman. “So when you win this championship, you are the best of the
best. There’s no question.
“I tell people that all the time – I will take these 10 guys (WoO LMS regulars)
and I will be willing to wager anything anybody wants to bet on them against any
other 10 guys, night in and night out. And I mean that, because these guys are
the best.”
Christman also touched upon the 2009 WoO LMS schedule, which was released
earlier in the day at the PRI trade show. Forty-five confirmed events at 37
tracks in 20 states and three Canadian provinces currently comprise the slate,
with at least a half-dozen more dates to be announced in the near future.
“I’m looking forward to 2009,” said Christman. “We’re going on to bigger and
better things. We’re going to some new venues, we’re going to visit some new
markets, and we are going to continue to grow and make something that’s already
great into something superior.”
The 2008 WoO LMS kicks off on Feb. 12 and 14 with two dates during the 38th
annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville,
Fla.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit
www.worldofoutlaws.com.
The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by
several sponsors and partners, including Advance Auto Parts – the official auto
parts store of the WoO LMS; Fusion Energy – the official energy boost of the
WoO; and contingency sponsors Wrisco Industries, Chicken Hawk Racing, Crane
Cams, Ohlins Shocks, Quarter-Master, Eibach Springs, Integra Shocks, Jake’s
Custom Golf Carts, Qwikliner and Super Clean.
Contact: World Racing Group
Kevin Kovac, World of Outlaws Late Model Series P.R. Director
704-254-7929 • kkovac@dirtcar.com
2009 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Schedule Released At Performance Racing
Industry Trade Show
CONCORD, NC – Dec. 11, 2008 – The World of Outlaws Late Model Series will be
bigger and better than ever in 2009.
A record number of events are listed on the national tour’s 2009 schedule, which
was released on Thursday during the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show in
Orlando, Fla.
The action-packed season will blaze new territory with first-time visits to at
least a half-dozen tracks and feature several big-money, extra-distance races,
highlighted by the $50,000-to-win Circle K Colossal 100 on March 27-28 at The
Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., and the third annual
Firecracker 100 on June 26-27 at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa.
The sixth consecutive WoO LMS campaign under the World Racing Group banner kicks
off on Feb. 12 and 14 with two 50-lap A-Mains during the 38th annual Alltel
DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla. It will
end for the third straight year with the World Finals on Nov. 5-7 at The Dirt
Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
“We’re proud to put together a schedule that is attractive for our fulltime
traveling teams and brings World of Outlaws Late Model Series racing to more
race fans across the country,” said Tim Christman, the director of the WoO LMS.
“We continue to build the series by visiting new markets and tracks and
developing fresh, exciting events.
“We still plan to add at least seven more events, which will push the 2009
schedule to over 50 dates. That will be a record number of events for the World
of Outlaws Late Model Series and more proof that the demand for races from track
promoters just continues to grow.”
Forty-five confirmed events at 37 tracks in 20 states and three Canadian
provinces currently comprise the 2009 WoO LMS schedule.
The WoO LMS will notably end long absences from the racing scenes in Texas and
West Virginia, contesting events in each state for the first time since 2004.
Battleground Speedway in Highlands, Texas, is scheduled to host the tour on
March 20 and Tyler County Speedway in Middlebourne, W.Va., will bring
full-fender Outlaws competition to the Mountaneer State – home to 20-year-old
WoO LMS star Josh Richards – on May 31.
In addition, the series will return to Alabama (Deep South Speedway in Loxley on
March 13-14), Iowa (34 Raceway in West Burlington on May 23) and Wisconsin
(Charter Raceway Park in Beaver Dam on May 24) after a one-year hiatus. Deep
South, which has scheduled a two-day show paying $7,000 to win on Friday and
$12,000 on Saturday, will host the WoO LMS for the first time, while 34 Raceway
is on the tour schedule for the first time since 1989 and Charter is back after
holding its lone series event in 2007.
Three extended swings that filled the summer schedule in 2008 will be reprised
in ’09, beginning with the ‘Great Northern Tour’ through the Northeast from June
18-27. The stretch includes Canadian events at Ohsweken (Ont.) Speedway on June
18, Autodrome Drummond in Drummondville, Que., on June 20 and Cornwall (Ont.)
Motor Speedway on June 21, followed by stops at Canandaigua (N.Y.) Speedway on
June 23, Big Diamond Raceway in Minersville, Pa., on June 24 and the blockbuster
Firecracker 100 at Lernerville Speedway on June 26-27. A June 16 date,
meanwhile, is listed as ‘To Be Announced.’
After a 10-day break the WoO LMS will commence its longest, most far-flung swing
of the season. The ‘Wild West Tour’ begins on July 8 with the annual ‘Gopher 50’
at Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., which will be part of the WoO
LMS for the fifth consecutive season. Also scheduled are events on July 9 at
North Central Speedway in Brainerd, Minn. (last year’s race there was rained out
and not rescheduled); July 10 at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, N.D.,
which hosts the series for the fourth year in a row; July 11 at Estevan (Sask.)
Motor Speedway (second straight year the tour will cross the Canadian border to
race at the three-eighths-mile oval); and July 15 at Gillette (Wyo.) Thunder
Speedway (the ‘Cowboy 50’).
Three additional ‘Wild West Tour’ dates remain under negotiation.
The WoO LMS will close out a busy month of July by heading east for another
series-within-a-series: the four-night Alltel Ohio Late Model Speedweek that
appears on the schedule for the third straight season. A visit to Muskingum
County Speedway in Zanesville, Ohio, on July 23 starts the stretch of racing,
followed by engagements on July 24 at Attica (Ohio) Raceway Park, which hosted
its first-ever WoO LMS event in May 2008; July 25 at Sharon Speedway in
Hartford, Ohio; and July 26 at Eriez Speedway in Hammett, Pa.
Two $20,000-to-win 100-lappers will join the Firecracker 100 and Circle K
Colossal 100 as high-dollar specials on the ’09 schedule: the ‘Illini 100’ on
April 3-4 at Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway, which drew rave reviews following the
inaugural two-day spectacular in 2008, and a new extra-distance shootout on May
1-2 at K-C Raceway in Alma, Ohio, which hosted a late-summer WoO LMS event in
2008.
Other tracks that will hold WoO LMS events for the first time in 2009 include
U.S. 36 Raceway in Osborn, Mo. (May 22) and Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville,
Pa. (Aug. 13).
Lawrenceburg (Ind.) Speedway will return to the WoO LMS sked on May 16 after a
one-year absence, albeit in a different form. The track has been enlarged from a
quarter-mile bullring to a high-speed three-eighths-mile oval – a reconstruction
project that was not completed in time for a scheduled May 2008 WoO LMS date to
take place.
Screven Motor Speedway in Sylvania, Ga., is back on the WoO LMS docket after
hosting the tour for the first time in 2008. The three-eighths-mile track has an
event scheduled for Aug. 29.
The WoO LMS will also visit several stalwart tracks, including Virginia Motor
Speedway (April 18); Lincoln (Ill.) Speedway (May 17); Delaware International
Speedway in Delmar (May 28); Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway (May 30 and Aug. 15);
Bedford (Pa.) Speedway (Aug. 14); Tri-City Speedway in Franklin, Pa. (Sept.
5-6); I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo. (Sept. 19); and La Salle (Ill.) Speedway
(Sept. 20).
Hagerstown, of course, has hosted a WoO LMS event every season of the tour’s
existence except 2008, when rain washed out a scheduled event and it could not
be reset. What’s more, VMS and Tri-City have been on the tour each year since
2005; Delaware International will conduct a race for the fifth time in six
years; I-55 will hold its fourth tour show in six years; Lincoln is part of the
series for the third consecutive season; and La Salle is set to present Outlaws
action for the second time in three years (a planned 2008 date was rained out).
Seven tracks are scheduled to host multiple WoO LMS events in 2009. The Dirt
Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway leads the list with four dates (including the
mid-week Showdown on Oct. 14, which could pay its winner as much as $30,000 with
a passing bonus), while two races will be held at Volusia, Deep South,
Hagerstown, Tri-City (the Oil Region Labor Day Classic), Lernerville (May 5 and
June 26-27) and Fayetteville (N.C.) Motor Speedway (April 17 and Aug. 28).
Lernerville’s traditional springtime mid-week date has not only been pushed back
from April to May 5, but will also boast some extra intrigue. The event will
serve as a qualifier for the track’s Firecracker 100.
WoO LMS officials expect to announce additional dates in the near future.
Check www.worldofoutlaws.com
for the latest schedule information.
2009 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Schedule (as of Dec. 11, 2008)
Date – Day – Track/Location – Event - To Win - Laps
Feb. 12 – Thurs. – Volusia Speedway Park/Barberville, FL – Alltel DIRTcar
Nationals - $10,000 – 50L
Feb. 14 – Sat. – Volusia Speedway Park/Barberville, FL – Alltel DIRTcar
Nationals - $10,000 – 50L
March 13 – Fri. – Deep South Speedway/Loxley, AL - $7,000 – 40L
March 14 – Sat. – Deep South Speedway/Loxley, AL - $12,000 – 60L
March 20 – Fri. – Battleground Speedway/Highlands, TX - $10,000 – 50L
March 21 – Sat. – TBA
March 27-28 – Fri./Sat. – The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway/Concord, NC –
COLOSSAL 100 - $50,000 – 100L
April 3-4 – Fri./Sat. – Farmer City (IL) Raceway – ILLINI 100 - $20,000 – 100L
April 17 – Fri. – Fayetteville (NC) Motor Speedway - $10,000 – 50L
April 18 – Sat. – Virginia Motor Speedway/Jamaica, VA - $10,000 - 50L
May 1-2 – Fri./Sat. – K-C Raceway/Alma, OH - $20,000 – 100L
May 5 – Tues. – Lernerville Speedway/Sarver, PA - $10,000 – 50L
May 15 – Fri. – TBA
May 16 – Sat. – Lawrenceburg (IN) Speedway - $10,000 – 50L
May 17 – Sun. – Lincoln (IL) Speedway - $7,000 – 40L
May 22 – Fri. – U.S. 36 Raceway/Osborn, MO - $10,000 – 50L
May 23 – Sat. – 34 Raceway/West Burlington, IA - $10,000 – 50L
May 24 – Sun. – Charter Raceway Park/Beaver Dam, WI - $10,000 – 50L
May 28 – Thurs. – Delaware International Speedway/Delmar, DE - $10,000 – 50L
May 30 – Sat. – Hagerstown (MD) Speedway - $10,000 – 50L
May 31 – Sun. – Tyler County Speedway/Middlebourne, WV - $7,000 – 40L
June 16 – Tues. – TBA
June 18 – Thurs. – Ohsweken (ONT) Speedway – Great Northern Tour - $10,000 – 50L
June 20 – Sat. – Autodrome Drummond/Drummondville, QUE – Great Northern Tour -
$10,000 – 50L
June 21 – Sun. – Cornwall Motor Speedway/Cornwall, ONT – Great Northern Tour -
$10,000 – 50L
June 23 – Tues. – Canandaigua (NY) Speedway – Great Northern Tour - $7,000 – 40L
June 24 – Wed. – Big Diamond Raceway/Minersville, PA – Great Northern Tour -
$7,000 – 40L
June 26-27 – Fri./Sat. – Lernerville Speedway/Sarver, PA – FIRECRACKER 100 - TBA
– 100L
July 8 – Wed. – Deer Creek Speedway/Spring Valley, MN – Wild West Tour - $10,000
– 50L
July 9 – Thurs. – North Central Speedway/Brainerd, MN – Wild West Tour - $10,000
– 50L
July 10 – Fri. – River Cities Speedway/Grand Forks, ND – Wild West Tour -
$10,000 – 50L
July 11 – Sat. – Estevan Motor Speedway/Estevan, SAS – Wild West Tour - $10,000
– 50L
July 15 – Wed. – Gillette Thunder Speedway/Gillette, WY – Wild West Tour -
$10,000 – 50L
July 17 – Fri. – TBA
July 18 – Sat. – TBA
July 19 – Sun. – TBA
July 23 – Thurs. – Muskingum County Speedway/Zanesville, OH – Alltel Ohio LM
Speedweek - $7,000 – 40L
July 24 – Fri. – Attica (OH) Raceway Park – Alltel Ohio LM Speedweek - $10,000 –
50L
July 25 – Sat. – Sharon Speedway/Hartford, OH – Alltel Ohio LM Speedweek -
$10,000 – 50L
July 26 – Sun. – Eriez Speedway/Hammett, PA – Alltel Ohio LM Speedweek - $10,000
– 50L
Aug. 13 – Thurs. – Grandview Speedway/Bechtelsville, PA - $7,000 – 40L
Aug. 14 – Fri. – Bedford (PA) Speedway - $10,000 – 50L
Aug. 15 – Sat. – Hagerstown (MD) Speedway - $10,000 – 50L
Aug. 28 – Fri. – Fayetteville (NC) Motor Speedway - $10,000 – 50L
Aug. 29 – Sat. – Screven Motor Speedway/Sylvania, GA - $10,000 – 50L
Sept. 5 – Sat. – Tri-City Speedway/Franklin, PA – Oil Region Labor Day Classic -
$10,000 – 50L
Sept. 6 – Sun. – Tri-City Speedway/Franklin, PA – Oil Region Labor Day Classic -
$10,000 – 50L
Sept. 18 – Fri. - TBA
Sept. 19 – Sat. – I-55 Raceway/Pevely, MO – Pepsi Nationals - $10,000 – 50L
Sept. 20 – Sun. – La Salle (IL) Speedway/Illinois Fall Nationals - $7,000 – 50L
Oct. 14 – Wed. – The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway/Concord, NC - $10,000
($30,000 possible) – 50L
Nov. 5 – Thurs. - The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway/Concord, NC – WORLD
FINALS (Time Trials)
Nov. 6 – Fri. - The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway/Concord, NC – WORLD
FINALS - $10,000 – 50L
Nov. 7 – Sat. - The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway/Concord, NC – WORLD
FINALS - $10,000 – 50L
* Schedule subject to change (check
www.worldofoutlaws.com for the latest information)
Contact: World Racing Group
Kevin Kovac, UMP DIRTcar Racing Public Relations
704-254-7929 • kkovac@dirtcar.com
Jeff Leka Will Pick Up $20,000 Modified National Title Check At UMP DIRTcar
Racing Awards Banquet On Jan. 10
EVANSVILLE, IN – Dec. 10, 2008 – Jeff Leka already celebrated his long-awaited
first career UMP DIRTcar Racing Open-Wheel Modified national championship two
months ago at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.
But the veteran driver from Buffalo, Ill., still has his formal coronation to
go.
That will come on Jan. 10, 2009, when Leka dons a suit-and-tie and accepts a
$20,000 check during the 25th annual UMP DIRTcar Racing ‘Night of Champions’
Awards Banquet at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield, Ill.
Leka, 43, will stand in the spotlight at the gala with the national champions of
seven other UMP DIRTcar Racing divisions, including repeat Super Late Model
title-holder Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill.
No driver, of course, will deliver a championship acceptance speech dripping
with more relief and satisfaction than Leka.
“We’ve been trying (to win the national crown) for a long time and came so close
so many times,” said Leka, who ran away with the title by 159 points
(2,979-2,820) over Randle Sweeney of Clifty, Ky. “To finally win the thing after
all the near-misses – yeah, it does make it sweeter.”
Despite a sparkling Modified resume that includes over 200 career victories and
a 1999 NASCAR Winston Racing Series national championship worth $150,000, Leka
had annually fallen short in the chase for UMP DIRTcar Racing’s top prize. His
national points finishes included second (2004 and 2007), third (1998), fourth
(2006) and fifth (2003 and 2005).
Last year’s runner-up was especially heartbreaking for Leka. He led the circuit
in feature wins but lost the title by four points to his good buddy Denny
Schwartz of Ashmore, Ill., who claimed his second UMP DIRTcar national title.
The eternally upbeat Leka didn’t hang his head after the dramatic battle for the
2007 title, which went down to the final lap of the season-ending UMP DIRTcar
Nationals A-Main at Eldora. He seemed more excited about racing his friend for
the national trophy than disappointed about losing it again.
“Last year was so much fun, battling it out with Denny,” said Leka. “We race the
same racetracks and battle it out all year, and then we come to Eldora (for the
finale) and I’ve got to do so good and he’s got to do so bad for us to tie or to
win. It was good for the fans in the stands.”
When it was over, Leka simply stated that he’d just “try again to win it” – and
not look back if fate continued to keep him from the brass ring.
“I thought, if I never do it, I can be like (NASCAR driver) Mark Martin,” said
Leka. “He’s tried (for the Sprint Cup title) and come so close for so many
years.
“And we still had that NASCAR national championship to fall back on. We could
still always say we did something bigger than anybody (in Modified racing) has
ever thought of doing.”
Ironically, Schwartz played a role in pushing Leka over the hump in 2008.
Schwartz, who finished 10th in the national points standings, offered his rival
some sage advice for the stretch run. What’s more, at Eldora’s UMP DIRTcar
Nationals in early October, Schwartz stepped out of the seat of his Modified and
gave the ride to Leka, who had already clinched the title, after Leka’s car was
sidelined by a burnt piston during hot laps.
“Me and Denny are good friends and we work real well together,” said Leka,
refuting any suggestion that the two competitors do not get along. “One day this
year we were talking when I had the points lead and I was thinking about them,
and he was like, ‘Jeff, just settle down and drive your race car like you always
do and you’ll be good.’ When you sit back you realize, ‘You know, he’s right.’
“The NASCAR Winston Racing Series national deal in ’99 paid $150,000 and I
wasn’t stressed out on that at all. This UMP deal pays $20,000 to win and it was
a whole different story. I stressed on it quite a bit. It’s something we’ve come
so close to winning before and have been wanting to do for such a long time to
kind of fulfill what we’ve done over the years.”
Leka buckled down, regained his focus and rolled to the title. But even as his
points lead grew and a crown seemed inevitable, he refused to think ahead to a
championship celebration until he had first place officially cemented.
“I didn’t want to believe until I had it (clinched) until (the last week in
September) when UMP put it on their website,” said Leka. “I kept telling my
wife, ‘I think mathematically they can catch us.’ She was like, ‘Jeff, there’s
no way.’ But you just keep looking at everything that can happen.”
Leka earned his title in much the same manner as Schwartz did in 2007. It was
Sweeney who led the circuit in feature wins this season, but Leka came out on
top of the points race because he performed well in events with higher car
counts.
Under the UMP DIRTcar Racing points system, the national open-wheel Modified
champ is determined using a driver’s best 35 finishes/points nights with an
emphasis on car counts. A field of 21 cars provides one bonus point for each
finishing position, with a one-point-per-car increase up to a maximum of 20
bonus points for fields numbering 40 or more.
Leka certainly gathered his share of victories, however. He won 25 UMP DIRTcar-sanctioned
features and four unsanctioned events, including the $7,000-to-win Big Dawg 100
at Union County Speedway in Liberty, Ind., and the Modified World 100 (worth
$3,000) at Peoria (Ill.) Speedway. In addition, he captured the Farmer City
(Ill.) Raceway and Lincoln (Ill.) Speedway championships; the UMP DIRTcar North
Region and Illinois State titles; and the Monster Midwest Tour mini-series
crown.
And Leka did it all with his own familiar No. 3L equipment. He runs cars built
by Bob Pierce and uses powerplants from the Hovis Racing Engines shop in St.
Charles, Mo.
“It’s taken so many people to do this,” said Leka, who works as a mechanic at
his brother-in-law’s auto repair shop. “It isn’t just me as a driver. It’s
everybody with this whole team – the guys on the team, the people who help us,
our wives, my kids (a 24-year-old daughter and sons Jeffrey, 22, who finished
third in the Lincoln Speedway’s Modified points standings, and Justin, 16, who
debuted in the Kid Modz class in 2008).
“It’s a big deal for us to win this championship, and we’re excited about it,”
he continued. “Nobody realizes how hard this is to do. There’s a lot of good
racers out there. At our hometrack (Farmer City), I race against probably five
of the top 10 (drivers) in the nation every weekend.
“So to win (the national title) means a lot. It gives us a boost. It takes a lot
of pressure off, and hopefully we can come back next year and do it again.”
*****
Tickets to the 25th annual UMP DIRTcar Racing ‘Night of Champions’ Awards
Banquet at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield, Ill., are on sale for $35 each
or $65 per couple. They can be purchased with a credit or debit card by calling
the UMP DIRTcar Racing office at 812-426-1200 during regular business hours.
Ticket reservations must be made by Jan. 3.
For more information on UMP DIRTcar Racing, visit
www.dirtcar.com.
Contact: World Racing Group
Kevin Kovac, World of Outlaws Late Model Series P.R. Director
704-254-7929 • kkovac@dirtcar.com
World of Outlaws Late Model Series Champ Darrell Lanigan Earns ‘Honorable
Mention’ Recognition In AARWBA All-America Auto Racing Team Balloting
CONCORD, NC – Dec. 4, 2008 – If a $100,000 championship check isn’t enough to
make Darrell Lanigan realize the significance of his 2008 World of Outlaws Late
Model Series title, he received more evidence this week from the American Auto
Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association.
Lanigan, 38, of Union, Ky., earned ‘Honorable Mention’ recognition in the ‘Short
Track’ category in voting for the 2008 AARWBA All-America Auto Racing Team,
which includes some of the country’s most well-known drivers spread over seven
categories.
Top vote-getters earning All-America First Team nods included World of Outlaws
Sprint Car Series champion Donny Schatz (Short Track), NASCAR stars Jimmie
Johnson and Carl Edwards (Stock Car) and IndyCar greats Helio Castroneves and
Scott Dixon (Open Wheel).
“It’s awesome just to be mentioned as part of something that includes so many
great drivers,” said Lanigan, who rolled to his first career WoO LMS
championship by the largest winning points margin in tour history. “I feel
honored that the national media recognized the season we had. I think it shows
how big the World of Outlaws Late Model Series has become.”
Though Lanigan fell short of the necessary votes to make the All-America First
or Second Team, he felt privileged simply to appear on the select six-driver
ballot. He was the lone dirt Late Model driver to receive a nomination in a
‘Short Track’ category that was otherwise dominated by names from the open-wheel
racing world.
Schatz was joined on the ‘Short Track’ First Team by USAC Silver Crown and
Sprint series champion Jerry Coons Jr. The Second Team was comprised of WoO
Sprint Series star Jason Meyers and USAC standouts Tracy Hines and Cole Whitt,
and Lanigan earned ‘Honorable Mention’ status by receiving more than five
percent of the total vote.
More than 400 AARWBA members voted for the All-America Auto Racing Team, which
the organization has chosen annually since 1970. The AARWBA will publicly honor
the 2008 All-America Team members during its banquet on Jan. 10 at the Hilton
Hotel in Ontario, Calif.
Lanigan’s ‘Honorable Mention’ comes after fellow WoO LMS travelers Tim McCreadie
(2006 champion), Steve Francis (2007 titlist) and Chub Frank (2007 winningest
driver and points runner-up) appeared on the AARWBA All-America Auto Racing Team
ballot over the past two years.
“We’re very proud that the World of Outlaws Late Model Series is held in such
high esteem by the national media,” said Tim Christman, the director of the dirt
Late Model tour that contested 43 events at 36 tracks in 18 states and three
Canadian provinces during the 2008 season. “When our champion receives
recognition in a prestigious poll alongside some of the best drivers in the
country, it provides further proof that the World of Outlaws Late Model Series
is growing stronger every year.”
Lanigan will receive his 2008 WoO LMS championship accolades on Thurs., Dec. 11,
during the tour’s ‘Night of Champions’ Awards Banquet at the International Plaza
Resort & Spa in Orlando, Fla.
The 2009 WoO LMS season is scheduled to kick off with a pair of events (Feb. 12
and 14) during the 38th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH at Volusia
Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit
www.worldofoutlaws.com.
Contact: World Racing Group
Kevin Kovac, World of Outlaws Late Model Series P.R. Director
704-254-7929 • kkovac@dirtcar.com
2008 WoOLMS Stat Sheet
2008 WoOLMS Top 10 Stats
Looking Back: Facts, Figures & Statistical Notes From The 2008 World of Outlaws
Late Model Series
CONCORD, NC – Dec. 2, 2008 – With the 2008 World of Outlaws Late Model Series
‘Night of Champions’ Awards Banquet approaching on Dec. 11 at the International
Plaza Resort & Spa in Orlando, Fla., here’s an inside look back at the season
that was on the nation’s premier dirt Late Model tour…
QUINTET: With his 2008 championship, Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., joined an
exclusive club of five drivers with WoO LMS points titles. He stands alongside
Billy Moyer (1988, 1989, 2005), Scott Bloomquist (2004), Tim McCreadie (2006)
and Steve Francis (2007).
WHAT A SEASON: Lanigan parlayed an amazing string of consistency into the
largest championship-winning margin since the tour’s current points system came
into use in 2004, defeating Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., by a resounding
160 points.
Notable is the fact that Lanigan became the second champ in a row to clinch the
title in the season’s next-to-last race, following Steve Francis of Ashland,
Ky., who ended the 2007 campaign with a then-record championship margin of 126
points. The consecutive points runaways come after the 2004-2006 seasons
featured dramatic points battles that went down to the final race.
Lanigan built his commanding advantage by topping several key statistical
categories during the 2008 season, which saw 43 A-Mains contested.
The 38-year-old standout led all drivers with 25 top-five finishes (Shane
Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga., was second with 22); 36 top-10 finishes (Francis
was next with 33); and an average A-Main finish of 5.91 (Richards was second at
7.26). He also put together an unprecedented streak of 15 consecutive top-five
finishes (no other driver managed more than five in a row) and 25 consecutive
top-10 finishes (Clanton and Francis were next with streaks of 11 straight),
plus a streak of 32 consecutive lead-lap finishes (eight more than Richards’s
second-best total of 24) spanning from May 3 at Missouri’s Lebanon I-44 Speedway
to Sept. 13 at I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo.
Lanigan failed to finish just two A-Mains this season – and fortunately for his
points-chasing, both occurred in special events at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor
Speedway in Concord, N.C., that offered only WoO LMS show-up points. He retired
with 10 laps remaining in the Circle K Colossal on April 19 due to his car’s
broken rearend (as he ran a threatening second) and on lap 32 of the 50-lap
Armour Vienna Sausage Showdown on Oct. 29 (engine failure while holding third
place).
The only full-points A-Main that Lanigan did not finish on the lead lap was the
Oct. 7 event at Fayetteville (N.C.) Motor Speedway. He lost three laps in the
pit area while his crew repaired a broken right-rear shock mount late in the
50-lap distance.
In all, Lanigan completed 2,254 of a possible 2,285 A-Main laps during the 2008
season. The only driver who ran more laps was Richards, who completed 2,275 of
the 2,285 circuits.
CHECKERED FLAGS: Lanigan won two A-Mains in 2008, making him the fourth driver
in the past five years to emerge as champion without leading the WoO LMS in
feature wins. The only champion of the tour’s World Racing Group-era to also top
the victory chart was Bloomquist, in 2004.
Francis and Richards shared winningest-driver status in 2008, collecting six
victories apiece. Both racers established personal single-season high win totals
on the WoO LMS – Francis bested the five wins he had in 2005, and Richards
surpassed the four triumphs he scored in 2007.
The six wins matched Chub Frank’s ’07 leading total as the lowest number of
victories for a top winner in WoO LMS history – more proof of the tour’s
competitiveness in 2008. A record 21 different drivers reached Victory Lane this
season, beating the previous mark of 19 different winners set last year.
Nine drivers recorded two or more wins, and there were five first-time WoO LMS
winners in 2008: Jeremy Miller, Brady Smith, Kelly Boen, Jimmy Owens and Rod
Conley.
AT THE TOP: Lanigan seized control of the WoO LMS points lead after the June 20
event at Ohsweken (Ont.) Speedway and never relinquished it, holding sway for
the final 30 races of the season. His advantage exceeded 100 points for the
first time after the 26th event and never dipped below that threshold again,
topping out at a 174-point margin following the next-to-last race of 2008.
Three other drivers held at least a share of the top spot in the points
standings during the campaign. Lanigan led the standings after the most events
(31), followed by Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark. (eight), Francis (four) and
Richards (two).
There were two ties for the points lead – after the second event (Moyer and
Richards) and 12th event (Lanigan and Francis).
STILL FIVE: With victories in ’08, Francis, Moyer, Frank, Lanigan and Clanton
remained the only drivers who have won at least one A-Main in each WoO LMS
campaign since 2004.
THE NEW KING: Francis ended the season as the winningest WoO LMS driver since
2004, sitting atop the win list with 20 career victories. He now leads
Bloomquist (17 wins) and Rick Eckert of York, Pa. (16) on the World Racing
Group-era chart.
Moyer, who won four times in 2008, is the alltime winningest driver on the WoO
LMS. He owns 35 career triumphs, including 22 during the tour’s original
incarnation (1988-89) under late WoO Sprint Car Series founder Ted Johnson.
BUSY SEASON: The 2007 WoO LMS was comprised of 43 A-Mains at 36 tracks in 18
states and three Canadian provinces.
Pennsylvania was the site of the most tour events, hosting eight races. There
were five events held in both North Carolina and Ohio; three in Missouri; two in
Florida, Illinois, North Dakota and Tennessee; and one each in Delaware,
Georgia, Kansas, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, New York, South Dakota,
Virginia and Wyoming. The tour’s record four Canadian events, meanwhile,
included two races in Ontario, one in Quebec and one in Saskatchewan.
Six scheduled events were canceled and not rescheduled. Rain washed out shows at
Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway (May 31), North Central Speedway in Brainerd, Minn.
(July 10) and La Salle (Ill.) Speedway (Sept. 14), while a May 17 date at
Lawrenceburg (Ind.) Speedway was stricken from the sked due to ongoing track
reconstruction work and the Oct. 11-12 weekend at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls
Gap, Tenn., and North Alabama Speedway in Tuscumbia, Ala., was canceled by
mutual agreement of track and series officials.
Four events were postponed by rain and completed at a later date – at Ohsweken
Speedway, Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa. (Firecracker 100), Fayetteville
Motor Speedway and The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway (Armour Vienna Sausage
Showdown).
FULL PITS: The average field for a WoO LMS event in 2008 was 44.74 cars –
virtually identical to last year’s average car count.
The season-high turnout of 81 cars came for the Armour Vienna Sausage Showdown
on Oct. 29 at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway. In all, 13 events drew 50
or more cars.
A total of 618 drivers representing 34 states, four Canadian provinces and
Australia entered at least one WoO LMS event in 2008, and 274 drivers competed
in A-Main action.
CASH: This season’s WoO LMS purse payouts totaled roughly $2.4 million.
Five events paid more to win than a standard WoO LMS purse – the Circle K
Colossal 100 ($50,000) and the Armour Vienna Sausage Showdown ($16,000) at The
Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway; the Firecracker 100 at Lernerville
($40,000); the March Through Dixie 100 at Pike County Speedway in Magnolia,
Miss. ($20,000); and the Illini 100 at Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway ($20,000).
Five drivers topped the six-figure mark in purse earnings on the ’08 tour, led
by Francis with $173,300. He was followed by Richards ($133,510), Clanton
($125,590), Lanigan ($124,967) and Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill. ($111,550).
When post-season points-fund money and per-race appearance bonus cash from the
WoO LMS ‘Winner’s Circle’ program is included in the total season earnings, nine
of the top 10 finishers in the points standings reached six figures. Lanigan
headed the overall earnings list with $245,467, followed by Francis ($237,900),
Richards ($214,010), Clanton ($181,090), Babb ($157,050), Frank ($135,430),
Eckert ($126,000), Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y. ($113,700) and Clint Smith of
Senoia, Ga. ($113,190).
HARD CHARGER: The deepest in the starting field that a driver came from to win a
WoO LMS A-Main this season was 18th – Josh Richards on Oct. 7 at Fayetteville
Motor Speedway. He pulled off the impressive victory after performing poorly in
time trials and heat action on Aug. 15 before rain postponed the remainder of
the show, forcing him to qualify through a B-Main when he returned to the
four-tenths-mile oval.
The only other driver to win from a double-digit starting spot was Brady Smith
of Solon Springs, Wis., on July 12 at Estevan (Sask.) Motor Speedway.
Eight A-Mains were won by drivers starting from the pole position, but only five
of those victors led the event from flag-to-flag. (There were a total of 12
flag-to-flag race winners.) Outside polesitters won the most races, taking the
checkered flag from the position 13 times.
The average starting spot for a WoO LMS A-Main winner in 2007 was 3.67.
ROOKS: Vic Coffey of Leicester, N.Y., became the third driver with DIRTcar
big-block Modified roots in the last five years to win the WoO LMS Rookie of the
Year Award Presented by ButlerBuilt.
Coffey, 37, registered a modest total of two top-five and nine top-10 finishes
while entering 38 of the season’s 43 events. But with the rookie award
determined using a driver’s best 30 finishes, Coffey’s cruised to the $15,000
crown with a total of 3,921 points, easily outdistancing fellow DIRTcar
big-block Modified converts Joe Isabell of Pennellville, N.Y. (3,090 points) and
Danny Johnson of Phelps, N.Y. (2,437 points).
MANUFACTURER BATTLE: Six dirt Late Model chassis companies claimed victories in
WoO LMS A-Mains during the 2008 season.
Rocket Chassis led the way with 27 wins, divided among Richards, Francis,
Clanton, Lanigan, Babb, Fuller, Jeremy Miller, Frank, McCreadie, Kelly Boen and
Rod Conley. Bloomquist Chassis was second with five wins (Brady Smith, Scott
Bloomquist, Jimmy Owens, Chris Madden), followed by Victory Circle Chassis with
four (Moyer); Birkhofer-Mars Chassis with three (Brian Birkhofer); GRT with two
(Clint Smith and Eckert); and MasterSbilt with two (Earl Pearson Jr. and Donnie
Moran).
Under the hood, meanwhile, a total of 10 engine builders laid claim to a WoO LMS
A-Main triumph in 2008. Cornett Racing Engines was tops on the list with 15
victories, divided among Richards, Francis, Lanigan and Owens.
Other motor builders with multiple victories were Custom Race Engines (eight),
Clements (seven), Pro Power (four) and Vic Hill (four). Single race victors
included RaceTek, Bullock, Jay Dickens, Larry Wallace and Draime.
MORE MONEY COMING: The top-10 drivers in the 2008 points standings will share
nearly $400,000 in points-fund cash during the WoO LMS ‘Night of Champions’
Awards Banquet on Thurs., Dec. 11, at the International Plaza Resort and Spa in
Orlando, Fla.
Lanigan will receive $100,000 for winning the title at the gala affair, which is
being held in conjunction with the Performance Racing Industry trade show for
the second consecutive year.
ETCETERA…
* Nine drivers had perfect attendance on the 43-race ’08 tour: Lanigan,
Richards, Francis, Clanton, Frank, Babb, Eckert, Clint Smith and Fuller. Only
Clanton and Fuller did not start every A-Main – both drivers failed to qualify
for the Circle K Colossal 100 (which offered only show-up points) and were not
eligible for provisional spots, and Fuller also was a DNQ on July 27 at Eriez
Speedway in Hammett, Pa.
Other drivers who entered more than 30 programs included Joe Isabell (39),
Coffey (38), Sean Beardsley of Central Square, N.Y. (34) and John Blankenship of
Williamson, W.Va. (34).
* The 20-year-old Richards proved to be the tour’s best qualifier against the
clock in 2008. He led the series with five fast-time honors, and his average
time-trial placing of 7.77 topped the category over Francis (9.19).
Not surprisingly, Richards’s time-trial acumen helped make him one of the tour’s
most consistent heat-race qualifiers. He ran a mere three B-Mains all season
(only Lanigan was better, with two B-Main appearances) and was among a group of
four drivers (Clanton, Francis and Frank were the others) who utilized just one
provisional to start an A-Main in ‘08.
Notable is that Richards went through the entire 2007 season without using a
provisional – the only driver to do so.
* Twenty-five different drivers earned a WoO LMS fast-time honor in 2008.
* Fifty-two different drivers won at least one heat race on the tour in ’08, led
by Richards’s 20 victories.
* There were 50 different B-Main winners, with Chub Frank’s six last-chance
scores leading the way.
* Twenty-nine different drivers led at least one A-Main lap in ’08. Francis led
the most (313 laps), followed by Clanton (268), Moyer (255), Richards (175) and
Birkhofer (172).
* Moyer enjoyed the longest winning streak in ’08, capturing three straight
events. Five other drivers scored back-to-back wins during the campaign:
Richards, Brady Smith, Fuller, Francis and Clanton.
* Richards book-ended the WoO LMS schedule with victories, winning the opener on
Feb. 14 at Florida’s Volusia Speedway Park and the season-ending VAULT World
Finals show on Nov. 1 at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway. He became the
first driver in the tour’s WRG-era to win the opening and closing races of the
season.
* Richards failed to finish just one A-Main in ’08, putting him at the top of
that important statistic over Babb, Frank and Lanigan (two DNFs apiece, although
Lanigan’s pair came in races offering only show-up points).
And Richards was actually just over a half-lap away from being able to claim
that he was running at the checkered flag of every A-Main. His lone official DNF
came on July 26 at Sharon Speedway in Hartford, Ohio, when he was swept up in a
final-lap tangle in turn two while battling for a top-10 spot.
* There were three caution-free A-Mains in ’08 – May 29 at Delaware
International Speedway, July 13 at North Dakota’s Williston Basin Speedway and
Aug. 31 at Tri-City Speedway in Franklin, Pa.
An average of 4.30 caution flags flew in WoO LMS features this season. The most
caution-plagued event was the Circle K Colossal 100 (16 caution flags) – one of
14 races that was slowed by five or more caution periods.
* Eckert’s single ’08 victory, on June 21 at Quebec’s Autodrome Drummond, was
his first since July 8, 2006, at Sharon Speedway. He snapped a frustrating
stretch of 71 winless WoO LMS starts.
* The Armour Vienna Sausage Showdown on Oct. 29 at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor
Speedway historic. It marked the first-ever WoO LMS event run ‘topless’ (without
roofs on the cars).
* Francis and Eckert ended the season as the only drivers who have started all
197 WoO LMS A-Mains contested since 2004.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit
www.worldofoutlaws.com.
Contact: World Racing Group
Kevin Kovac, World of Outlaws Late Model Series P.R. Director
704-254-7929 • kkovac@dirtcar.com
World of Outlaws Late Model Series News & Notes: Prestigious Nominations For
Champion Darrell Lanigan; Southern Victories For Clanton & ‘Cat Daddy’
CONCORD, NC – Nov. 24, 2008 –
HONORS: Darrell Lanigan is earning some prestigious national recognition for his
2008 World of Outlaws Late Model Series points championship.
The 38-year-old driver from Union, Ky., is among a select group of nominees for
the 2008 American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association (AARWBA) Auto
Racing All-America team and the 2008 Economaki Champion of Champions Award
presented by Speedway Motorsports, Inc.
Lanigan is a first-time nominee for the AARWBA Auto Racing All-America team,
which has been voted on annually since 1970 by 300-plus members of the
motorsports press. He is the lone full-fender driver on the ballot in the ‘Short
Track’ category, which also includes World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series stars
Donny Schatz (the tour’s 2008 champion) and Jason Meyers as well USAC open-wheel
racers Jerry Coons Jr., Tracy Hines and Cole Whitt.
Two nominees from each of seven categories – Open Wheel, Stock Car, Road Racing,
Drag Racing, Short Track, Touring Series and At Large – will be named to the
All-America first team at the completion of the voting. The balloting will also
determine a second team (drivers placing third and fourth in each category), and
honorable mentions will go to all other drivers receiving at least 5 percent of
the vote.
The All-America team selections will be honored at the annual AARWBA banquet on
Jan. 10 in Ontario, Calif. The winner of the Jerry Titus Award – given to the
driver earning the most votes in the balloting, regardless of category – will
also be announced at the banquet.
In addition, National Speed Sport News has announced that Lanigan is among an
elite group of 23 drivers in contention for the 2008 Economaki Champion of
Champions Award presented by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., which is given to the
North American racing champion judged to have had the best season on-and-off the
racetrack.
The names of the 10 finalists for the sixth Economaki Champion of Champions
Award presented by SMI are scheduled to be released on Dec. 3 by NSSN. The
winner will be announced on Dec. 11 during the Performance Racing Industry Trade
Show in Orlando, Fla.
Lanigan is joined on the list of Economaki Champion of Champions Award
contenders by fellow World Racing Group series champions Schatz (the 2007 winner
of the award) and Billy Decker (Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series for
big-block Modifieds).
TWO MORE: Shane Clanton is still adding to his 2008 victory total.
The 33-year-old WoO LMS star from Locust Grove, Ga., swept a pair of Super Late
Model features on Saturday at Cleveland (Tenn.) Speedway, adding a cool $11,000
to his bank account for the off-season ahead.
After a freezing racing surface forced the postponement of Friday night’s 27-lap
Joe Lee Johnson Memorial to early Saturday afternoon, Clanton heated right up.
Driving his backup RSD Enterprises Rocket car because he crashed during hot laps
on Friday, the driver known as ‘Coconut’ led every circuit of the held-over
A-Main and roared back later in the day to capture the regularly-scheduled
50-lap O’Reilly Southern All-Stars-sanctioned ‘Gobbler’ event.
Skip Arp of Georgetown, Tenn., and former WoO LMS regular Dale McDowell of
Chickamauga, Ga., followed Clanton across the finish line in the first A-Main.
The two drivers swapped spots behind Clanton in the 50-lapper, with McDowell
placing second in the Warrior Chassis house car.
Clanton earned $2,700 for his first victory, $5,000 for the triumph in the
nightcap and a $3,300 bonus for sweeping the program from track sponsor Car
Smart Auto Sales.
The two wins pushed Clanton’s overall 2008 win total to 16 – a career-high for
the seventh-year dirt Late Model driver. Four of his triumphs came in WoO LMS
competition.
REASON TO SMILE: WoO LMS regular Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., also reached
Victory Lane last weekend, rolling to a $2,500 checkered flag in Sunday’s Late
Model Challenge at Green Valley Speedway in Glencoe, Ala.
The 43-year-old driver, who entered the second half of Green Valley’s two-day
program after spending Saturday racing at Cleveland (he scored finishes of
seventh and fifth in the doubleheader), grabbed the lead at the initial green
flag from the outside pole and never looked back. He was declared the winner
when the race was ended with 19 of 30 scheduled laps completed following a hard
crash in turn three involving Southern Regional Racing Series champion Byron
Michael of Florence, Ala., who was transported to a local hospital and held for
observation but is expected to be released with no major injuries.
One of the nation’s busiest fulltime race car drivers, Smith emerged triumphant
in what was his 110th overall start of the season. He steered his J.P. Drilling/Cliburn
Tank Lines GRT to victory with just a brace on his right wrist, which he broke
in a World 100 qualifying accident on Sept. 6 at Ohio’s Eldora Speedway, after
recently having his elbow-length cast removed by doctors.
COMING UP: The stars of the 2008 WoO LMS will share nearly $400,000 in
points-fund cash during the tour’s ‘Night of Champions’ Awards Banquet on Dec.
11 at the International Plaza Resort & Spa in Orlando, Fla.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit
www.worldofoutlaws.com.
Contact: World Racing Group
Kevin Kovac, World of Outlaws Late Model Series P.R. Director
704-254-7929 • kkovac@dirtcar.com
Vic Coffey Becomes Third Driver From DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Ranks To Win
World of Outlaws Late Model Series Rookie of the Year Award
CONCORD, NC – Nov. 22, 2008 – Vic Coffey continued the rich DIRTcar big-block
Modified pipeline to the World of Outlaws Late Model Series in 2008.
The Leicester, N.Y., resident became the third driver with big-block Modified
roots in the last five years to win the national dirt Late Model tour’s Rookie
of the Year Award Presented by ButlerBuilt, joining fellow upstate New Yorkers
Tim McCreadie (2004) and Tim Fuller (2007).
It was a satisfying accomplishment for the 37-year-old Coffey, who began the
2008 campaign without concrete plans to chase the WoO LMS.
“We started out taking it one race at a time,” said Coffey, who entered the
season-opening Alltel DIRTcar Nationals events in February at Florida’s Volusia
Speedway Park but skipped the next WoO LMS show six weeks later at Pike County
Speedway in Magnolia, Miss. “Then, the next thing you know, we’re going to every
race.”
Indeed, after bypassing the ‘March Through Dixie 100’ at Pike County, Coffey
became a WoO LMS regular. He entered 38 of the season’s 43 overall events, with
his only absences over the remaining months coming in the four races run on
Canadian soil.
Though Coffey took his share of lumps during a season that saw him score a
modest two top-five and nine top-10 finishes, he cruised to the WoO LMS Rookie
of the Year crown. With a driver’s best 30 finishes used to determine the top
rookie, Coffey’s total of 3,921 points easily outdistanced fellow DIRTcar
big-block Modified converts Joe Isabell of Pennellville, N.Y. (3,090 points) and
Danny Johnson of Phelps, N.Y. (2,437 points).
Coffey, who also finished 10th in the overall WoO LMS points standings, will
receive a Rookie of the Year check worth $15,000 during the tour’s ‘Night of
Champions’ Awards Banquet on Dec. 11 at the International Plaza Resort & Spa in
Orlando, Fla.
“As a racer you always think you could have done better, but we’re real proud of
our season,” said Coffey, who became known as the ‘Captain’ while on the road
this season. “We knew we were going to struggle going to so many new places and
running against the competition with the Outlaws, but our goal was to win the
Rookie of the Year and get better with a Late Model and we did that.
“You don’t learn anything if you don’t race against the best, so doing (the WoO
LMS) got us up to speed with the Late Model. I don’t think we could’ve gotten
any better experience than we did this year. This was definitely the most I’ve
ever learned in a single season.”
A two-time victor (2002 and 2007) of DIRTcar big-block Modified racing’s marquee
$50,000-to-win Rite Aid 200 at the one-mile New York State Fairgrounds oval in
Syracuse, N.Y., Coffey came to the WoO LMS this season after dabbling in dirt
Late Model competition since 2003. His handful of annual full-fender starts
included a feature win on Sept. 9, 2007, at Little Valley (N.Y.) Speedway.
Despite his dirt Late Model inexperience, Coffey certainly wasn’t an unknown
quantity to WoO LMS denizens when he finally made his Rookie of the Year
intentions known. Competing out of the same Avon, N.Y.-based Sweeteners Plus
Racing stable that propelled McCreadie to the WoO LMS Rookie of the Year Award
and the 2006 tour points championship, he enjoyed an immediate measure of
familiarity with teams and fans. In addition, Coffey entered 2008 with 10 career
WoO LMS A-Main starts to his credit, including a top finish of fourth on June
24, 2007, at Cayuga County Fair Speedway in Weedsport, N.Y., and a starting
berth in the historic inaugural event of the tour’s World Racing Group-era on
Feb. 3, 2004, at Volusia Speedway Park (a 23rd-place finish).
But while Coffey enjoyed solid backing from Sweeteners Plus team owner Carl
Myers (Coffey’s step-father) and a built-in reservoir of knowledge to draw upon
(including teammate McCreadie, who entered 23 WoO LMS events this season, and
former WoO LMS Crew Chief of the Year Tommy Grecco), it was up to him to make
his own mark on the tour.
Coffey did that by grounding out a workmanlike campaign, learning the ropes of
big-time dirt Late Model racing beyond the headlines. Considering that neither
his racing arsenal nor his race car transporter was truly ready for the grind of
the complete WoO LMS schedule, he came out of the experience stronger and
battle-tested.
“Having just one car for most of the year was the biggest challenge,” analyzed
Coffey, who traveled a majority of the tour with mechanic Johnny Cocco and truck
driver Dave (‘Frog’) Griepsma (Grecco joined them at selected events). “We had
two cars in Florida to start the year, but then the frame got bent on one of
them and we didn’t fix it and other cars we ordered took longer to get than we
thought, so we basically went from April to August with one car. We had motors
and spare parts, but it was tough keeping one car up with all the racing we did.
“When we finally went to two cars (a Victory Circle chassis joined Coffey’s
tried-and-true Rocket late in the summer), we actually had to find space in the
trailer to put our stuff. We had been putting all our tires upstairs where the
second car goes, so we lost all that space when we started bringing along
another car.
“We weren’t really equipped this year to do this deal out of this trailer,” he
added. “We raced a lot with the Modifieds, but we didn’t spend the time on the
road like you do with the Outlaws. You need more tire racks and space for spare
parts in the trailer if you’re gonna be on the road for weeks at a time and you
need living quarters in the hauler, and we didn’t have that.”
Coffey and Co. were unique in that they were only WoO LMS regulars who didn’t
travel in huge, house-on-wheels rigs. The team’s trailer was pulled by a
standard semi-tractor, forcing them to find hotels each night on the road.
“With this (hauler) not having living quarters in it, we couldn’t just pull over
whenever we wanted to and sleep or stay at the track,” said Coffey, who became a
father for the third time in the midst of his traveling when his wife Jillian
gave birth to a boy, Kasey, in April. “Searching for hotels and unloading in
parking lots to work on the car instead of going straight to the next track made
traveling a little different for us. Being better equipped with the hauler will
make life much easier.”
Coffey is already gearing up for a bigger assault on the 2009 WoO LMS, starting
with plans for a transporter that’s more up to touring code. He’ll roll into the
new campaign with confidence as well after registering his best runs of ’08 late
in the season. The two top-five finishes on Coffey’s ledger came in a span of
five events heading down the stretch – a fourth (matching his career-best WoO
LMS outing) on Aug. 29 at Bedford (Pa.) Speedway and a fifth on Oct. 7 at
Fayetteville (N.C.) Motor Speedway.
“Those (Bedford and Fayetteville) races would have to be the highlights of our
season,” said Coffey, who also recorded his first career WoO LMS Fast Time honor
on July 13 at North Dakota’s Williston Basin Speedway. “It felt good to have
some good runs, some top-fives, before the season ended. I think it shows that
we’re there, we’re getting better.
“It gives us something to build on for next year.”
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit
www.worldofoutlaws.com.
2008 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Rookie of the Year Points Standings
(points determined using drivers’ best 30 finishes ):
1. Vic Coffey/Leicester, NY (38 races) – 3,921 points
2. Joe Isabell/Pennellville, NY (39 races) – 3,090 points
3. Danny Johnson/Phelps, NY (25 races) – 2,437 points
.Contact: World Racing Group
Chris Dolack, VP Media/PR
Kevin Kovac, DIRTcar Racing PR
704-795-7223 • DIRTcar.com
Looking Back: News & Notes From The DIRTcar Racing-Sanctioned Barnett Harley
Davidson Nationals At Manzanita Speedway
PHOENIX, AZ – Nov. 19, 2008 –
SOMETHING TO BUILD ON: Call it a glimpse into a promising future for DIRTcar
Late Model and Modified racing on the West Coast.
Last weekend’s Barnett Harley Davidson Nationals at the famed Manzanita Speedway
provided a grand stage for the stars of the Southwest DIRTcar Late Model Series,
Western Allstars DIRTcar Late Model Series and Barnett Harley DIRTcar Modified
Series to battle other standout drivers from the western states and beyond – the
type of talent-filled shootout that can help elevate the region’s Late Model and
Modified competition.
“Our goal is to build the Barnett Harley Davidson Nationals and other events
like it into true showcases for DIRTcar Racing on the West Coast,” said DIRTcar
Racing Western Region director Chris Morgan. “We’re committed to bringing more
structure and excitement to the West Coast Late Model and Modified series now
under the DIRTcar Racing banner and, in turn, giving the teams and fans some
very special events to look forward to each season.”
The two-day Barnett Harley Davidson Nationals, which featured the $6,000-to-win
Late Model Western World Championship and a $5,000-to-win DIRTcar Modified
finale, drew participants from a wide swath of countryside. Especially diverse
was the DIRTcar Late Model field, which numbered 32 drivers from eight states
and one Canadian province.
Interestingly, the locale with the most Late Model representatives was
California (11), followed by Arizona (10), Colorado (four), Oregon (two) and
Arkansas, Manitoba (Canada), Missouri, North Carolina and South Dakota (one from
each). The DIRTcar Modified turnout, meanwhile, was more Arizona-centric, with
25 of the 37 drivers who entered hailing from the Grand Canyon State; other
areas represented included New Mexico (10), California (one) and Minnesota
(one).
Morgan announced during the drivers’ meeting prior to Saturday night’s action
that 2009 schedules for the SWDLMS, Western Allstars and Barnett Harley DIRTcar
Modified Touring Series are currently being formulated and should be released in
the near future. He also noted that several major DIRTcar Racing-sanctioned
events following Manzanita’s Barnett Harley Davidson Nationals template are
being discussed for ’09, with at least a couple “high profile” tracks showing
interest in hosting a similar program.
FUN TRIP: The biggest name in Manzy’s dirt Late Model field, of course, was Hall
of Famer Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., who visited the Phoenix half-mile oval
for what he believed to be the third time in his 32-year racing career.
The 51-year-old Moyer gave the Southwest’s fans a demonstration of his legendary
ability by sweeping the weekend with victories in Friday night’s 25-lap
preliminary feature and Saturday night’s 40-lap headliner, but he asserted that
running the track was a true challenge.
“It’s kind of hard to figure out,” said Moyer. “The grading (of the surface) is
kind of different, and there’s no one, nice groove that you can be comfortable
running. You have to drive it every inch of the way. It’s off-camber this way
and that way – it just keeps you on your toes. It’s fun to drive – and heck,
it’s fast.”
Moyer’s $7,500 weekend was a nice highlight of what was actually a two-week
vacation from the grind of operating his race team. Manzy’s show came in the
middle of Moyer’s visit to the Glamis Sand Dunes, a well-known recreation area
in Southern California near the borders of Arizona and Mexico that Moyer
annually visits with friends to do some off-roading behind the wheel of his
dune-buggy.
“I love that stuff out there,” Moyer said of Glamis. “It’s 3,300 acres of sand
dunes and just a bunch of wild men and people out there having fun. I’ve told
everybody who helps me about the place and they all want to come out and see
what it’s about. Some of my sponsors have cars and are coming out to have some
fun with us after we’re done here (racing at Manzy).”
Moyer was certainly looking forward to returning to Glamis after his Manzanita
sweep because his first few days at the dunes didn’t go according to plan.
“I got a new (dune-buggy) and knocked the clutch out of it, and the generator
went out in my motorhome,” said Moyer. “So I was fixing stuff more than playing
so far. I gotta get back there to have some fun.”
DELIVERY MAN: Moyer’s familiar Banner Valley Hauling-sponsored Victory Circle
car was transported to Manzanita by Jesse Stovall of Galena, Mo., an
up-and-coming dirt Late Model racer who had no second thoughts about buckling
Moyer’s machine into his trailer for a 20-hour-plus tow west.
Stovall, 28, has become one of Moyer’s understudies in his first full season
driving a Victory Circle dirt Late Model for Lake Ozark, Mo.’s Paul McKenna, so
the chance to spend a weekend soaking up all of Moyer’s knowledge was too
attractive to resist.
“Billy has been such a big help to me,” said Stovall, who registered finishes of
fourth in Friday’s preliminary and fifth in Saturday’s 40-lapper (after spinning
out of the lead on lap eight). “Anytime you can work with a guy like Billy, it’s
going to make you a better driver.”
IMPRESSIVE OUTING: Bobby Hogge IV showed why he’s become arguably the biggest
dirt Late Model star from the state of California.
Making his first-ever appearance at Manzanita, the 32-year-old from Salinas,
Calif., drove his Victory Circle No. 2 to a solid third-place finish in Saturday
night’s A-Main. He ran second behind Moyer for much of the distance before
losing the spot to Kelly Boen of Henderson, Colo., while negotiating lapped
traffic on lap 36.
“I’m really proud of our team for running as well as we did,” said Hogge, who
led the Western Allstars DIRTcar Late Model Series in feature wins this season.
“This was just an awesome weekend for us. To me, racing here was more intense
than running Eldora (the famed track in Ohio where he has attempted to qualify
for the World 100) because it’s not as banked.
“At Eldora, you can go in there (the corners) and the track will hold you
because of the bank. To drive in right-front first at this place, at the speeds
we’re going, is a challenge. You have to really be up on the wheel.”
Hogge pulled double-duty at Manzy, bringing along a one-race-old JDK Motorsports
GRT car for the DIRTcar Modified action. Painted identically to his Late Model,
the open-wheel machine was plenty fast but didn’t last. He finished 21st in
Friday’s 20-lap A-Main after dropping out and failed to qualify for Saturday’s
headliner after fuel-pressure problems knocked him out of the C-Main.
EDUCATION CONTINUES: Merced, Calif.’s Chris Shannon might be 41 years old and
the 2008 Western Allstars DIRTcar Late Model Series champion, but Manzanita’s
weekend closed out just his second season as a dirt Late Model regular.
A former pavement competitor on the NASCAR Southwest Tour in the early- to
mid-‘90s, Shannon is still getting a grasp on the vagaries of dirt Late Model
racing. He proved he’s more than capable of stepping up his performance against
top-notch competition with respectable finishes of eighth (Friday) and sixth
(Saturday), but he makes it clear that he has plenty to learn.
“These guys drive it off in there a lot deeper than I do,” Shannon said after
racing door-to-door with the frontrunners in Saturday’s A-Main. “I’m still
learning what I need to do to go fast. I know we have the equipment, but I just
need more laps.
“I would’ve liked to run in the top five, but this was still a successful
weekend for us. I’m happy.”
Shannon, who boasted Victory Circle’s Chris Sivesind as his crew chief for the
Nationals, now turns his attention to a 2009 season that he hopes to kick off
with a cross-country trip. He’s penciled in his first career competitive visit
to Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla., for the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals
by UNOH scheduled for Feb. 9-14.
TOUGH TEAM: Kelly Boen credited his pair of second-place finishes in the
Nationals DIRTcar Late Model features to the man who was his teammate for the
weekend.
The 44-year-old Boen fielded a second car for veteran Randle Chupp of Troutman,
N.C., who drove Boen’s machine (renumbered with Chupp’s customary 114) to
finishes of third (Friday) and fourth (Saturday). Chupp arrived at Manzanita hot
off a victory in the previous week’s Blue-Gray 100 at Cherokee Speedway in
Gaffney, S.C.
“Me and Randle have been friends for a long time even though we don’t get to see
each other that much,” said Boen, who fell short of defending his 2007 victory
in the Late Model Western World Championship. “After he won that Blue-Gray race
I called him to congratulate him and see if he had some ideas I was working on
to come out here. Before you know it, he said, ‘I’ll just get a plane ticket and
fly out there to help you.’ Then that turned into me saying, ‘Well, I’ve got
another car, so why don’t you just drive it?’
“Randle is such a wonderful guy and he helped us out so much this weekend. We
wouldn’t have run as well as we did if it wasn’t for him.”
LONG-DISTANCE TRAVELER: No Nationals entrant drove their hauler farther to reach
Manzanita than Canadian Mike Balcaen, whose trip from Winnipeg, Manitoba, to
Phoenix lasted roughly 36 hours.
Of course, Balcaen also needed a little extra time to get his race car
transporter ready for the tow. With freezing rain falling on his day of
departure, he had to use a blowtorch to thaw the frozen plug-in lines to his
trailer.
The sunny skies and temperatures in the 80s that prevailed all weekend in
Phoenix were a welcome relief for Balcaen, who in recent years has taken to
entering the January dirt Late Model events held at tracks in Arizona. In fact,
his plan was to park his hauler at his friend Karl Tipton’s shop in Gilbert,
Ariz., after the weekend’s races, fly home, and then return in January to race
again in any ‘Wild West Shootout’ shows that might be scheduled.
A 43-year-old whose 2008 Northern Late Model Racing Association (NLRA)
championship marked the 32nd points title of his 25-year career, Balcaen expects
to make his early-2009 starts in Arizona serve as the final chapter of his life
as a regular dirt Late Model racer. He is planning to sell his inventory of
racing equipment and retire from driving – though he is leaving the door open to
keeping one car and an open motor to run selected events.
Balcaen wasn’t able to score his first career feature win in Arizona last
weekend, but he put together a pair of strong runs. He finished fifth in
Friday’s preliminary after leading laps 1-2 and placed eighth on Saturday night
after pitting during a lap-17 caution period.
BAD LUCK RETURNS: Lonnie Parker Jr. of El Mirage, Ariz., thought his history of
frustration at Manzanita had ended when he finally registered his first career
win at the half-mile on Sept. 13 in a SWDLMS event.
Unfortunately, Lady Luck reared her ugly head again on the 32-year-old talent,
who rolled to his fifth consecutive SWDLMS title in 2008. He struggled to an
11th-place finish in Friday’s preliminary, and on Saturday night he watched the
A-Main from the pit area after his car was heavily damaged in a heat-race
accident.
The tangle was a clear sign of Parker’s tough luck at Manzanita. He was cruising
along in second place with two laps remaining when the slower car driven by
Kevin Nichols of Bakersfield, Calif., spun between turns three and four, leaving
Parker nowhere to go but hard into the side of Nichols’s machine.
Parker did have a rooting interest in Saturday’s feature in the person of
Phoenix’s Anthony Madrid, the DIRTcar Modified standout who spent the weekend
driving the Parker team car normally steered by Parker’s father Lonnie Sr.
Madrid finished 11th in the Late Model Western World Championship after
registering a third-place finish in the DIRTcar Modified A-Main run earlier in
the night.
QUIET ARIZONANS: Only one driver from Arizona was able to nab a top-10 finish in
the Late Model action – 2008 SWDLMS Rookie of the Year Joey Moriarty of Phoenix,
who placed 10th in Saturday’s 40-lapper.
With Arizona Late Model standard-bearer Parker snakebit all weekend, none of his
compatriots were able to step up and block the out-of-staters from taking home
the big money.
One of the well-known locals who experienced nothing but heartache was Mark
Fowler, a resident of Phoenix who finished second to Parker in the 2008 SWDLMS
points standings. Fowler failed to qualify on Friday night because the spline
ripped out of his car’s rearend, and on Saturday – after his crew replaced the
car’s rearend at Fowler’s nearby shop – he was involved in a lap-17 tangle and
finished 18th.
BRIGHT FUTURE: Teenager Johnny Scott of Las Cruces, N.M., certainly stamped
himself as a DIRTcar Modified driver to watch with his sweep of the division’s
program.
An 18-year-old who began driving a Street Stock at the age of 11 and a DIRTcar
Modified two years later, Scott beat Madrid – the third-ranked driver on
Manzanita’s overall alltime win list – twice. He held off Madrid to win Friday’s
preliminary feature and passed Madrid for the lead en route to capturing
Saturday’s $5,000-to-win finale.
Scott graduated from high school earlier this year and has concentrated on
racing since then. He will begin taking classes at New Mexico State University
in January.
Additional info on all of the series, sanctioning and member tracks of DIRTcar
Racing is available at www.DIRTcar.com.
Contact: World Racing Group
Chris Dolack, VP Media/PR
Kevin Kovac, DIRTcar Racing PR
704-795-7223 • DIRTcar.com
Veteran Billy Moyer (Late Models) & Teenager Johnny Scott (Modifieds) Complete
Sweeps Of Barnett Harley Davidson Nationals At Manzanita Speedway
PHOENIX, AZ – Nov. 15, 2008 – Veteran Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., and
teenager Johnny Scott of Las Cruces, N.M., scrawled their names all over the
2008 Barnett Harley Davidson Nationals at Manzanita Speedway.
Moyer, 51, completed a sweep of the two-day program’s DIRTcar Late Model action
on Saturday night, rolling to victory in the 40-lap Late Model Western World
Championship A-Main.
The 18-year-old Scott, meanwhile, was perfect in the DIRTcar Modified ranks,
adding a triumph in Saturday night’s 30-lap Nationals A-Main to his
preliminary-feature score the previous evening.
Driving his familiar Banner Valley Hauling-sponsored Victory Circle car, Moyer
duplicated his winning effort in Friday night’s 25-lap DIRTcar Late Model
preliminary feature. He inherited the lead after Jesse Stovall of Galena, Mo.,
spun in turn four on lap eight and marched on to pocket the finale’s $6,000 top
prize.
Defending Late Model Western World Championship winner Kelly Boen of Henderson,
Colo., finished second, about a half-straightaway behind Moyer at the checkered
flag. Western Allstars DIRTcar Late Model Series standout Bobby Hogge IV of
Salinas, Calif., placed third, followed by Randle Chupp of Troutman, N.C., who
drove a car from Boen’s stable, and Stovall.
Moyer’s victory was his 21st overall of the 2008 season, matching his trademark
car number. His trip to the famed half-mile oval in Phoenix closed out his most
successful racing campaign of the decade.
“We started out the year strong in Florida and ended the year strong here, so we
can’t be any happier,” said Moyer, who reached the 20-win plateau for the first
time since 2001. “Everything’s clicked all year.”
Moyer didn’t cruise to Victory Lane on Saturday night, however. A power-steering
problem made the second half of his A-Main run a bit harder than he would have
preferred.
“Something in the power steering went wrong with about 20 (laps) to go,” said
Moyer, whose weekend earnings totaled $7,500. “There’s oil all over and the
tank’s dry, so a line broke or something.
“Luckily the track was slick enough where I didn’t have to steer much. I could
just roll the center. If (the power steering woes) happened last night when the
track was heavier, I don’t think I could’ve held on.”
Boen, who reached second place on lap 36 when he surged underneath Hogge in turn
three, made up ground on the struggling Moyer during the final circuits but not
nearly enough to mount a challenge.
“I seen Steve (Norris) telling me somebody was getting close, but there wasn’t
much I could do,” Moyer said of his crewman, who flashed him signals from the
infield. “I was just trying to keep from wrecking the thing.
“Really, I was just lucky that Dean Moore and some of those other guys gave me a
break when I was lapping them near the end. I knew I had to get through them
lapped cars quicker, and they gave room so I just had to slide underneath them.
“If that power steering hadn’t went out,” he added, “we would’ve really shown
them something. The car was nice, real nice.”
Boen, 44, certainly acknowledged Moyer’s speed.
“I honest wish I could tell you what we needed to do (to threaten Moyer), but I
don’t know,” said Boen, who started sixth in his Rocket car. “I honestly thought
my car was as good as it could be, but (Moyer) was just a little better.
“He’s been fast his whole life,” he continued. “Guys like me who race for a
hobby, when we gotta race somebody like him who races for a living, we
definitely have our work cut out for us. But still, when you get this close to
beating him and you don’t get it done, it’s kinda sad.
“I really wanted to win this race again, but we fell short.”
Hogge, 31, was smiling after capping his first-ever visit to Manzanita with a
strong third-place finish in his family-owned Victory Circle car. He started
fourth and ran second behind Moyer for laps 9-36.
“That was intense for me,” said Hogge, who led the Western Allstars DIRTcar Late
Model Series with seven victories in 2008. “It wasn’t a hard-to-drive track, but
it was tough mentally trying to hit my marks every time. I knew Billy wasn’t
gonna make any mistakes, so I couldn’t make any either.
“There was a little while there (before a caution flag on lap 12) when I
actually started gaining on him because he was running the middle and bottom of
(turns) one and two. But I think under that yellow he might’ve gotten a signal
to move up to the top, and that was it.
“It was just awesome to somewhat keep pace with someone like him and Kelly Boen.”
No one passed more cars than the 28-year-old Stovall, who charged from the back
of the pack in his Victory Circle car to salvage a top-five finish after
spinning out of the lead on lap eight. He started from the outside pole and
paced the race’s first eight laps.
“Really, I’m still new in this whole (dirt Late Model) deal, and I got in
trouble because I was trying to conserve my tires (while leading),” said
Stovall, who is completing his first full season as a dirt Late Model racer.
“That’s not really my style. I’m more up-on-the-wheel, so I didn’t know how hard
to drive it in to go easy on my tires and I ended up spinning myself out.
“I guess I have to chalk this one up as a learning experience.”
Chris Shannon of Merced, Calif., who won the 2008 Western Allstars championship,
was a solid sixth-place finisher. Rob Mayea of Bend, Ore., was seventh, followed
by Mike Balcaen of Winnipeg, Manitoba, who pitted during a lap-17 caution
period, Nick Bartels of El Segundo, Calif., and 2008 Southwest DIRTcar Late
Model Series Rookie of the Year Joey Moriarty of Phoenix.
Twenty-seven cars were entered in Saturday’s program, which was co-sanctioned by
DIRTcar Racing’s Southwest DIRTcar Late Model Series and Western Allstars
DIRTcar Late Model Series.
Shannon recorded the fastest overall lap of the group time-trial session,
rounding the oval in 20.410 seconds.
Heat winners were Moriarty, Balcaen and Shannon, and Keith Noyes of Phoenix
captured the B-Main. Shannon also won the 8-lap pole dash, which included the
top-four finishers from Friday night’s A-Main (Moyer, Boen, Chupp and Stovall,
all of whom didn’t have to run a heat race on Saturday) and the top-two
finishers in each of Saturday’s heats.
Lonnie Parker Jr. of El Mirage, Ariz., who recorded his fifth consecutive SWDLMS
title in 2008, failed to qualify for the Western World Championship A-Main. He
was running second in the third heat race when he slammed the spun car driven by
Kevin Nichols of Bakersfield, Calif., between turns three and four, badly
damaging the right side of his machine.
In the companion DIRTcar Modified headliner, the up-and-coming Scott authored a
memorable run on the inner one-third-mile oval to pocket $5,000 for his first
Nationals triumph at Manzanita.
Scott, who hauled his self-owned Hughes Chassis nearly 400 miles to compete in
the Nationals, had to overtake Manzanita star Anthony Madrid of Phoenix to
emerge victorious. Madrid, of course, is one of Manzy’s most accomplished
racers, ranking third on the track’s alltime overall win list (with over 120
victories) and holding three Modified track titles (including 2008) and a 2005
Modified Nationals triumph.
With Madrid drawing the pole position for the feature, Scott had his doubts
about pulling off a sweep of the weekend. But he came from the fourth starting
spot to pass Madrid for the lead on lap 10 and controlled the remainder of the
distance.
“I was worried when (Madrid) picked the pole,” said Scott, who started racing
Street Stocks at the age of 11 and moved to the Modified division at 13. “But
after we got going a little bit and I started catching him, I knew I could beat
him.”
Scott crossed the finish line several car lengths ahead of Tucson, Ariz.’s R.C.
Whitwell, who passed Madrid for second on lap 17. Madrid, who battled brake
problems throughout the night, settled for third place after leading laps 1-9,
while Royal Jones of Las Cruces, N.M., was fourth and D.J. Wood of Peoria,
Ariz., took fifth.
Don Earven of Globe, Ariz., flipped off turn one on lap 10 while trying to avoid
a multi-car pileup. He escaped the crash uninjured.
With the top-10 finishers in Friday night’s A-Main transferring directly to the
Nationals finale, Saturday’s Modified program included a C-Main won by Robert
Adams of Tucson, Ariz., and a B-Main captured by Jay Foster of Phoenix.
Additional info on all of the series, sanctioning and member tracks of DIRTcar
Racing is available at www.DIRTcar.com.
DIRTcar Late Model Western World Championship A-Main Finish (40 laps):
1. Billy Moyer
2. Kelly Boen
3. Bobby Hogge IV
4. Randle Chupp
5. Jesse Stovall
6. Chris Shannon
7. Rob Mayea
8. Mike Balcaen
9. Nick Bartels
10. Joey Moriarty
11. Anthony Madrid
12. Dean Moore
13. Rob Sanders
14. Brad Williams
15. Matt Micheli
16. Dino Napier
17. Mike Kirby
18. Mark Fowler
19. Ron Bartels
20. Mike Stadel
21. Keith Noyes
22. Mark Carrell
DNQ: John Lowery, Tommy Hussak III, Lonnie Parker Jr., Kevin Nichols, Mike
Tahtinen
DIRTcar Modifed Modified Barnett Harley Davidson Nationals A-Main Finish (30
laps):
1. Johnny Scott
2. R.C. Whitwell
3. Anthony Madrid
4. Royal Jones
5. D.J. Wood
6. Ricky Thornton
7. Scott Logston
8. Darrell Nelson
9. Jay Foster
10. Fito Gallardo
11. Jason Noll
12. Rene Madrid
13. Danny Bradford
14. Reeve Stanley
15. Chris McCurdy Jr.
16. Tim Ward
17. Troy Cooke
18. Bumper Jones
19. Richie Davis
20. Jeff Gibson
21. Richard Johnson
22. Jeremy Thornton
23. Don Earven
24. Bryan Ledbeter
DNQ: Dave Craft, Stormy Scott, Dave Jorgensen, Robert Adams, Jeremy Osborn, Ryan
Henesey, Vince Lucas, Jerry Walters, Bobby Hogge IV, Steve Carter, Max Sadler,
Glenn Thurman, Dennis Gates
Contact: World Racing Group
Chris Dolack, VP Media/PR
Kevin Kovac, DIRTcar Racing PR
704-795-7223 • DIRTcar.com
Late Model Legend Billy Moyer, Teenage Modified Talent Johnny Scott Score
Barnett Harley Davidson Nationals Prelim Victories At Manzanita Speedway
PHOENIX, AZ – Nov. 14, 2008 – Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark. (DIRTcar Late
Models) and Johnny Scott of Las Cruces, N.M. (DIRTcar Modifieds) were victorious
during Friday’s Barnett Harley Davidson Nationals preliminary program at
Manzanita Speedway.
The winners were studies in contrasts. Moyer is a 51-year-old dirt Late Model
legend known from coast-to-coast, while Scott is an 18-year-old who is just
beginning to make his mark on the open-wheel Modified ranks.
Making his third career start at the famed half-mile oval in Phoenix, Moyer
steered his Banner Valley Hauling Victory Circle No. 21 forward from the fourth
starting spot to capture the 25-lap DIRTcar Late Model A-Main. He slid
underneath Randall Chupp of Troutman, N.C., in turn two to grab the lead on lap
14 and never looked back.
Moyer’s first career win at Manzanita marked the 20th of his resurgent 2008
season – the first time he’s reached the 20-victory plateau since 2001.
“It’s been awhile since I had this many wins,” said Moyer, who is closing in on
700 overall triumphs in his 32-year career. “This day and age it’s tough to get
20 wins, so we’re proud of our season. We just need to get one more tomorrow
night to match the number on the car.”
With the checkered flag, Moyer is now locked into Saturday night’s 40-lap Late
Model Western World Championship, which offers a $6,000 top prize to close the
Barnett Harley Davidson Nationals.
Also earning automatic berths in the weekend finale were runner-up Kelly Boen of
Henderson, Colo., third-place Chupp and fourth-place Jesse Stovall of Galena,
Mo., who hauled Moyer’s car to Manzanita in his trailer.
Canadian Mike Balcaen of Winnipeg, Manitoba, who made a 36-hour tow to compete
in Manzanita’s Late Model season-ender for the second straight year, just missed
a guaranteed spot in Saturday’s A-Main, finishing fifth. He started second and
led laps 1-2.
Moyer was the fourth different leader of the extremely competitive event,
following Balcaen, the polesitting Stovall (laps 3-9) and Chupp (10-13).
“I got off to a little slow start,” said Moyer. “On the first lap Jesse kinda
got into that 10 (Balcaen), and going into (turn) one he kicked it out wide to
go around him on the outside. When he did that I was up there on the outside of
him and I thought I was gonna hit the fence before I ever started.
“Luckily I gathered it back up, and then I let those guys race a little bit so I
could figure my car out and where it wanted to run on the track. After a few
laps I could run some laps that they couldn’t, so I knew I was probably in
pretty good shape.”
Moyer roared away from the pack after the race’s second and final caution flag,
on lap 18. He crossed the finish line a full straightaway ahead of Boen, who
charged through the field from the 13th starting spot in his Rocket No. 07.
“We didn’t have anything for Billy,” said Boen, the defending Late Model Western
World Championship titlist. “If I had five or 10 more laps, I think Billy
would’ve been a half-lap ahead instead of a straightaway.”
Boen reached second place on lap 19 by sliding underneath Chupp, who drove
Boen’s backup car after making a last-minute deal with the Colorado standout.
Chupp – the winner of last weeks’ Blue-Gray 100 at Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney,
S.C. – started third.
“This was one of those nights where the fastest car finished first, the
second-fastest car finished and the third-fastest car finished third,” said
Chupp. “I got up to the lead, but you can’t hide from these guys if you’re not
faster than them.”
A field of 30 DIRTcar Late Models assembled for the event, which carries the
co-sanction of DIRTcar Racing’s Southwest DIRTcar Late Model Series and Western
Allstars DIRTcar Late Model Series.
Stovall turned the fastest lap of the group time-trial session, piloting his
Victory Circle Chassis around the track in 19.210 seconds.
Heat winners were Balcaen, Chupp and Moyer. Stovall captured the 8-lap dash to
earn the pole position for the A-Main, and Boen topped the B-Main.
Scott, meanwhile, was flawless in the 20-lap Barnett Harley DIRTcar Modified
A-Main, outrunning Manzanita standout Anthony Madrid of Phoenix to record his
first career win on the inner one-third-mile oval.
Running a Hughes Chassis, Scott advanced from the third starting spot to take
the lead for good on lap four. Madrid, who ranks third on Manzanita’s alltime
win list and was bidding for his ninth victory in 15 Modified events at the
track this season, grabbed second on lap seven but was unable to mount a serious
bid to overtake the teenager.
Scott, who started driving a Street Stock at age 11 and moved to the Modified
division at 13, withstood a green-white-checkered finish after a lap-18 caution
period to defeat Madrid by a couple car lengths.
Royal Jones of Las Cruces, N.M., finished third, followed by Ricky Thornton of
Chandler, Ariz., and Richards Johnson of Los Lunas, N.M.
Thirty-six DIRTcar Modifieds were signed in for the program.
Heat winners were Royal Jones, Jason Noll of Mesa, Ariz., Jeremy Osborn of
Glendale, Ariz., and Bobby Hogge IV of Salinas, Calif. The B-Mains were captured
by Jeff Gibson of Glendale, Ariz., and Robert Adams of Tucson, Ariz.
Three wild accidents marred the eventful night of competition, but fortunately
all of the drivers involved escaped serious injury.
The action began during the first Late Model heat when Jim Beaman of Littleton,
Colo., slammed an inside barrier entering turn three, causing his car to
violently swap ends in the air. Later, following the checkered flag of the
division’s B-Main, John Kuchar of Brighton, Colo., ducked low on the homestretch
to avoid another car and bounced over the inner one-third-mile oval’s banked
first turn, sending his car into a serious of barrel-rolls.
And on the sixth lap of the Modified feature Max Sadler of Springerville, Ariz.,
flipped entering turn three, landing upside down.
The Barnett Harley Davidson Nationals conclud on Saturday night (Nov. 15) with
the Late Model Western World Championship and the $5,000-to-win finale for the
DIRTcar Modifieds. Racing is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
For more information, visit
www.manzanitaspeedway.us or call 602-276-7575.
Additional info on all of the series, sanctioning and member tracks of DIRTcar
Racing is available at www.DIRTcar.com.
DIRTcar Late Model A-Main Finish (25 laps):
1. Billy Moyer
2. Kelly Boen
3. Randall Chupp
4. Jesse Stovall
5. Mike Balcaen
6. Mike Kirby
7. Bobby Hogge IV
8. Chris Shannon
9. Dean Moore
10. Nick Bartels
11. Lonnie Parker Jr.
12. Dino Napier
13. Mike Stadel
14. Brad Williams
15. Chet Buckley
16. Rob Mayea
17. Ron Bartels
18. Joey Moriarty
19. Rob Sanders
20. John Lowery
21. Jason Noll
22. Anthony Madrid
Scratch: John Kuchar
DNQ: Tommy Hussak III, Jim Beaman, Mark Carrell, Kevin Nichols, Mark Fowler,
Matt Michelli, Wes Hall
Barnett Harley DIRTcar Modifed Modified A-Main Finish (20 laps):
1. Johnny Scott
2. Anthony Madrid
3. Royal Jones
4. Ricky Thornton
5. Richard Johnson
6. Richie Davis
7. Don Earven
8. Jeremy Thornton
9. Troy Cooke
10. Reeve Stanley
11. Jay Foster
12. Dave Jorgensen
13. Dave Craft
14. Vince Lucas
15. Rene Madrid
16. Jeremy Osborn
17. Danny Bradford
18. Jason Noll
19. Robert Adams
20. Jeff Gibson
21. Bobby Hogge IV
22. Bumper Jones
23. Max Sadler
DNS: Fito Gallardo
DNQ: Scott Logston, Bryan Ledbeter, D.J. Wood, Stormy Scott, Chris McCurdy Jr.,
R.C. Whitwell, Ryan Henesey, Darrell Nelson, Jerry Walters, Tim Ward, Steve
Carter, Glenn Thurman
Contact: World Racing Group
Chris Dolack, VP Media/PR
Kevin Kovac, DIRTcar Racing PR
704-795-7223 • DIRTcar.com
Southwest DIRTcar Late Model Series Champ Lonnie Parker Jr. Eyes Another Win At
Manzanita Speedway In This Weekend’s Barnett Harley Davidson Nationals
Parker Also Providing Late Model Ride For Barnett Harley DIRTcar Modified
Titlist Anthony Madrid
PHOENIX, AZ – Nov. 12, 2008 – Lonnie Parker Jr. finally put a DIRTcar Late Model
victory at Manzanita Speedway on his ample resume two months ago.
So what’s next for the standout driver from El Mirage, Ariz.? With the Manzanita
monkey off his back, he’s confidently eyeing the possibility of bagging the
richest win of his career in this weekend’s Barnett Harley Davidson Nationals at
the famed half-mile oval in Phoenix.
Parker, 32, will chase a $6,000 top prize in the multi-day event’s DIRTcar Late
Model finale on Saturday night (Nov. 15). The meet, which also includes a
$5,000-to-win Barnett Harley DIRTcar Modified headliner on Saturday, begins with
an open practice on Thursday night (Nov. 13) and continues with a
preliminary-feature program for both divisions on Friday night (Nov. 14).
“I’ve always liked racing at Manzanita, but I never seemed to have any luck
there,” said Parker, whose misery in limited Manzy appearances over the past
decade includes a crash that left him with a serious foot injury when he was an
upstart 21-year-old racer. “It felt good to finally have everything go right and
get a win there (in a Southwest DIRTcar Late Model Series event on Sept. 13).
Hopefully we can do it again this weekend.”
Parker will enter the West Coast’s biggest DIRTcar Racing-sanctioned event of
the season riding high. With nine wins in 12 Southwest DIRTcar Late Model Series
A-Mains easily bringing him a fifth consecutive tour championship, the 2008
campaign ranks as one of his best ever.
“It’s been a really unbelievable season,” said Parker, who brings a three-race
SWDLMS win streak into a Manzanita contest co-sanctioned by the tour he follows
and the Western Allstars DIRTcar Late Model Series. “I never thought I’d win
five (titles) in a row, but here we are again. We just got on a roll, and
whenever something happened that could be bad or good, it always turned out good
for us.”
Parker’s virtually flawless performance this season continues his ownership of
the SWDLMS, which was known as the Southwest Dirt Racing Association (SWDRA)
from 2001 until it came under the World Racing Group’s DIRTcar Racing banner
this year. His alltime series-leading total of 54 wins is more than double that
of the next closest driver (Wayne Crippen of Tucson, Ariz., with 21) – and even
more impressive, he’s won 43 percent of the SWDLMS events run over the past
eight years.
But for all Parker’s success, the biggest first-place prize he’s ever collected
is $3,000. That fact makes the six-grand booty at the top of Saturday night’s
Nationals A-Main look real inviting to the Southwest’s biggest dirt Late Model
star.
Of course, Parker knows he’ll have to be at the top of his game to end the
weekend standing in Manzanita’s Victory Lane. He’ll have all his usual SWDLMS
rivals to deal with – including points runner-up Mark Fowler of Peoria, Ariz.,
Tommy Hussak III of Picacho, Ariz., Mike Tahtinen of Casa Grande, Ariz., Jerry
Fincher of Laveen, Ariz., and Brad Williams of Tucson – plus plenty of talented
long-distance travelers who will raise the competition level.
Among the outsiders expected are dirt Late Model legend Billy Moyer of
Batesville, Ark., 2008 Western Allstars champ Chris Shannon of Merced, Calif.,
defending Barnett Harley Davidson Nationals winner Kelly Boen of Henderson,
Colo., Scott James of Greendale, Ind., Bobby Hogge IV of Salinas, Calif., A.J.
Kirkpatrick of Castroville, Calif., John Duty of Portland, Ore., Mike Kirby of
Anaheim, Calif., and Jesse Stovall of Galena, Mo.
“I’m excited to race with the kind of guys who are coming in for this show,”
said Parker, who drives a family-owned GRT car. “They’ll be tough to beat, but
it lets you see where you’re at. When you don’t get many chances to run against
guys from other areas, you don’t know how you stack up with them.”
Parker, who failed to qualify for last year’s Barnett Harley Davidson Nationals
finale after blowing an engine early in the night, will even add another top
driver to this weekend’s list of contenders. His team’s second car – a machine
normally steered by his father Lonnie Sr. – will be driven by 2008 Barnett
Harley DIRTcar Modified Touring Series champion Anthony Madrid of Phoenix.
The 32-year-old Madrid, who will pull double-duty this weekend, ranks third on
Manzanita’s alltime win list with over 120 checkered flags in a variety of
divisions. He was victorious earlier this year at the track in a SWDLMS event in
what was the first – and until this weekend only – dirt Late Model start of his
career.
“I asked (Madrid), ‘Are you sure you want to run a Late Model again? You’re
undefeated right now!” joked Parker.
Parker’s ride offer to Madrid comes after the two men became friendly this year
while at local Quarter-Midget races. Madrid has been attending the small-car
events with his children for several years and Parker joined him in ’08 with his
five-year-old son.
Racing is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at Manzanita
Speedway, which is located on the corner of 35th Avenue and Broadway Road in
Phoenix.
For more information, visit
www.manzanitaspeedway.us or call 602-276-7575.
Manzanita’s blockbuster doubleheader won’t end the DIRTcar Racing Western Region
action in Arizona for the 2008 campaign. The two-day Bill Cheesbourg Memorial –
a non-point Southwest DIRTcar Late Model Series program – will be contested on
Nov. 22-23 at USA Raceway in Tucson. More information is available at
www.usadirttrack.com.
Additional info on all of the series, sanctioning and member tracks of DIRTcar
Racing is available at www.DIRTcar.com.
Contact: World Racing Group
Chris Dolack, VP Media/PR
Kevin Kovac, DIRTcar Racing PR
704-795-7223 • DIRTcar.com
Dirt Late Model Superstar Billy Moyer Headlines Barnett Harley Davidson
Nationals This Weekend (Nov. 13-15) At Manzanita Speedway
Legendary Driver Will Enter Huge DIRTcar Racing Event After Enjoying Week Of
Off-Roading In Desert
PHOENIX, AZ – Nov. 11, 2008 – Dirt Late Model legend Billy Moyer will roll into
Manzanita Speedway for this weekend’s Barnett Harley Davidson Nationals at the
top of his game.
And after spending an enjoyable week off-roading in the California desert, he’ll
also be recharged from a long, successful season of competition.
That promises to be a scary combination for Moyer’s rivals to deal with during
the famed Phoenix track’s blockbuster program, which includes non-point DIRTcar
Late Model racing on the sprawling half-mile oval and Barnett Harley DIRTcar
Modified action on the inner one-third-mile layout.
An open practice is scheduled for Thursday night (Nov. 13), followed by a
preliminary-feature program on Friday night (Nov. 14) and the grand finale for
both divisions ($6,000 to win for Late Models, $5,000 to win for Mods) on
Saturday night (Nov. 15).
The rejuvenated Moyer, 51, of Batesville, Ark., will be looking for his 20th
overall victory of 2008 this weekend, giving him extra incentive during a rare
appearance in front of the Grand Canyon State’s fans. It would be the first
20-win season since 2001 for the superstar driver, whose nearly 700 wins over 32
years of racing include virtually every major dirt Late Model event in
existence.
A six-time UMP DIRTcar Racing Summer Nationals champion and three-time World of
Outlaws Late Model Series titlist, Moyer jumped out of the 2008 starting gate
with six victories during February’s Speedweeks activities in Florida and hasn’t
let up. Among his 19 wins to date are four in WoO LMS action (including two
$20,000-to-win specials) and last month’s $15,000-to-win Cotton Pickin’ 100 at
Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, Miss.
Moyer’s sparkling resume would be lengthened further by a victory in the Barnett
Harley Davidson Nationals, which sports co-sanction from DIRTcar Racing Western
Region’s Southwest DIRTcar Late Model Series and Western Allstars DIRTcar Late
Model Series. Moyer owns one career Western Allstars DIRTcar triumph but has
none with the SWDLMS, which ran under the Southwest Dirt Racing Association (SWDRA)
name from 2001 until coming under the World Racing Group’s DIRTcar Racing banner
this season.
The driver known as ‘Mr. Smooth’ will enter Manzanita’s doubleheader after
taking a week-long break from the daily grind of his self-owned racing program.
He’s spent the past few days at the Glamis Sand Dunes, a well-known recreation
area in Southern California near the borders of Arizona and Mexico that Moyer
annually visits with friends to do some off-roading behind the wheel of his
dune-buggy.
Moyer will drive his customized motorhome just over 200 miles from the Glamis
Sand Dunes to Manzanita, where he’ll meet up with his crew on Thursday. Moyer’s
familiar Banner Hauling Victory Circle No. 21 will be waiting for him after
being hauled out to Phoenix – a 1,360-mile trip lasting nearly 21 hours – by
Jesse Stovall of Galena, Mo., an up-and-coming dirt Late Model racer who agreed
to put Moyer’s machine in his team’s rig.
Stovall will be one of several Barnett Harley Davidson Nationals entrants
running a car built by Victory Circle Chassis, the Bakersfield, Calif.-based
shop that Moyer has helped push into the national dirt Late Model limelight this
season. Moyer began collaborating with Victory Circle in 2007 to produce
experimental cars chock full of ideas from his vast reservoir of knowledge.
Moyer’s visit to Manzanita will provide him an opportunity to talk setup ideas
with several Victory Circle campaigners from the West Coast who plan to compete
in the event, including 2008 Western Allstars DIRTcar Late Model Series champion
Chris Shannon of Merced, Calif., Bobby Hogge IV of Salinas, Calif. (the
winningest Western Allstars driver in ’08), A.J. Kirkpatrick of Castroville,
Calif. (a five-time Western Allstars victor this season) and Rob Mayea of Bend,
Ore.
Racing is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at Manzanita
Speedway, which is located on the corner of 35th Avenue and Broadway Road in
Phoenix.
For more information, visit
www.manzanitaspeedway.us or call 602-276-7575.
Manzanita’s blockbuster doubleheader won’t end the DIRTcar Racing Western Region
action in Arizona for the 2008 campaign. The two-day Bill Cheesbourg Memorial –
a non-point Southwest DIRTcar Late Model Series program – will be contested on
Nov. 22-23 at USA Raceway in Tucson. More information is available at
www.usadirttrack.com.
Additional info on all of the series, sanctioning and member tracks of DIRTcar
Racing is available at www.DIRTcar.com.
Contact: World Racing Group
Chris Dolack, VP Media/PR
Kevin Kovac, DIRTcar Racing PR
704-795-7223 • DIRTcar.com
Western Allstars DIRTcar Late Model Series Champ Chris Shannon Heads To
Manzanita Speedway’s Barnett Harley Davidson Nationals This Weekend
PHOENIX, AZ – Nov. 10, 2008 – What could possibly make Chris Shannon’s 2008
Western Allstars DIRTcar Late Model Series championship season even sweeter?
The 41-year-old from Merced, Calif., doesn’t have to think twice before
answering that question. He just points to this weekend’s Barnett Harley
Davidson Nationals at the famed Manzanita Speedway – the biggest DIRTcar
Racing-sanctioned Late Model event on the West Coast this season.
“It would mean so much to top off our year with a win at Manzanita,” said
Shannon, who parlayed a remarkable string of consistency into his first Western
Allstars title. “It’s gonna be a huge event for all of us West Coast guys. With
all the great racers from the east who are coming in to run, it gives us a
chance to show them what we can do.”
Shannon has his family-owned team geared up for Manzy’s blockbuster weekend,
which boasts non-point DIRTcar Late Model racing on the sprawling half-mile oval
and Barnett Harley DIRTcar Modified action on the inner one-third-mile layout.
An open practice is scheduled for Thursday night (Nov. 13), followed by a
preliminary-feature program on Friday night (Nov. 14) and the grand finale for
both divisions ($6,000 to win for Late Models, $5,000 to win for Mods) on
Saturday night (Nov. 15).
“We put a new body on our car and sent our motor out to Steve Allen (Racing
Engines in Murphy, N.C.) to get freshened up,” said Shannon. “And Chris Sivesind
(of Victory Circle Chassis in Bakersfield, Calif.) is going to crew chief for me
to help me out, so I’m real excited about the weekend.”
Shannon will be behind the wheel of the same Victory Circle machine that he
debuted with a second-place finish in last year’s Barnett Harley Davidson
Nationals (then called the Western World Championships) at Manzanita. He took
the checkered flag several car lengths behind winner Kelly Boen of Henderson,
Colo., who plans a return this weekend to defend his Nationals title.
Boen will be just one of the well-known talents Shannon must battle for
supremacy at Manzanita. Others expected to enter include dirt Late Model legend
Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., who will steer his own familiar Victory Circle
No. 21; five-time and reigning Southwest DIRTcar Late Model Series champion
Lonnie Parker Jr. of El Mirage, Ariz., who scored his first-ever win at Manzy in
the regional tour’s last visit on Sept. 13; Scott James of Greendale, Ind., who
won last year’s Nationals preliminary feature and returns to drive a car fielded
by Arizona’s Randy Carder; Bobby Hogge IV of Salinas, Calif., who led the
Western Allstars DIRTcar tour in feature wins and finished second in the points
standings this season; former wingless Sprint Car standout Mike Kirby of
Anaheim, Calif., who finished second in Manzy’s SWDLMS event on Sept. 13; and
up-and-coming Midwesterner Jesse Stovall of Galinas, Mo.
“I’m looking forward to racing with some really great drivers,” said Shannon,
who is leaving his Golden State home on Wednesday morning to start the 14-hour
haul to Manzanita. “They all run hard and will be tough to beat. We’re going to
have to step up our game if we hope to run up front.”
That shouldn’t be a problem for Shannon, who is on a fast rise in the dirt Late
Model world. He’s actually completing just his second full season of racing in
the division.
A former competitor on pavement with the NASCAR Southwest Tour in the early- to
mid-‘90s, Shannon stepped out of the cockpit after the 1995 season to focus on
his long-running family business, Shannon Pump Co., and raise his family. He
returned to the track in 2006 in California’s DIRTcar Modified division before
moving the following year to the dirt Late Model class, which he had dabbled in
during the early moments of his career.
After finishing second in the 2007 Western Allstars DIRTcar points standings to
Mike Johnson of Lompoc, Calif., as a rookie, Shannon moved to the top of the
heap this season. He spent most of the 2008 schedule chasing Hogge, but Hogge’s
absence from the Aug. 30 tour event at Bakersfield (Calif.) Speedway allowed
Shannon to grab the points lead by 54 markers and carry it to the finish line.
Shannon failed to win a feature in ’08 on the West Coast’s premier dirt Late
Model tour, but he recorded 14 top-five and 17 top-10 finishes in 18 events. He
clinched the title with a second-place finish – his fourth of the season – in
the points-season-ending A-Main on Sept. 20 at Bakersfield.
“It was a pretty rewarding season,” said Shannon, who won his first points title
since his go-kart racing days 25 years ago. “We all worked real hard to win the
championship, and that showed in our consistency. We didn’t have any
(mechanical) failures all year – not one broken part to knock us out of race.
“We’re not where we need to be yet, but we’re getting there,” he added. “Running
against guys like Bobby Hogge and Mike Johnson is a real challenge. They’ve been
doing this a long time and we’re just in our second year in a Late Model, so we
have to work hard to catch up.”
Shannon was able to break through for his first-ever dirt Late Model feature win
after securing the Western Allstars title, capturing the unsanctioned Western
Dirt Nationals on Oct. 4 at Kings Speedway in Hanford, Calif. That victory whet
his appetite for this weekend’s Barnett Harley Davidson Nationals and an even
more ambitious 2009 season ahead.
“We’re hoping to build up our team and do more stuff next year,” said Shannon.
“Billy Moyer (who assists in the development of Victory Circle Chassis) has been
consulting with us, and we’re going to spend some time talking with him at
Manzanita about some things we want to do next year.”
One of the events on Shannon’s hit-list is February’s Alltel DIRTcar Nationals
by UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla. He’s planning a
cross-country trip to make his first appearance at the 38th annual winter racing
extravaganza.
And of course, Shannon will be back on the Western Allstars DIRTcar Late Model
Series in search of his second consecutive points crown.
“I really enjoy racing with the Western Allstars,” said the personable Shannon.
“There’s so many great people with the series – like Bobby Hogge. He’s just
top-notch. We pit together. Sometimes we’ll travel together to the races. We’ll
hang out after the races and barbeque together.
“That’s what’s so great about the Western Allstars deal. It’s all about having
fun.”
Racing is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at Manzanita
Speedway, which is located on the corner of 35th Avenue and Broadway Road in
Phoenix.
For more information, visit
www.manzanitaspeedway.us or call 602-276-7575.
Manzanita’s blockbuster doubleheader won’t end the DIRTcar Racing Western Region
action in Arizona for the 2008 campaign. The two-day Bill Cheesbourg Memorial –
a non-point Southwest DIRTcar Late Model Series program – will be contested on
Nov. 22-23 at USA Raceway in Tucson. More information is available at
www.usadirttrack.com.
Additional info on all of the series, sanctioning and member tracks of DIRTcar
Racing is available at www.DIRTcar.com.
Contact: World Racing Group
Chris Dolack, VP Media/PR
Kevin Kovac, DIRTcar Racing PR
704-795-7223 • DIRTcar.com
DIRTcar Racing Caps Inaugural Season On West Coast Scene With Barnett Harley
Davidson Nationals For Late Models & Modifieds At Manzanita Speedway
Huge Doubleheader Lights Up Famed Arizona Oval From Nov. 13-15
PHOENIX, AZ – Nov. 7, 2008 – DIRTcar Racing’s inaugural season as part of the
West Coast short-track scene will be capped off with a spectacular flourish at
Manzanita Speedway.
The famed oval on the corner of 35th Avenue and Broadway Road in Phoenix is set
to host the Barnett Harley Davidson Nationals, a blockbuster doubleheader from
Nov. 13-15 that brings together the stars of DIRTcar Racing Western Region’s
Super Late Model and open-wheel Modified divisions.
Three nights of action are scheduled, beginning with an open practice on Thurs.,
Nov. 13. A preliminary-feature program for both classes is planned for Fri.,
Nov. 14, and the grand finale on Sat., Nov. 15, will be headlined by a DIRTcar
Late Model A-Main paying $6,000 to win and a Barnett Harley DIRTcar Modified
feature offering a $5,000 top prize.
With the Southwest DIRTcar Late Model Series, Western Allstars DIRTcar Late
Model Series and Barnett Harley DIRTcar Modified Series all coming under the
DIRTcar Racing banner in 2008, the Barnett Harley Davidson Nationals will serve
as a season-ending showcase – and a glimpse into an exciting future – for the
region’s racers and fans.
“We are laying the groundwork for the Barnett Harley Davidson Nationals to be
the big DIRTcar Late Model and Modified event on the West Coast,” said Chris
Morgan, who oversees the tours as the DIRTcar Racing Western Region director.
“We want to just keep building and building the concept of having DIRTcar Racing
Western Region’s stars come together to battle it out on a big stage at a
well-known track like Manzanita Speedway.”
The stars will certainly be out for the Barnett Harley Davidson Nationals – from
DIRTcar Racing champions to standout drivers who will travel hours upon hours to
be part of the much-anticipated weekend.
Leading the charge to Manzy for the $60,000 weekend, of course, will be the 2008
champions of DIRTcar Racing Western Region’s three marquee series: Lonnie Parker
Jr. of El Mirage, Ariz. (Southwest DIRTcar Late Model Series), Chris Shannon of
Merced, Calif. (Western Allstars DIRTcar Late Model Series) and Anthony Madrid
of Phoenix (Barnett Harley DIRTcar Modified Touring Series).
Parker and Madrid bring hometown clout and knowledge of Manzanita’s sweeping
oval to the weekend. The 32-year-old Parker, who secured his fifth consecutive
SWDLMS title this season, is coming off his long-awaited first career victory at
Manzanita in the tour’s last visit there on Sept. 13, while Madrid, 32, is a
Manzy master who ranks third on the track’s alltime overall win list and even
won a SWDLMS feature there earlier this year, on June 28, in his first-ever
Super Late Model start.
Shannon, 41, might live much farther from Manzanita than Parker and Madrid – he
has a haul of over 650 miles ahead of him – but he knows how to get around the
half-mile. He finished second in last year’s Barnett Harley Davidson Nationals
finale, which drew 54 drivers from seven states to Manzanita’s first Super Late
Model event since 2004.
The Nationals’ DIRTcar Late Model field will be highlighted by the appearance of
nationally-known Super Late Model legend Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., who at
51 is completing a spectacular season that currently shows 19 feature wins. A
three-time World of Outlaws Late Model Series champion and winner of virtually
every major Super Late Model event during his storied career, the driver known
as ‘Mr. Smooth’ will drive his own familiar Victory Circle Chassis No. 21.
Moyer’s car will be hauled to Manzanita by Jesse Stovall of Galena, Mo., an
up-and-coming Super Late Model driver who will also bring along his own Victory
Circle mount to challenge the West Coast’s best.
Other notables with plans to enter the Super Late Model action include 2008 NCRA
tour champion Kelly Boen of Henderson, Colo., who won last year’s Barnett Harley
Davidson Nationals finale at Manzanita; Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series regular
Scott James of Greendale, Ind., who won the 2007 Nationals preliminary feature
and returns this year to drive a car owned by Randy Carder of Gilbert, Ariz.;
Bobby Hogge IV of Salinas, Calif., who led the Western Allstars DIRTcar tour in
feature wins this season; SWDLMS points runner-up Mark Fowler of Peoria, Ariz.;
and John Duty of Portland, Ore., who finished fifth in last year’s Nationals
headliner.
Racing is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
For more information, visit
www.manzanitaspeedway.us or call 602-276-7575.
Info on all of the series, sanctioning and member tracks of DIRTcar Racing is
available at www.DIRTcar.com.
Contact: World Racing Group
Kevin Kovac, World of Outlaws Late Model Series P.R. Director
704-254-7929 • kkovac@dirtcar.com
Amazing Consistency Propelled Darrell Lanigan To First Career World of Outlaws
Late Model Series Championship In 2008
CONCORD, NC – Nov. 4, 2008 – Darrell Lanigan understands why many observers
might be surprised that he emerged as the 2008 World of Outlaws Late Model
Series champion.
“I guess because I haven’t been in the top two or three in the points before,”
said Lanigan, whose best previous finish in the renowned tour’s points standings
was fifth, in 2006. “I’ve never really been a points racer.”
But that changed this season. Lanigan, 38, of Union, Ky., collected points in a
manner unmatched by anyone in WoO LMS history, putting together a remarkable run
of consistency to end the campaign with a record championship-winning margin of
160 points over 20-year-old Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va.
When Lanigan clinched his first career WoO LMS title last Friday night (Oct. 31)
by simply starting the first 50-lap A-Main of the VAULT World Finals at The Dirt
Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., his already ample national
profile took one more giant step forward.
Lanigan has accomplished plenty during his dirt Late Model career – including
victories in the $100,000 Dirt Late Model Dream and Dirt Track World
Championship events in 2003 – but nothing surpasses a WoO LMS crown on his
personal bucket list.
“Winning the World of Outlaws championship just puts you in a different
category,” said Lanigan, who has followed the tour since its reincarnation in
2004 under the World Racing Group banner. “Are you able to travel and run good
at different tracks? When you win the World of Outlaws championship, it shows
you can.
“You gotta show up and run good everywhere to win this deal. It’s a real
challenge – and there aren’t very many people who have done it.”
Lanigan certainly wasn’t considered a favorite to join that select list of
champions when the 2008 WoO LMS schedule kicked off in February. Coming off a
frustrating 2007 campaign that saw him fail to record a top-five finish until
mid-June and finish a distant seventh in the points standings, Lanigan was
effectively running under the radar. In fact, a pre-season poll that asked
nearly two dozen media members to predict the top-five finishers in the ’08 WoO
LMS points standings yielded just a single fourth-place vote for Lanigan.
The first eight events of 2008 gave little indication that Lanigan had raised
his game. He was steady but not spectacular, finishing no better than sixth but
also no worse than 13th.
Then came the ninth A-Main of the season, on May 4 at Monett (Mo.) Speedway.
Fifth in the WoO LMS standings and a season-high 64 points behind the leader
entering the event, Lanigan finished fourth to register his first top-five
placing of ’08.
Little did Lanigan – or his rivals – know that his run at the one-third-mile
oval in southwestern Missouri would set him off on an unprecedented two-month
streak of success. He went on to compile 15 consecutive top-five finishes –
including two victories (May 29 at Delaware International Speedway and June 25
at Big Diamond Raceway in Minersville, Pa.) and two runner-up placings – before
seeing the skein end on July 18 at Brown County Speedway in Aberdeen, S.D., when
an early tangle left him with an eighth-place finish.
By the end of the streak Lanigan was atop the WoO LMS points standings by 62
points and well on his way to the crown.
“Anytime somebody has that many top-fives in a row, they’re gonna be hard to
beat,” said Lanigan, whose streak tripled the season-best run of five
consecutive top-five finishes that Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., put up en
route to winning the 2007 WoO LMS championship. “That stretch was definitely the
key (to the title). We just got on a great run and had some luck on our side.”
Of course, there was still plenty of racing left after Lanigan’s record-setting
stretch, but the ‘Bluegrass Bandit’ never faltered. When he closed the month of
July with a second-place finish worth $17,667 in the Firecracker 100 at
Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa., his lead had ballooned to 146 points and it
was clear only an epic collapse could derail him.
Not surprisingly, the famously low-key Lanigan steered clear of any premature
championship talk as he continued piling up consistent finishes down the stretch
to keep Francis’s comeback hopes at bay. He refused to stop worrying right up to
the VAULT World Finals – even knowing that all he had to do was start Friday
night’s Finals A-Main to secure the title.
“Everything fell into place for us all year and went good,” said Lanigan, who
grabbed sole possession of the points lead for the first time after a
fifth-place finish in the season’s 14th event, on June 20 at Ohsweken (Ont.)
Speedway, and never relinquished it. “The new crew guys (Chris Burton and Thomas
McDowell) I brought on this year clicked. We pretty much ran the same car all
year. We didn’t fall out of any (full) points races. I don’t remember changing a
motor on the road (because of a problem). And honestly, I don’t remember putting
a freakin’ front bumper on the car all year because we were in a wreck and it
was bent.
“But still, you don’t know when you’re gonna have a bad night. You still can
have a problem. That’s why when I saw Gerald (Newton of Arizona Sports Shirts)
up there wanting to sell championship t-shirts (at the start of the VAULT World
Finals), I said, ‘No, it’s not official. We don’t have it yet, not until we
start that race.’”
Actually, maybe Lanigan had reason to worry because Lowe’s Motor Speedway was
about the only track at which good fortune abandoned him this season. In four
WoO LMS events held at the four-tenths-mile oval in ’08 he had only a single
top-10 finish – a seventh in last Saturday night’s VAULT World Finals A-Main. He
finished 11th in Friday night’s feature after using only his second provisional
of the season to get in the starting field, and he dropped out of The Dirt
Track’s ‘topless’ Armour Vienna Sausage Showdown last Wednesday night (motor
woes while running third and finished 22nd) and the Circle K Colossal 100 on
April 19 (broken rearend while running second with 10 laps remaining).
Fortunately for Lanigan – and proving the Karma he had on his side in ’08 – his
DNFs at The Dirt Track did not hurt him because they came in events that offered
only WoO LMS show-up points. What’s more, they were the only WoO LMS A-Mains
that he failed to finish all season.
Lanigan’s sparkling ’08 stats show two wins, 25 top-five and 36 top-10 finishes
in 43 A-Mains, plus one fast time honor and 17 heat-race wins. He led 168 laps
and completed 2,254 of a possible 2,285 laps, with only three of the 31 laps he
missed coming in full-points races. (He finished three laps down in the Oct. 7
event at Fayetteville, N.C., due to an extended pit stop for servicing.)
Surely Lanigan would have liked to win more A-Mains, but he did record five
runner-up finishes. He also continued a trend – only once in the WoO LMS’s
five-year modern era has the tour’s winningest driver also captured the
championship (Scott Bloomquist, 2004).
Checkered flags or not, Lanigan was just too solid, too steady, too prepared, to
be beaten in 2008.
“There’s so many different variables that go into winning the championship,”
said Lanigan, whose WoO LMS resume boasts 10 career wins and additional points
finishes of seventh (2005) and 11th (2004). “You’ve gotta have a good program, a
good crew, good maintenance, good cars, parts, motors – everything’s gotta be
right. And you’ve got to be able to adjust your car to the conditions at the
different tracks you go to, adapt to them.
“We’ve worked hard to build a team that can win a championship and this year
everything finally came together.”
And making the season even more special, Lanigan did it his way. His father,
former car owner and 2008 Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame inductee Porter Lanigan,
got him started in dirt Late Model racing as a teenager, but Lanigan has been
fielding a fulltime team on his own for nearly a decade.
“He helped me out at the beginning and got me going, but everything is mine
now,” Lanigan said when asked about his 75-year-old father. “He hasn’t really
pitched in for the last eight, nine, 10 years, and I haven’t really asked him.
We’ve been doing well enough on our own where I didn’t have to. It just makes me
feel better when I can do it on my own.
“There’s not too many teams like us out there anymore, so it definitely makes
you more proud to win a championship.”
Lanigan couldn’t have gotten his operation up-and-down the road so successfully
without the help of many sponsors, including Fusion Energy, which debuted on his
always spic-and-span car in late-August; gottarace.com; Indiana Decal Company;
PRC Racing; Rocket Chassis; and Cornett Thunder Engines.
All those backers will certainly be the focus of Lanigan’s acceptance speech
when he receives his $100,000 championship prize during the WoO LMS Awards
Banquet on Thurs., Dec. 11, at the International Plaza Resort and Spa in
Orlando, Fla. – if the quiet, reserved driver is able to get himself on that
stage for a moment in the spotlight.
You see, Lanigan has been taking plenty of ribbing about having to deliver the
keynote address to the banquet attendees.
“I’ll tell you what, doing that speech at the banquet is about the hardest part
of winning the championship for me,” said Lanigan, whose overall 2008 earnings
on the WoO LMS will reach nearly a quarter-million dollars, including his
points-fund take and the Winner’s Circle bonus cash he received throughout the
season. “Some people can get up there and talk all day, but not me. I don’t have
a problem doing interviews, but when you get everybody sitting there and looking
at you, it makes it hard on me.
“I guess I’ll be alright, though. I can do it to get that 100-grand.”
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit
www.worldofoutlaws.com.
Contact: World Racing Group
Kevin Kovac, World of Outlaws Late Model Series P.R. Director
704-254-7929 • kkovac@dirtcar.com
Josh Richards Experiences Emotional High After VAULT World Finals Victory In
Front Of Huge Crowd & National Television Audience On SPEED
CONCORD, NC – Nov. 1, 2008 – Josh Richards was on an emotional high after
capturing Saturday night’s 50-lap VAULT World Finals dirt Late Model A-Main at
The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
“This is definitely my biggest win ever,” said the normally reserved Richards.
“To win a race like this, on live T.V. and in front of all these people, is just
awesome.
With a packed house of over 14,000 fans and a national television audience on
the SPEED cable network looking on, the 20-year-old star from Shinnston, W.Va.,
charged forward from the eighth starting spot to overtake Earl Pearson Jr. of
Jacksonville, Fla., for the lead on lap 36. He held off Pearson’s late bid to
emerge triumphant.
It was the sixth World of Outlaws Late Model Series victory of 2008 for
Richards, who ended the season tied with Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., atop the
tour’s win list. He also book-ended the 43-race WoO LMS campaign with wins,
capturing the season opener, on Feb. 14 at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville,
Fla., as well as Saturday’s season finale.
Richards secured a career-high finish of second in the WoO LMS points standings,
worth $60,000. He ended the season 160 points behind Darrell Lanigan of Union,
Ky., who was crowned the 2008 champion on stage at the end of the program after
clinching the $100,000 title for the first time in his career the previous
night.
“If we just learn the middle of the year a little better, I think we’ll be all
right,” Richards said of his 2008 points-chasing. “We’ve got the beginning and
the end figured out pretty good, but we gotta do better in the middle to have a
shot at the championship.”
Pearson, 36, settled for runner-up money after leading laps 32-35, crossing the
finish line 0.535 of a second behind Richards. Dale McDowell of Chickamauga,
Ga., who led laps 2-31, placed third, followed by 2007 VAULT World Finals Night
2 winner Donnie Moran of Dresden, Ohio, and 2007 WoO LMS champion Steve Francis
of Ashland, Ky., who locked down a third-place finish in the points standings.
Richards’s performance exceeded his expectations for the second night of
feature-event action at the blockbuster VAULT World Finals, which also included
the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series.
“I had no intentions of winning,” conceded Richards. “Our main goal was to focus
on beating Francis and Clanton to try and wrap up second in the points. But then
I got rolling and I said, ‘O.K., we’re running fourth. We might have a chance.’
“When I drove through the middle (groove) when Earl and Dale got caught in
lapped cars, my car stuck really hard. From then on out it was pretty good, and
here we are (in Victory Lane).”
Richards didn’t cruise to the checkered flag once he put his Mark Richards
Racing Enterprises/Seubert Calf Ranches Rocket into the top spot. He survived
three late-race caution flags – on laps 37, 41 and 47 – and some heavy pressure
from Pearson to win at The Dirt Track for the first time in his young career.
“I don’t know if (the cautions) got my nerves worse or better, because the whole
time I was a nervous wreck,” said Richards, who earned $10,150 for his 12th
career WoO LMS triumph. “But I think the cautions probably got me to focus more.
With all the times I’ve been leading races and lost in the last couple laps, I
wasn’t gonna let it happen this time.”
Pearson sure tried to send Richards home dejected. The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt
Series champion got close enough to bump Richards’s rear bumper racing down the
homestretch with the white flag waving, but he slid high in turn one and lost
too much ground to make a move for the win.
“When I got right up under (Richards) I lost my front end,” said Pearson, who
started second in NASCAR star Bobby Labonte’s LifeLong Locks MasterSbilt car. “I
got an aero-push and just couldn’t steer when I got to turn one. My car just
slid right up to the wall.
“My biggest problem, though, was when I passed McDowell for the lead, I stayed
down low too much and Josh ended up driving by me on the outside. If I would’ve
moved up to the middle it would’ve made it a lot harder for (Richards) to pass
me.”
McDowell, 42, appeared primed to record his first WoO LMS victory since Sept.
23, 2005, at Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway in Calvert City, Ky., after blasting
from the fourth starting spot to the lead on lap two. He completed the surge by
passing polesitter Davey Johnson of Latrobe, Pa., who led the first lap before
later bringing out caution flags on laps 15 (turn-four spin) and 20 (stopped in
turn two).
But McDowell’s Sanford Goddard-owned Warrior house car wasn’t quite fast enough
to keep him in front.
“We ran the wrong left-rear tire,” said McDowell, whose sterling visit to the
The Dirt Track also included a second-place finish the previous night and a
third-place run in Wednesday night’s Armour Vienna Sausage Showdown. “I thought
I had a good read on what we should do, but we were a little too soft with the
tire. The track was a little harder and drier off turn four than I thought it
was and I just worked by left-rear tire too hard.
“But I can’t complain. We exceeded our expectations for the weekend, so we’re
excited.”
Finishing in positions 6-10 were Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., who clipped the
turn-four wall on lap 39 while battling for fourth with Moran; Lanigan, who used
a Chevy engine (borrowed from winning team owner Mark Richards) for the first in
more than a decade; Steve Shaver of Vienna, W.Va., who earned the $500 ‘Bonus
Bucks’ award for being the highest-finishing driver who hasn’t won a WoO LMS
A-Main since 2004 and isn’t ranked among the top 12 in the points standings;
Josh McGuire of Grayson, Ky.; and Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn., who
struggled to climb forward from the 21st starting spot after capturing Friday
night’s A-Main.
Six caution flags slowed the event, including incidents involving top contenders
Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., and Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga.
McCreadie was running just outside the top 10 when he slowed on lap 14. He
pitted to change his car’s left-rear tire and returned to finish 11th.
Clanton, meanwhile, saw his hopes for victory – and a third-place finish in the
points standings – effectively end on lap 37 when he spun between turns three
and four. He went around while attempting to pass Pearson for third.
“I just got in there too hard I guess,” said Clanton, who started 12th. “I
thought I was far enough up for him to see me, but he was probably trying to
focus on his line and didn’t see me when I tried to fill the gap.
“When I hit the brakes to avoid hitting (Pearson), that was it. You spin every
time when you do that.”
Clanton, who entered the event tied with Francis for third in the points
standings, had to settle for a fourth-place finish in the 2008 WoO LMS rankings.
Winners of Saturday night’s heat races, which were aligned by the results of
Thursday night’s second-round time trials, were McDowell, Jimmy Owens of
Newport, Tenn. (who dropped out of the A-Main on lap 22 while running third),
Chris Madden of Gaffney, S.C., Davey Johnson, McCreadie and Pearson. The B-Mains
were captured by Francis, Michael England of Glasgow, Ky., and Bloomquist.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit
www.worldofoutlaws.com.
Results of WoO Late Model Series VAULT World Finals Night 2 (Finishing
Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):
1. (8) Josh Richards/50 $10,150
2. (2) Earl Pearson Jr./50 $5,100
3. (4) Dale McDowell/50 $3,100
4. (13) Donnie Moran/50 $2,500
5. (19) Steve Francis/50 $2,000
6. (9) Chub Frank/50 $1,700
7. (14) Darrell Lanigan/50 $1,400
8. (10) Steve Shaver/50 $1,800
9. (7) Josh McGuire/50 $1,200
10. (21) Scott Bloomquist/50 $1,100
11. (3) Tim McCreadie/50 $1,050
12. (26) Rick Eckert/50 $1,000
13. (25) Shannon Babb/50 $950
14. (5) Chris Madden/50 $900
15. (16) Tim Fuller/50 $850
16. (18) Jonathan Davenport/50 $800
17. (29) Clint Smith/50 $70
18. (12) Shane Clanton/50 $750
19. (20) Michael England/50 $730
20. (24) Matt Miller/50 $700
21. (17) Dan Schlieper/50 $700
22. (27) Vic Coffey/50 $950
23. (11) Ricky Weeks/50 $700
24. (23) Mike Balzano/49 $700
25. (22) Danny Johnson/46 $700
26. (1) Davey Johnson/41 $700
27. (28) Jeff Rine/40 $700
28. (6) Jimmy Owens/22 $700
29. (15) Ricky Elliott/6 $700
Time of Race: 32 Mins., 51.384 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 0.535 Secs.
Yellow Flags: 6 (Laps 14, 15, 20, 37, 41, 47)
Lap Leaders: Davey Johnson (1); McDowell (2-31); Pearson (32-35); Richards
(36-50)
Provisional Starters: Babb, Eckert, Clint Smith (WoO); Coffey (fast qualifier);
Rine (earliest post-mark)
Rookie of the Race: Coffey ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Shaver ($500)
Integra Shocks Crew Chief of the Race ($50): Mark Richards (Richards)
Chick Hawk Racing Hot Lap Award: Davey Johnson (half-off tire warmers)
Super Clean ‘Start of the Race’: McDowell ($100)
Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Dale McDowell, 2. Josh McGuire, 3.
Donnie Moran, 4. Eric Jacobsen, 5. Danny Johnson, 6. Vic Coffey, 7. Jeff Rine,
8. Jeep VanWormer, 9. Jerry Bowersock, 10. Bob Gordon, 11. Austin Hubbard
Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Jimmy Owens, 2. Josh Richards, 3.
Darrell Lanigan, 4. Steve Francis, 5. Tommy Kerr, 6. Rick Eckert, 7. Gregg
Satterlee, 8. Eric Wells, 9. Joe Isabell, 10. Chris Ferguson, 11. Rob
McLaughlin, 12. Curt Spalding
Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Chris Madden, 2. Chub Frank, 3. Ricky
Elliott, 4. Mike Balzano, 5. Jeff Smith, 6. Brian Shirley, 7. Jared Miley, 8.
Jackie Boggs, 9. Mike Knight, 10. Jeff Isabell Jr. (DNS) Don O’Neal
Heat No. 4 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Davey Johnson, 2. Steve Shaver, 3. Tim
Fuller, 4. Michael England, 5. Clint Smith, 6. Tim Allen, 7. Wayne Chinn, 8.
Dean Bowen, 9. Austin Dillon, 10. Jill George, 11. G.R. Smith
Heat No. 5 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Tim McCreadie, 2. Ricky Weeks, 3. Dan
Schlieper, 4. Scott Bloomquist, 5. Shannon Babb, 6. Eddie Carrier Jr., 7. Jeremy
Miller, 8. Justin Rattliff, 9. Jordan Bland, 10. John Winge, 11. Justin Labonte
Heat No. 6 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Earl Pearson Jr., 2. Shane Clanton, 3.
Jonathan Davenport, 4. Matt Miller, 5. Dan Stone, 6. Chad Ruhlman, 7. Chuck
Harper, 8. Bruce Hall, 9. Chesley Dixon, 10. Tony Izzo Jr., 11. Jeremy Faircloth
B-Main No. 1 (12 laps – Top 2 Transfer): Francis, Danny Johnson, Jacobsen, Kerr,
Eckert, Rine, VanWormer, Satterlee, Spalding, Gordon, Joe Isabell, Coffey,
Wells, Bowersock, Ferguson (DNS) McLaughlin, Hubbard
B-Main No. 2 (12 laps – Top 2 Transfer): England, Balzano, Clint Smith, Shirley,
Boggs, Allen, Miley, Jeff Smith, Dillon, Bowen, O’Neal, Chinn, George (DNS)
Knight, Jeff Isabell Jr., G.R. Smith
B-Main No. 3 (12 laps – Top 2 Transfer): Bloomquist, Matt Miller, Babb, Rattliff,
Carrier, Ruhlman, Harper, Stone, Labonte, Bland, Winge, Hall (DNS) Jeremy
Miller, Dixon, Izzo, J. Faircloth
Final 2008 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings - 43 A-Mains
completed (rank/driver/wins/top-5s/top-10s/earnings/points/deficit to leader):
1. Darrell Lanigan 2-25-36-$124,967-5866 (-0)
2. Josh Richards 6-19-30-$133,510-5706 (-160)
3. Steve Francis 6-21-33-$173,300-5686 (-180)
4. Shane Clanton 4-22-32-$125,590-5660 (-206)
5. Chub Frank 1-12-28-$84,930-5626 (-240)
6. Shannon Babb 2-18-28-$111,550-5556 (-310)
7. Rick Eckert 1-12-24-$81,500-5522 (-344)
8. Clint Smith 1-11-24-$69,690-5472 (-394)
9. Tim Fuller 2-7-19-$71,200-5323 (-543)
10. Vic Coffey 0-2-9-$43,110-4583 (-1283)
11. John Blankenship 0-0-6-$34,680-4013 (-1853)
12. Joe Isabell 0-0-0-$19,900-3765 (-2101)
13. Sean Beardsley 0-0-0-$12,520-3070 (-2796)
14. Tim McCreadie 1-10-17-$61,760-2988 (-2878)
15. Danny Johnson 0-0-1-$14,540-2437 (-3429)
LISTEN ONLINE: If fans can’t get to a track to see the World of Outlaws Late
Model Series, they can experience the excitement of the nation’s premier tour
live on DIRTvision.com through the DIRT Radio Network.
To listen to the free audio broadcasts, log on to
www.dirtvision.com and click on
the DIRT Radio Network logo.
Listeners will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to listen to the DIRT Radio
Network. For technical support or questions, e-mail
customerservice@dirtvision.com.
The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by
several sponsors and partners, including Advance Auto Parts – the official auto
parts store of the WoO LMS; Fusion Energy – the official energy boost of the
WoO; and contingency sponsors Wrisco Industries, Chicken Hawk Racing, Crane
Cams, Ohlins Shocks, Quarter-Master, Eibach Springs, Integra Shocks, Jake’s
Custom Golf Carts, Qwikliner and Super Clean.
Contact: World Racing Group
Kevin Kovac, World of Outlaws Late Model Series P.R. Director
704-254-7929 • kkovac@dirtcar.com
Bloomquist Dominates From Flag-To-Flag In Friday Night’s VAULT World Finals Late
Model A-Main; Lanigan Clinches World of Outlaws Late Model Series Title
CONCORD, NC – Oct. 31, 2008 – Did Scott Bloomquist ever feel a sense of worry
while rolling to a flag-to-flag victory in Friday night’s 50-lap VAULT World
Finals Late Model A-Main at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway?
Silly question.
“I think I was probably as good, or better, than I’ve ever been here,”
Bloomquist said after capturing the Friday-night feature of the VAULT World
Finals for the second consecutive year. “I looked over to my (crew) guys to see
how far ahead I was when the cautions were out, but I really didn’t feel like I
needed to do that because I thought, Man, if anybody can run faster than this,
then hell, they deserve it.
“I didn’t see how I could run much faster.”
Mooresburg, Tenn.’s Bloomquist, who turns 45 on Nov. 14, was simply in a league
of his own at the four-tenths-mile oval. He roared into the lead from the pole
position at the start of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series event and never
looked back, racing unchallenged for the entire distance in his Miller Brothers
Coal Team Zero machine.
Bloomquist, who earned $10,150 for his 18th career WoO LMS triumph but first
since last year’s VAULT World Finals, crossed the finish line with a commanding
2.112-second margin of victory over Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga. McDowell
never got close to the 2004 WoO LMS champion after taking over second place when
Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., retired with rearend failure on lap 43.
Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., finished third, followed by 20th-starter Tim
McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., and outside-polesitter Matt Miller of Waterville,
Ohio, who earned the $500 ‘Bonus Bucks’ award for being the highest-finishing
driver who hasn’t won a WoO LMS A-Main since 2004 and isn’t ranked among the top
12 in the points standings.
In a race that saw Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., officially clinch his first
career WoO LMS points championship when he joined the starting field, Bloomquist
grabbed the attention of the evening’s huge crowd and the SPEED television
cameras that taped the action for broadcast on Sat., Nov. 8, at 9 p.m. ET.
“The car was just super,” said Bloomquist, who drove the self-built machine that
earlier this season carried him to big-money victories in the Show-Me 100 at
West Plains (Mo.) Motor Speedway and the $100,000 Dirt Late Model Dream at
Ohio’s Eldora Speedway. “The car rotated so sweet going in (the corners) and
throttled up with as much traction as if it was a wet racetrack. I was amazed at
how good it felt.
“I’m not even gonna touch it (for Saturday night’s VAULT World Finals program).
I can’t even think of anything I can do to improve it.”
Bloomquist recorded his fifth career Super Late Model win at The Dirt Track –
the most of any driver in the facility’s nine-year history. He pulled one
victory ahead of his protégé Chris Madden of Gaffney, S.C., who had tied
Bloomquist at four wins with a triumph in Wednesday night’s Armour Vienna
Sausage Showdown but failed to qualify on Friday night.
Not only have Bloomquist and Madden combined to win nine of the 19 Super Late
Model events contested alltime at The Dirt Track, but they’re also the only two
drivers with multiple victories at the speedway.
“If I can’t win it, I’d just as soon see (Madden) or any of my guys win,” said
Bloomquist. “But Chris was one of the first (drivers) I’ve worked with, and I’ve
never questioned him and he’s never questioned me. We have a great releationship,
but I still like to be one up on him.”
Owens, who steered his Bloomquist Chassis car owned by Mike Reece from the
seventh starting spot to second place by lap 24, was the only driver who made
even a fleeting run at Bloomquist. The 36-year-old cut Bloomquist’s margin to
less than one second shortly before a lap-35 caution period for the stopped car
driven by Davey Johnson of Latrobe, Pa., but couldn’t draw any closer before
dropping out.
McDowell, 42, inherited second place with Owens’s departure and kept Sanford
Goddard’s Warrior Chassis house car in the runner-up position for the remaining
circuits. It was his best WoO LMS finish since a runner-up placing on July 25,
2006, at Missouri’s Lebanon I-44 Speedway.
“We had a third-place car,” said the sixth-starting McDowell, indicating the
break Owens gave him. “For the first six, seven laps, I felt like we were where
we needed to be. Then when the racetrack cleaned off and got a groove worn in
there, I was a little tight.
“(Bloomquist) was a little bit better than me right across the center of the
corner. I had to wait on picking my throttle up and just lost a little bit every
lap. His car just stayed nice and straight and had a nice attitude.
“But I can’t complain,” added McDowell, who finished third in Wednesday night’s
Showdown. “We’ve exceeded what we wanted to do coming here.”
The most intense racing late in the distance was waged between Babb and
McCreadie, who ran together through the top 10 over the final 15 laps. Both
drivers made impressive rallies to secure their top-five placings.
Babb, 34, started fourth, but he slipped high in turn two on lap 11 and fell out
of the top 10. He finally reached third place on a lap-43 restart and kept his
Bowyer Dirt Motorsports Rocket car ahead of McCreadie the rest of the way.
After a close second-place finish in Wednesday night’s Showdown, Babb knocked on
the door to Victory Lane again.
“Maybe the third time will be the lucky charm and we’ll get one tomorrow night,”
he said of Saturday’s VAULT World Finals finale.
McCreadie, 34, saw his night become more difficult during his heat race when he
clipped one of the foam markers lining the inside of the track. The contact bent
the left-front nosepiece of his Sweeteners Plus Rocket car and he lost the final
transfer spot to Mike Balzano of Parkersburg, W.Va., on the last lap.
While McCreadie came back to win the B-Main and charged forward from the 20th
starting spot in the A-Main to finish fourth, he wasn’t satisfied.
“The damage I got in the heat put us behind for the whole night,” said
McCreadie. “We had a real good car. I don’t know if we would’ve been able to run
with Scott, but I would’ve liked to start further up to at least try.”
Six caution flags slowed the event, but none were for serious incidents.
Finishing in positions 6-10 was Ricky Elliott of Seaford, Del., who cracked the
top five midway through the A-Main; 19th-starter Steve Shaver of Vienna, W.Va.;
Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla.; Donnie Moran of Dresden, Ohio; and Josh
Richards of Shinnston, W.Va.
Richards vaulted from fourth to second in the WoO LMS points standings with just
Saturday night’s 50-lap A-Main remaining thanks to the misfortune suffered by
Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., and Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga.
Francis, whose reign as WoO LMS champion ended with Lanigan’s clinching on
Friday night, didn’t even complete a lap in the A-Main. He pulled his Beitler
Motorsports Rocket to the pit area after the four-wide pace lap due to a busted
transmission.
Clanton, who entered the night third in the WoO LMS standings just six points
behind Francis, appeared primed to overtake Francis as he settled into fifth
place in the A-Main. But distributor problems in his RSD Enterprises Rocket car
forced him to retire on lap 23, leaving him in a tie for third in the points
standings with Francis.
Lanigan, 38, experienced a frustrating night, but he nonetheless secured the
$100,000 WoO LMS points crown by starting the A-Main. A faulty fuel regulator
during heat action forced him to use a provisional to gain entry to the
headliner and he quietly advanced from the 25th starting spot to finish 11th.
“I’m happy,” Lanigan said when asked for his emotions after clinching the title,
“but mostly I’m relieved. I don’t have to worry about the points anymore.”
Winners of Friday night’s heat race, which were aligned by the results of
Thursday night’s first-round time trials, were Matt Miller of Waterville, Ohio,
Moran, Clanton, Babb, McDowell and Bloomquist. The B-Mains were captured by
Steve Shaver of Vienna, W.Va., McCreadie and Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga.
Coming off a victory two nights earlier, Madden saw his fortunes turn around for
the worse during the fourth heat. Moments after losing several positions when he
nearly spun in turn four, the 33-year-old driver slapped the backstretch wall
and had his car towed off with front-end damage.
Madden returned to run the second B-Main and made a gallant come-from-behind
bid. He advanced from the 18th starting to finish fourth, leaving him two spots
short of a transfer position. He also ended up two positions shy of claiming the
provisional that went to the fastest driver from time trials who failed to
qualify.
The VAULT World Finals continue on Saturday (Nov. 1) with the second and final
night of WoO Late Model and Sprint Car activity. Hot laps are scheduled to begin
at 5:30 p.m. with racing getting the green flag at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday’s action will be televised live by the SPEED cable network from 8 p.m.
to 11 p.m. ET.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit
www.worldofoutlaws.com.
Results of WoO Late Model Series VAULT World Finals Night 1 (Finishing
Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):
1. (1) Scott Bloomquist/50 $10,150
2. (6) Dale McDowell/50 $5,100
3. (4) Shannon Babb/50 $3,000
4. (20) Tim McCreadie/50 $2,600
5. (2) Matt Miller/50 $2,500
6. (11) Ricky Elliott/50 $1,700
7. (19) Steve Shaver/50 $1,400
8. (9) Earl Pearson Jr./50 $1,300
9. (5) Donnie Moran/50 $1,200
10. (10) Josh Richards/50 $1,100
11. (25) Darrell Lanigan/50 $1,050
12. (26) Chub Frank/50 $1,000
13. (18) Jonathan Davenport/50 $950
14. (8) Tim Fuller/50 $900
15. (16) Mike Balzano/50 $850
16. (17) Jeff Rine/50 $800
17. (27) Rick Eckert/49 $770
18. (22) Tommy Kerr/49 $750
19. (23) Jackie Boggs/48 $730
20. (28) Bob Gordon/47 $700
21. (7) Jimmy Owens/43 $700
22. (14) Don O’Neal/43 $700
23. (21) Clint Smith/35 $700
24. (15) Davey Johnson/33 $700
25. (3) Shane Clanton/23 $700
26. (24) Jeff Smith/22 $700
27. (12) Josh McGuire/10 $700
28. (13) Steve Francis/0 $700
NOTE: Clint Smith went to the rear of the field for the start of the A-Main
because he ran a backup car
Time of Race: 30 Mins., 37.010 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 2.112 Secs.
Yellow Flags: 6 (Laps 11, 23, 24, 24, 35, 43)
Lap Leaders: Bloomquist (1-50)
Provisional Starters: Lanigan, Frank (WoO); Eckert (fast qualifier); Gordon
(earliest entry post-mark)
Rookie of the Race: Coffey ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Matt Miller ($500)
Integra Shocks Crew Chief of the Race ($50): Tommy Hicks (Bloomquist)
Chick Hawk Racing Hot Lap Award: Bloomquist (half-off tire warmers)
Super Clean ‘Start of the Race’: McCreadie ($100)
Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Matt Miller, 2. Jimmy Owens, 3. Steve
Francis, 4. Steve Shaver, 5. Tommy Kerr, 6. Dan Schlieper, 7. Jared Miley, 8.
Michael England, 9. Eddie Carrier Jr., 10. Eric Wells, 11. Bruce Hall, 12. Tony
Izzo Jr.
Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Donnie Moran, 2. Tim Fuller, 3. Don
O’Neal, 4. Rick Eckert, 5. Jeep VanWormer, 6. Brian Shirley, 7. Wayne Chinn, 8.
Chesley Dixon, 9. Chuck Harper, 10. Dean Bowen, 11. Jill George, 12. Jeff
Isabell Jr.
Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Shane Clanton, 2. Earl Pearson Jr., 3.
Davey Johnson, 4. Chub Frank, 5. Jeremy Miller, 6. Austin Hubbard, 7. Justin
Rattliff, 8. Eric Jacobsen, 9. Rob McLaughlin, 10. Justin Labonte, 11. Norman
Short Jr., 12. Jeff Isabell Sr.
Heat No. 4 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Shannon Babb, 2. Josh Richards, 3.
Mike Balzano, 4. Tim McCreadie, 5. Jackie Boggs, 6. Randy Korte, 7. Rick Whaley,
8. Bob Gordon, 9. Mike Knight, 10. Chris Ferguson, 11. Chad Ruhlman, 12. Chris
Madden
Heat No. 5 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Dale McDowell, 2. Ricky Elliott, 3.
Jeff Rine, 4. Ricky Weeks, 5. Jeff Smith, 6. Danny Johnson, 7. Jerry Bowersock,
8. Dan Stone, 9. John Winge, 10. G.R. Smith, 11. Curt Spalding, 12. Darrell
Lanigan
Heat No. 6 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Scott Bloomquist, 2. Josh McGuire, 3.
Jonathan Davenport, 4. Clint Smith, 5. Gregg Satterlee, 6. Jordan Bland, 7.
Austin Dillon, 8. Vic Coffey, 9. Joe Isabell, 10. Wes Burton, 11. Tim Allen, 12.
Jeremy Faircloth
B-Main No. 1 (12 laps – Top 2 Transfer): Shaver, Kerr, Shirley, Schlieper,
Carrier, Miley, Harper, Izzo, Dixon, Bowen, Jeff Isabell Jr., George, Hall,
VanWormer, Wells, England, Eckert, Chinn
B-Main No. 2 (12 laps – Top 2 Transfer): McCreadie, Boggs, Frank, Madden, Jeremy
Miller, Rattliff, McLaughlin, Jacobsen, Hubbard, Ferguson, Ruhlman, Knight,
Labonte, Whaley, Short, Korte, Gordon (DNS) Jeff Isabell Sr.
B-Main No. 3 (12 laps – Top 2 Transfer): Clint Smith, Jeff Smith, Weeks,
Bowersock, Coffey, Stone, Allen, Joe Isabell, Bland, Satterlee, Spalding, Winge,
Danny Johnson, G.R. Smith, Dillon, Burton, Lanigan, Faircloth
2008 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of Oct. 31 - 42
A-Mains completed (rank/driver/wins/top-5s/top-10s/earnings/points/deficit to
leader):
1. Darrell Lanigan 2-25-35-$123,567-5730 (-0)
2. Josh Richards 5-18-29-$123,360-5556 (-174)
3. (tie) Steve Francis 6-20-32-$171,300-5546 (-184)
3. (tie) Shane Clanton 4-22-32-$124,840-5546 (-184)
5. Chub Frank 1-12-27-$83,230-5488 (-242)
6. Shannon Babb 2-18-28-$110,600-5432 (-298)
7. Rick Eckert 1-12-24-$80,500-5396 (-334)
8. Clint Smith 1-11-24-$69,620-5356 (-374)
9. Tim Fuller 2-7-19-$70,350-5203 (-527)
10. Vic Coffey 0-2-9-$42,160-4477 (-1253)
11. John Blankenship 0-0-6-$34,680-4013 (-1717)
12. Joe Isabell 0-0-0-$19,900-3765 (-1965)
13. Sean Beardsley 0-0-0-$12,520-3070 (-2660)
14. Tim McCreadie 1-10-17-$60,710-2860 (-2870)
15. Danny Johnson 0-0-1-$13,840-2337 (-3393)
LISTEN ONLINE: If fans can’t get to a track to see the World of Outlaws Late
Model Series, they can experience the excitement of the nation’s premier tour
live on DIRTvision.com through the DIRT Radio Network.
To listen to the free audio broadcasts, log on to
www.dirtvision.com and click on
the DIRT Radio Network logo.
Listeners will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to listen to the DIRT Radio
Network. For technical support or questions, e-mail
customerservice@dirtvision.com.
The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by
several sponsors and partners, including Advance Auto Parts – the official auto
parts store of the WoO LMS; Fusion Energy – the official energy boost of the
WoO; and contingency sponsors Wrisco Industries, Chicken Hawk Racing, Crane
Cams, Ohlins Shocks, Quarter-Master, Eibach Springs, Integra Shocks, Jake’s
Custom Golf Carts, Qwikliner and Super Clean.
Contact: World Racing Group
Kevin Kovac, World of Outlaws Late Model Series P.R. Director
704-254-7929 • kkovac@dirtcar.com
Owens, McDowell Share Fast-Time Honors As VAULT World Finals Kicks Off Thursday
Night With 78-Car Late Model Field
CONCORD, NC – Oct. 30, 2008 – Southern stars Jimmy Owens and Dale McDowell
shared the spotlight on Thursday night, grabbing fast-time honors in the two
rounds of World of Outlaws Late Model Series time trials that opened the second
annual VAULT World Finals at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
A field of 78 dirt Late Models jammed the pit area for the blockbuster
doubleheader, which also attracted 47 machines for the companion Advance Auto
Parts Sprint Car Series meet.
Owens, 36, of Newport, Tenn., controlled the first round of time trials, roaring
around the four-tenths-mile oval in 14.825 seconds to earn his first WoO LMS
fast-time honor of 2008. The performance behind the wheel of Mike Reece’s
Bloomquist Chassis car gained him the pole position starting spot for the first
VAULT World Finals heat race on Friday night.
McDowell, 42, of Chickamauga, Ga., denied Owens a sweep of the qualifying night,
topping the second round of time trials with a lap of 14.832 seconds. The former
WoO LMS regular will start Sanford Goddard’s Warrior Chassis house car from the
pole position in the first heat on Saturday night after nipping Owens, whose lap
of 14.945 seconds left him just short of duplicating the double fast-time
accomplishment turned in by Steve Shaver of Vienna, W.Va., during last year’s
World Finals.
Owens’s powerful evening helped him erase memories of a frustrating outing in
the previous night’s WoO LMS Armour Vienna Sausage Showdown. After his primary
car was sidelined by terminal engine problems during heat action, Owens jumped
in his backup machine to start the 50-lap A-Main thanks to a fast-time
provisional but was the first retiree.
McDowell, meanwhile, was strong for the second consecutive night. He backed up a
third-place finish in the Showdown and appears primed to chase his first WoO LMS
victory since Sept. 23, 2005, at Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway in Calvert City,
Ky.
Thursday’s first round of time trials set the lineups for Friday night’s heats,
while the second round of qualifying was used to align Saturday night’s heats.
WoO LMS points leader Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., earned a pole position
starting spot in a Friday-night heat and an outside-pole start in a
Saturday-night prelim with his steady qualifying laps of fifth and eighth. He
will clinch his first career WoO LMS championship by starting Friday night’s
50-lap A-Main.
Thursday night’s program concluded with the ‘Breaking the VAULT’ dashes – a
series of nine match races among the top-five drivers in the WoO LMS points
standings and five of the fastest qualifiers from the evening. The winner of
each lap-and-a-half dash earned $300 and had the opportunity to select his next
opponent, building the drama to a final two-and-a-half-lap ‘championship’ race
that was captured by Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind.
Lanigan made a bid to sweep the dashes, ripping off five straight wins by
defeating in succession Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., McDowell, Josh McGuire of
Grayson, Ky., Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., and Shane Clanton of Locust Grove,
Ga. But Lanigan’s run ended with $1,500 in earnings after Owens knocked him off
in Round 6.
Owens pocketed only one $300 win before falling in Round 7 to O’Neal, who
proceeded to defeat Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla., in Round 8 and Josh
Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., in the extended-distance finale. O’Neal earned a
total of $1,600 for his efforts in the Rattliff Motorsports mount.
O’Neal is scheduled to start from the pole position in heat action on both
Friday and Saturday night. His time was second-fastest in the first round and
third-fastest in the second round.
“Hopefully we can start off the heat race tomorrow night better than we did last
year,” said O’Neal, recalling the wild flip during last year’s Friday-night
World Finals heat competition that left him with a weekend-ending concussion.
The Integra Shocks ‘Crew Chief Challenge’ scheduled for the end of Thursday
night’s program was canceled due to the falling temperatures. The competition
will be rescheduled to take place during February’s Alltel DIRTcar Nationals by
UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla.
The VAULT World Finals continue on Friday and Saturday, with hot laps scheduled
to begin at 5:30 p.m. and racing set to take the green flag at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday night’s VAULT World Finals program will be televised live by the SPEED
cable network from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET, and Friday night’s action will taped
for broadcast on SPEED on Sat., Nov. 8, from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET.
For more information, visit
www.worldofoutlaws.com or
www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.
Round 1 Time Trial Results For Fri., Oct. 31 Heat Races
(Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):
1. 20-Jimmy Owens/Newport, TN 14.825
2. 71-Don O’Neal/Martinsville, IN 14.943
3. 44P-Earl Pearson Jr./Jacksonville, FL 14.954
4. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 15.054
5. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 15.059
6. 41-Josh McGuire/Grayson, KY 15.075
7. 7M-Matt Miller/Waterville, OH 15.080
8. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 15.096
9. 25-Shane Clanton/Locust Grove, GA 15.098
10. 44M-Chris Madden/Gaffney, SC 15.115
11. 1G-Dale McDowell/Chickamauga, GA 15.137
12. 0-Scott Bloomquist/Mooresburg, TN 15.165
13. 30-Steve Shaver/Vienna, WV 15.179
14. 99-Donnie Moran/Dresden, OH 15.215
15. 24M-Jeremy Miller/Gettysburg, PA 15.216
16. 18-Shannon Babb/Moweaqua, IL 15.247
17. 45-Ricky Elliott/Seaford, DE 15.259
18. 75-Jonathan Davenport/Blairsville, GA 15.261
19. 19-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 15.290
20. 55-Jeep VanWormer/Pinconning, MI 15.297
21. 17d-Davey Johnson/Latrobe, PA 15.307
22. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 15.311
23. 6W-Ricky Weeks/Rutherfordton, NC 15.327
24. 12B-Jordan Bland/Campbellsville, KY 15.328
25. s9-Dan Schlieper/Sullivan, WI 15.369
26. 19T-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 15.380
27. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 15.390
28. 20R-Chad Ruhlman/Beemus Point, NY 15.412
29. 2J-Jeff Rine/Danville, PA 15.423
30. 3A-Austin Dillon/Welcome, NC 15.447
31. 5E-Michael England/Glasgow, KY 15.452
32. 15d-Dean Bowen/Whiteville, NC 15.453
33. 5R-Justin Rattliff/Campbellsville, KY 15.466
34. 00K-Randy Korte/Highland, IL 15.472
35. 18M-Jeff Smith/Gastonia, NC 15.482
36. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 15.494
37. 28-Eddie Carrier Jr./Salt Rock, WV 15.513
38. 3s-Brian Shirley/Chatham, IL 15.514
39. 44L-Justin Labonte/Trinity, NC 15.526
40. 22F-Chris Ferguson/Mount Holly, NC 15.527
41. 21d-Dan Stone/Thompson, PA 15.557
42. 17A-Tim Allen/Kannapolis, NC 15.558
43. 18E-Eric Wells/Hazard, KY 15.568
44. 1c-Wayne Chinn/Tipp City, OH 15.582
45. 6T-Tim Dohm/Cross Lanes, WV 15.592
46. 11-Austin Hubbard/Seaford, DE 15.594
47. E1-Mike Balzano/Parkersburg, WV 15.595
48. 54-G.R. Smith/Cornelius, NC 15.636
49. 32c-Vic Coffey/Leicester, NY 15.637
50. 4T-Tommy Kerr/Maryville, TN 15.639
51. 3c-Chesley Dixon/Swainsboro, GA 15.654
52. 5J-Eric Jacobsen/Sea Cliff Beach, CA 15.655
53. 11H-Jackie Boggs/Grayson, KY 15.658
54. 20J-Jerry Bowersock/Wapakoneta, OH 15.698
55. 53-Ray Cook/Brasstown, NC 15.699
56. 22G-Gregg Satterlee/Rochester Mills, PA 15.701
57. H1-Jared Miley/South Park, PA 15.702
58. 00H-Chuck Harper/Beverly, WV 15.724
59. 7J-Jeff Isabell Sr./Pennellville, NY 15.730
60. 9K-Mike Knight/Ripley, NY 15.772
61. A1-Duke Whiseant/Texarkana, AR 15.836
62. 16c-Curt Spalding/Hartford, MI 15.912
63. 4F-Jeremy Faircloth/Swainsboro, GA 15.954
64. 16-Tony Izzo Jr./Yutica, IL 16.072
65. 22J-Jill George/Cedar Falls, IA 16.179
66. L8-Norman Short Jr./Georgetown, DE 16.221
67. 18W-Rick Whaley/Millsboro, DE 16.326
68. 17J-John Winge/Riggold, GA 16.333
69. 57-Wes Burton/Kannapolis, NC 16.576
70. s2-Bruce Hall/North Wilkesboro, NC 16.652
71. 7JR-Jeff Isabell Jr./Pennellville, NY 16.672
72. 00M-Rob McLaughlin/Stanley, NC 16.744
73. 0H-Lewis Hudson II/Waynesboro, VA 17.885
74. 27F-Ben Faircloth/Swainsboro, GA N/T
75. 31-Bob Gordon/Keyser, WV N/T
76. 32r-Jim Rasey/Southington, OH N/T
77. 27J-Danny Johnson/Phelps, NY 15.291 (DQ – light)
78. 6J-Joe Isabell/Pennellville, NY 16.019 (DQ – light)
Round 2 Time Trial Results For Sat., Nov. 1 Heat Races
(Position/No./Driver//Best Lap):
1. Dale McDowell 14.832
2. Jimmy Owens 14.945
3. Don O’Neal 15.045
4. Davey Johnson 15.091
5. Shannon Babb 15.095
6. Shane Clanton 15.101
7. Donnie Moran 15.109
8. Darrell Lanigan 15.127
9. Chris Madden 15.149
10. Tim Fuller 15.163
11. Tim McCreadie 15.169
12. Tony Izzo Jr. 15.187
13. Danny Johnson 15.219
14. Josh Richards 15.221
15. Chub Frank 15.261
16. Steve Shaver 15.265
17. Dan Schlieper 15.270
18. Matt Miller 15.280
19. Josh McGuire 15.292
20. Steve Francis 15.301
21. Mike Balzano 15.306
22. Michael England 15.323
23. Ricky Weeks 15.333
24. Jonathan Davenport 15.342
25. Vic Coffey 15.350
26. Rick Eckert 15.380
27. Ricky Elliott 15.387
28. G.R. Smith 15.395
29. Jeremy Miller 15.437
30. Earl Pearson Jr.15.448
31. Eric Jacobsen 15.461
32. Eric Wells 15.468
33. Jared Miley 15.473
34. Clint Smith 15.475
35. Scott Bloomquist 15.497
36. Dan Stone 15.499
37. Jeff Rine 15.508
38. Tommy Kerr 15.541
39. Jeff Smith 15.575
40. Tim Allen 15.590
41. Eddie Carrier Jr. 15.604
42. Chad Ruhlman 15.609
43. Austin Hubbard 15.630
44. Ray Cook 15.641
45. Mike Knight 15.643
46. Austin Dillon 15.694
47. Justin Rattliff 15.715
48. Jeff Isabell Sr. 15.737
49. Chuck Harper 15.743
50. Jerry Bowersock 15.765
51. Chris Ferguson 15.768
52. Duke Whiseant 15.770
53. Jackie Boggs 15.791
54. Wayne Chinn 15.794
55. Jordan Bland 15.795
56. Jeremy Faircloth 15.830
57. Jeep VanWormer 15.836
58. Curt Spalding 15.902
59. Brian Shirley 15.905
60. Dean Bowen 15.929
61. Wes Burton 15.941
62. Randy Korte 15.966
63. Justin Labonte 15.999
64. Chesley Dixon 16.009
65. Rick Whaley 16.047
66. Joe Isabell 16.208
67. Jeff Isabell Jr. 16.241
68. Jill George 16.339
69. John Winge 16.351
70. Norman Short Jr. 16.666
71. Bruce Hall N/T
72. Tim Dohm N/T
73. Ben Faircloth N/T
74. Bob Gordon N/T
75. Lewis Hudson N/T
76. Gregg Satterlee 15.641 (DQ – light)
Results of ‘Breaking the VAULT’ Match Races:
Round 1: Darrell Lanigan ($300) defeats Chub Frank
Round 2: Lanigan ($300) defeats Dale McDowell
Round 3: Lanigan ($300) defeats Josh McGuire
Round 4: Lanigan ($300) defeats Steve Francis
Round 5: Lanigan ($300) defeats Shane Clanton
Round 6: Jimmy Owens ($300) defeats Lanigan
Round 7: Don O’Neal ($300) defeats Owens
Round 8: O’Neal ($300) defeats Earl Pearson Jr.
Round 9: O’Neal ($1,000) defeats Josh
Contact: World Racing Group
Chris Dolack, VP Media/PR
Kevin Kovac, DIRTcar Racing PR
704-795-7223 • DIRTcar.com
Southwest DIRTcar Late Model Series Season Finale On Saturday Night (Nov. 1)
Serves As Championship Coronation For Lonnie Parker Jr.
TUCSON, AZ – Oct. 30, 2008 – Lonnie Parker Jr. has already clinched an
unprecedented fifth consecutive Southwest DIRTcar Late Model Series
championship.
So that means the 32-year-old star from El Mirage, Ariz., will have nothing less
than victory on his mind when the region’s premier dirt Late Model tour closes
its 2008 season this Saturday night (Nov. 1) at USA Raceway in Tucson.
There’s no points concerns for Parker, who will receive his title coronation
while completing one of the most dominant campaigns in SWDLMS history at the
three-eighths-mile oval. He’s captured eight of the 11 features contested this
season.
A second-generation racer whose father, Lonnie Sr., is ranked eighth in the
SWDLMS points standings, Parker enters Saturday’s action riding a two-race win
streak. His last triumph came on Sept. 27 at USA Raceway, putting him in
position to register a sweep of the four SWDLMS events held at the track this
season.
Hoping to short-circuit Parker’s bid for a season-ending victory will be Mark
Fowler of Peoria, Ariz., who has secured a second-place finish in the SWDLMS
points standings but is winless on the 2008 tour.
Plenty of attention will also be focused on local favorite Brad Williams of
Tucson, who will once again have a large contingent of family members and
friends in the stands at USA Raceway. A third-place finisher in the Sept. 27
tour event at USA Raceway, Williams scored his lone SWDLMS victory this season
at Prescott Valley (Ariz.) Raceway.
Williams will battle for a third-place finish in the SWDLMS points standings. He
sits fourth in the rankings, just two points behind third-place Mark Tahtinen of
Casa Grande, Ariz., and nine points ahead of fifth-place Tommy Hussak III of
Picacho, Ariz.
USA Raceway’s gates are scheduled to open at 5 p.m. and racing is set to get the
green flag at 6:30 p.m. Adult general admission is $12, with senior, military
and junior (ages 12-16) tickets priced at $9 and children 11-and-under admitted
free.
USA Raceway is located east of Tucson off I-10 Exit 265, then south on Alvernon
to Los Reales, then turn left to the track. Fans should follow the signs
furnished by Speedy Striping.
For more information on USA Race Park, visit
www.usadirttrack.com or call
520-574-8515.
Info on the Southwest DIRTcar Late Model Series can be obtained by logging on to
www.swdra.com, and additional info on all of the series, sanctioning and member
tracks of DIRTcar Racing is available at
www.DIRTcar.com.
Southwest DIRTcar Late Model Series Points Standings (as of Sept. 27):
1. Lonnie Parker Jr. 608
2. Mark Fowler 477
3. Mike Tahtinen 382
4. Brad Williams 380
5. Tommy Hussak III 371
6. Jerry Fincher 355
7. Joey Moriarty 341
8. Lonnie Parker Sr. 278
9. Randy Carder 215
10. Wes Hall 204
11. Wayne Noyes 189
12. Randy Anderson 175
13. Andy Rudy 156
14. Mike Brigner 151
15. Keith McKinney 132
Contact: World Racing Group
Kevin Kovac, World of Outlaws Late Model Series P.R. Director
704-254-7929 • kkovac@dirtcar.com
Madden Turns Back Babb’s Last-Lap Bid To Register $16,150 Armour Vienna Sausage
Showdown Victory At The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway
CONCORD, NC – Oct. 29, 2008 – Chris Madden thought he could cruise to victory in
Wednesday night’s Armour Vienna Sausage Showdown presented by Ferris Commercial
Mowers at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
The standout driver from Gaffney, S.C., ended up in a dramatic, down-to-wire
dogfight instead.
After seeing his once-commanding lead in the 50-lap A-Main wiped out by several
late caution flags, Madden had to hold off a stirring challenge from Shannon
Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., to capture the first-ever World of Outlaws Late Model
Series event run ‘topless’ – or more specifically, without roofs on the cars.
Madden, 33, beat Babb to the finish line by a scant 0.077 of a second and
pocketed $16,150, including a $6,000 ‘passing’ bonus for winning from the sixth
starting spot.
It was both Madden’s fourth career win on the WoO LMS and at The Dirt Track,
which drew a massive 81-car field for the mid-week ‘topless’ special that was
postponed by rain on its original Oct. 8 date.
Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., who started seventh, finished third in
Sanford Goddard’s Warrior house car after racing in second place from lap 21
until Babb glided by on a lap-43 restart. It was the former tour regular’s
second top-five finish in three 2008 WoO LMS A-Main starts.
Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn., advanced from the 12th starting spot to
place fourth in his Team Zero machine, while Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga.,
made a steady march forward from the 21st starting spot to complete the top five
in the RSD Enterprises Rocket.
Madden, who started sixth but was in the lead for good by lap five after
overtaking early pacesetter Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., built a full
straightaway edge during a green-flag stretch from laps 4-28. But five of the
race’s six caution flags flew between laps 28 and 43, dulling Madden’s momentum
and allowing Babb to mount a last-ditch bid.
“All those cautions killed us,” said Madden, who drove his familiar
Clements-powered Bloomquist car. “I was hoping it was gonna stay green so we
could keep our comfort zone. We had really gotten away from everyone – at one
point I could even see Babb (on the same straightaway).
“But those double-file restarts (in place for the entire distance by event
rules) just kept bunching us up.”
Madden soon found himself with company on his rear bumper in the form of Babb,
who came alive after the halfway point. Babb, who started 14th in NASCAR Sprint
Cup star Clint Bowyer’s Rocket car, blasted around the outside of the
four-tenths-mile oval on a lap-42 restart to skip from fifth to third, and then
he passed McDowell for second on another restart one circuit later.
“When I saw (Babb’s) number up on the (score) board, I knew he was gonna be up
on the top (lane) and hammer-down,” said Madden. “The racetrack was good and
wide, and I knew if he running up there it was gonna be a good race.”
The close of the race was almost too good for Madden’s liking.
On the final lap Babb charged inside of Madden exiting turn four and the two
drivers raced side-by-side to the checkered flag. Madden crossed the finish line
with a miniscule margin of victory while dodging the slowing car driven by Chub
Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., who was limping down the homestretch due to a dead
battery.
“The last lap was awesome,” said Madden, whose last WoO LMS victory came on Aug.
23, 2007, at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tenn. “I went into (turn) three
and chose to run the middle of the racetrack. I was gonna come off on the top
side because I knew (Babb) would be up there, so I thought I’d be able to take
his line away off the corner.
“But when I went through there, there sat Chub. I didn’t know what he was doing,
so I had to turn back left and that made me crack the throttle. I guess when I
did that, Shannon turned left and come up under me, and then I turned left and
we touched a little.
“I was looking dead out the door at (Babb) as we went down the homestretch,” he
continued. “Then, just before the starter’s stand, I cranked the car to avoid
(Chub). I know there wasn’t a foot on both sides of me. It was tight quarters,
but we made it.”
Babb, 34, saw his hopes of winning the Showdown for the second consecutive year
fall short in heartbreaking fashion. He also lost a chance at a $24,000 payday,
since the race’s unique bonus system – if pre-entered by Sept. 13, the winner
was eligible to receive a bonus equal to $1,000 multiplied by his starting
position – would have added $14,000 to the base first-place purse of $10,000.
“If we would’ve made a zig and a zag at the right time, we would’ve been
alright,” said Babb. “But I can’t really complain. We had a few lucky breaks to
get us up there, like having the cautions come out to stick me where I needed to
be.
“We were a long way back there at one time, so we made up a lot of ground. There
just weren’t enough laps.”
Babb earned a hearty cheer from the Showdown’s chilled crowd for his effort.
“Madden was gonna be tough to beat no matter what – he’s good here,” said Babb.
“But when we went into (turns) three and four the last time, he made a good
corner but I ran right up on him, so I thought, ‘Man, maybe we are gonna beat
him at the line here.’
“I think we were both leaning forward in our seats trying to get to the (finish)
line.”
Madden’s victory continued his run of success at The Dirt Track, where he’s now
tied with his mentor Bloomquist as the facility’s alltime winningest dirt Late
Model driver.
“This racetrack suits me,” said Madden, who became the 20th different winner on
the 2008 WoO LMS. “I love the big high-speed, momentum deal here. If we haven’t
broke or gotten in a wreck, we’ve been in the top five every time we’ve been
here.
“We actually shouldn’t have a tie (for the overall win lead) with Scott,” he
added with a hint of a smile crossing his lips. “The Colossal (100) should’ve
been mine two years ago. That double-file restart stuff cost me that race or
we’d be out in front (on the win list).”
Finishing in positions 6-10 were Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., who lost
fifth to Clanton with five laps remaining; Davey Johnson of Latrobe, Pa., who
drove the Tracy Seymour No. 17J; Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga.; Mike Knight of
Ripley, N.Y.; and Justin Rattliff of Campbellsville, Ky., who steered fellow
Kentuckian Michael England’s second Bloomquist Chassis car.
The 21-year-old Knight had a memorable night in his first career visit to The
Dirt Track. He received recognition during the program for winning the Alltel
Ohio Speedweek All-Star on-line contest, and his ninth-place finish earned him
the $500 ‘Bonus Bucks’ cash for being the highest-finishing driver who hasn’t
won a WoO LMS A-Main and isn’t ranked among the top 12 in the points standings.
The fact that the Showdown offered only WoO LMS show-up points was a break for
several tour regulars. Five of the race’s six caution flags were brought out by
drivers who chase the series.
Points leader Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., suffered just his second DNF in 41
A-Mains this season, slowing with a rare engine failure while running third on
lap 34. He is in line to clinch his first career WoO LMS championship, however,
by simply starting Friday night’s VAULT World Finals A-Main.
Other WoO LMS steadies who experienced caution-causing problems were Fuller
(flat tire on lap 28), Vic Coffey of Leicester, N.Y. (lap 40), Frank (flat on
lap 42) and Rick Eckert of York, Pa. (a turn-four spin on lap 43 after a scrape
with Richards while battling for fifth).
Richards was quickest in time trials, earning his series-leading fifth fast-time
honor of 2008 with a lap of 14.955 seconds.
Heat winners were Davey Johnson, Ricky Elliott of Seaford, Del., Lanigan,
Bloomquist, McDowell and Richards. The B-Mains were captured by Ricky Weeks of
Rutherfordton, N.C., Frank and Clanton.
Four NASCAR drivers – Ryan Newman, Ken Schrader, David Gilliland and Jason
Leffler – climbed behind the wheel of dirt Late Models for the Showdown.
Schrader, who fields his own dirt Late Model in many events every season, was
the only stock-car standout to qualify for the A-Main, finishing 12th.
Gilliland, who drove his own Rayburn car, and Leffler, who made a surprise
appearance in the No. 23 normally campaigned by John Blankenship of Williamson,
W.Va., did not challenge for transfer spots in a heat or B-Main.
Newman, meanwhile, escaped injury when he rode out a wild flip on the opening
lap of the first B-Main. The 2008 Daytona 500 winner’s Steve Francis-prepared
Alltel No. 12 was sent airborne at the end of the backstretch in a
chain-reaction scramble after Chas Shellenberger of Winfield, Pa., slammed the
turn-two wall.
The four-day festival of speed at The Dirt Track continues on Thursday (Oct. 30)
with the opening night of the VAULT World Finals, which pairs the WoO LMS with
the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series in a spectacular
doubleheader.
Thursday’s program features two rounds of time trials for both divisions – one
to set the heat lineups for Friday’s action, one to align Saturday’s heats –
plus the ‘Breaking the VAULT’ match-race dashes and the Integra Shocks Crew
Chief Challenge for Late Model teams.
Complete programs of heats, B-Mains and A-Mains will highlight the cards on
Fri., Oct. 31, and Sat., Nov. 1. The WoO LMS standouts will chase a first-place
prize of $10,000 in each evening’s 50-lap A-Main.
Saturday’s competition will be aired live on the SPEED cable network starting at
8 p.m. ET, while Friday’s action will be taped for telecast by SPEED on Sat.,
Nov. 8, at 9 p.m. ET.
VAULT World Finals ticket information is available by calling 1-800-455- 3267 or
visiting www.lowesmotorspeedway.com,
Ticketmaster outlets or the Lowe’s Motor Speedway Box Office.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit
www.worldofoutlaws.com.
Results of WoO Late Model Series Armour Vienna Sausage Showdown (Finishing
Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):
1. (6) Chris Madden/50 $16,150
2. (14) Shannon Babb/50 $5,200
3. (7) Dale McDowell/50 $3,000
4. (12) Scott Bloomquist/50 $2,500
5. (21) Shane Clanton/50 $2,000
6. (8) Josh Richards/50 $1,700
7. (3) Davey Johnson/50 $1,400
8. (10) Clint Smith/50 $1,300
9. (15) Mike Knight/50 $1,700
10. (11) Justin Rattliff/50 $1,100
11. (18) Rick Eckert/50 $1,050
12. (13) Ken Schrader/50 $1,000
13. (20) Chub Frank/50 $950
14. (23) Dan Schlieper/49 $900
15. (24) Eddie Carrier Jr./49 $850
16. (26) Joe Isabell/49 $1,050
17. (17) Donnie Moran/45 $770
18. (1) Ricky Elliott/38 $750
19. (25) Vic Coffey/38 $730
20. (19) Ricky Weeks/33 $700
21. (2) Tim Fuller/32 $700
22. (4) Darrell Lanigan/32 $700
23. (5) Jonathan Davenport/28 $700
24. (16) Steve Francis/27 $700
25. (22) Brian Shirley/27 $700
26. (9) Eric Wells/27 $700
27. (27) Tim Allen/27 $700
28. (28) Jimmy Owens/12 $700
Time of Race: 35 Mins., 51.381 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 0.077 Secs.
Yellow Flags: 6 (Laps 4, 28, 34, 40, 42, 43)
Lap Leaders: Fuller (1-4); Madden (5-50)
Provisional Starters: Coffey, Joe Isabell (WoO); Allen, Owens (track)
Rookie of the Race: Joe Isabell ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Knight ($500)
Integra Shocks Crew Chief of the Race ($50): Jamie Owens (Madden)
Chick Hawk Racing Hot Lap Award: Fuller (half-off tire warmers)
Super Clean ‘Start of the Race’: Babb ($100)
Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):
1. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 14.955
2. 20-Jimmy Owens/Newport, TN 14.960
3. 24M-Jeremy Miller/Gettysburg, PA 14.977
4. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 15.031
5. 41-Josh McGuire/Grayson, KY 15.109
6. 17d-Davey Johnson/Latrobe, PA 15.114
7. 25-Shane Clanton/Locust Grove, GA 15.140
8. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 15.165
9. 0-Scott Bloomquist/Mooresburg, TN 15.183
10. 3A-Austin Dillon/Welcome, NC 15.204
11. 44M-Chris Madden/Gaffney, SC 15.215
12. 6W-Ricky Weeks/Rutherfordton, NC 15.235
13. 30-Steve Shaver/Vienna, WV 15.235
14. 1G-Dale McDowell/Chickamauga, GA 15.243
15. 22G-Gregg Satterlee/Rochester Mills, PA 15.291
16. 9K-Mike Knight/Ripley, NY 15.296
17. 5J-Eric Jacobsen/Sea Cliff Beach, CA 15.305
18. 75-Jonathan Davenport/Blairsville, GA 15.338
19. 19-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 15.345
20. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 15.347
21. 9-Ken Schrader/Fenton, MO 15.349
22. 19T-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 15.370
23. 119R-Ricky Elliott/Seaford, DE 15.375
24. 18E-Eric Wells/Hazard, KY 15.395
25. 98-David Gilliland/Riverside, CA 15.397
26. 55-Jeep VanWormer/Pinconning, MI 15.412
27. 28-Eddie Carrier Jr./Salt Rock, WV 15.420
28. 54-G.R. Smith/Cornelius, NC 15.420
29. 99-Donnie Moran/Dresden, OH 15.423
30. 17A-Tim Allen/Kannapolis, NC 15.452
31. 4T-Tommy Kerr/Maryville, TN 15.459
32. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 15.502
33. 00K-Randy Korte/Highland, IL 15.515
34. 12N-Ryan Newman/Statesville, NC 15.518
35. 5e-Michael England/Glasgow, KY 15.518
36. 6T-Tim Dohm/Cross Lanes, WV 15.524
37. 27J-Danny Johnson/Phelps, NY 15.536
38. 4F-Jeremy Faircloth/Swainsboro, GA 15.536
39. 22F-Chris Ferguson/Mount Holly, NC 15.546
40. 3s-Brian Shirley/Chatham, IL 15.579
41. 53-Ray Cook/Brasstown, NC 15.618
42. 5R-Justin Rattliff/Campbellsville, KY 15.628
43. 11H-Jackie Boggs/Grayson, KY 15.634
44. 6J-Joe Isabell/Pennellville, NY 15.640
45. 17s-Vic Hill/Morristown, TN 15.652
46. 7M-Matt Miller/Waterville, OH 15.679
47. 21R-Luke Roffers/Concord, NC 15.692
48. 20J-Jerry Bowersock/Wapakoneta, OH 15.694
49. 20R-Chad Ruhlman/Beemus Point, NY 15.713
50. 18M-Jeff Smith/Gastonia, NC 15.725
51. 71-Don O’Neal/Martinsville, IN 15.733
52. 23-Jason Leffler/Lake Norman, NC 15.792
53. 21d-Dan Stone/Thompson, PA 15.805
54. 11-Austin Hubbard/Seaford, DE 15.810
55. 32R-Jim Rasey/Southington, OH 15.812
56. 12b-Jordan Bland/Campbellsville, KY 15.814
57. 57-Wes Burton/Kannapolis, NC 15.838
58. 00H-Chuck Harper/Beverly, WV 15.864
59. 32c-Vic Coffey/Leicester, NY 15.884
60. A1-Duke Whiseant/Texarkana, AR 15.884
61. 421-Anthony Sanders/Belmont, NC 15.960
62. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 16.019
63. 18W-Rick Whaley/Millsboro, DE 16.062
64. 18-Shannon Babb/Moweaqua, IL 16.138
65. L8-Norman Short Jr./Georgetown, DE 16.182
66. 7JR-Jeff Isabell Jr./Pennellville, NY 16.287
67. 22J-Jill George/Cedar Falls, IA 16.359
68. 22c-Randle Chupp/Troutman, NC 16.411
69. 11G-Travis Greer/Marion, VA 16.414
70. 17J-John Winge/Ringgold, GA 16.427
71. s9-Dan Schlieper/Sullivan, WI 16.542
72. 44L-Justin Labonte/Trinity, NC 16.581
73. 13-Chesley Dixon/Swainsboro, GA 16.604
74. 00M-Rob McLaughlin/Stanley, NC 16.614
75. 7J-Jeff Isabell Sr./Pennellville, NY 16.843
76. 56-Chas Shellenberger/Winfield, PA 17.898
77. 16c-Curt Spalding/Hartford, MI 18.141
78. 1c-Wayne Chinn/Tipp City, OH 18.977
79. E1-Mike Balzano/Parkersburg, WV N/T
80. 27F-Ben Faircloth/Swainsboro, GA N/T
81. 31-Bob Gordon/Keyser, WV N/T
Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Davey Johnson, Davenport, Wells, Weeks,
Danny Johnson, Boggs, Rasey, Ruhlman, Gilliland, Sanders, George, Dixon, Kerr
(DNS) Balzano
Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Elliott, Madden, Eckert, Jacobsen,
McCreadie, J. Faircloth, McLaughlin, McGuire, Bland, Jeff Smith, B. Faircloth,
Joe Isabell, VanWormer, Chupp
Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Lanigan, Fuller, Knight, Carrier, Dillon,
Korte, Ferguson, O’Neal, Whaley, Burton, Greer (DNS) Hill, Jeff Isabell Sr.,
Gordon
Heat No. 4 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Bloomquist, Babb, Schrader, Shirley, Matt
Miller, Jeremy Miller, G.R. Smith, Satterlee, Newman, Harper, Leffler, Winge,
Shellenberger
Heat No. 5 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): McDowell, Clint Smith, Moran, Frank,
Schlieper, Roffers, Cook, England, Coffey, Stone, Spalding, Short, Owens
Heat No. 6 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Richards, Rattliff, Francis, Clanton,
Dohm, Chinn, Bowersock, Whiseant, Hubbard, Shaver, Allen, Labonte, Jeff Isabell
Jr.
B-Main No. 1 (12 laps – Top 2 Transfer): Weeks, Shirley, Danny Johnson, Ruhlman,
Kerr, Boggs, Gilliland, Harper, Winge, Matt Miller, Rasey, Satterlee, Newman,
Sanders, Shellenberger (DNS) Jeremy Miller, G.R. Smith, George, Leffler, Dixon,
Balzano
B-Main No. 2 (12 laps – Top 2 Transfer): Frank, Schlieper, Jacobsen, McCreadie,
Coffey, Owens, Roffers, Cook, McLaughlin, England, Jeff Smith, Stone, Bland, J.
Faircloth, Chupp, Joe Isabell, Short, Spalding (DNS) McGuire, B. Faircloth,
VanWormer
B-Main No. 3 (12 laps – Top 2 Transfer): Clanton, Carrier, Chinn, Dohm, Korte,
O’Neal, Dillon, Bowersock, Whiseant, Hubbard, Ferguson, Jeff Isabell Sr.,
Labonte, Burton, Jeff Isabell Jr., Allen, Whaley (DNS) Shaver, Greer, Hill,
Gordon
2008 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of Oct. 29 - 41
A-Mains completed (rank/driver/wins/top-5s/top-10s/earnings/points/deficit to
leader):
1. Darrell Lanigan 2-25-35-$122,517-5602 (-0)
2. Steve Francis 6-20-32-$170,600-5452 (-150)
3. Shane Clanton 4-22-32-$124,140-5446 (-156)
4. Josh Richards 5-18-28-$122,260-5426 (-176)
5. Chub Frank 1-12-27-$82,230-5362 (-240)
6. Shannon Babb 2-17-27-$107,600-5288 (-314)
7. Rick Eckert 1-12-24-$79,730-5280 (-322)
8. Clint Smith 1-11-24-$68,920-5252 (-350)
9. Tim Fuller 2-7-19-$69,450-5081 (-521)
10. Vic Coffey 0-2-9-$42,050-4402 (-1200)
11. John Blankenship 0-0-6-$34,680-4013 (-1589)
12. Joe Isabell 0-0-0-$19,790-3690 (-1912)
13. Sean Beardsley 0-0-0-$12,520-3070 (-2532)
14. Tim McCreadie 1-9-16-$58,110-2718 (-2884)
15. Danny Johnson 0-0-1-$13,730-2262 (-3340)
LISTEN ONLINE: If fans can’t get to a track to see the World of Outlaws Late
Model Series, they can experience the excitement of the nation’s premier tour
live on DIRTvision.com through the DIRT Radio Network.
To listen to the free audio broadcasts, log on to
www.dirtvision.com and click on
the DIRT Radio Network logo.
Listeners will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to listen to the DIRT Radio
Network. For technical support or questions, e-mail
customerservice@dirtvision.com.
The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by
several sponsors and partners, including Advance Auto Parts – the official auto
parts store of the WoO LMS; Fusion Energy – the official energy boost of the
WoO; and contingency sponsors Wrisco Industries, Chicken Hawk Racing, Crane
Cams, Ohlins Shocks, Quarter-Master, Eibach Springs, Integra Shocks, Jake’s
Custom Golf Carts, Qwikliner and Super Clean.
Contact: World Racing Group
Kevin Kovac, World of Outlaws Late Model Series P.R. Director
704-254-7929 • kkovac@dirtcar.com
Pre-Entry List Of 50-Plus Drivers Provides Glimpse Into Huge Late Model Field
Expected For VAULT World Finals
CONCORD, NC – Oct. 28, 2008 – The dirt Late Model pre-entry list for this
weekend’s second annual VAULT World Finals at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor
Speedway exceeds 50 drivers.
But the ultimate car count for the season-ending World of Outlaws Late Model
Series spectacular? That’s anyone guess.
An all-star cast of 52 drivers from 16 states currently comprises the official
pre-entry list for the VAULT World Finals, which begins on Thursday night (Oct.
30) with time trials for the WoO LMS and Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws
Sprint Car Series and continues with complete programs for both tours on Friday
and Saturday night (Oct. 31 and Nov. 1).
Pre-entry is not mandatory, however – and with dozens of drivers not entered but
nevertheless making plans to attend, the field could reach epic proportions.
Eighty-two cars were signed in for the qualifying night of last year’s VAULT
World Finals, and the current high-water mark for the 2008 WoO LMS is the 70-car
throng that assembled for the opener on Feb. 14 at Volusia Speedway Park in
Barberville, Fla.
“By all indications, we should see the biggest car count of the season for a
World of Outlaws Late Model Series event,” said series director Tim Christman.
“Last year’s inaugural VAULT World Finals was a huge success and Late Model
teams from all over the country are excited to be part of what promises to be
another great show.”
All of this season’s WoO LMS travelers are on the pre-entry list, led by
presumptive 2008 champion Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky. He figures to clinch the
tour’s $100,000 points title by starting Friday night’s 50-lap A-Main.
Defending WoO LMS champ Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., will relinquish his
throne this weekend, but he’ll have to race hard throughout the Finals to
maintain his precarious hold on second place in the points standings. He is just
six points ahead of Locust Grove, Ga.’s Shane Clanton and 26 points up on Josh
Richards of Shinnston, W.Va.
Other WoO LMS regulars set for battle on the four-tenths-mile oval include (in
order of points position) Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., who will look to erase
memories of his wild flip in The Dirt Track’s Circle K Colossal 100 earlier this
year; Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill.; Rick Eckert of York, Pa.; Clint Smith of
Senoia, Ga.; Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., who made a memorable drive from the
22nd starting spot to a third-place finish in the 2007 World Finals finale; and
2008 Rookie of the Year Vic Coffey of Leceister, N.Y.
The upstate New York-based JIR Motorsports team, which fielded three cars at
more than three-quarters of this year’s WoO LMS events, will also be on hand at
The Dirt Track. A four-car effort will include brothers Joe Isabell and Jeff
Isabell Jr., both of Pennellville, N.Y.; Sean Beardsley of Central Square, N.Y.;
and DIRTcar big-block Modified superstar Danny Johnson of Phelps, N.Y., who
makes his return to the JIR operation following a mid-summer separation.
Other prominent names on the pre-entry list include:
* Donnie Moran of Dresden, Ohio, who held off Francis to score a dramatic
victory in last year’s Saturday-night World Finals A-Main.
* Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., the 2006 WoO LMS champion who pocketed
$85,000 for winning the Topless 100, Jackson 100 and Late Model Knoxville
Nationals over a seven-week period in August and September.
* Two-time UMP DIRTcar Super Late Model national champion Randy Korte of
Highland, Ill.
* Mike Balzano of Parkersburg, W.Va., who pocketed $17,000 for winning the 2004
Armour Vienna Sausage Showdown at The Dirt Track.
* Chris Madden of Gaffney, S.C., who owns three career Super Late Model wins at
The Dirt Track.
* Austin Dillon of Welcome, N.C., the teenage grandson of NASCAR team owner
Richard Childress who is coming off a fourth-place finish in his second career
NASCAR Nationwide Series on Oct. 25 at Memphis Motorsports Park.
* Former Knoxville Late Model Nationals winner Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill.
* Dan Schlieper of Sullivan, Wis., whose 2007 World Finals bid was marred by a
wild flip during heat-race action.
* Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., who earned $26,000 for capturing the 2005
Armour Vienna Sausage Showdown at The Dirt Track.
* UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals star Jeep VanWormer of Pinconning, Mich.
* Ricky Elliott of Seaford, Del., who has won at The Dirt Track in Advance Auto
Parts Super DIRTcar Series big-block Modified competition.
* Well-known Southerners such as Ricky Weeks of Rutherfordton, N.C., Jeff Smith
of Gastonia, N.C., and Ed Gibbons of Manning, S.C.
A host of talented racers from far-and-wide are expected to enter the VAULT
World Finals when they arrive at The Dirt Track, including 2004 WoO LMS champ
Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn., who won the Friday-night World Finals
A-Main last year; former WoO LMS regular Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga.;
Steve Shaver of Vienna, W.Va., who was the fast-timer in both rounds of
qualifying for last year’s World Finals; Jeremy Miller of Gettysburg, Pa., who
led laps 1-30 of last year’s Friday-night World Finals feature before retiring
with a broken axle; Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series champion Earl Pearson Jr.
of Jacksonville, Fla.; and Mike Knight of Ripley, N.Y., who won the Alltel Ohio
Speedweek All-Star contest earlier this year.
The VAULT World Finals ‘unofficially’ commence on Wednesday night (Oct. 29) with
the Armour Vienna Sausage Showdown for the WoO LMS. Postponed by rain on Oct. 8,
the Showdown will be the first race in WoO LMS history to be run ‘topless’ – ie.,
without the fiberglass roofs on the cars – and offers a unique passing bonus
that could push the first-place prize of the 50-lap A-Main to as much as
$30,000.
Thursday night (Oct. 30) kicks off the scheduled VAULT World Finals action. Two
rounds of time trials for the WoO Late Model and Sprints – one to line up Friday
night’s heats, one to line up Saturday night’s preliminaries – will be
conducted, as well as the ‘Breaking the VAULT’ dashes for both divisions and the
Integra Shocks Crew Chief Challenge for Late Model teams.
Complete programs of heats, B-Mains and A-Mains will highlight the cards on
Fri., Oct. 31, and Sat., Nov. 1. The WoO LMS standouts will chase a first-place
prize of $10,000 in each evening’s 50-lap A-Main.
Saturday’s competition will be aired live on the SPEED cable network starting at
8 p.m. ET, while Friday’s action will be taped for telecast by SPEED on Sat.,
Nov. 8, at 9 p.m. ET.
Ticket information is available by calling 1-800-455- 3267 or visiting
www.lowesmotorspeedway.com,
Ticketmaster outlets or the Lowe’s Motor Speedway Box Office.
More information on the WoO LMS is available by logging on to
www.worldofoutlaws.com.
VAULT World Finals Official Late Model Pre-Entry List (Car/Driver/Hometown):
00-Randy Korte/Highland, Ill.
00h-Chuck Harper/Beverly, W.Va.
07-Ed Gibbons/Manning, S.C.
1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, W.Va.
H1-Jared Miley/South Park, Pa.
1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, Pa.
E1-Mike Balzano/Parkersburg, W.Va.
2J-Jeff Rine/Danville, Pa.
s2-Bruce Hall/North Wilkesboro, N.C.
3-Austin Dillon/Welcome, N.C.
3s-Brian Shirley/Chatham, Ill.
4B-Jackie Boggs/Grayson, Ky.
5-Eric Jacobsen/Watsonville, Calif.
6-Ricky Weeks/Rutherfordton, N.C.
6t-Tim Dohm/Charleston, W.Va.
7-Matt Miller/Whitehouse, Ohio
7j-Joe Isabell/Pennellville, N.Y.
L8-Norman Short Jr./Georgetown, Del.
s9-Dan Schlieper/Sullivan, Wis.
11-D.J. Wells/Wooton, Ky.
11g-Travis Greer/Marion, Va.
13-Chesley Dixon/Swainsboro, Ga.
15D-Dean Bowen/Whiteville, N.C.
16-Tony Izzo Jr./Utica, Ill.
17-Tim Allen/Kannapolis, N.C.
18-Shannon Babb/Moweaqua, Ill.
18e-Eric Wells/Hazard, Ky.
18m-Jeff Smith/Gastonia, N.C.
18w-Rick Whaley/Millsboro, Del.
19-Steve Francis/Ashland, Ky.
19T-Tim Fuller/Watertown, N.Y.
20-Jimmy Owens/Newport, Tenn.
21d-Dan Stone/Thompson, Pa.
21R-Luke Roffers/Concord, N.C.
22-Jill George/Cedar Falls, Iowa
22G-Gregg Satterlee/Rochester Mills, Pa.
24-Rick Eckert/York, Pa.
25-Shane Clanton/Locust Grove, Ga.
28-Eddie Carrier Jr./Salt Rock, W.Va.
29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, Ky.
31-Bob Gordon/Keyser, W.Va.
32C-Vic Coffey/Leicester, N.Y.
39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, N.Y.
41-Josh McGuire/Grayson, Ky.
44-Clint Smith/Senoia, Ga.
44m-Chris Madden/Gaffney, S.C.
45-Rick Elliott/Seaford, Del.
46-Doug Horton/Bruceton Mills, W.Va.
54-G.R. Smith/Cornelius, N.C.
55-Jeep VanWormer/Pinconning, Mich.
75-Jonathan Davenport/Blairsville, Ga.
99-Donnie Moran/Dresden, Ohio
Contact: O’Reilly MARS DIRTcar Series
Kevin Kovac, DIRTcar Racing Public Relations
704-254-7929 • kkovac@dirtcar.com
Terry Phillips Returns To Top Of O’Reilly MARS DIRTcar Series With Fourth Career
Championship In 2008
CONCORD, NC – Oct. 28, 2008 – Terry Phillips is back on top of the O’Reilly MARS
DIRTcar Series.
After watching his longtime adversary Bill Frye capture two consecutive titles
on the Midwestern dirt Late Model tour, Phillips regained the spotlight with a
convincing march to the 2008 crown.
“It feels good to win the championship again,” said Phillips, a 42-year-old
racer from Springfield, Mo., who finished second to Greenbrier, Ark.’s Frye in
the MARS points standings the two previous seasons. “Every year we set out to
win it, but it doesn’t always work out. Two years in a row we had some problems
and Frye did everything right, so we’re happy that the tables turned in our
favor this year.”
The title gives Phillips four career MARS championship trophies, leaving him one
behind Frye’s record total of five. They remain the only two drivers to win a
championship in the tour’s nine-year history.
“Me and Bill race hard every year, so I guess we’re what you call ‘rivals,’”
said Phillips, who has never finished worse than second in the MARS points
standings. “I guess it was my turn this year, but he’s still one (title) up on
me. We’ll have to see if we can tie him up next year.”
Phillips actually felt little pressure from Frye along the 2008 MARS schedule,
which numbered 14 events at eight tracks in three states (Missouri, Mississippi
and Kentucky). Frye, 48, experienced an off-year, failing to win a race and
accumulating just six top-five finishes en route to a distant third-place finish
in the standings, 166 points behind Phillips.
The biggest threat to Phillips was a fast-rising young driver he knows plenty
about: his 23-year-old teammate and protege Jeremy Payne. A native of Phoenix,
Ariz., who now lives in Springfield, Mo., in a home owned by Phillips, Payne
finished second in the MARS points standings in his second full season driving
an Andy’s Frozen Custard/Don Babb Motorsports car fielded by Phillips.
“When you bring in your main competition, it makes it even harder to win the
championship,” smiled Phillips, whose racing operation also sports valuable
assistance from such companies as Petroff Towing, GRT Chassis, Hatfield Engines
and Integra Shocks. “Jeremy has really progressed well. He’s always right there,
and he’s just getting better.”
Payne wasn’t quite good enough to knock off his boss, however. He put together a
solid performance record of two wins, eight top-five and 11 top-10 finishes, but
that still left him 79 points behind Phillips in the final standings.
Phillips was simply too strong on the MARS trail in 2008. He led the series with
five victories – and even more impressive, he finished outside the top three
just four times. One of his hiccups was a ninth-place finish on June 21 at Lucas
Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo., after he spun in lapped traffic while leading;
his only DNF in a full-points race was a 23rd-place finish due to rearend
failure on July 11 at Midway Speedway in Lebanon, Mo., in a race won by Payne.
(Phillips also failed to finish two MARS/World of Outlaws Late Model Series
co-sanctioned events in Missouri, on May 3 at Lebanon I-44 Speedway and May 4 at
Monett Speedway, but the races offered only MARS show-up points.)
The mid-summer disappointment at Midway seemed to light a fire under Phillips.
He closed the season with a rush, finishing among the top-three spots in the
final seven A-Mains. He won three of the last four MARS events, including a
$7,500 score in his late father Larry’s memorial race on Aug. 30 at Lebanon I-44
Speedway (his second straight win in the six-year-old event); a $3,000 victory
in the 37th annual 4-State Championship on Aug. 31 at Monett; and a triumph in
the 40-lap season finale on Sept. 20 at Lebanon I-44.
“We struggled a little bit at the beginning of the year,” said Phillips, who
pushed his alltime-best MARS career win mark to 66 in 2008. “Then we brought out
a new (GRT) car at the Show-Me (100 in West Plains, Mo., over Memorial Day
weekend) – right before the MARS schedule really got rolling – and we’ve been
very good ever since.”
Phillips’s second-half roll with the new car began with his sweep of a two-day
MARS program on May 30-31 at Jackson Motor Speedway in Byram, Miss., and was
highlighted by a memorable Labor Day weekend in his backyard. Accenting his
holiday victories at Lebanon I-44 and Monett was an emotional night on Aug. 28
at his hometown Springfield Raceway, where Payne and Phillips finished one-two
in the MARS-sanctioned John Kuntz Memorial. Kuntz, who founded the Andy’s Frozen
Custard chain, died in January.
“That was a special deal for us,” said Phillips, who finished just a half
car-length behind Payne in the 40-lap event. “John was a good man and a great
supporter of our racing. It meant a lot to have our cars finish first and second
in that race.”
After enjoying a 2008 season in which he reigned supreme again on the MARS tour,
emerged as the champion of the new Allstate Insurance Dirt Late Model Racing
Association (DLRA, which co-sanctioned several races with MARS) and won 18
features overall (including three open-wheel Modified events), Phillips feels as
energized for the future as an up-and-coming youngster.
“I haven’t lost my drive and desire,” said Phillips, a 24-year racing veteran
who followed his legendary father into the short-track world. “My father never
lost his drive, so hopefully I never will. The fire to win is still there.”
Phillips will receive his O’Reilly MARS DIRTcar Series championship awards at
the tour’s 2008 awards banquet on Nov. 15 at the Clarion Grand Palace in
Branson, Mo.
For more information on the MARS DIRTcar Series, visit
www.dirtcar.com.
Final 2008 O’Reilly MARS DIRTcar Series Points Standings:
1. Terry Phillips 1,426
2. Jeremy Payne 1,347
3. Bill Frye 1,260
4. Steve Rushin 1,099
5. Chris Jones 1,056
6. Brandon McCormick 1,055
7. Jack Sullivan 833
8. Justin Wells 785
9. Will Vaught 725
10. Chris Smyser 617
11. Dusty Johnston 533
12. Brad Looney 475
13. Larry Jones 349
14. Patrick Johnson 280
15. Rusty Dukes 263
2008 O’Reilly MARS DIRTcar Series Race Winners:
May 3, I-44 Speedway, Lebanon, Mo. (Shannon Babb)
May 4, Monett Speedway, Monett, Mo. (Brian Birkhofer)
May 30, Jackson Motor Speedway, Byram, Miss. (Terry Phillips)
May 31, Jackson Motor Speedway, Byram, Miss. (Terry Phillips)
June 21, Lucas Oil Speedway, Wheatland, Mo. (Billy Moyer)
July 3, I-44 Speedway, Lebanon, Mo. (Jesse Stovall)
July 11, Midway Speedway, Lebanon, Mo. (Jeremy Payne)
Aug. 22, Paducah International Raceway, Paducah, Ky. (Brian Shirley)
Aug. 23, I-55 Raceway, Pevely, Mo. (Dennis Erb Jr.)
Aug. 28, Springfield Raceway, Springfield, Mo. (Jeremy Payne)
Aug. 29-30, I-44 Speedway, Lebanon, Mo. (Terry Phillips)
Aug. 31, Monett Speedway, Monett, Mo. (Terry Phillips)
Sept. 19, I-44 Speedway, Lebanon, Mo. (Jesse Stovall)
Sept. 20, I-44 Speedway, Lebanon, Mo. (Terry Phillips)
Contact: World Racing Group
Kevin Kovac, World of Outlaws Late Model Series P.R. Director
704-254-7929 • kkovac@dirtcar.com
World of Outlaws Late Model Series VAULT World Finals News & Notes: Clanton &
Francis Bring Momentum To Lowe’s Motor Speedway; Wednesday’s Armour Vienna
Sausage Showdown Kicks Off Four Days Of Action
CONCORD, NC – Oct. 27, 2008 –
WHO’S HOT: World of Outlaws Late Model Series stars Shane Clanton and Steve
Francis are rolling into The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
With both drivers coming off victories during a break from the national tour’s
schedule, they’re clearly ready for four days of action at the famed facility
that begins on Wednesday night (Oct. 29) with the postponed Armour Vienna
Sausage Showdown and continues Oct. 30-Nov. 1 with the second annual VAULT World
Finals.
Clanton, 33, of Locust Grove, Ga., is arguably one of the hottest dirt Late
Model drivers in the nation over the past couple months. He’s not only won three
of the last eight WoO LMS events – including two of the last three – to reach
third in the points standings, but also captured the prestigious UMP DIRTcar-sanctioned
World 100 on Sept. 6 at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio; finished second in
the Dirt Track World Championship on Oct. 18 at K-C Raceway in Alma, Ohio; and
won three consecutive regional events in the Southeast.
The latest conquest for Clanton came on Saturday night (Oct. 25) at Dixie
Speedway in Woodstock, Ga. He pocketed $5,000 for topping the ‘Bill Elliott 50
Red Dirt Dash,’ which was run during the NASCAR Sprint Cup weekend at the nearby
Atlanta Motor Speedway and included visits by such NASCAR celebrities as
Elliott, Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, Ken Schrader, Dave Blaney, David Gilliland
and Ray Evernham.
Clanton, who owns a career-high 13 overall dirt Late Model wins in 2008, didn’t
qualify for the Circle K Colossal 100 in his only previous appearance this
season at The Dirt Track after breaking a wheel in time trials and getting
involved in several preliminary-race tangles. But he was spectacular in last
year’s VAULT World Finals, charging around the outside of the track to take the
lead late in the Saturday-night A-Main before contact with another car caused
him to slip to seventh at the finish.
Francis, 41, of Ashland, Ky., picked up some steam for the VAULT World Finals
with a $10,000 victory on Sunday night (Oct. 26) in the unsanctioned 100-lap
dirt Late Model portion of the Winchester 200 at Winchester (Va.) Speedway. He
swept the weekend program, setting fast time and also winning a heat and the
Fast Dash on Friday night.
Though Francis is resigned to relinquishing his reign as the 2007 WoO LMS
champion to Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., during this week’s season-ending
action, he can assure himself sole possession of top-winner status for the ’08
tour. He leads the series with six victories, including a $50,000 triumph in
April’s Circle K Colossal 100 at The Dirt Track.
WEEKEND RACING: Francis was joined in Winchester’s field by fellow WoO LMS
regulars Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., and Rick Eckert of York, Pa. The
20-year-old Richards drove the Ernie Davis-owned No. 25 to a third-place finish
in the 100-lap A-Main, while Eckert was the race’s first retiree and finished
25th.
Francis, Richards and Eckert had also planned to compete in the dirt Late Model
portion of the weekend’s Octoberfest 350 at Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway, but heavy
rain on Saturday’s scheduled qualifying day forced officials to postpone the
entire two-day show to Nov. 8-9. The weather also pushed Winchester’s feature
events from Saturday night to Sunday night.
WoO LMS traveler Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., meanwhile, also entered Saturday
night’s ‘Bill Elliott 50 Red Dirt Dash’ at his hometown Dixie Speedway. He
finished fourth in the feature, but he did experience a taste of victory thanks
to Ken Schrader, who drove Smith’s backup car to the checkered flag in a 25-lap
special event for the NASCAR stars on hand.
CAN HE REPEAT?: WoO LMS standout Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., left The Dirt
Track with $18,000 in his pocket when he captured last year’s Armour Vienna
Sausage Showdown.
The driver of NASCAR star Clint Bowyer’s Traeger Grills/Chevy No. 18 will try to
make it two in-a-row on Wednesday night (Oct. 29) when the 50-lap event, which
was rained out on its original Oct. 8 date, kicks off a four-day festival of
speed at the four-tenths-mile oval.
Of course, Babb, 35, will have to make some adjustments from his winning ’07
setup. Wednesday’s event will mark the first time in WoO LMS history that a race
is run ‘topless’ – ie., with the fiberglass roofs taken off the cars to provide
fans a better look at the drivers wrestling their steering wheels.
One thing remains the same from last year’s Showdown: Babb and his rivals will
once again have an opportunity to pad their first-place bounty thanks to the
event’s unique passing-bonus program. The Showdown is offering a base purse of
$10,000 for first place, but if the driver who wins the A-Main submitted an
official entry form prior to Sept. 13 he will also receive a ‘passing’ bonus in
an amount equal to $1,000 multiplied by his starting position. That means
winning from the pole position is worth a $1,000 bonus; from the 10th spot is
worth a $10,000 bonus; and from the 20th spot is worth a $20,000 bonus.
The Showdown will also feature an exciting draw for A-Main starting spots,
called the ‘ Southern Fried Scramble.’ Either 18 drivers (if four heats are run)
or 20 drivers (if four heats are contested) will participate in the draw, which
gives them a chance to play it safe or roll the dice in pursuit of the maximum
$30,000 first-place prize on the line.
The ‘Southern Fried Scramble’ draw will consist of five buckets holding four
starting-spot pills each. Bucket One will have positions 1-4, Bucket Two
positions 5-8, Bucket Three positions 9-12, Bucket Four positions 13-16 and
Bucket Five positions 17-20.
When the drivers are called up to draw in the order of their heat finishes
(winners first, etc.), they’ll have the option of selecting a pill from any of
the buckets. Essentially they can guarantee themselves a starting spot in the
first two rows of the A-Main by staying conservative and sticking their hand in
the first bucket – or they can go for a position further back in the field that
would set them up to a claim a huge paycheck if they win the Showdown.
NASCAR INVASION: Reigning Daytona 500 champion Ryan Newman will lead a trio of
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stars into battle against the dirt Late Model regulars
during Wednesday night’s Armour Vienna Sausage Showdown.
Newman will drive an Alltel-sponsored No. 12 from WoO LMS titlist Steve
Francis’s stable for the second consecutive year. He finished 11th in the 2007
Showdown.
Joining Newman in the Showdown field will be Ken Schrader, an accomplished dirt
racer who enters his own dirt Late Model in dozens of events every season, and
up-and-coming Sprint Cup racer David Gilliland, who will steer his own Rayburn
No. 98.
ALLTEL ALL-STAR: The 2008 Alltel Ohio Speedweek All-Star will get his moment in
the spotlight this week at The Dirt Track.
Mike Knight, 21, of Ripley, N.Y., who earned a $10,000 check for receiving the
most votes in the on-line Alltel Ohio Speedweek All-Star poll, will make the
long tow to North Carolina with his No. 9K for the four-day racing meet. He will
be honored for his Alltel All-Star triumph during a special ceremony in front of
the massive grandstand at The Dirt Track.
HE’S BACK: Sizzling DIRTcar big-block Modified superstar Danny Johnson of
Phelps, N.Y., plans to end a three-month absence from the WoO LMS this week at
The Dirt Track.
Johnson, 48, began the 2008 campaign as a WoO LMS Rookie of the Year contender.
He entered 22 of the season’s first 28 events before splitting with the JIR
Motorsports team following the July 25 date at Eldora Speedway.
The driver known as the ‘Doctor’ has reunited with JIR Motorsports, however, and
has a freshly-lettered No. 27J Rocket dirt Late Model to run in the Armour
Vienna Sausage Showdown and VAULT World Finals. He’ll compete as a teammate to
JIR drivers Joe Isabell and Jeff Isabell Jr. – brothers from Pennellville, N.Y.
– and Sean Beardsley of Central Square, N.Y.
Johnson will arrive at The Dirt Track hot off a pair of huge big-block Modified
victories in October. On Oct. 19 he pocketed over $20,000 for winning the
prestigious Eastern States 200 at Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown,
N.Y., and on Oct. 4 he was triumphant to the tune of $25,000-plus in the
Schneider Brothers 200 at Fulton (N.Y.) Speedway. His win at Fulton came behind
the wheel of a big-block Modified owned by New Yorker Joe Beyea, who also fields
a dirt Late Model that Ricky Elliott of Seaford, Del., drove in several WoO LMS
events this season.
MAC-DADDY: Former WoO LMS regular Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., has
thoroughly enjoyed his stint as the color commentator for this year’s WoO LMS
events televised on the SPEED cable network.
But while both of this week’s VAULT World Finals feature programs will be
broadcast on SPEED – Saturday will be live starting at 8 p.m. ET, while Friday’s
action will be taped for telecast on Sat., Nov. 8, at 9 p.m. ET – McDowell will
trade his microphone for a helmet. He plans to drive Sanford Goddard’s Warrior
Chassis House Car in all of this week’s dirt Late Model events.
Shane Andrews, who has teamed with McDowell to call the five WoO LMS events
broadcast this year on SPEED, will be matched in the booth for the VAULT World
Finals with Roger Slack. The former director of events at The Dirt Track @
Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Slack made his SPEED television debut recently when he
served as a pit reporter for the coverage of the DIRTcar big-block Modified Rite
Aid 200 at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, N.Y.
THIS WEEK: Four days of competition at The Dirt Track begins on Wednesday (Oct.
29) with the postponed Armour Vienna Sausage Showdown Presented by Ferris
Commercial Mowers. Hot laps are scheduled to begin at 6:15 p.m.
Then the second annual VAULT Outlaws World Finals starts on Thursday (Oct. 30),
combining the WoO LMS with the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car
Series in a blockbuster doubleheader not seen anywhere else.
Two rounds of time trials for the Late Models and Sprint Cars will be contested
on Thursday night – one round to set up Friday’s heat races, and one to set up
Saturday’s preliminaries. Added attractions on Friday include the ‘Breaking the
VAULT’ dashes, which will pit the top-five drivers in the championship standings
in each series plus the five fastest qualifiers from time trials in one-on-one
match races to determine a $1,000 ‘last driver standing,’ and the Integra Shocks
Crew Chief Challenge for the WoO LMS.
Complete programs of heats, B-Mains and A-Mains will be contested for both the
Late Models and Sprints on Friday and Saturday nights. The Late Model headliners
will be 50 laps and the Sprints will run 30-lappers – all for $10,000 to win.
Hot laps are scheduled for 6 p.m. on Thursday and 5:30 p.m. on Friday and
Saturday.
For ticket information visit
www.lowesmotorspeedway.com or call the Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket
office at 1-800-455-FANS.
WoO LMS INFO: Visit
www.worldofoutlaws.com.
Contact: World Racing Group
Chris Dolack, VP Media/PR
704-795-7223 • cdolack@dirtcar.com
VAULT World Finals Grows With ‘Breaking the VAULT’ Dashes, More SPEED Coverage,
Huge Souvenir Area
CONCORD, N.C. — Oct. 26, 2008 — The VAULT World Finals already is the biggest
event in the history of The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway — and it keeps
growing.
Not only will the Armour Foods Vienna Sausage Showdown Presented by Ferris
Mowers kick off the action on Wednesday night, now the top five drivers in the
Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series standings, the World of
Outlaws Late Model Series standings and the top five qualifiers in each division
on Thursday’s opening day of the VAULT World Finals will compete in “Breaking
the VAULT” dashes — a series of match races that will set the stage for two more
thrilling nights of racing on Friday and Saturday.
Plus, Saturday’s event already was scheduled to be televised live on SPEED from
8 p.m. to 11 p.m., now the SPEED cameras will be in action on Friday to capture
the first round for air in a two-hour special event at 9 p.m. Eastern on Nov. 8.
Once again, the biggest crew in dirt track television coverage will converge on
The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Bobby Gerould and Brad Doty will call
the Sprint Car action from the booth with Tony Bokhoven covering the
fast-breaking news in the pits. On the Late Model side, Shane Andrews and Roger
Slack will provide the play-by-play and analysis with Sarah Jane Hunt covering
the action in the pits.
If all that wasn’t enough, a record number of vendors will be on site arranged
in a special location outside the main gates with the latest merchandise for all
of the fans. Then, beginning at 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday, a pre-race talk show
in the souvenir area with hosts Dave Seay and D.C. Bash will feature interviews
with drivers and key people behind the scenes of the second annual VAULT World
Finals.
One of the highlights of the event will no doubt be the “Breaking the VAULT”
races on Thursday night. The top five drivers in the championship standings in
each series plus the top five fastest qualifiers from time trials will take the
track. The points leaders will call out a driver to race one-on-one. The driver
who wins the lap-and-a-half dash will call out the next driver, and so on until
only one driver is left standing. Money will be on the line with each race,
including a $1,000 bonus in the final dash. That exciting event will be followed
by the Integra Shocks Crew Chief Challenge for the World of Outlaws Late Model
Series, wrapping up a full day of action on and off the track.
To reserve seats, call 1-800-455- 3267 or visit
www.lowesmotorspeedway.com,
Ticketmaster outlets or the Lowe’s Motor Speedway Box Office.
Contact: World Racing Group
Kevin Kovac, World of Outlaws Late Model Series P.R. Director
704-254-7929 • kkovac@dirtcar.com
Lanigan Won’t Celebrate Until 2008 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Title Is
Officially His During VAULT World Finals
CONCORD, NC – Oct. 24, 2008 – It’s virtually a stone-cold lock that Darrell
Lanigan will clinch his first career World of Outlaws Late Model Series points
championship during the VAULT World Finals scheduled for Oct. 30-Nov. 1 at The
Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
Just don’t mention that to the driver known as the ‘Bluegrass Bandit.’
While Lanigan realizes he’s on the precipice of the $100,000 title, he’s a
typical racer who refuses to celebrate until he knows the money is 100 percent
in his pocket.
In fact, Lanigan didn’t even crack a smile when he was informed that he’d become
the 2008 WoO LMS champion by basically showing up at The Dirt Track for the
VAULT World Finals and the postponed Armour Vienna Sausage Showdown, a ‘topless’
special that was rescheduled for Wed., Oct. 29.
“Don’t even tell me that,” Lanigan scoffed when the points possibilities were
offered to him following the last WoO LMS event, on Oct. 7 at Fayetteville
(N.C.) Motor Speedway. “I don’t want to know anything until it’s over.”
Lanigan, 38, of Union, Ky., holds a commanding 150-point lead over defending WoO
LMS champion Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., heading into the season-ending
three-race visit to The Dirt Track. It’s an insurmountable advantage because
Lanigan will earn 75 show-up points for each event at the four-tenths-mile oval;
as a WoO LMS contract driver who has entered every tour race this year, a
‘hardship’ clause ensures he’ll receive the non-qualifier/show-up points if
unforeseen circumstances prevent him from attending a show.
But Lanigan’s lead is not quite unbeatable – and that’s why he’s taking nothing
for granted.
There remains a miniscule chance that Lanigan could see the title slip through
his fingers. It’s a scenario so unlikely that no bookie could lay odds on it,
but one that a veteran driver like Lanigan, who knows there are no absolutes in
racing, just can’t simply dismiss.
Since the postponed Armour Vienna Sausage Showdown offers only WoO LMS show-up
points to all entrants, Lanigan’s lead will remain at 150 points entering VAULT
World Finals time trials on Thursday. Then, if Lanigan somehow failed to start
the Friday and Saturday A-Mains – even though he’s guaranteed starting berths in
the events with a series points provisional – and Francis were able to win both
of them, the two drivers would find themselves in a tie for the points lead.
And because Francis would have eight tour wins to Lanigan’s two, the
championship would go to Francis on a tie-breaker.
So that’s why Lanigan will finally breathe easy when he takes the green flag in
Friday night’s 50-lap A-Main. The coveted points crown will then officially
belong to the driver of the Fusion Energy Rocket No. 29.
The championship will be well-deserved for Lanigan, who has authored arguably
the most consistent campaign in WoO LMS history. He seized control of the
standings with an unprecedented string of 15 consecutive top-five finishes from
May 4-July 16 and never looked back. He’s piled up a total of 25 top-five and 35
top-10 finishes in 40 A-Mains to date and has failed to finish just two races on
the lead lap (he’s completed 2,122 of a possible 2,135 laps).
The VAULT World Finals kick off on Thurs., Oct. 30, with a big qualifying night
for the WoO LMS and Advance Auto Parts WoO Sprint Car Series. Two rounds of time
trials – one to line up Friday night’s heats, one to line up Saturday night’s
preliminaries – will be conducted, as well as a ‘VAULT Dash for Cash’ for both
divisions and the Integra Shocks Crew Chief Challenge for Late Model teams.
Complete programs of heats, B-Mains and A-Mains will highlight the cards on
Fri., Oct. 31, and Sat., Nov. 1. The WoO LMS standouts will chase a first-place
prize of $10,000 in each evening’s 50-lap A-Main.
Adding more luster to the VAULT World Finals, the Armour Vienna Sausage Showdown
will kick off the four days of competition on Wed., Oct. 29. Postponed by rain
on Oct. 8, the Showdown will be the first race in WoO LMS history to be run
‘topless’ – ie., without the fiberglass roofs on the cars – and offers a unique
passing bonus that could push the first-place prize of the 50-lap A-Main to as
much as $30,000.
For tickets to the VAULT World Finals and Armour Vienna Sausage Showdown, call
1-800-455- 3267 or visit
www.lowesmotorspeedway.com, Ticketmaster outlets or the Lowe’s Motor
Speedway Box Office.
More information on the WoO LMS is available by logging on to
www.worldofoutlaws.com.
Contact: World Racing Group
Kevin Kovac, UMP DIRTcar Racing Public Relations
704-254-7929 • kkovac@dirtcar.com
Call Him Mr. UMP DIRTcar Racing: Dennis Erb Jr. Sweeps Organization’s Summer
Nationals & National Super Late Model Titles For Second Straight Season
EVANSVILLE, IN – Oct. 23, 2008 - Just call him Mr. UMP DIRTcar Racing.
After sweeping the UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals and national Super Late Model
championships for the second consecutive season, the moniker clearly suits
Dennis Erb Jr.
Yes, Erb, 36, of Carpentersville, Ill., has become the poster boy for the
Midwest’s well-known grassroots short-track organization.
“Running with UMP just fits my program,” said Erb, an owner-operator known as
the ‘One Man Band’ who hails from the heart of UMP DIRTcar country. “We can stay
close to home and run a lot of good-paying races, so, with my budget, it’s the
most feasible way for me to try to make some money.”
A fulltime professional driver, Erb has certainly found racing on the UMP
DIRTcar circuit to be a formula for financial success. For the second straight
year he’ll collect a hefty chunk of points-fund cash to help get him through the
winter and prepare for 2009 – a total of $50,000, including $25,000 for the
Summer Nationals, $20,000 for the national crown and $5,000 for capturing the
UMP DIRTcar-sanctioned Northern Allstars Late Model Series championship.
The road Erb took to that booty was a bit less stressful than in 2007, when he
became the first driver in UMP DIRTcar history to win the Summer Nationals and
national Super Late Model points titles in the same season. While he once again
engaged in a close battle for the Summer Nationals trophy, he needed no
dramatic, second-half rally to grab the national championship. This year he
simply cruised to the national title, clinching it with several weeks of points
racing remaining.
“This year was definitely a little different,” Erb said of his pursuit of the
UMP DIRTcar national crown, which was determined using drivers’ 40 best
finishes/points nights. “Last year we were over 200 points behind (Wes
Steidinger of Fairbury, Ill.) in the national points after the Summer Nationals
and had to chase him down to the last couple races, but this year we got a
little bit of a lead after the Summer Nationals and were able to run with it to
the end.
“We had a little bit of breathing room this year, so that made it a little
easier on us. We didn’t have to worry about what track we were gonna go to every
week to make sure we’d race against the most cars possible to get (national)
bonus points (which are based on car counts).”
Erb’s total of 15 UMP DIRTcar-sanctioned feature wins fell short of the 20
victories he tallied in 2007, but he entered the month of June with just a
single circuit triumph to his credit. A Tri-Track Challenge win on June 1 at
Macon (Ill.) Speedway got him rolling heading into the Summer Nationals and he
never looked back.
On the strength of two wins (at Haubstadt, Ind., and Lawrenceburg, Ind.), 15
top-five and 19 top-10 finishes in 20 Summer Nationals A-Mains (his only placing
outside the top 10 came when he experienced a mechanical malfunction on the
final lap of a race), Erb out-pointed Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., for the
grueling tour’s championship in mid-July. Then, through the conclusion of weekly
points racing at the end of September, he pulled away in the national standings
with victories at seven different tracks in four states, including an Aug. 2
score at I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo., that was worth $16,000 thanks to a $10,000
bonus he received for capturing two of the season’s three Tri-Track Challenge
events.
Erb capped his championship campaign in style, winning his first-ever feature at
Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, in the points-season-ending UMP DIRTcar
Nationals on Oct. 4 and clinching his first career NALMS title with a triumph on
Oct. 10 during the tour’s concluding weekend at Quad City Raceway in East
Moline, Ill.
“We had a real good year,” analyzed the low-key Erb, who also registered 10
runner-up finishes this season in UMP DIRTcar events en route to a 292-point
margin of victory (3,285-2,993) over Steidinger in the national standings. “To
go out and win a championship anywhere proves that you had a good season, a good
car, good equipment and you race good.
“When you can come back and win both of championships, it just shows that we’re
on top of things and we run good all year long.”
With help from such backers as Petroff Towing, J&J Steel, Thomason
Transportation, C.J. Rayburn Race Cars and Rhyne Engines and a dedicated
volunteer mechanic in Heather Lyne, Erb has assembled a team that’s become the
envy of the UMP DIRTcar Super Late Model world.
And he couldn’t be happier about reaching the pinnacle of a circuit that’s in
his blood.
“When you’ve grown up running with the (UMP DIRTcar) series, it means a lot to
be on top of it,” said Erb. “With the caliber of drivers that UMP has and the
number of cars we have to compete against the whole year, winning a championship
is an accomplishment.”
For more information on UMP DIRTcar Racing, visit
www.dirtcar.com.
Official Final 2008 UMP DIRTcar Racing Super Late Model National Points
Standings (driver/points):
1. Dennis Erb Jr. 3285
2. Wes Steidinger 2993
3. Jason Feger 2888
4. Steve Sheppard Jr. 2718
5. Brian Shirley 2695
6. Kevin Weaver 2669
7. Michael Kloos 2570
8. Brian Ruhlman 2451
9. Rusty Schlenk 2439
10. Eric Smith 2425
11. Ryan Unzicker 2418
12. Mike Hammerle 2322
13. Daren Friedman 2147
14. Mike Schulte 2135
15. Jayme Zidar 2131
16. Scott Bull 2087
17. Dusty Moore 2072
18. Randy Korte 2062
19. Jeep VanWormer 2034
20. Will Vaught 2008
Contact: World Racing Group
Kevin Kovac, World of Outlaws Late Model Series P.R. Director
704-254-7929 • kkovac@dirtcar.com
Behind Presumptive Champ Darrell Lanigan, Battle For Second In World of Outlaws
Late Model Series Points Standings Will Be Tight At VAULT World Finals
Just 26 Points Separate Francis, Clanton & Richards Entering Season-Ending
Events Oct. 30-Nov. 1 At The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway
CONCORD, NC – Oct. 21, 2008 – Darrell Lanigan’s spectacularly steady 2008 World
of Outlaws Late Model Series performance means the VAULT World Finals on Oct.
30-Nov. 1 at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway will serve as his
championship coronation rather than a dramatic battle for the tour’s $100,000
title.
But there will still be plenty of points-race intrigue for the full-fender crowd
during the blockbuster second annual event, which closes the 2008 seasons for
the World of Outlaws Late Model Series and Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws
Sprint Car Series.
While Union, Ky.’s Lanigan will march toward the official clinching of his first
career WoO LMS crown during a busy week of racing that includes two VAULT World
Finals A-Mains and the postponed Armour Vienna Sausage Showdown rescheduled for
Wed., Oct. 29, three drivers separated by just 26 points will fight to secure
the runner-up spot in the final points standings.
Defending WoO LMS champion Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., enters the
season-ending burst of action with a precarious hold on second in the standings.
He leads the red-hot Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga., by six points and
20-year-old Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., by 26 points.
What’s at stake for the battling Outlaws? How about $25,000 in points-fund cash
– the difference between second place (worth $60,000) and fourth place
($35,000).
With Francis, 41, already conceding his reign as WoO LMS champion to Lanigan, he
certainly doesn’t want to fall below second in the points standings and see more
money slip through his fingers.
“Darrell has just had a great year – the kind of year we had last year, where
everything seemed to go our way,” said Francis, who trails Lanigan by 150 points
but leads the tour in A-Main triumphs, with six. “We’re just trying to hold on
to second. The points are a little closer now than we’d like, though, because we
dropped out (in the last WoO LMS event on Oct. 7 in Fayetteville, N.C.).”
Francis, who celebrated his 2007 WoO LMS title on The Dirt Track’s stage at the
conclusion of last year’s inaugural VAULT World Finals, has a proven track
record at the blazing-fast, four-tenths-mile oval. Earlier this year he drove
his Dale Beitler-owned Rocket car to victory in the track’s WoO LMS Circle K
Colossal 100, bringing him a $50,000 prize.
Clanton, 33, brings the most momentum into the VAULT World Finals. Over the past
two months he’s won three WoO LMS A-Mains and finished second in two other
events, pulling him to within six points of Francis.
After spotting his rivals nearly 100 points when he dropped out of the first two
events of the WoO LMS season at Florida’s Volusia Speedway Park, Clanton has
made an impressive rally that has him in reach of matching his career-best tour
points finish of second, in 2006.
“We’re working hard to try and get second (in the points),” said Clanton, whose
late-season surge includes a star-making victory in the UMP DIRTcar-sanctioned
World 100 at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. “That would be a real good
finish for us considering the setbacks we had. If I had back those two races in
Florida and the Canadian race (a 26th-place finish on July 12 at Estevan, Sask.,
thanks to a first-lap accident), I could be right there battling for the
championship.”
Richards, meanwhile, is already virtually assured his career-best finish in the
WoO LMS points standings – a sixth in 2007. But the tour’s 2005 Rookie of the
Year would like to ascend all the way to second to top off a season in which
he’s established a personal single-season win standard with five WoO LMS
victories.
The rising young star known as ‘Kid Rocket’ will arrive at The Dirt Track having
won the tour’s last event, on Oct. 7 at Fayetteville, N.C. He broke out of a
checkered-flag drought that had stretched from late-June with his stirring march
to victory from the 18th starting spot.
“This has just been Darrell’s year and I’m real happy for him,” said Richards,
whose father and car owner, Mark Richards, builds the Rocket Chassis machines
that Lanigan also campaigns. “We’re just trying to finish right behind him.
Winning (at Fayetteville) gives us a chance.”
Behind the battling trio, Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., appears to have a solid
hold on fifth place in the standings. He trails Richards by 64 points and leads
sixth-place Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., by 74 markers.
Sixth place is up for grabs, with Babb leading Rick Eckert of York, Pa., by
eight points and Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., by 36 points. Tim Fuller of
Watertown, N.Y., is virtually locked into a ninth-place finish and Vic Coffey of
Leicester, N.Y., who will be recognized as the 2008 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year,
is in possession of the 10th and final cash-paying points position.
Lanigan, 38, will clinch the championship by entering the Wednesday-night
Showdown program (which offers only show-up points); entering the two rounds of
VAULT World Finals qualifying on Thursday night; and starting Friday night’s
A-Main.
The VAULT World Finals kick off on Thurs., Oct. 30, with a big qualifying night
for the WoO LMS and Advance Auto Parts WoO Sprint Car Series. Two rounds of time
trials – one to line up Friday night’s heats, one to line up Saturday night’s
preliminaries – will be conducted, as well as a ‘VAULT Dash for Cash’ for both
divisions and the Integra Shocks Crew Chief Challenge for Late Model teams.
Complete programs of heats, B-Mains and A-Mains will highlight the cards on
Fri., Oct. 31, and Sat., Nov. 1. The WoO LMS standouts will chase a first-place
prize of $10,000 in each evening’s 50-lap A-Main.
Adding more luster to the VAULT World Finals, the Armour Vienna Sausage Showdown
will kick off the four days of competition on Wed., Oct. 29. Postponed by rain
on Oct. 8, the Showdown will be the first race in WoO LMS history to be run
‘topless’ – ie., without the fiberglass roofs on the cars – and offers a unique
passing bonus that could push the first-place prize of the 50-lap A-Main to as
much as $30,000.
For tickets to the VAULT World Finals and Armour Vienna Sausage Showdown, call
1-800-455- 3267 or visit
www.lowesmotorspeedway.com, Ticketmaster outlets or the Lowe’s Motor
Speedway Box Office.
More information on the WoO LMS is available by logging on to
www.worldofoutlaws.com.
2008 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of Oct. 7 - 40
A-Mains completed (rank/driver/wins/top-5s/top-10s/earnings/points/deficit to
leader):
1. Darrell Lanigan 2-25-35-$121,817-5527 (-0)
2. Steve Francis 6-20-32-$169,900-5377 (-150)
3. Shane Clanton 4-21-31-$122,140-5371 (-156)
4. Josh Richards 5-18-27-$120,560-5351 (-176)
5. Chub Frank 1-12-27-$81,280-5287 (-240)
6. Shannon Babb 2-16-26-$102,400-5213 (-314)
7. Rick Eckert 1-12-24-$78,680-5205 (-322)
8. Clint Smith 1-11-23-$67,620-5177 (-350)
9. Tim Fuller 2-7-19-$68,750-5006 (-521)
10. Vic Coffey 0-2-9-$41,320-4327 (-1200)
11. John Blankenship 0-0-6-$34,680-4013 (-1514)
12. Joe Isabell 0-0-0-$18,740-3615 (-1912)
13. Sean Beardsley 0-0-0-$12,520-3070 (-2457)
14. Tim McCreadie 1-9-16-$58,000-2643 (-2884)
15. Danny Johnson 0-0-1-$13,620-2187 (-3340)
Contact: World Racing Group
Kevin Kovac, World of Outlaws Late Model Series P.R. Director
704-254-7929 • kkovac@dirtcar.com
World of Outlaws Late Model Series News & Notes: Clanton’s Runner-Up Finish
Leads Strong Showing By Outlaws In Dirt Track World Championship
CONCORD, NC – Oct. 20, 2008 –
STRONG SHOWING: The stars of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series made a
definite mark on Saturday night’s 28th annual Dirt Track World Championship at
K-C Raceway in Alma, Ohio.
Though an Outlaw wasn’t able to stop Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, from
running off with the 100-lap event’s $50,000 top prize for the first time in his
career, six of the top 13 finishing positions in the prestigious race were
claimed by 2008 regulars on the nation’s premier tour.
The WoO LMS charge was led by Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga., who continued
his emergence as a bona fide dirt Late Model superstar with a solid second-place
finish in the DTWC. He won a Friday-night heat race and led laps 1-36 of the
A-Main from the outside-pole starting spot before being overtaken by Birkhofer,
whose three WoO LMS victories in 2008 include a $40,000-plus score in the second
annual Firecracker 100 at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa.
“I had a great car – the best car I’ve ever had at K-C,” said Clanton, who
finished eighth in the WoO LMS event on Aug. 23 at K-C Raceway. “But I knew I
was in trouble when I caught lapped traffic and started struggling. (Birkhofer)
could move around in the lapped cars better than I could.
“It was just setup,” he added when asked what separated the performance of his
RSD Enterprises Rocket from Birky’s machine. “Tire choice wasn’t the difference.
We just needed to do something different to our car.”
Despite falling short in his bid to win the DTWC and the UMP DIRTcar-sanctioned
World 100 at Ohio’s Eldora Speedway in the same season, Clanton was smiling
about another strong performance on a major dirt Late Model stage.
“I feel pretty good,” said Clanton, who pocketed $15,000 for his career-best
DTWC finish. “We’re having the best season we’ve ever had, so I don’t want to
see it end. I just want to keep on rolling.”
Indeed, Clanton, 33, has been one of the country’s hottest drivers for the last
few months. He’s won three of the last seven WoO LMS A-Mains and enters the
season-ending VAULT Outlaws World Finals on Oct. 30-Nov. 1 at The Dirt Track @
Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., with a real shot at a second-place
finish in the tour points standings, sitting in third place, just six points
behind Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky.
Francis, 41, provided more bragging rights for the WoO LMS in the DTWC, driving
Dale Beitler’s Rocket to a third-place finish in the 100-lapper. The former DTWC
winner captured a heat race and started third in the headliner.
“I got to watching (Birkhofer) and how he could maneuver around lapped cars, and
I knew it was gonna be a long night for all of us,” said Francis, who briefly
slipped by Clanton for second midway through the race. “Sometimes everybody gets
these (kind of) nights. Maybe we can have one at Charlotte in a couple weeks
(during the VAULT World Finals).”
Other WoO LMS regulars in the DTWC starting field included Rick Eckert of York,
Pa., who won a heat race and finished sixth in the 100; points leader Darrell
Lanigan of Union, Ky., whose advance to an eighth-place finish from the 16th
starting spot was one of the race’s most notable improvements; Josh Richards of
Shinnston, W.Va., who was a disappointed 12th-place finisher after placing
second in last year’s DTWC; and defending DTWC victor Chub Frank of Bear Lake,
Pa., who registered the overall fastest time in Friday’s group-qualifying
session but settled for a 13th-place finish in the A-Main.
Two-time DTWC winner Shannon Babb of Moweaqua., Ill., and Clint Smith of Senoia,
Ga., also represented the WoO LMS at the event but failed to qualify. Smith
finished fifth and Babb was sixth in Saturday night’s third B-Main.
Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y. – the 2006 WoO LMS champion and an entrant in
20 of this season’s tour events – finished fifth in the DTWC 100. He won a heat
race and started from the pole position in the A-Main, but he lost eight spots
on lap 16 when his bid to overtake Clanton for the lead sent him through the
infield in turn four and spent the remainder of the distance trying to recover.
MODIFIED ACTION: WoO LMS regular Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., stuck with his
DIRTcar Modified roots for the fifth consecutive weekend, entering the
prestigious Eastern States Weekend at Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown,
N.Y.
The 2007 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year drove his own No. 19 to a fourth-place
finish in Sunday’s Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Eastern States 200
for big-block Modifieds – the longest-running short-track event in nation. It
was a nice comeback from his disappointing outing the previous afternoon when a
busted spark box left him with a 41st-place finish in the companion Eastern
States 358-Modified 150.
The Eastern States 200 was won by Danny Johnson of Phelps, N.Y., who chased the
first half of the 2008 WoO LMS as a Rookie of the Year contender before
splitting with the JIR Motorsports team. He pocketed over $20,000 for his fifth
career victory in the prestigious big-block Modified event.
Billy Decker of Unadilla, N.Y., who enters selected WoO LMS shows as Fuller’s
Gypsum Express teammate, finished ninth in the Eastern States 200 after a flat
right-rear tire knocked him from the top five during the race’s second half. But
he enjoyed a post-race celebration for winning his second career Mr. DIRTcar
Modified points title.
NEXT UP: The 2008 WoO LMS season will wrap up with four huge days of competition
at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., from Oct. 29-Nov. 1.
The meet begins on Wed., Oct. 29, with the postponed Armour Vienna Sausage
Showdown Presented by Ferris Commercial Mowers, which offers fans a chance to
see the WoO LMS stars race ‘topless’ in pursuit of a first-place prize that
could be as much as $30,000.
Then the second annual VAULT Outlaws World Finals takes center stage from Oct.
30-Nov. 1. Two rounds of time trials for the Late Models and Sprint Cars will be
contested on Thurs., Oct. 30, followed by complete programs on Fri., Oct. 31,
and Sat., Nov. 1.
or ticket information visit
www.lowesmotorspeedway.com or call the Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket
office at 1-800-455-FANS.
INFO: Visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.
Contact: World Racing Group
Chris Dolack, VP Media/PR
704-467-7643 • cdolack@dirtcar.com
Breathtaking Racing Closes the Inaugural UMP DIRTcar Roundup By MyRaceLife.com
PEVELY, Mo. — Oct. 18, 2008 — Brian Shirley, Randy Korte and Will Vaught put on
a show in the finale of the UMP DIRTcar Roundup By MyRaceLife.com that nobody in
attendance at I-55 Raceway will soon forget.
In the last race of the inaugural event dubbed as the Party in Pevely, Shirely
came out on top of a breathtaking three-wide Super Late Model battle with
Thursday feature winner Vaught and Friday feature winner Korte. The three
drivers raced three-wide for the final 10 laps before Shirley used the momentum
on the top side of the 1/3-mile high-banked oval to grab the checkered flag.
That feature was the culmination of a night — and week — of thrilling races.
Bobby Bittle challenged Modified star Steve Arpin and came out on top, Bobby
Dauderman took home the Roundup belt buckle trophy and silver plate for his Pro
Late Model victory, two-time national champion Troy Naeger grabbed the checkered
flag in the Sportsman division, Ken Rumble rumbled to a Limited Modified victory
and Steve Maisel charged to victory in the Street Stock class. On Friday night,
Jason Crump won the 4-Cylinder main event while Danny Ems won the Factory Stock
crown.
The first UMP DIRTcar Roundup By MyRaceLife.com proved to be quite a success,
whether it was on the track, in the pits or in the campground. The four-day
festival of speed included everything from wheel-to-wheel racing to
meet-and-greets with drivers to wienie roasts and chili feeds.
With two divisions crowing event champions on Friday, there were six more
feature events on Saturday night:
UMP DIRTcar Street Stock — Steve Maisel, of House Springs, Mo., started on the
pole after locking up the position on Thursday night during heat race action.
Maisel emerged from Turn 2 as the leader and never looked back in the 20-lap
feature event. His black and white M41 dominated, much like he did in the
Thursday night preliminary heat race. Maisel didn’t have it completely easy
throughout the weekend as engine damage Thursday night put his chances in
question until fellow driver Gary Haynes stepped in. “I’d like to thank Gary
Haynes Racing,” Maisel said in victory lane Saturday night. “I hurt a motor the
first night here and I was out of motors. He loaned me this motor and they went
out of their way to help me.” Tim Feldhake worked around James Farley on the
final lap to claim second.
UMP DIRTcar Limited Modified — Ken Rumble used a strong start and perservered
through multiple cautions to become the UMP DIRTcar Roundup Limited Modified
Champion. Rumble, a local Late Model driver, filled in for Brian Richards during
the Party at Pevely. “I just kind of lucked into this deal,” Rumble said. “I
helped Todd McGraw and his car. My motor broke in my late model. I have to thank
Brian Richards for this ride. This is a good racecar and he just lacked the
funds to go A-Modified racing.” A native of House Springs, Mo., Rumble became
the second driver from the town to become a DIRTcar Roundup champion. Rumble led
the duration of the event as Dan Bimson and Rick Conoyer rounded out the Top 3.
“I think I’m going to sell my Late Model and build a new modified,” Rumble joked
afterward.
UMP DIRTcar Sportsman — Troy Naeger, the 2006 and 2007 UMP DIRTcar Sportsman
National Champion, added yet another accolade to his list of accomplishments in
becoming the UMP DIRTcar Roundup Sportsman champion on Saturday night. Naeger,
who also has been the Sportsman track champion at I-55 Raceway, held off a
strong contingent of Sportsman challengers to wrap up his racing season. “It
sure feels good going into the offseason,” he said. Jeff Herzog, the 2008 track
champion, moved through the pack while Gary Haynes made use of his great start
and quickly moved into second spot. Herzog moved to the inside in the closing
laps to steal fifth from Danny Ems. Naeger would ultimately take the victory
with Haynes, Trey Harris, Herzog and UMP DIRTcar Roundup Factory Stock Champ
Danny Ems rounding out the Top 5.
UMP DIRTcar Pro Late Model — Dustin Griffin and Caleb Ashby led the field to
green flag as Bobby Dauderman looked for a lane to move forward. Shawn Rayfield
and Dallas Bennett collided in Turn 1 and six cars slid into each other on the
backstretch off of the restart, giving Dauderman a chance to plot a move
forward. On the restart, Dauderman goes three-wide with Ashby and Dillan White
before Ashby slides ahead to challenge Griffin for the lead. Ashby would
eventually grab the lead as Dauderman methodically works forward. The two
swapped the lead in traffic before another caution gave Dauderman the opening he
needed. Dauderman used a slide job in Turn Four with 3 laps to go to take the
lead from Ashby and drive to the checkered flag. Ashby and Griffin rounded out
the top three. “I figured he would be moving down but I was prepared to go
wherever he wasn’t,” said Dauderman, who caps off an excellent year for himself
in claiming the DIRTcar Roundup Championship. “The car was good all night. I
just have to thank all the guys who help me every week. It’s pretty awesome.
I’ve had a pretty awesome year and this tops it.”
UMP DIRTcar Modified — Bobby Bittle celebrated his 20th year of competition in
2008, and he closed out the season in thrilling style. After taking the
checkered flag on Friday night, the Belleville Bullet became the only driver to
win two A-mains during the “Party in Pevely.” Starting from the eighth position,
Bittle charged to fourth and reeled in Tim Hancock. A couple of cautions helped
put him in position to attack the leader and hold off his competitors down the
stretch. Bittle was followed to the line by Tim Hancock, Mark Miner, Kenny
Wallace who climbed from 22nd to 4th, and Ray Walsh. “It’s a ball when the track
like that,” Bittle said. “I was having a heck of a time out there, I was having
a lot of fun. The car was working perfect. When I got the white flag I had one
hand on the wheel and the other hand out the window. Thanks to the officials who
put this deal together. For us to go out and win two out of three of them and
win the final night it was huge. This is our 20 year anniversary and this is the
biggest win since we’ve been racing.”
UMP DIRTcar Super Late Models — Brian Shirley knows how to get around I-55
Raceway, and the native of Chatham, Ill., needed every bit of that experience to
claim the inaugural UMP DIRTcar Roundup Late Model championship. Starting on the
outside of Row 4, Shirley battled early with young shoe Kyle Steffens and Tim
Manville. “I had a good feeling coming back tonight, I don’t know what it was,”
said Shirley, who locked himself into the feature with at top-five run in
Thursday’s preliminary feature. Shirley used the high line to quickly move into
third place. A little patience paid off as he tailed the lead duo of preliminary
feature winners Will Vaught and Randy Korte. Shirley stalked the leaders through
traffic as they swapped positions repeatedly. Shirley would eventually make a
move to the lead around the outside of Vaught only to have a late caution drop
him back to second. “I knew if I ran my own race we’d be ok,” he said. “It’s
just nice to be winning.” On the final restart, Vaught used the low line, his
strong suit throughout the race, but it wasn’t enough as Shirley built momentum
on the lightning fast cushion and shot past Vaught. “It’s different than what we
win most of the time,” Shirley said of the Roundup Silver Plaque and Buckle
awarded to him in victory lane. “I thought it would be really neat to win one of
these.”
UMP DIRTcar Roundup By MyRaceLife.com Statistical Summary; Oct. 18, 2008; I-55
Raceway; Pevely, Mo.
UMP DIRTcar 4-Cylinder (From Friday)
A-main (10 laps)
1. 86-Jason Crump
2. 16-Gerald Buechting
3. 66- Jacob Buechting
4. 3-Rusty Griffaw
5. 65-Gary Range
6. 83-Pat Brewer
7. 19-Jessica Buechting
8. 61-Steve Richards
9. 8-Dennis Hornbuster
10. 667-Jackie Buechting
11. K2-Brooke Hassler
12. 51JR-Jared Dewrock
13. 95M-Josh Campbell
14. 15-Mark Pryor
UMP DIRTcar Factory Stocks (From Friday)
A-main (15 laps)
1. 36-Danny Ems
2. 87-Jason Zobrist
3. 7-Dennis Ponder
4. 29-Stephen Fohne
5. 39-Bobby Hooker
6. 88-Mike Reagan
7. 37-Dave Monterusso
8. 68-Terry McCann
9. 21-James Rowney
10. 8-Jordan Bauer
UMP DIRTcar Street Stocks
A-main (20 laps)
1. M41-Steve Maisel
2. 32-Tim Feldhake
3. V8-James Farley III
4. 36-Danny Ems
5. 7-Dennis Ponder
6. 11-John Burns
7. 68-Terry McCann
8. 39-Bobby Hooker
9. B11-Buddy Jeffries
10. 88-Dave Racer
11. 21-James Rowney
12. 97G-Josh Griffit
13. 8-Jordan Bauer
14. 29-Stephen Fohne
15. 87-Jason Zobrist
16. 17B-Jimmy Bell
UMP DIRTcar Limited Modifieds
A-main (20 laps)
1. 102-Ken Rumble
2. 12-Dan Bimson
3. 60X-Rick Conoyer
4. 03-Zach Dennis
5. 7-Brian Christian
6. 69-Kenny Harris
7. 21-Bill Nickelson
8. 147-Kyle Stolzer
9. 99-Gary Johnson
10. 23D-Billy DeRoy
11. 8-Shannon Burch
12. 27-Chad Despain
13. 27B-Barry Pender
14. 86-Jake Robbins
15. 43-Mike Floyd
16. 91X-John Haler
17. 94-Jake Sewell
18. 16-Greg Price
UMP DIRTcar Sportsman
A-main (20 laps)
1. 12-Troy Naeger
2. 87-Gary Haynes
3. 57-Trey Harris
4. 11-Jeff Herzog
5. 36-Danny Ems
6. 62-Troy Medley
7. 147-Kyle Stolzer
8. 8X-Steve Edgecombe
9. 86K-Eric Hogenmiller
10. 32-Tim Feldhake
11. 43-David Armstrong
12. 105-Matt Hancock
13. 18-Buddy Lowrey
14. 9-Eddie Lowrey
15. 97G-Josh Griffith
16. 53-Lawrence Shaefer
17. 36X-Kenny Ems
18. M41-Steve Maisel
19. 18B-Rocky Berlien
20. 5H-Scott Hammack
21. 04-Chris Soutiea
22. 83-Troy Armbruster
23. 411-Marty Hick
UMP DIRTcar Pro Late Models
A-main (20 laps)
1. 18-Bobby Dauderman
2. 61-Caleb Ashby
3. 21-Dillan White
4. 20-Dustin Griffin
5. 49-Jeremy Hines
6. 16H-Mike Hammerle
7. 1ST- Justin Reed
8. 84-Tyler Deibert
9. 22-Darrell Moser
10. 92K-Brant Kehrer
11. 99-Chuck Adams
12. 18R-Shawn Rayfield
13. 92S-Matt Santel
14. 1-Dustin Brown
15. 28-Dallas Bennett
16. 4-Craig Bessinger
17. R52-Rylan Dagg
18. E4-Scott Geaschel
19. 45-Mike Jessup
20. 26X-Brandon Moss
21. 7M-Kevin Moffett
22. 36-Bob Schmidt
23. 26K-Erick Gowin
UMP DIRTcar Modifieds
Heat 1 (10 laps)
1. 88-Joe Puricelli
2. 22C-Brandon Lennox
3. 22M-Darrell Moser
4. 21J-Jeff Vernier
5. C4-Chris Soutiea
6. 29-Chris Spalding
7. 18S-Terry Scurlock
Heat 2 (10 laps)
1. 41G-Matt Goulden
2. 59-Rich Whaley
3. Kenny Wallace
4. 10X-Jim Black
5. 21-Randy Dickman
6. 22-Chucky Milam
7. 1A-James Reed
8. 6N-Leo Kiefer
A-Main (25 laps)
1. 89-Bobby Bittle
2. 0-Tim Hancock
3. 7-Mark Miner
4. 36-Kenny Wallace
5. 1W-Ray Walsh
6. 00-Steve Arpin
7. 4J-Scott Weber
8. 24-Paul Bauman
9. 67-Ken Rumble
10. 7W-Tommie Seets Jr.
11. 72-Brian Lynn
12. 14-Rick Conoyer
13. 36X-Conrad Miner
14. C4-Chris Soutiea
15. 7Z-Matt Zimmerly
16. 41G-Matt Goulden
17. 22M-Darrell Moser
18. 21J-Jeff Vernier
19. 22C-Brandon Lennox
20. 1A-James Reed
21. 29-Chris Spalding
22. 21-Randy Dickman
23. 22-Chucky Milam
24. 88-Joe Puricelli
25. 59-Rich Whaley
26. 10X-Jim Black
27. 1D-Dean Hoffman
28. 17V-Michael VanderRiet Jr.
29. 31-Rick Horton
UMP DIRTcar Super Late Models
Heat 1 (10 laps)
1. 6K-Michael Kloos
2. 16-Rusty Griffaw
3. 0-Tim Hancock
4. 78-Chad Zobrist
5. 12-Rick Standridge
6. 16H-Mike Hammerle
7. 2J-Dave Jumper
8. 30-Mike Voigt
9. 28-Dave Bennett
Heat 2 (10 laps)
1. 1HR-Ron McQuerry
2. 4S-Bruce Unterbrink
3. 59-Frankie Martin
4. 76-Jim Durbin
5. 22-Darrell Moser
6. 31-Brent Helmkamp
7. 27-Mike Schulte
8. 49-Jeremy Hines
9. 1-Dustin Brown
B-main (12 laps)
1. 12-Rick Standridge
2. 22-Darrell Moser
3. 16H-Mike Hammerle
4. 27-Mike Schulte
5. 31-Brent Helmkamp
6. 28-Dallas Bennett
7. 2J-Dave Jumper
8. 49-Jeremy Hines
9. 30-Mark Voigt
10. 1-Dustin Brown
A-Main (30 laps)
1. 3S-Brian Shirley
2. 00-Randy Korte
3. 1-Will Vaught
4. 33-Tim Manville
5. 25-Jason Feger
6. 92B-Billy Faust
7. 11-Bryan Collins
8. 6K-Michael Kloos
9. 8-Kyle Steffens
10. 27X-Jeff Beyers
11. 95-Jeff Johns
12. 78-Chad Zobrist
13. 45-Denny Woodworth
14 22-Darrell Moser
15. 7B-Mark Burgtorf
16. 16H-Mike Hammerle
17. 28B-John Beck
18. 59-Frankie Martin
19. 1HR-Ron McCuerry
20. 4S-Bruce Unterbrink
21. 16-Rusty Griffaw
22. 27-Mike Schulte
23. 12-Rick Standridge
24. 47-Danny Haynes
25. 81-Craig Smith
26. 0-Tim Hancock
27. 1S-Rick Salter
28. 76-Jim Durbin
Contact: World Racing Group
Chris Dolack, VP Media/PR
704-467-7643 • cdolack@dirtcar.com
Inaugural UMP DIRTcar Roundup By MyRaceLife.com Turns Spotlight on 4-Cylinder
and Factory Stock Winners
PEVELY, Mo. — Oct. 17, 2008 — A second consecutive night of non-stop speed and
thrills on Friday at I-55 Raceway kept the momentum rolling in the inaugural UMP
DIRTcar Roundup By MyRaceLife.com, with two of eight divisions crowning event
champions.
UMP DIRTcar 4-Cylinder driver Jason Crump, of Festus, Mo., earned a Roundup belt
buckle and the first 2008 polished steel champions’ plate of the event. Two
races later, Danny Ems, of Arnold, Mo., drove to victory in the UMP DIRTcar
Factory Stock division to also collect a Roundup belt buckle and champions’
plate.
Randy Korte, the 2006 UMP DIRTcar Racing Late Model champion from Highland,
Ill., took the checkered flag in the Dirt Late Model feature to lock himself
into Saturday’s main event. Bobby Bittle, of Belleville, Ill., picked up the win
in the UMP DIRTcar Modified feature on the high-banked 1/3-mile oval just south
of St. Louis, earning a guaranteed spot in Saturday’s main Modified event.
In all, it was a busy night on the track that eventually gave way to the “Party
in Pevely” in the pits and campground that lasted well into the evening,
especially near Randy LaJoie’s setup on manufacturers’ row:
UMP DIRTcar 4-Cylinders — Jason Crump used the pole position he secured on
Thursday to his advantage on Friday as he led from green to checkered flags to
become the first UMP DIRTcar Roundup Champion of the inaugural event. Crump
turned 10 smooth laps to hold off Gerald and Jacob Buechting, half of the
Buechting family in the feature. “I’ve been working on this thing for last two
weeks straight trying to get it right,” Crump said. “I’ve struggled for the past
month and a half here. It feels good to get it right. I’ve got to thank
everybody that helps me, all my sponsors, my wife and kids for supporting me
through this. I work on this thing endlessly and race as much as I can. I want
to thank UMP DIRTcar Racing for putting on this show and having us out, I
appreciate it. We’ll definitely be here next year. I’ll definitely be looking
forward to it.”
UMP DIRTcar Factory Stocks — Danny Ems proved that securing the pole position
for the feature was pivotal. Ems used the front starting position and clean air
to pull away from the field as the green flag flew. Ems, who won his heat race
on Thursday night, showed the same dominance in the 15-lap feature event on
Friday and became the first Factory Stock UMP DIRTcar Roundup Champion. “This
car me and my dad built a long time ago and won a championship with it. I
wouldn’t change a thing about it. … I’d like to thank my sponsors, and my
family, pit crew, everybody.”
UMP DIRTcar Pro (Limited) Modifieds — In a race to set the stage for Saturday’s
20-lap finale, newcomers to the event Billy Deroy, Bill Nickelson, Kenny Harris
and Shannon Burch battled closely to determine starting position in the A-Main.
Kenny Francis slowed on the front stretch to bring out the first caution. On the
restart, Deroy slowed while leading on the backstretch. Nickelson took advantage
of Deroy’s misfortune to take the win over Burch.
UMP DIRTcar Pro Late Models — Eric Gowin took the early lead in the 26K machine
with Brandon Moss and Bob Schmidt battling for second. Schmidt took the 2nd spot
from Moss after the two waged a side by side battle. This allowed Gowin to
extend his lead and capture the checkers for the event with Schmidt and Moss in
tow. Pro Late Models take to the track Saturday night for their 20 lap feature
event.
UMP DIRTcar Modifieds — The Modified drivers again turned in an epic battle on
Friday night with Bobby Brittle, a former I-55 Raceway Modified champion,
stealing the top spot on the final restart after leader Scott Weber made contact
with the wall in Turn 2. Weber had led from the original green flag as Bittle
stalked him throughout the 20-lap feature. “Scott’s a regular here, he’s a great
racer,” Bittle said. “He’s fast week in and week out. Before the yellow came out
I think we were going to challenge him in another lap or two anyway but, I don’t
ever take anything for granted.” Bittle then offered a modest challenge to Steve
Arpin, Thursday night’s winner who watched Friday’s action in preparation for
Saturday’s big show. “We had a good car tonight,” Bittle said. “I’d love to give
the Canadian a run for his money if we could but, that kid’s fast. Thanks to
I-55 and UMP DIRTcar Racing for putting this event on, it was a nice event.”
Heat race winners included Weber, Matt Goulden and Ken Rumble. NASCAR veteran
Kenny Wallace was leading the first heat when he and Weber made contact, sending
Wallace into the wall in Turn 3.
UMP DIRTcar Late Models — One night after an accident knocked him out of the
feature, Randy Korte rebounded on Friday and led flag-to-flag, fending off Tim
Manville, Jason Feger and Thursday winner Will Vaught to take the checkered
flag. “I’m feeling pretty good about this car so I think we’ll be in the hunt
Saturday night,” Korte said. “We’ve had a bad last month and a half. Just to
finish a race and run up front, I’m happy about that. My guys worked their butts
off last night and this morning. They got the car ready to go I want to thank
all of them and my sponsors. If it wouldn’t be for them I couldn’t do this.” …
Heat race winners included the Racing Lawyer Denny Woodworth, Manville, Michael
Kloos and Korte. Darrell Moser won the B-main.
UMP DIRTcar Roundup By MyRaceLife.com Statistical Summary; Oct. 17, 2008; I-55
Raceway; Pevely, Mo.
UMP DIRTcar 4-Cylinder
A-main (10 laps)
1. 86-Jason Crump
2. 16-Gerald Buechting
3. 66- Jacob Buechting
4. 3-Rusty Griffaw
5. 65-Gary Range
6. 83-Pat Brewer
7. 19-Jessica Buechting
8. 61-Steve Richards
9. 8-Dennis Hornbuster
10. 667-Jackie Buechting
11. K2-Brooke Hassler
12. 51JR-Jared Dewrock
13. 95M-Josh Campbell
14. 15-Mark Pryor
UMP DIRTcar Factory Stocks
A-main (15 laps)
1. 36-Danny Ems
2. 87-Jason Zobrist
3. 7-Dennis Ponder
4. 29-Stephen Fohne
5. 39-Bobby Hooker
6. 88-Mike Reagan
7. 37-Dave Monterusso
8. 68-Terry McCann
9. 21-James Rowney
10. 8-Jordan Bauer
UMP DIRTcar Pro Late Models
B-main (15 laps)
1. 26K-Eric Gowin
2. 26X-Brandon Moss
3. 36-Bob Schmidt
UMP DIRTcar Limited Modifieds
B-main (10 laps)
1. 21-Bill Nickelson
2. 8-Shannon Burch
3. 23D-Billy Deroy
4. 69-Kenny Harris
UMP DIRTcar Modifieds
Heat 1 (10 laps)
1. 4J-Ken Rumble
2. 7W-Tommie Seets Jr.
3. 7Z- Matt Zimmerly
4. 72-Brian Lynn
5. 10x-Jim Black
6. 21-Randy Dickman
7. 36-Kenny Wallace
8. 22C-Brandon Lennox
9. 19-Chris Simmerman
10. 8X-James Reed
Heat 2 (10 laps)
1. 41G-Matt Goulden
2. 1W-Ray Walsh
3. 31-Rick Horton
4. 36X-Conrad Miner
5. 1D-Dean Hoffman
6. 29-Chris Spalding
7. C4-Chris Soutiea
8. 22M-Darrell Moser
9. 22-Chucky Milam
10. 12-Dan Bimson
Heat 3 (10 laps)
1. 67-Ken Rumble
2. 89-Bobby Bittle
3. 24-Paul Bauman
4. 7-Mark Miner
5. 14-Rick Conoyer
6. 17V-Michael VanderRiet Jr.
7. 88-Joe Puricelli
8. 0-Tim Hancock
9. 4UW-Bobby Regot
10. 59-Rich Whaley
A-Main (20 Laps, Top 8 Finishers Locked into Redraw for Saturday’s finale.)
1. 89-Bobby Bittle
2. 1W-Ray Walsh
3. 7W-Tommie Seets Jr.
4. 1D-Dean Hoffman
5. 72-Brian Lynn
6. 36X-Conrad Miner
7. 67-Ken Rumble
8. 31-Rick Horton
9. 14-Rick Conoyer
10. 7Z-Matt Zimmerly
11. 22-Chuck Milam
12. 7-Mark Miner
13. 24-Paul Bauman
14. 88-Joe Puricelli
15. 29-Chris Spalding
16. 36-Kenny Wallace
17. 17V-Michael VanderRiet Jr.
18. 10X-Jim Black
19. C4-Chris Soutiea
20. 22C-Brandon Lennox
21. 21-Randy Dickman
22. 4J-Scott Weber
23. 41G-Matt Goulden
24. 0-Tim Hancock
25. 22M-Darrell Moser
26. 12-Dan Bimson
27. 19-Chris Simmerman
28. 4UW-Bobby Regot
Drivers locked into Saturday’s main event include Steve Arpin, Tim Hancock, Mark
Miner, Scott Weber, Ken Rumble, Bobby Brittle, Ray Walsh, Tommie Seets Jr., Dean
Hoffman and Brian Lynn, all of whom will draw for their starting positions. Rick
Horton, Michael VanderRiet Jr., Conrad Miner, Rick Conover and Matt Zimmerly are
also locked into the feature on Saturday.
UMP DIRTcar Super Late Models
Heat 1 (10 laps)
1. 45-Denny Woodworth
2. 28B-John Beck
3. 95-Jeff Johns
4. 1S-Rick Salter
5. 81-Craig Smith
6. 27X-Jeff Beyers
7. 22-Darrell Moser
8. 31-Brent Helmkamp
9. 5-Dan Jacober
Heat 2 (10 laps)
1. 33-Tim Manville
2. 1V-Will Vaught
3. 25-Jason Feger
4. 0-Tim Hancock
5. 49-Jeremy Hines
6. 1HR-Ron McQuerry
7. 27-Mike Schulte.
8. 16H-Mike Hammerle
Heat 3 (10 laps)
1. 6K-Michael Kloos
2. 78-Chad Zobrist
3. 30-Mark Voigt
4. 7B-Mark Burtorf
5. 16-Rusty Griffaw
6. 47-Danny Haynes
7. 2J-Dave Jumper
8. 28-Dallas Bennett
Heat 4 (10 laps)
1. 00-Randy Korte
2. 8-Kyle Steffens
3. 59-Frankie Martin
4. 11-Bryan Collins
5. 76-Jim Durbin
6. 1-Dustin Brown
7. 12-Rick Standridge
8. 13-Dewayne Kiefer
B-main (12 laps)
1. 22-Darrell Moser
2. 27-Mike Schulte
3. 2J-Dave Jumper
4. 12-Rick Standridge
5. 31-Brent Helmkamp
6. 16H-Mike Hammerle
7. 28-Dallas Bennett
8. 5-Dan Jacober
9. 13-Dewayne Kiefer
A-Main (20 Laps, Top 8 Finishers Locked into Redraw for Saturday’s finale.)
1. 00-Randy Korte
2. 33-Tim Manville
3. 25-Jason Feger
4. 1V-Will Vaught
5. 8-Kyle Steffens
6. 45-Denny Woodworth
7. 95-Jeff Johns
8. 1S-Rick Salter
9. 7B-Mark Burgtorf
10. 11-Bryan Collins
11. 28B-John Beck
12. 78-Chad Zobrist
13. 30-Mark Voigt
14. 59-Frankie Martin
15. 16-Rusty Griffaw
16. 27X-Jeff Beyers
17. 81-Craig Smith
18. 49-Jeremy Hines
19. 1HR-Ron McQueery
20. 27-Mike Schulte
21. 22-Darrell Moser
22. 12-Rick Standridge
23. 2J-Dave Jumper
24. 6K-Michael Kloos
25. 0-Tim Hancock
26. 47-Danny Hayes
27. 1-Dustin Brown
28. 76-Jim Durbin
Drivers locked into Saturday’s main event include Will Vaught, Jason Feger,
Billy Faust, Danny Haynes, Brian Shirley, Randy Korte, Tim Manville, Kyle
Steffens, Denny Woodworth and Jeff Johns, all of whom will draw for their
starting positions. Jeff Beyers, Bryan Collins, Craig Smith, Rick Salter, Mark
Burgtorf and John Beck are locked into the feature.
Contact: World Racing Group
Chris Dolack, VP Media/PR
704-795-7223 • cdolack@dirtcar.com
VAULT Energizes World of Outlaws World Finals At The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor
Speedway
CONCORD, N.C. — Oct. 15, 2008 — “How can it be topped?” That was the challenge
fans and competitors offered after the inaugural championship-deciding World of
Outlaws World Finals in 2007 at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway. VAULT
will make the 2008 event more exciting.
This season, the World of Outlaws and Lowe’s Motor Speedway are elevating the
event with VAULT, Citrus Soda with a Kick, as the title sponsor. From Oct. 30 to
Nov. 1, the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and the World
of Outlaws Late Model Series will come together for the first time since that
historic event last year. With consecutive nights of wheel-to-wheel excitement
at ridiculous speeds, an event of this magnitude needs a powerful drink to
energize fans and racers. VAULT will do just that when the grandstands and the
pits fill up at the 2008 VAULT World Finals as the racers aim to fulfill the
VAULT credo to “Get It Done, And Then Some.”
The opening day of action Oct. 30 gets a kick this time around, with a
Halloween-themed night. More than 100 cars are expected to compete again this
year so qualifying rounds no doubt will be scary for the competitors aiming for
an edge on their foes, but the action also will include a “VAULT Dash for Cash”
for the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and the World of
Outlaws Late Model Series. Plus, with Halloween only a night away, all kids
12-and-under in costume will be admitted free of charge, and the kid with the
best costume will be rewarded with a “VAULT” full of candy. Not to forget about
the big kids, the best adult costume will win two tickets to the Colossal 100
featuring the World of Outlaws Late Model Series in April at The Dirt Track @
Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Open pits and a pit crew challenge will conclude the
first night of the VAULT World Finals.
The intensity increases on Oct. 31. A pre-race talk show at 2 p.m. will allow
fans a chance to hear from racers before they compete, and the first 2,000 fans
through the gates will receive a free commemorative VAULT World Finals poster.
Then heat races and consolation races will lead to full features for the Advance
Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Late
Model Series. Drivers like Steve Kinser, Donny Schatz, Joey Saldana, Steve
Francis, Chub Frank, Darrell Lanigan and Josh Richards will tackle the
four-tenths banked oval.
On Nov. 1, the VAULT World Finals finale will crown champions for the Advance
Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Late
Model Series after another thrilling day of action. Another pre-race talk show
at 2 p.m. will have fans in gear for one of the best nights of racing they’ll
see each year. Full heats and consolation events will lead up to the final night
of racing in 2008.
Making the entire week even bigger, the VAULT World Finals now will be preceded
on Wednesday, Oct. 29, by a special World of Outlaws Late Model Series event —
the Armour Foods Vienna Sausage Showdown — at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor
Speedway, making it four days of dirt track racing.
“Lowe’s Motor Speedway and the World of Outlaws have a strong relationship, and
we are extremely excited to be hosts of the Second Annual VAULT World Finals,”
said Seamus Curley, Lowe’s Motor Speedway’s manager of short track racing.
“After last year’s success, we look forward to continuing and growing the
tradition of what has quickly become a must-see event.”
VAULT is keenly aware of its customers’ passion for World of Outlaws racing, and
is looking forward to making the VAULT World Finals a memorable experience for
fans and racers.
“Our customers are attending races like the VAULT World Finals so it’s important
for us to support an event they enjoy,” said James Lee, VAULT marketing
director. “We’re excited to be part of the World Finals because the people who
drink VAULT are World of Outlaws fans. VAULT is energy with a purpose, energy to
get things done, and at the VAULT World Finals the competitors will be trying to
earn a victory and clinch a championship. It doesn’t get much bigger than that.
“We are looking forward to adding to the enjoyment of event with giveaways and
product sampling. It’s a way for us to say thank you to our customers and fans.”
World of Outlaws races at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway are almost
always sold out, so entertaining fans is big project and vitally important to
the event’s overall success.
“We were thrilled with how exciting every aspect of the inaugural VAULT World
Finals turned out,” said World Racing Group Chief Marketing Officer Ben Geisler.
“Now with VAULT sponsoring the event, there’s no doubt it will be an even larger
success. VAULT is committed to enhancing the fan experience, and it will no
doubt be a weekend to remember.”
Can Donny Schatz and Darrell Lanigan hold onto their championship leads or will
Jason Meyers and Steve Francis run them down? The best way to find out is to get
a ticket, and fast. Nearly every state in the country is represented as well as
five foreign countries, with fans coming from as far away as Australia and New
Zealand, making the VAULT World Finals a truly global festival of racing.
For tickets, call 1-800-455- 3267 or visit
www.lowesmotorspeedway.com,
Ticketmaster outlets the Lowe’s Motor Speedway Box Office.
Contact: World Racing Group
Chris Dolack, VP Media/PR
704-467-7643 • cdolack@dirtcar.com
Arpin, Vaught Earn Feature Wins on Thrilling Opening Night at Inaugural UMP
DIRTcar Roundup By MyRaceLife.com
PEVELY, Mo. — Oct. 16, 2008 — The opening night of the inaugural UMP DIRTcar
Roundup By MyRaceLife.com Thursday featured eight divisions of action, with cars
racing three- and four-wide on high-banked I-55 Raceway.
The big winners of the night were Steve Arpin, who captured the Modified
feature, and Will Vaught, the Super Late Model winner. The top eight finishers
in those A-main events are locked into Saturday night’s huge finale.
With more features to come on Friday and Saturday, the other six divisions of
UMP DIRTcar Racing also were in action in the opener:
4 Cylinders — Jason Crump fought off four members of the Buechting family in the
first heat race to earn a UMP DIRTcar Roundup belt buckle, the prize for winning
any race during the three-day event. Pat Brewer powered to victory in the second
heat race. The 4-Cylinders are back on the track Friday night to decide the big
winner.
Factory Stocks — Danny Ems captured the checkered flag in the Factory Stock heat
race, earning a prime spot for Friday’s 15-lap main event.
Street Stocks — The Street Stocks featured two drivers who finished in the top
10 in the UMP DIRTcar National Point standings, with Steve Maisel, who finished
third in the national standings, capturing the heat race on Thursday night and
earning a prime spot in Saturday’s 20-lap main event.
Pro Late Models — In a new division to UMP DIRTcar Racing this season, Bobby
Dauderman and Caleb Ashby were two of the Top 10 in the National Points
competing on Thursday night. Dustin Griffin held off Dauderman to win the first
heat as Ashby captured the second heat. Those drivers will have key spots in the
20-lap feature on Saturday night.
Limited Modifieds — Zach Dennis, who finished third in the UMP DIRTcar National
Point standings, picked up a belt buckle for winning the first heat race
Thursday night while Ken Rumble rumbled to a win in the second heat race,
setting the stage for Saturday’s 20-lap main event.
Sportsman — Jeff Herzog, the Missouri UMP DIRTcar Sportsman champion who
finished second in the National Points, brought his machine to the finish in
eighth in the first heat race while Troy Naeger and David Armstrong picked up
the victories, getting the jump on the 20-lap feature on Saturday night.
UMP Modifieds — Canadian Steve Arpin, one of the top UMP DIRTcar Modified
drivers in North America, outlasted a stellar field on Thursday night that
included several drivers who finished in the Top 12 in National Points as well
as NASCAR star Kenny Wallace, to pick up a smooth victory in the 20-lap feature.
The top eight from Thursday’s feature, which includes fourth-place National
Points finisher Tim Hancock, are locked into Saturday’s main event. Bobby
Brittle, Ray Walsh and Mark Miner rounded out the top five with Scott Weber, Ken
Rumble and Rick Horton earning the other three positions locked into Saturday’s
A-main.
“I tell you what we had a good race car tonight,” said Arpin, of Fort Frances,
Ontario. “Trina and Joey back in the pits made a whole bunch of decisions after
the heat race, and changed quite a bit of stuff. This thing was awesome, it just
drove itself. Walsh was right there and he slid me right over there and I had to
get on the brakes really hard to turn below him so I figured I would do the same
back to him, and he just never shut down. We kind of got squeezed up on the
backstretch there but not enough to hurt either one of us.
“We had to drive the wheels off to stay ahead of those guys tonight. If we give
them another chance to get better Friday night we’ll be way out in left field on
Saturday. We’re here to race so we’re going to race and have a good time this
weekend.”
Super Late Models — Missouri crowd favorite Will Vaught locked his car into the
bottom groove on Thursday night and powered his way to the checkered flag in the
final 20-lap race of the opening day of action. Jason Feger and Billy Faust
tried to run him down, but Vaught had the line and the momentum. In a race
featuring four of the Top 20 in the UMP DIRTcar National Standings, Vaught, who
was ranked 20th nationally, got the best of Feger (3rd nationally), Brian
Shirley (5th nationally), Michael Koos (7th nationally) and Randy Korte (18th
nationally). With Vaught, Feger and Faust leading the way to the checkered flag,
Danny Haynes and Shirley rounded out the top five as Jeff Johns, Kyle Steffens
and Jeff Beyers locked themselves into Saturday’s feature.
“I brought two cars tonight and one has been wrecked and I’m not sure if we’ve
got it straightened out so we’re going to run it Friday night now that we’re
locked in,” said Vaught, of Crane, Mo. “I think Billy got a run on me in 1 and 2
and just got into the back of me a little but I was able to keep it out front.”
UMP DIRTcar Roundup By MyRaceLife.com Statistical Summary; Oct. 16, 2008; I-55
Raceway; Pevely, Mo.
UMP DIRTcar 4 Cylinders
Heat 1 (6 laps)
1. 86-Jason Crump
2. 66-Jacob Buechting
3. 16-Gerald Buechting
4. 19-Jessica Buechting
5. 95M-Josh Campbell
6. 667-Jackie Buechting
Heat 2 (6 laps)
1. 83-Pat Brewer
2. 51JR-Jared Dewrock
3. 65-Gary Range
4. 61-Steve Richards
5. 3-Rusty Griffaw
6. Dennis Hornbuster
UMP DIRTcar Factory Stocks
Heat 1 (6 laps)
1. 36-Danny Ems
2. 87-Jason Zobrist
3. 21-James Rowney
4. 37-Dave Monterusso
5. 8-Jordan Bauer
6. 68-Terry McCann
7. 7-Dennis Ponder
UMP DIRTcar Street Stocks
Heat 1 (8 laps)
1. M41- Steve Maisel
2. 97G-Josh Griffith
3. 32-Tim Feldhake
4. B11-Buddy Jeffries
5. 88-Dave Racer
UMP DIRTcar Limited Modifieds
Heat 1 (8 laps)
1. 03-Zach Dennis
2. 147-Kyle Stolzer
3. 99-Gary Johnson
4. 27B-Barry Pender
5. 91X-John Haler
Heat 2 (8 laps)
1. 102-Ken Rumble
2. 12-Dan Bimson
3. 7-Brian Christian
4. 27-Chad Despain
5. 86-Jake Robbins
UMP DIRTcar Sportsman
Heat 1 (8 laps)
1. 12-Troy Naeger
2. 62-Troy Medley
3. 36-Danny Ems
4. 97G-Josh Griffith
5. 86K-Eric Hogenmiller
6. 18-Bud Lowrey
7. 83-Troy Armbruster
8. 11-Jeff Herzog
9. 5H-Scott Hammack
10. 18B-Rocky Berlien
Heat 2 (8 laps)
1. 43-David Armstrong
2. 57-Trey Harris
3. 147-Kyle Stolzer
4. 04-Chris Soutiea
5. 87-Gary Haynes
6. 8-Eddie Lowrey
7. 411-Marty Hick
8. 105-Matt Hancock
9. M41-Steve Maisel
UMP DIRTcar Pro Late Models
Heat 1 (10 laps)
1. 20-Dustin Griffin
2. 18-Bobby Dauderman
3. 84-Tyler Deibert
4. 1ST-Justin Reed
5. 18R-Shawn Rayfield
6. 4-Craig Bessinger
7. 28-Dallas Bennett
8. 99-Chuck Adams
9. 45-Mike Jessup
10. 01-Dustin Brown
Heat 2 (10 laps)
1. 61-Caleb Ashby
2. 21-Dillan White
3. 16H-Mike Hammerle
4. 92K-Brant Kehrer
5. 49-Jeremy Hines
6. 7M-Kevin Moffett
7. R52-Rylan Dagg
8. 92S-Matt Santel
9. 22-Darrell Mosier
UMP DIRTcar Modifieds
Heat 1 (10 laps)
1. 67-Ken Rumble
2. 36X-Conrad Miner
3. 36-Kenny Wallace
4. 72-Brian Lynn
5. 21J-Jeff Vernier
6. 17V-Michael VanderRieth Jr.
7. 7Z-Matt Zimmerly
8. 22M-Darrell Mosier
9. 59-Rich Whaley
Heat 2 (10 laps)
1. 00-Steve Arpin
2. 89-Bobby Bittle
3. 1W-Ray Walsh
4. 7-Mark Miner
5. 41G- Matt Goulden
6. 11-Kelly Devall
7. 22C-Brandon Lennox
8. 19-Chris Simmerman
9. C4-Chris Soutiea
Heat 3 (10 laps)
1. 0-Tim Hancock
2. 31-Rick Horton
3. 4J-Scott Weber
4. 14-Rick Conoyer
5. 7W-Tommie Seets Jr.
6. 21-Randy Dickman
7. 10X-Jim Black
8. 22-Chucky Milam
9. 24-Paul Bauman
A-Main (20 Laps, Top 8 Finishers Locked into Redraw for Saturday’s finale.)
1. 00-Steve Arpin
2. 0-Tim Hancock
3. 89-Bobby Brittle
4. 1W-Ray Walsh
5. 7-Mark Miner
6. 4J-Scott Weber
7. 67-Ken Rumble
8. 31-Rick Horton
9. 72-Brian Lynn
10. 17V-Michael VanderRiet Jr.
11. 24-Paul Bauman
12. 7Z-Matt Zimmerly
13. 21-Randy Dickman
14. 22-Chucky Milam
15. 10X-Jim Black
16. 36-Kenny Wallace
17. 11-Kelly Devall
18. 41G-Matt Goulden
19. 22M-Darrell Mosier
20. 7W-Tommie Seets Jr.
21. 36X-Conrad Miner
22. 14-Rick Conoyer
23. 21J-Jeff Vernier
24. 59-Rich Whaley
25. 22C-Brandon Lennox
26. 19-Chiris Simmerman
27. C4-Chris Soutiea
UMP DIRTcar Super Late Models
Heat 1 (10 laps)
1. 92B-Billy Faust
2. 45-Denny Woodworth
3. 11-Bryan Collins
4. 3s-Brian Shirley
5. 78-Chad Zobrist
6. 81-Craig Smith
7. 27-Mike Schulte
8. 1S-Rick Salter
9. 28B-John Beck
Heat 2 (10 laps)
1. 30-Mark Voigt
2. 27X-Jeff Beyers
3. 95-Jeff Johns
4. 59-Frankie Martin
5. 16H-Mike Hammerle
6. 2J-Dave Jumper
7. 12-Rick Standridge
8. 70-Marc McClintock
9. 37-Brent Helmkamp
Heat 3 (10 laps)
1. 00-Randy Korte
2. 25-Jason Feger
3. 33-Tim Manville
4. 8-Kyle Steffens
5. 6-Caleb Ashby
6. 7B-Mark Burgtorf
7. 13-Dewayne Kiefer
8. 76-Jim Durbin
Heat 4 (10 laps)
1. 1V-Will Vaught
2. 47-Danny Haynes
3. 16-Rusy Griffaw
4. 1HR-Ron McQuerry
5. 3W-Kenny Wallace
6. 6K-Michael Kloos
7. 81C-Kevin Cole
8. 0-Tim Hancock
B-Main (12 laps)
1. 81C-Kevin Cole
2. 27-Mike Schulte
3. 76-Jim Durbin
4. 1S-Rick Salter
5. 28B-John Beck
6. 0-Tim Hancock
7. 13-Dewayne Kiefer
8. 12-Rick Standridge
9. 70-Marc McClintock
10. 31-Brent Helmkamp
A-Main (20 Laps, Top 8 Finishers Locked into Redraw for Saturday’s finale.)
1. 1V-Will Vaught
2. 25-Jason Feger
3. 92B-Billy Faust
4. 47-Danny Haynes
5. 3S-Brian Shirley
6. 95-Jeff Johns
7. 8-Kyle Steffens
8. 27X-Jeff Beyers
9. 11-Bryan Collins
10. 81-Craig Smith
11. 6K-Michael Koos
12. 45-Denny Woodworth
13. 1S-Rick Salter
14. 7B-Mark Burgtorf
15. 81C-Kevin Cole
16. 16H-Mike Hammerle
17. 3W-Kenny Wallace
18. 76-Jim Durbin
19. 1HR-Ron McQuerry
20. 27-Mike Shulte
21. 2J-Dave Jumper
22. 16-Rusty Griffaw
23. 6-Caleb Ashby
24. 59-Frankie Martin
25. 30-Mark Voigt
26. 00-Randy Korte
27. 33-Tim Manville
28. 78-Chad Zobrist
Contact: World Racing Group
Chris Dolack, VP Media/PR
704-467-7643 • cdolack@dirtcar.com
Rain Cancels Roundup Hot Laps, “Party” Kicks Off Thursday
PEVELY, Mo. — Oct. 15 2008 — Persistent rain today at I-55 Raceway has forced
the cancellation of tonight’s hot lap sessions for the inaugural UMP DIRTcar
Roundup By MyRaceLife.com. Registration for the event dubbed as the “Party in
Pevely” by I-55 owner Ken Schrader will remain open until 10 p.m.
The opening day of action is set for tomorrow morning, Oct. 16. Pit gates and
registration will open at 10 a.m. with Opening Ceremonies slated for 5 p.m.
All eight UMP DIRTcar Racing-sanctioned divisions will participate in the
blockbuster program, which blends hard-nosed competition on the high-banked,
one-third-mile oval with fun and festivities off it.
UMP DIRTcar’s marquee Super Late Model and open-wheel Modified classes headline
the Roundup, with each contesting complete shows of heat races and last-chance
events on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. The Thursday and Friday cards
for each division will be topped by 20-lap preliminary A-Mains that transfer the
top-eight finishers directly to Saturday night’s Roundup Championship features –
a 30-lap, $5,000-to-win event for the Super Late Models and a 25-lap,
$2,500-to-win battle for the open-wheel Modifieds.
Also joining in on the Show-Me State bash are UMP DIRTcar’s Pro Late Model,
Sportsman, Limited Modified, Street Stock, 4-Cylinder and Factory Stock
divisions. Championship features for the 4-Cylinders and Factory Stocks are
scheduled for Friday night, while the Pro Late Models, Sportsman, Limited
Modifieds and Street Stocks will go to the post in Championship A-Mains on
Saturday night.
Nearly $120,000 in purse awards has been posted for the UMP DIRTcar Roundup by
I-55 Raceway and World Racing Group officials, who have banded together to
present an unprecedented multi-day extravaganza of grassroots dirt-track racing.
More than 70 drivers spanning all the divisions have pre-entered the Roundup by
reserving pit stalls, and dozens upon dozens more racers from across the Midwest
and beyond are expected to descend on I-55 Raceway this week. Teams will begin
signing in when registration opens at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, and the first cars
will hit the track at 7 o’clock Wednesday evening for rotating divisional hot
laps.
Notable pre-entries include Super Late Model standouts Billy Faust of Highland,
Ill.; Randy Korte of Highland, Ill.; Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill.; Michael
Kloos of Trenton, Ill.; Will Vaught of Crane, Mo.; Bryan Collins of Elsberry,
Mo.; and Denny Woodworth of Mendon, Ill.; and open-wheel Modified talents Scott
Weber of Festus, Mo.; Tim Hancock of Mt. Olive, Ill.; Bobby Bittle of Smithton,
Ill.; and Steve Arpin of Fort Frances, Ont.
In addition, NASCAR veteran Kenny Wallace is scheduled to drive a dirt Late
Model fielded by Ed Petroff in the Roundup.
While there will be non-stop racing action on the I-55 Raceway surface, there
will also be plenty going on off the track throughout the UMP DIRTcar Roundup.
An expansive ‘Roundup Tent’ that has been erected near the main entrance will be
the focal point of activity each day of the meet.
A variety of activities will be held inside the ‘Roundup Tent,’ including
breakfast from 10 a.m. to 12 noon each day; and parties featuring live music
following each night’s racing action, topped by the Champions’ Party that will
officially conclude the UMP DIRTcar Roundup By MyRaceLife.com on Saturday night.
There will also be a charity wienie roast on Friday, and Saturday’s schedule
includes a driver autograph session and a charity chili feed.
Fans unable to attend the UMP DIRTcar Roundup can still catch all the action on
DIRTVision.com, which will carry live internet broadcasts of the racing on
Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Users can purchase a ‘UMP VIP Subscription’ for
$19.99 to gain access to over 15 hours of live video coverage of the events on
DIRTVision.com.
For more information on the UMP DIRTcar Roundup By MyRaceLife.com., call the
I-55 Raceway office at 636-479-3219 or visit www.i55raceway.com,
www.umpdirtcarroundup.com
or www.dirtcar.com.
UMP DIRTcar Roundup By MyRaceLife.com Schedule of Events (All times and events
subject to change)
Thurs., Oct. 16:
10 a.m. - 12 Noon – Breakfast (Roundup Tent)
10 a.m. - Registration Opens
1 p.m. - Inspection Open (Inspection Compound)
5 p.m. - Opening Ceremonies
5:15 p.m. - Racing
* 4-Cylinder Heats - 6 laps
* Factory Stock Heats - 6 laps
* Street Stock Heats - 8 laps
* Limited Modified Heats - 8 laps
* Sportsman Heats - 8 laps
* Pro Late Model Heats - 10 laps
* Modified Heats - 10 laps
* Late Model Heat 1 - 10 laps
* Modified E-Main - 12 laps
* Late Model Heat 2 - 10 laps
* Modified D-Main - 12 laps
* Late Model Heat 3 - 10 laps
* Modified C-Main - 12 laps
* Late Model Heat 4 - 10 laps
* Modified B-Main - 12 laps
* Late Model C-Main - 12 laps
* Limited Mod B-Main - 12 laps
* Late Model B-Main - 12 laps
* Street Stock D-Main - 10 laps
* Sportsman C-Main - 10 laps
* Pro Late Model D-Main - 10 laps
* Modified A-Main - 20 laps (Top 8 locked in to Saturday A-Main)
* Late Model A-Main - 20 laps (Top 8 locked in to Saturday A-Main)
10 p.m. – Live Music at Roundup Tent
Fri., Oct. 17:
10 a.m. – 12 Noon – Breakfast (Roundup Tent)
12 Noon - Registration Opens
1 p.m. - Inspection Open (Inspection Compound)
3 p.m. - Charity Wienie Roast
5 p.m. - Opening Ceremonies
5:15 p.m. - Racing
* Modified Heats - 10 laps
* Late Model Heats - 10 laps
* Modified E-Main - 12 laps
* 4-Cylinder C-Main - 10 laps
* Factory Stock C-Main - 10 laps
* Street Stock C-Main - 10 laps
* Sportsman C-Main - 10 laps
* Modified D-Main - 10 laps
* Limited Modified B-Main - 10 laps
* Sportsman B-Main - 10 laps
* Late Model C-Main - 12 laps
* Pro Late Model B-Main - 10 laps
* 4-Cylinder B-Main - 10 laps
* Modified C-Main - 12 laps
* Late Model B-Main - 12 laps
* 4-Cylinder A-Main - 15 laps
* Modified B-Main - 12 laps
* Factory Stock A-Main - 15 laps
* Modified A-Main - 20 laps (Top 8 locked in to Saturday A-Main)
* Late Model A-Main - 20 laps (Top 8 locked in to Saturday A-Main)
10 p.m. - Live Music at Roundup Tent
Sat., Oct. 18:
10 a.m.- 12 Noon – Breakfast (Roundup Tent)
12 Noon - Registration Opens
1 p.m. - Inspection Open (Inspection Compound)
3 p.m. - Charity Wienie Roast
5 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies
5:15 p.m. - Racing
* Modified Heats - 10 laps
* Late Model Heats - 10 laps
* Modified E-Main - 12 laps
* Street Stock Feature - 20 laps
* Modified D-Main - 12 laps
* Limited Modified Feature - 20 laps
* Modified C-Main - 12 laps
* Sportsman Feature - 20 laps
* Modified B-Main - 12 laps
* Pro Late Model Feature - 20 laps
* Late Model C-Main - 12 laps
* Late Model B-Main - 12 laps
* Modified Feature - 25 laps
* Late Model Feature - 30 laps
10 p.m. – Champions’ Party at Roundup Tent
Contact: Volusia Speedway Park
Tonya Moschell, General Manager
386-985-4402 • tmoschell@dirtcar.com
Convention Holiday Classic Adds To PRI Show
Volusia Speedway Park will showcase DIRTcar Racing to Convention attendees
BARBERVILLE, Fla. — Oct. 15, 2008 — The 2008 racing will extend into December at
the inaugural Convention Holiday Classic Dec. 11-13 at Volusia Speedway Park.
While the motorsports world invades the Orange County Convention Center in
Orlando for the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show, the nights will heat up
less than an hour away at the big high-speed, half-mile oval in Barberville,
Fla.
With gates opening at 5:30 p.m. and racing starting at 7:30 p.m. each night, the
event will feature UMP DIRTcar Sportsman and Street Stocks on Thursday, Dec.,
11; Volusia Speedway Park DIRTcar Late Models and UMP DIRTcar Modifieds on
Friday, Dec. 12; and Sprint Cars and Mini-Sprints on Saturday, Dec. 13.
“So many racers and motorsports industry experts are in Central Florida for the
convention in Orlando so it’s a great opportunity to showcase our local racers
to racing people from all of the United States and beyond,” said Tonya Moschell,
Volusia Speedway Park general manager. “Those visitors to Volusia Speedway Park
for the Convention Holiday Classic should expect the finest in grassroots racing
action on the South’s fastest half mile oval.”
For tickets and information, call 386-985-4402 or go to VolusiaSpeedwayPark.com.
Volusia Speedway Park is about 30 minutes from Daytona International Speedway on
Highway 40, only 15 miles west of I-95 exit 268 in Ormond Beach.
Convention Holiday Classic
Thursday, December 11
UMP DIRTcar Sportsman $1000 to win
UMP DIRTcar Street Stock $500 to win
Admission: $10
Pits: $25
Friday, December 12
VSP DIRTcar Late Model $3000 to win
UMP DIRTcar Modified $1200 to win
Admission: $20 ($15 with PRI badge or coupon)
Pits: $25
Late Model Entry Fee: $100
Saturday, December 13
Sprint Cars and Mini-Sprints
Admission: $15
Pits: $25
Racing starts at 7:30 p.m. each night with gates opening at 5:30 p.m. and pits
opening at 4:30 p.m. A three-day pass is $30.
Contact: World Racing Group
Kevin Kovac, UMP DIRTcar Racing Public Relations
704-254-7929 • kkovac@dirtcar.com
Inaugural UMP DIRTcar Roundup Brings Four-Day Party To Pevely’s I-55 Raceway
This Week (Oct. 15-18)
Eight UMP DIRTcar Racing Divisions Will Battle On High-Banked Bullring
PEVELY, MO – Oct. 14, 2008 – Let the party begin.
The inaugural UMP DIRTcar Roundup By MyRaceLife.com – aka the ‘Party in Pevely’
– kicks off on Wednesday (Oct. 15) and runs through Saturday (Oct. 18) at NASCAR
veteran Ken Schrader’s I-55 Raceway outside St. Louis.
All eight UMP DIRTcar Racing-sanctioned divisions will participate in the
blockbuster program, which blends hard-nosed competition on the high-banked,
one-third-mile oval with fun and festivities off it.
UMP DIRTcar’s marquee Super Late Model and open-wheel Modified classes headline
the Roundup, with each contesting complete shows of heat races and last-chance
events on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. The Thursday and Friday cards
for each division will be topped by 20-lap preliminary A-Mains that transfer the
top-eight finishers directly to Saturday night’s Roundup Championship features –
a 30-lap, $5,000-to-win event for the Super Late Models and a 25-lap,
$2,500-to-win battle for the open-wheel Modifieds.
Also joining in on the Show-Me State bash are UMP DIRTcar’s Pro Late Model,
Sportsman, Limited Modified, Street Stock, 4-Cylinder and Factory Stock
divisions. Championship features for the 4-Cylinders and Factory Stocks are
scheduled for Friday night, while the Pro Late Models, Sportsman, Limited
Modifieds and Street Stocks will go to the post in Championship A-Mains on
Saturday night.
Nearly $120,000 in purse awards has been posted for the UMP DIRTcar Roundup by
I-55 Raceway and World Racing Group officials, who have banded together to
present an unprecedented multi-day extravaganza of grassroots dirt-track racing.
More than 70 drivers spanning all the divisions have pre-entered the Roundup by
reserving pit stalls, and dozens upon dozens more racers from across the Midwest
and beyond are expected to descend on I-55 Raceway this week. Teams will begin
signing in when registration opens at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, and the first cars
will hit the track at 7 o’clock Wednesday evening for rotating divisional hot
laps.
Notable pre-entries include Super Late Model standouts Billy Faust of Highland,
Ill., Randy Korte of Highland, Ill., Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., Michael
Kloos of Trenton, Ill., Will Vaught of Crane, Mo., Bryan Collins of Elsberry,
Mo., and Denny Woodworth of Mendon, Ill., and open-wheel Modified talents Scott
Weber of Festus, Mo., Tim Hancock of Mt. Olive, Ill., Bobby Bittle of Smithton,
Ill., and Steve Arpin of Fort Frances, Ont.
In addition, NASCAR veteran Kenny Wallace is scheduled to drive a dirt Late
Model fielded by Ed Petroff in the Roundup.
While there will be non-stop racing action on the I-55 Raceway surface, there
will also be plenty going on off the track throughout the UMP DIRTcar Roundup.
An expansive ‘Roundup Tent’ that has been erected near the main entrance will be
the focal point of activity each day of the meet.
A variety of activities will be held inside the ‘Roundup Tent,’ including ‘Movie
Night’ following Wednesday’s practice sessions; breakfast from 10 a.m. to 12
noon each day; and parties featuring live music following each night’s racing
action, topped by the Champions’ Party that will officially conclude the UMP
DIRTcar Roundup on Saturday night. There will also be a charity wienie roast on
Friday, and Saturday’s schedule includes a driver autograph session and a
charity chili feed.
Fans unable to attend the UMP DIRTcar Roundup can still catch all the action on
DIRTVision.com, which will carry live internet broadcasts of the racing on
Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Users can purchase a ‘UMP VIP Subscription’ for
$19.99 to gain access to over 15 hours of live video coverage of the events on
DIRTVision.com.
For more information on the UMP DIRTcar Roundup By MyRaceLife.com., call the
I-55 Raceway office at 636-479-3219 or visit www.i55raceway.com,
www.umpdirtcarroundup.com
or www.dirtcar.com.
UMP DIRTcar Roundup By MyRaceLife.com Schedule of Events (All times and events
subject to change)
Wed., Oct. 15:
12 Noon - Main Gate & Camping Area Opens
1 p.m. - Registration Opens
5-9 p.m. – ‘Early Bird’ Inspection (Inspection Compound)
5-9 p.m. – Manufacturer’s Row Set-up
7-9 p.m. - Rotating division hot laps
10 p.m. - Pits Close
6-11 p.m. - Movie Night (Roundup Tent)
Thurs., Oct. 16:
10 a.m. – 12 Noon – Breakfast (Roundup Tent)
12 Noon - Registration Opens
1 p.m. - Inspection Open (Inspection Compound)
5 p.m. - Opening Ceremonies
5:15 p.m. - Racing
* 4-Cylinder Heats - 6 laps
* Factory Stock Heats - 6 laps
* Street Stock Heats - 8 laps
* Limited Modified Heats - 8 laps
* Sportsman Heats - 8 laps
* Pro Late Model Heats - 10 laps
* Modified Heats - 10 laps
* Late Model Heat 1 - 10 laps
* Modified E-Main - 12 laps
* Late Model Heat 2 - 10 laps
* Modified D-Main - 12 laps
* Late Model Heat 3 - 10 laps
* Modified C-Main - 12 laps
* Late Model Heat 4 - 10 laps
* Modified B-Main - 12 laps
* Late Model C-Main - 12 laps
* Limited Mod B-Main - 12 laps
* Late Model B-Main - 12 laps
* Street Stock D-Main - 10 laps
* Sportsman C-Main - 10 laps
* Pro Late Model D-Main - 10 laps
* Modified A-Main - 20 laps (Top 8 locked in to Saturday A-Main)
* Late Model A-Main - 20 laps (Top 8 locked in to Saturday A-Main)
10 p.m. – Live Music at Roundup Tent
Fri., Oct. 17:
10 a.m. – 12 Noon – Breakfast (Roundup Tent)
12 Noon - Registration Opens
1 p.m. - Inspection Open (Inspection Compound)
3 p.m. - Charity Wienie Roast
5 p.m. - Opening Ceremonies
5:15 p.m. - Racing
* Modified Heats - 10 laps
* Late Model Heats - 10 laps
* Modified E-Main - 12 laps
* 4-Cylinder C-Main - 10 laps
* Factory Stock C-Main - 10 laps
* Street Stock C-Main - 10 laps
* Sportsman C-Main - 10 laps
* Modified D-Main - 10 laps
* Limited Modified B-Main - 10 laps
* Sportsman B-Main - 10 laps
* Late Model C-Main - 12 laps
* Pro Late Model B-Main - 10 laps
* 4-Cylinder B-Main - 10 laps
* Modified C-Main - 12 laps
* Late Model