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Battleground Speedway Owner Looking For Reprise of Last Year's Memorable World of Outlaws Late Model Series Event
National Tour Returns To Texas Track For 'Lone Star 50' On Fri., March 26
HIGHLANDS, TX - March 9, 2010 - What's the biggest selling point Battleground Speedway owner Mike Walling has going for him leading into his track's World of Outlaws Late Model Series 'Lone Star 50' on Fri., March 26?
That would most certainly be last year's inaugural appearance by the national full-fender tour at the three-eighths-mile oval located 12 miles east of Houston.
"It was an awesome show," raved Walling, a 35-year-old Texan now in his second year at the helm of Battleground Speedway. "People around here are still talking about, so all that word-of-mouth is my best advertising. It was the definitely the kind of race that makes people want to come back this year and bring some friends this time."
Indeed, the 2009 WoO LMS program served as a grand coming-out party for the high-banked track, which Walling reopened last year after it had sat dormant for nearly three seasons. Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., emerged victorious in a hard-fought, high-energy A-Main that saw cars jockeying for position throughout the 100-lap distance -- and immediately after the checkered flag fell, Babb donned a cowboy hat and happily hopped on a 1,300-pound Texas Longhorn steer as part of a unique, Lone Star State-themed Victory Lane ceremony that had the big crowd buzzing.
"The best Late Model drivers in the country were racing all over the track from the first lap to the 100th lap last year," said Walling, who was so pumped up after Battleground's '09 WoO LMS spectacular that he offered free admission to all the fans who returned for the track's regular racing program the following week. "Darrell Lanigan (the 2008 WoO LMS champion from Union, Ky.) went to the back (of the field) twice and still finished second -- that's how racy the track was. It was the show of the year at Battleground Speedway."
The return engagement for the nation's premier dirt Late Model tour will pack all the punch of last year's two-day, extra-distance event into one frenzied evening on March 26. A 50-lap A-Main paying $10,000 to win will headline Battleground's card this year, allowing the WoO LMS to contest a first-ever two-track Texas doubleheader by moving about 200 miles north on Sat., March 27, to Lonestar Speedway in Kilgore.
And of course, Walling is once again planning to punctuate the night by having the 'Lone Star 50' winner meet up with a snorting Texas Longhorn in Victory Lane. The steer that starred in last year's post-race ceremonies, Hondo, was tragically killed late in 2009 in a highway accident, but Walling is arranging to have another Longhorn brought in to continue building the tradition.
"Nobody left the stands after last year's race when they saw that big Longhorn come out of the pits and start walking down the homestretch," said Walling, whose uncle, Red Walling, was involved in local racing in the past with the former Big H Speedway dirt track in Houston and now assists in the marketing and operation of the new-look Battleground Speedway. "It was a pretty neat deal, especially when Shannon went over and gave it a kiss on the head. The crowd really got into it and I want to keep it going as something everyone can look forward to when the World of Outlaws come to town."
The scrum to get up-close-and-personal with a Longhorn will feature a talent-laden roster of WoO LMS regulars led by defending champion Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., who finished fourth in last year's event at Battleground on the eve of his 21st birthday. He won last month's 2010 WoO LMS season opener at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla. -- the fourth consecutive year he's captured the tour's lidlifter.
Other committed Outlaw travelers ready for action in Texas include Lanigan (last year's crowd-pleasing runner-up at Battleground); Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa. (finished fifth in the 2009 event); Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y. (sixth); Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga. (seventh); Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga. (eighth); current points leader Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis. (10th); 2009 Rookie of the Year Russell King of Bristolville, Ohio (13th); Rick Eckert of York, Pa. (19th); 2007 champion Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky. (23rd); and 2010 Rookie of the Year candidate Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del. (did not enter last year's race).
Several other racers will trek to Battleground in hopes of building momentum to join the established Outlaws as 2010 regulars, including 2006 champion Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., rookie candidates Tim Dohm of Cross Lanes, W.Va., Tony Knowles of Tyrone, Ga., and Jill George of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and '09 rookie contender Brent Robinson of Smithfield, Va.
Among the drivers expected to challenge the Outlaws are Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, who finished third in last year's event; Al Purkey of Coffeyville, Kans. (11th in '09) and his car owner Bill Koons of Omaha, Neb. (DNQ); Ray Moore of Shreveport, La. (ninth); Kevin Sitton of Baytown, Texas (22nd); and Chris Brown of Cleveland, Texas (DNQ).
The 'Lone Star 50' is currently the lone dirt Late Model event scheduled at Battleground in 2010.
"We're telling all the local fans to come out and catch the Late Models while they can," said Walling, whose track headlines open-wheel Modifieds on Saturday nights. "This is their only chance to see them at Battleground this year, so it's definitely a show not to be missed."
Gates are scheduled to open at 4 p.m. and racing will begin at 7 p.m. on March 26.
General admission is $32 and pit passes cost $38 for the program, which also includes racing for the track's Limited Modified, Hobby Stock and Pure Stock classes.
For more information on Battleground Speedway, call the track at 832-421-RACE or visit www.battlegroundspeedway.net.
Additional info on the WoO LMS is available by visiting www.worldofoutlaws.com.
DIRTcar Racing Announces Sanctioning Of Midwest Dirt Late Model Series For 2010 Season
CONCORD, NC March 8, 2010 The Midwest Dirt Late Model Series (MDLMS) will carry the sanctioning of DIRTcar Racing in 2010, officials from the two organizations have announced.
Renamed the Midwest DIRTcar Late Model Series, the Wichita, Kans.-based tour will focus on full-fender competition at tracks in the Kansas/Oklahoma area. It will feature several co-sanctioned events with the Colorado Late Model Association DIRTcar Series, which will also run under the DIRTcar banner for the first time this season.
"Bringing the Midwest DIRTcar Late Model Series into the DIRTcar family continues our expansion west of the Mississippi River," said DIRTcar Racing Western Region director Chris Morgan, who negotiated to set up the MDLMS and CLMA as sister DIRTcar tours. "The Midwest DIRTcar Late Model Series serves as a geographic bridge between our core DIRTcar series and tracks in the heartland to new DIRTcar territory in the Rocky Mountains and on to the West Coast, enhancing DIRTcar's reach as we strive to provide fans and race teams more exciting events across the country."
The MDLMS will remain under the direction of president Dusty Wiegert of Ramona, Kan., but all events in 2010 will offer DIRTcar Racing-licensed drivers points toward DIRTcar Racing's UMP circuit state/regional and national standings. Drivers will have an opportunity to share in a DIRTcar UMP points fund that annually tops $200,000 and also participate in the enhanced insurance program available to all DIRTcar Racing members.
In an effort to reinvigorate the dirt Late Model scene for local racers in Kansas and Oklahoma, Wiegert, 27, led the formation of the MDLMS in the fall of 2008. The tour debuted in 2009 with a six-race schedule (four other scheduled events were rained out) and Chuck Comer of Joplin, Mo., emerged as the inaugural champion.
"We knew there were a lot of dirt Late Model cars and drivers in the area who just weren't racing because the opportunities weren't out there, so we decided to put a series together," said Wiegert, who has worked as an announcer and public relations representative in recent years. "We wanted to spark some interest for the teams in our area and bring back some excitement to the fans, and in our first year we accomplished those goals.
"Now we're excited to take another big step this season. Being involved with a nationally-known organization like DIRTcar is going to bring a lot more attention and recognition to our series and drivers."
The tentative 2010 MDLMS schedule currently lists 11 events at seven different tracks, starting on May 1 at Wild West Speedway in Clinton, Okla. Other ovals set to host the tour are Dodge City (Kans.) Raceway Park (May 7-8); Minneapolis (Kans.) Raceway (May 15, Aug. 21 and Sept. 11); Mid-America Speedway in South Coffeyville, Okla. (May 22 and Aug. 28); Brill Motor Speedway in Meeker, Okla. (June 26); Hutchinson (Kans.) Raceway Park (July 31); and Liberal (Kans.) Fairgrounds Speedway (Aug. 1). The events at Dodge City, Hutchinson and Liberal Fairgrounds are scheduled for co-sanction by the CLMA DIRTcar Series.
Wiegert said he expects to add several dates to the 10 MDLMS, which offers a $1,000 top prize for most events.
For more information on the Midwest DIRTcar Late Model Series, visit www.mdlms.net.
Additional info on all of the series, sanctioning and member tracks of DIRTcar Racing is available at www.DIRTcar.com.
Screven Motor Speedway's 'Redd' Griffin Offers Fans Great Deal For World of Outlaws Late Model Series Show On March 20
SYLVANIA, GA - March 6, 2010 - James 'Redd' Griffin gets pumped up every time he brings the renowned World of Outlaws Late Model Series to his Screven Motor Speedway.
And judging by the sweet offer he's come up with to generate more buzz about the national tour's third annual visit to his Peach State track on Sat., March 20, Griffin wants to make sure fans from far-and-wide will have an economical opportunity to see first-hand why the Outlaws thrill him so much.
The burly track owner known for his outgoing personality has set a price of just $20 for all general admission tickets to the blockbuster evening of action, which features a 50-lap WoO LMS A-Main that pays $10,000 to its winner. Billed as "Redd's Stimulus Program," the great deal will be one of the biggest bargains of the 2010 WoO LMS -- and Griffin hopes it will help attract a standing-room-only crowd to witness the country's brightest dirt Late Model stars battle at the three-eighths-mile Screven oval.
"I want to make this show a great value for everyone -- especially the people in our area," said Griffin, who has also scheduled a 35-lap National Late Model Series event with a $3,000 top prize and a $1,000-to-win Super Street feature on the WoO LMS undercard. "I want guys to see that 20 bucks is a pretty good price for a World of Outlaws race and say, 'Come on honey, let's go to the races to see the finest drivers in the country and bring the kids along too (children 12-and-under will be admitted free). Let's go check out the biggest night of the year at Screven Motor Speedway.'"
Griffin, 42, is "looking for a great turnout" on both sides of the fence come March 20. If Mother Nature cooperates with a splendid day to usher in spring, he can even envision a record attendance figure and WoO LMS car count for the track, which is located less than 60 miles northwest of Savannah.
The timing of this year's WoO LMS event at Screven should provide a boost as well. Both of the tour's previous visits there, in 2008 and 2009, came on blazing hot-and-humid August days, so a March date will be much more comfortable for fans and racers alike. What's more, those late-summer shows at Screven faced off directly against a number of other special dirt Late Models events; on March 20 there will be no major conflicting races within reasonable driving distance of Screven, dramatically opening up the possible entry list.
"I think running in March is going to work out great for us," said Griffin, whose facility anchors a weekend WoO LMS doubleheader in the Southeast that kicks off on Fri., March 19, at Ocala (Fla.) Speedway. "Now more drivers can come race with us, and we can get more moisture in the racetrack because we won't have to deal with that hot summer sun."
A banner field of drivers is expected to invade Screven on March 20, led by the track's two previous WoO LMS victors -- former tour champion Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky. (2008) and Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y. (2009) -- and defending series titlist Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., a soon-to-be 22-year-old who finished second to Fuller in last year's A-Main at Screven.
Homestate standouts Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga., and Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., are also members of the traveling WoO LMS roster, which features current points leader Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis., 2008 champion Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., Rick Eckert of York, Pa., Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., 2009 Rookie of the Year Russell King of Bristolville, Ohio, and '10 rookie candidate Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del. Several other racers will trek to Screven in hopes of building momentum to join the established Outlaws as 2010 regulars, including 2006 champion Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., who will make his first-ever appearance at Screven, rookie candidates Tim Dohm of Cross Lanes, W.Va., Tony Knowles of Tyrone, Ga., and Jill George of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and '09 rookie contenders Jordan Bland of Campbellsville, Ky., and Brent Robinson of Smithfield, Va.
Other drivers who have listed both the Ocala and Screven events on their schedules are three-time DIRTcar UMP Summer Nationals champion Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., two-time O'Reilly Southern All-Stars Series titlist Ivedent Lloyd of Ocala, Fla., 2006 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year Eddie Carrier Jr. of Salt Rock, W.Va., and Ray Cook of Brasstown, N.C., while the local contingent at Screven is expected to be led by brothers Ben and Jeremy Faircloth of Swainsboro.
All of Screven's attendees will certainly notice one off-season change that Griffin made to the track.
"We added some clay to put a little more banking at the top of the turns," said Griffin, who had to add height to the guardrails at both ends of the speedway to compensate for the increased banking. "We want to open it up and get those cars racing right to the wall. I think we're gonna see more side-by-side racing now."
On-track action is scheduled to get underway at 6 p.m. on March 20.
Pit passes are $35 and $10 for children 12-and-under.
Screven Motor Speedway is located between Mile Markers 6 and 7 on GA Route 21 in Screven County, Ga.
Additional info is available by visiting www.screvenmotorspeedway.com or calling 912-547-1777 (Redd Griffin) or 912-754-5882 (track).
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.
Break In Action Allows Group Of Outlaws To Gather For Steve Francis Wedding
BARDSTOWN, KY - March 2, 2010 - The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is in the middle of a month-long break from competition, but former champion Steve Francis gave a group of the national tour's top stars a reason to get together away from the track.
Francis, 42, of Ashland, Ky., celebrated his marriage to Amanda Ferrell last Saturday night in Bardstown, Ky. -- and there to share the evening with him were four of his closest friends on the World of Outlaws circuit.
The quartet of WoO LMS regulars who made the journey to central Kentucky included Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga., Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., and Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y. Clanton and Smith served as groomsmen for Francis, and Clanton's son Ryan, 7, was the ceremony's ring-bearer.
Nearly 300 people attended the wedding and reception, which was filled with talk about dirt Late Model racing. Virtually everyone on hand had some sort of connection to the sport considering the backgrounds of the couple -- Francis has been a professional full-fender driver for more than a quarter-century and the 26-year-old Ferrell's parents, David and Anita, promote Bluegrass Speedway, the nearby half-mile oval (the wedding took place just a mile from the track) that hosts the WoO LMS for the first time on May 8.
"We just all had a good time," said Smith, who has raced alongside Francis on the WoO LMS since the tour's reincarnation in 2004 under the World Racing Group banner. "It was a real fun wedding '' like a big 'ol racing party, really, because there were so many people there who were involved in racing."
Although there were some current WoO LMS travelers who were unable to attend the Francis-Ferrell nuptials -- including Mark Richards (Francis's chassis builder and former car owner), defending series champion Josh Richards (Mark's son and a longtime understudy of Francis) and Chub Frank -- the timing of the affair fit perfectly into the tour schedule. Before setting a wedding date following his engagement last summer, Francis consulted repeatedly with WoO LMS director Tim Christman to make sure there were no potential series events in the offing for the last two weekends in February 2010.
"I told Christman if he wanted me to follow this thing (WoO LMS) this year, we had to have a two-week break in the schedule (after the season-opening shows on Feb. 11 and 13 at Florida's Volusia Speedway Park)," joked Francis, whose wedding party also included best man Tim Logan (Francis's crew chief and sometimes car owner this year) and Logan's son Lee (Francis's chief mechanic during his 2007 WoO LMS championship season). "He was good enough to give us four weeks between Volusia and the Ocala (Fla.) race (on March 19)."
The open space on the WoO LMS schedule allowed Francis and his new bride to leave on Sunday for a week-long honeymoon in Jamaica without having to worry about heading directly to a racetrack upon their return. They are due home on Saturday, leaving Francis nearly two weeks to prepare his self-owned equipment and stock his brand-new hauler for the tour's Southeastern doubleheader on March 19 at Ocala Speedway and March 20 at Screven Motor Speedway in Sylvania, Ga.
With the exception of Smith, Francis's fellow Outlaws also turned their attention to the resumption of the WoO LMS schedule after enjoying the wedding activities. Smith, of course, is always one of the country's most active drivers, so waiting until March 19 to get back on the track isn't part of his makeup. In fact, Smith flew home from Francis's wedding on Sunday morning and met his team at Green Valley Speedway in Glencoe, Ala., where he finished sixth in the evening's 75-lap Bama Bash event after starting 28th thanks to a past-winner's provisional, and he tentatively plans to enter races in Georgia and Tennessee over the next two weekends.
Lanigan and Fuller, meanwhile, will continue their normal preparation programs in advance of the Ocala/Screven weekend, but Clanton will have more than twisting bolts on his agenda. After being unable to do more than use provisional starting spots and settle for last-place finishes in the tour's events at Volusia because he was still recovering from a serious thumb infection that sent strep bacteria into his bloodstream, Clanton expects to be back racing full-speed in the next Outlaw shows but still must undergo at least two more medical procedures.
While Clanton no longer needs a PICC line in his arm to receive regular doses of antibiotics by IV, his left thumb was ravaged by the infection and subsequent surgeries. As a result, he is scheduled for an additional operation this week and then a skin-graft procedure the Monday following the tour's Texas weekend (March 26 at Battleground Speedway in Highlands and March 27 at Lonestar Speedway in Kilgore), providing him ample time to heal before the Illini 100 on April 9-10 at Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.
Ocala Speedway's Inaugural World of Outlaws Late Model Series Event On March 19 Introduces Unique Track To National Audience
OCALA, FL - Feb. 24, 2010 - Come Fri., March 19, Ocala Speedway will be officially introduced to a national dirt Late Model audience.
That evening the World of Outlaws Late Model Series is scheduled to make a first-ever stop at the central Florida track, focusing the attention of the dirt Late Model world on a venerable facility that has never before hosted such a significant, star-studded event for the division.
Now in just its third season of dirt racing following more than a decade as an asphalt track, Ocala Speedway is ready to bust into the full-fender spotlight. In that vein, here's some things a dirt Late Model fan needs to know about a track that will end a month of inactivity for the WoO LMS with a 50-lap, $10,000-to-win spectacular -- the first time the national tour will compete in the Sunshine State outside of Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville.
* Ocala Speedway is the oldest track in Florida -- seven years older than Daytona International Speedway, in fact. But while 2010 marks its 58th year of operation, it certainly doesn't look its age thanks to numerous facility upgrades over the past decade, including the installation of a stadium-style grandstand with seating for 4,000, bright Musco lighting and a superb sound system; construction of buildings featuring checkerboard floors, new restrooms and a children's play area; and an all-asphalt and cement pit area.
* The track operated with a dirt surface from its birth in 1952 until being paved in 1995. Clay was put back down prior to the 2008 season and the speedway has been building momentum ever since.
* Ocala Speedway is owned by Michael Peters and his fiancée Angie Clifton. The couple -- Peters, 40, is a former jet pilot for the defunct ATA Airlines and Clifton, 42, is a vice-president of a bank -- purchased the track in late 2005 after deciding to take a shot at promoting a venue that was rumored to be ripe for closing if an energized buyer didn't step up.
A racer in Ocala's V-8 Thunder Stock class, Peters found life as a track operator to be a tough proposition. While struggling to increase attendance during the 2006 and 2007 seasons, he sometimes wondered whether taking a leave of absence from his job with the airline to concentrate on the speedway was a mistake.
Then, after the completion of the 2007 campaign, Peters announced he was returning Ocala to its roots as a dirt track. He brought in 350 truckloads of clay to cover the surface and, just like that, the speedway was literally reborn. More than 180 cars signed in for the first practice session on dirt in January 2008 and a standing-room-only crowd turned out for the track's grand reopening, on Feb. 29, 2008.
"It was the right decision to make," Peters said of Ocala's resurfacing. "The difference has been like night and day. We tried everything to get people to come out when the track was paved but just weren't getting anywhere. Now there's just so much more excitement about the racing, it's made my job that much easier."
* Dirt Late Models running under the National Late Model Series rules compete every other week at Ocala. The class, which alternates as the track's headliner each Friday night with the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds, draws solid fields -- and Peters said several regulars plan to enter the WoO LMS event in hopes of making the starting lineup of the biggest dirt Late Model show in Ocala's history.
* The speedway boasts one of the most unique layouts of any dirt track in the country. A D-shaped, three-eighths-mile oval with a pronounced dog-leg on the backstretch, it's a challenge for any driver to navigate smoothly.
"One and two are long, sweeping turns that guys can go through wide-open," described Peters, "but then they have to slow down for a much tighter hairpin through (turns) three and four.
"It makes the racing real interesting. A lot of people will actually set their car up for one end or the other because they're so different."
Ocala will be uncharted territory for most of the traveling WoO LMS stars, including defending champion Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., who turns 22 just three days after the track's tour event. He was one of a handful of Outlaws who planned to test at Ocala before the recent DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH at nearby Volusia Speedway Park, but wet weather prevented any drivers from getting on the track.
One of the few WoO LMS regulars with experience on Ocala's dirt is Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga. He remembers finishing fourth in a Hav-A-Tampa/Southern All-Stars Series special held there on Feb. 13, 1993 -- the last time a major touring dirt Late Model series competed at the track.
The Outlaws will certainly face a formidable foe in Ocala native Ivedent Lloyd, the 1992-1993 Ocala Speedway dirt Late Model champion and a winner of four features at the track over the past two seasons. A two-time Southern All-Stars titlist, Lloyd has plenty of laps at his hometown oval and has run well in WoO LMS action in the past.
* There's an unprecedented buzz surrounding the inaugural WoO LMS event at Ocala. A packed house watched last month's All-Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car Winternationals show and Peters expects his ticket sellers to be busy again on March 19.
"A World of Outlaws Late Model Series race is what we've been building toward since we went dirt," said Peters. "I went to high school (Ocala Forest) with Tim Christman (the director of the WoO LMS and part-owner/promoter of Ocala Speedway for the 2002-2003 seasons), and he called me to talk as soon as he heard I was putting dirt down. I told him I definitely wanted to have a World of Outlaws someday and now here we are."
Ocala's pit gates are scheduled to open at 1 p.m. and the grandstands will be unlocked at 5 p.m. on March 19. Racing is set to start at 8 p.m.
General admission tickets to the WoO LMS program, which will also include action for the track's Hobby Stock and Mini-Stock divisions, will be $25 (adults), $12 (ages 6-16) and free for kids 6-and-under. Pit passes will cost $35 and $15 for children 12-and-under.
The Ocala Speedway event is part of a Southeast doubleheader for the WoO LMS, which moves on to Screven Motor Speedway in Sylvania, Ga., on March 20.
More information on Ocala Speedway is available by logging on to www.ocalaspeedway.com or calling 352-622-9400.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.
World of Outlaws Late Model Series News & Notes: Wrapping Up The 39th Annual DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH
BARBERVILLE, FL - Feb. 15, 2010 -
BREAKING THROUGH: Before the start of Saturday night's DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH finale at Volusia Speedway Park, Brady Smith stood by an Arizona Sports Shirts merchandise trailer behind the track's grandstand and talked about his winless 2009 season on the World of Outlaws Late Model Series and his hopes of ending the dry spell in 2010.
Several hours later, Smith's frustrating pursuit of his first checkered flag as a WoO LMS regular was over. He dominated the tour's 50-lap A-Main, rolling to a victory that clearly showed he's ready to be a title contender in his second campaign on the road with the Outlaws.
"We finally put a whole night together," said Smith, who scored three runner-up finishes (and lost one sure-fire win to a flat tire on the last lap) during the 2009 WoO LMS season. "We swept the night -- fast time, won our heat and won the feature. We had the Bloomquist car dialed in all night.
"Last year it seemed like we would qualify well and then not heat-race well, or not qualify well and then heat-race O.K. and start at the back of the feature. You have to be consistent all night if you want to race races against this kind of competition, so we sat and talked over the winter and got ourselves focused on putting whole nights together.
"That's something we did here the last two nights," added Smith, who won a heat and finished third in the 2010 WoO LMS season opener on Thursday night. "We qualified well enough to start on the front row of our heat both nights, and we were able to win both heats. That put us up front in the feature and we took advantage of it."
One year ago, of course, Smith got off to a disappointing start in the WoO LMS lidlifter at Volusia, failing to qualify for the Thursday-night A-Main after a heat-race tangle sent him into the turn-four wall. He rallied to finish second in the Saturday event, but he still left Florida in a major hole -- 19th in the points standings, 71 points behind the leader -- and never climbed higher than sixth in the rankings before settling for an eighth-place finish.
Now Smith, 32, of Solon Springs, Wis., is the WoO LMS points leader for the first time in his career -- and the possibilities for 2010 seem endless.
"It's pretty early to start thinking about points, but after the way we started out here last year it's a lot better to come out on top," said Smith, who sported a new sponsor, Michaletz Trucking of Owatonna, Minn., on the quarter-panels of his car at Volusia. "We'll just take it and keep working."
WHAT A COMEBACK: As Tim McCreadie sat buckled into his backup car awaiting the start of a B-Main on Saturday night, his hopes of chasing the WoO LMS championship for the first time since he won it in 2006 seemed to be disappearing in the cold Florida air.
"I could almost cry right now," said McCreadie, shaking his head.
McCreadie, 35, of Watertown, N.Y., knew his chances of charging from the rear of the field to grab one of two transfer spots available in the 12-lap B-Main weren't good, so he was resigned to absorbing a crushing DNQ to end a difficult day. There was already a somber feeling running through his team -- on Tuesday one of his teammate Vic Coffey's close friends, longtime Sweeteners Plus employee Leo LaVerdi Jr., passed away suddenly at the age of 46 (Coffey skipped Saturday's show to attend the funeral), and on Saturday his crewman Mike Amell' mother, 19-year-old daughter and girlfriend were involved in a highway accident near the track and rushed to a local hospital -- and the driveline problems that sidelined McCreadie's primary car during heat action continued the run of bad news.
But a funny thing happened when McCreadie pulled out of the B-Main during an early caution period. He was informed by WoO LMS director Tim Christman that Saturday night's A-Main included a provisional starting spot for the highest-ranked driver in the week's DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH Late Model points standings who failed to qualify -- a position that would go to McCreadie provided Wisconsin's Dan Schlieper held on to a transfer spot in McCreadie's B-Main.
When Schlieper secured a second-place finish to qualify for the 50-lap A-Main, McCreadie had new life. He took full advantage of the unexpected opportunity, thrilling the chilled crowd with a memorable drive from the 28th starting spot to a third-place finish.
"I thank the (World Racing Group) organization for making the (starting) field bigger tonight," said McCreadie, who was short on manpower on Saturday night because Amell left the track to be with his loved ones at the hospital (Amell's girlfriend and his daughter's friend were treated and released, but his mother and daughter remained there on Monday undergoing treatment for back injuries). "When you have a big Speedweek like this with so many cars and the track this size, I dont think there's anything wrong with starting 30 cars. It helps more guys make a little money to get home, so kudos to the organization for adding a few more spots to the feature.
"It definitely helped us," he continued. "Having a chance to race definitely salvaged our night. It's just nice to finish (the week) on a strong note. It makes me feel like all the hard work we put in produced something."
With McCreadie's spectacular outing sending him home sitting fourth in the WoO LMS points standings (he also finished fourth on Thursday night), the odds of him running the tour fulltime jumped exponentially. He stopped short of committing to an all-out assault on a second title, but he's certainly considering it.
"I'd like to do the series," said McCreadie. "These last two runs definitely make me think I can do it. We've struggled a lot (during his season-opening trek to Georgia and Florida), but at least now I know that with the guidance I got from Mark Richards (of Rocket Chassis) and other people this week, I feel like we can contend with these guys.
"It would be fun to do (the WoO LMS) again, so we'll see. We're gonna go home, take a couple days, and see what everybody says."
NICE START: Josh Richards proved no one knows opening night on the WoO LMS like he does when he captured the tour's lidlifter at Volusia for the fourth consecutive year on Thursday night, but he once again fell short of pulling off a historic sweep of Outlaw action during the DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH.
A third-place starting spot in Saturday night's A-Main -- light years better than the 17th-place starting position he was saddled with on Thursday night -- wasn't enough to make Richards the first driver to sweep the two WoO LMS events that are traditionally part of the DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH. (Since 2005 a pair of Outlaw shows have been contested at Volusia every February except in 2007, when rain washed out one scheduled event.) The soon-to-be 22-year-old from Shinnston, W.Va., settled for a fourth-place finish in Saturday's 50-lapper, leaving him tied for second in the points standings with Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla.
"The track was a lot drier," said Richards, comparing Saturday's surface to the Thursday conditions he mastered. "We had the same tires McCreadie had on, but for me (the compound) was way too soft. I had to bury myself against that bottom and just ride. I couldn't run that top like McCreadie could.
"I think the car was way better than what it showed though, so I was tickled with a fourth."
ON THE MEND: WoO LMS regular Shane Clanton was credited with a pair of last-place finishes at Volusia -- 29th on Thursday, 30th on Saturday -- but not as a result of any bad racing luck.
Clanton, 34, of Locust Grove, Ga., traveled to the half-mile knowing his name would appear at the end of each evening's finishing order. Still recovering from a serious strep infection that materialized after he cut his left thumb in his team's race shop and forced him to spend a week in the hospital, Clanton had no choice but to simply enter each WoO LMS event and use emergency provisionals to gain entry to the A-Main fields for points-chasing purposes.
It was a tough situation for Clanton, who could do nothing more than slowly circle the track during the pace laps in RSD Enterprises teammate Tony Knowles's car and quietly drive into the pits as the race began. He was unable to race competitively because a PICC line remained in his left arm so he could receive IV bags filled with powerful antibiotics every eight hours in order to rid his bloodstream of the strep bacteria that had spread from his infected thumb.
"It's no fun being here and not racing," said Clanton, who will have to make an unprecedented rally to win the 2010 WoO LMS title after leaving Volusia tied for 29th in the points standings, 112 points behind leader Brady Smith. "I wanted to step on the gas when I was out there, but I knew I couldn't."
Clanton said doctors hope to remove the PICC line from his arm next week if his recovery progresses on schedule.
IN A HOLE: Steve Francis has some catching up to do in the WoO LMS points standings after a 28th-place finish in Saturday night's A-Main ended what he termed a "frustrating" season-opening trip to the Southeast.
Back driving his own equipment after spending the last two seasons with Maryland car owner Dale Beitler, Francis managed just one top-five finish in 10 starts at three tracks in Georgia and Florida. His highlight was a fifth-place run (from the 19th starting spot) in Thursday night's WoO LMS A-Main at Volusia.
"This was not necessarily what we wanted to start with," said Francis, who parked his under-performing new Rocket car after a subpar DIRTcar UMP-sanctioned outing on Wednesday night at Volusia and brought out a Rocket that he prepared for NASCAR star Ryan Newmans limited dirt Late Model appearances last year. "Everybody worked hard, but sometimes things go right and sometimes they go wrong -- and everything that could go wrong did go wrong this week. That's why they call it racing."
After a busted oil-pump belt eliminated Francis just three laps into Saturday night's A-Main, he headed out the pit gate mired in 15th in the points standings, 60 points behind leader Brady Smith.
"We'll go back and regroup," said Francis, who will marry Amanda Ferrell on Feb. 27. "I've left here in worse shape than this before."
ETCETERA:
* Sporting a new, silver-dominated color scheme on his No. 29, 2008 WoO LMS champ Darrell Lanigan appeared primed for the start of the tour schedule after winning Monday night's DIRTcar UMP Late Model A-Main at Volusia. But he was never a factor in WoO LMS action, only managing quiet finishes of 11th (Thursday) and 12th (Saturday).
* Rick Eckert's pair of WoO LMS were opposites -- on Thursday he started seventh and faded to a 13th-place finish, and on Saturday he started 12th and improved to seventh at the checkered flag. The veteran from York, Pa., who is fielding his own team this season after his longtime car owner Raye Vest's passing last year, thought he could have climbed even higher on Saturday if his car's engine hadn't been plagued by an oil-pressure problem.
* Tim Fuller's hopes for a fast start in the 2010 points battle weren't realized. Racing at a track where he's never enjoyed much success with a dirt Late Model (his best WoO LMS finish is an eighth in 2009), he struggled en route to finishes of 14th and 21st. He's tied for 16th in the points standings (-64 points); last year he left Volusia seventh in the points races, 36 points behind.
* As far as Chub Frank is concerned, his visit to Volusia Speedway Park never happened. He experienced no memorable moments during the DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH, finishing 17th and 18th in the WoO LMS A-Mains and failing to qualify for both DIRTcar UMP Late Model events that were run earlier in the week.
* Clint Smith had to make an engine change after suffering a blown powerplant during Wednesday night's DIRTcar UMP program, but a solid heat-race effort and 13th-place finish in Saturday night's WoO LMS show had him feeling like he's "headed in the right direction" with his new Rocket car.
* It wasn't a good week for 2009 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year Russell King, who used an emergency provisional to start both Outlaw A-Mains. He did not finish either event, scoring a pair of 24th-place finishes.
* Teenage sensation Austin Hubbard made his WoO LMS debut behind the wheel of Dale Beitler's familiar No. 19. The 2010 Rookie of the Year candidate qualified through a B-Main for both WoO LMS headliners and registered finishes of 10th and 21st.
* Other drivers on hand at Volusia who are contemplating '10 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year assaults were Jill George of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Tony Knowles of Tyrone, Ga. Both racers failed to make an A-Main cut.
* Tim Dohm of Cross Lanes, W.Va., who earned the $500 WoO LMS 'Bonus Bucks' cash on both Thursday (finished eighth) and Saturday (16th), said he's considering following the national tour with team owner Tracy Seymour.
* Brent Robinson missed a couple days of classes at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va., to run the DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH. He failed to qualify for an A-Main in his No. 3, which carried a new color scheme.
* Jordan Bland, the runner-up in the 2009 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year battle, said he plans to follow the tour's schedule this season as long as it's financially feasible for him. He reported during a Wednesday Media Day press conference that his father decided to retire as a team owner during the off-season, but the elder Bland did leave Jordan all the necessary equipment to go racing and told him, "Now it's up to you to try to make it on your own like Scott (Bloomquist) and Billy (Moyer)."
Bland turned heads with strong DIRTcar UMP runs early in the week, running second until a sealed-up tire (Monday) and a spin (Wednesday) ended his bid. He failed to qualify for a WoO LMS A-Main.
* Tyler Reddick, who last year became the youngest A-Main starter in WoO LMS when he qualified for the tour's opener at Volusia, was unable to make the cut for a feature this year. The 15-year-old from Corning, Calif., missed transferring through a B-Main by three spots on Thursday and five on Saturday.
NEXT UP: The WoO LMS will be silent for one month before returning to Florida on March 19 for the first-ever tour event at Ocala Speedway. A visit to Screven Motor Speedway in Sylvania, Ga., on March 20 will round out the early-season weekend in the Southeast.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.
Brady Smith Breaks Into World of Outlaws Late Model Series Victory Lane In Finale Of DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH
BARBERVILLE, FL - Feb. 13, 2010 - Brady Smith won't go winless on the World of Outlaws Late Model Series in 2010.
The rising star from Solon Springs, Wis., made sure of that on Saturday night, capturing the national tour's 50-lap A-Main that closed the 39th annual DIRTcar Nationals by University of Northwestern Ohio at Volusia Speedway Park.
Winless in 2009 during his first season as a WoO LMS regular, Smith broke through with a dominant performance in front of a chilled Sunshine State crowd. He fell to third place early in the distance after starting from the pole position but rallied to pass Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., for the lead on lap 20 and run then run away from the pack.
"It feels great to finally win an Outlaw race again," said Smith, whose two previous WoO LMS triumphs came during the 2008 season. "It's so hard to win these races. I know we're capable of doing it, but we raced the whole season last year and didn't get it done, so to be able to do it here at Speedweeks -- man, it's actually harder to win a race down here than it is all season.
"'We're just really thrilled. This gives everyone a boost -- me, the crew, the sponsors, and definitely my bank account.
Driving his Team Zero by Bloomquist car with a Vic Hill engine under the hood, Smith crossed the finish line with a winning margin of 2.456 seconds over Earl Pearson of Jacksonville, Fla., in the Bobby Labonte Motorsports MasterSbilt mount. Pearson was unable to challenge Smith following a lap-37 restart, leaving him with a runner-up finish in both WoO LMS events run during the DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH.
Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., registered a hardearned third-place finish, charging forward from the 28th starting position in the Sweeteners Plus Rocket. Behind the wheel of his backup car after driveline woes sidelined his primary machine during heat action, he gained entry to the A-Main through a provisional spot granted to the highest-ranked non-qualified driver in the DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH points standings.
Opening-night WoO LMS winner Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., who started third, finished fourth in the Rocket Chassis house car -- good enough to hand him the DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH Late Model championship for the second consecutive year. Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., completed the top five after starting seventh in the Sheltra Construction Rocket.
Smith, 32, pulled off a clean sweep of the evening's program, earning the Ohlins Shocks Pole Award as well as a heat win. He also left Volusia as the WoO LMS points leader for the first time in his career -- a far cry from the 2009 season, when he failed to qualify for the tour's season-opening event and needed a second-place finish in the DIRTcar Nationals finale just to crack the top 20 in the points standings exiting Florida.
The $10,125 victory didn't come easily despite Smith's pole starting spot. He was outgunned for the lead at the initial green flag by Moyer, who started second, and lost second to Richards on lap two.
"I had a plan there before the feature and it was to run the bottom," said Smith, who finished eighth in the 2009 WoO LMS points standings. "I took off and beat (Moyer) to the flagstand, but he wheeled around me pretty good (for the lead) and then even Josh got by me before that caution came out (on lap three).
"I just said, 'Man, this is ridiculous. I gotta get up on the wheel here.' So that's what I did. Once I moved up the racetrack to Moyers groove, I instantly knew I had a car to race with."
Smith regained second from Richards on the restart. By lap 15 he was on Moyer's rear bumper, bidding for the lead.
"I used some patience and raced with (Moyer) a little bit," said Smith. "Then I saw an opening there through (turns) one and two between him and a lapped car (on lap 20), so I just hit the gas and took it. The car stuck and didn't miss a beat the rest of the race."
Pearson slid past Moyer for second on the restart following the race's second and final caution flag, on lap 37, but he never got close to Smith. The homestate driver spent the race's late stages fending off McCreadie, who made a stirring come-from-behind drive.
After falling short to Richards in the WoO LMS lidlifter on Thursday night, Pearson found himself upstaged again.
"The other night there was a mud ring around the bottom and Josh beat us on tires," said Pearson, who started fourth. "Tonight we all pretty much had the same tires on and the track was real racy, but I was just a little bit too tight through the center to run with Brady."
McCreadie, meanwhile, had to catch his breath after driving his heart out to salvage a third-place finish. Sitting fourth for the lap-37 restart, he nearly pulled off a three-wide move inside Moyer and Pearson to grab second when the green flag flew but instead settled into third and stayed there to the finish.
"I was a little softer on tires than those guys," said McCreadie, the 2006 WoO LMS champion. "I think if I would've had an earlier restart it would've helped, but we got where we got. I just couldn't clear Earl to even think about trying to run down Brady."
There were no serious incidents during the A-Main, which was slowed only on lap three for the stopped car driven by Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., and on lap 37 for a turn-four spin executed by Tim Dohm of Cross Lanes, W.Va.
Francis pulled up lame in turn two when his Valvoline No. 15 was felled by a busted oil-pump belt. He finished 28th, leaving him mired in 15th in the points standings.
Finishing in positions 6-10 was Moyer, who tumbled out of the top five on the lap-37 restart; Rick Eckert of York, Pa., who was plagued with oil-pressure problems throughout the distance; Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill.; John Blankenship of Williamson, W.Va., who ran as high as fifth; and Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga.
Sixty-three cars were signed in for the event, which was run on an unseasonably cool night that saw temperatures dip near the freezing mark.
Brady Smith turned a lap of 16.063 seconds in qualifying to earn the Ohlins Shocks Pole Award. It was his third career fast time in WoO LMS competition but first since Aug. 22, 2007, at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tenn.
Heat winners were Brady Smith, Richards, Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., Francis, Pearson and Moyer. The B-Mains were captured by Eddie Carrier Jr. of Salt Rock, W.Va., Jared Landers of Batesville, Ark., and Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa.
The WoO LMS will be silent for one month before returning to Florida on March 19 for the first-ever tour event at Ocala Speedway. A visit to Screven Motor Speedway in Sylvania, Ga., on March 20 will round out the early-season weekend in the Southeast.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.
Results of WoO Late Model Series at Volusia Speedway Park (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):
1. (1) Brady Smith/50 $10,125 2. (4) Earl Pearson Jr./50 $5,000 3. (28) Tim McCreadie/50 $3,000 4. (3) Josh Richards/50 $2,500 5. (7) Shannon Babb/50 $2,000 6. (2) Billy Moyer/50 $1,700 7. (12) Rick Eckert/50 $1,400 8. (8) Dennis Erb Jr./50 $1,300 9. (9) John Blankenship/50 $1,200 10. (11) Dale McDowell/50 $1,100 11. (21) Brian Birkhofer/50 $1,050 12. (25) Darrell Lanigan/50 $1,000 13. (10) Clint Smith/50 $950 14. (5) Jimmy Owens/50 $900 15. (27) Jason Feger/50 $850 16. (17) Tim Dohm/50 $1,300 17. (16) Chub Frank/49 $770 18. (20) Jared Landers/49 $750 19. (14) Patrick Sheltra/49 $730 20. (18) Justin Rattliff/49 $700 21. (26) Tim Fuller/49 $700 22. (23) Austin Hubbard/48 $700 23. (15) Tyler Ivey/48 $700 24. (29) Russell King/28 $0 25. (24) Chris Madden/25 $700 26. (22) Dan Schlieper/21 $700 27. (13) Steve Casebolt/20 $700 28. (6) Steve Francis/3 $700 29. (19) Eddie Carrier Jr./3 $750 30. (30) Shane Clanton/0 $25
* Earnings include cash contingency award bonuses
Time of Race: 23 Mins., 01.916 Secs. Margin of Victory: 2.456 Secs. Yellow Flags: 2 (Laps 3, 37) Lap Leaders: Moyer (1-19); B. Smith (20-50) Provisional Starters: Lanigan, Fuller, King, Clanton (WoO); Feger (UMP); McCreadie (DIRTcar Nationals) Rookie of the Race: ($250) WoO LMS 'Bonus Bucks' Winner: Tim Dohm ($500) Integra Shocks Crew Chief of the Race: Brandon Bender (Brady Smith)
Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):
1. 2-Brady Smith/Solon Springs, WI 16.063 2. 28e-Dennis Erb Jr./Carpentersville, IL 16.096 3. 23-John Blankenship/Williamson, WV 16.192 4. 1V-Will Vaught/Crane, MO 16.242 5. 15B-Brian Birkhofer/Muscatine, IA 16.267 6. 21-Billy Moyer/Batesville, AR 16.302 7. 18-Shannon Babb/Moweaqua, IL 16.321 8. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 16.322 9. 20-Jimmy Owens/Newport, TN 16.377 10. 15-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 16.419 11. 44p-Earl Pearson Jr./Jacksonville, FL 16.437 12. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 16.480 13. 28-Eddie Carrier Jr./Salt Rock, WV 16.489 14. 23P-Patrick Sheltra/Indiantown, FL 16.490 15. 777-Jared Landers/Batesville, AR 16.505 16. 56-Russell King/Bristolville, OH 16.511 17. 17M-Dale McDowell/Chickamauga, GA 16.505 18. 7W-Ricky Weiss/Winnipeg, MAN 16.542 19. C9-Steve Casebolt/Richmond, IN 16.565 20. 41-Brad Neat/Dunnville, KY 16.567 21. 16T-Tyler Bruening/Decorah, IA 16.575 22. 19H-Austin Hubbard/Seaford, DE 16.578 23. 18K-Brandon Kinzer/Allen, KY 16.581 24. 16R-Justin Rattliff/Campbellsville, KY 16.591 25. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 16.594 26. 25z-Mason Ziegler/Chalk Hill, PA 16.604 27. 47-Tyler Ivey/Tallahassee, FL 16.618 28. 9k-Mike Knight/Ripley, NY 16.619 29. 21d-Dan Stone/Thompson, PA 16.620 30. 44M-Chris Madden/Gaffney, SC 16.622 31. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 16.653 32. 18W-Eric Wells/Hazard, KY 16.669 33. 77-Jason McBride/Carbondale, IL 16.693 34. 19d-Ronnie DeHaven Jr./Winchester, VA 16.699 35. b5-Brandon Sheppard/New Berlin, IL 16.714 36. 99z-Dave Zona/Montrose, PA 16.737 37. 11-Tyler Reddick/Corning, CA 16.759 38. 46-Greg Johnson/Bedford, PA 16.761 39. 00-Randy Korte/Highland, IL 16.772 40. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 16.814 41. 17T-Tim Dohm/Cross Lanes, WV 16.828 42. 3c-Mike Collins/Carter Lake, IA 16.851 43. 9-Dan Schlieper/Sullivan, WI 16.861 44. 25F-Jason Feger/Bloomington, IL 16.872 45. 3-Brent Robinson/Smithfield, VA 16.897 46. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 16.914 47. 4T-Tommy Kerr/Maryville, TN 16.932 48. 26-Tony Knowles/Tyrone, GA 16.940 49. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 16.952 50. 27-Jeff Beyers/Pana, IL 16.999 51. 99B-Rick Briggs/Bear Lake, PA 17.001 52. 12-Jordan Bland/Campbellsville, KY 17.038 53. 22-Jill George/Cedar Falls, IA 17.306 54. 16N-Brian Nuttall Jr./Claxton, GA 17.318 55. 29R-Ronnie Rihn/Bloom, WI 17.442 56. 1P-Darren Peters/Fort Erie, ONT 17.471 57. 5s-Steve Sheppard Jr./New Berline, IL 17.607 58. 40-Joe Callahan/Dubuque, IA 17.878 59. 1x-Ed Carley/Freedom, NY 17.946 60. 13d-Jonathan DeHaven/Winchester, VA 18.177 61. 16H-Mike Hammerle/St. Charles, MO 18.293 62. 57-Chuck Julien/Apopka, FL 19.176 63. 25-Shane Clanton/Locust Grove, GA N/T
Heat No. 1 (10 laps -- Top 3 Transfer): B. Smith, Babb, Casebolt, Carrier, Schlieper, Lanigan, McCreadie, Fuller, Reddick, Rihn, Hammerle
Heat No. 2 (10 laps -- Top 3 Transfer): Richards, Erb, Sheltra, Neat, G. Johnson, Ziegler, Wells, Feger, J. Beyers, Peters, Julien
Heat No. 3 (10 laps -- Top 3 Transfer): Owens, Blankenship, Ivey, Landers, Korte, Bruening, McBride, Robinson, Briggs, S. Sheppard
Heat No. 4 (10 laps -- Top 3 Transfer): Francis, C. Smith, Frank, Hubbard, King, Knight, Bland, R. DeHaven, Vaught, Callahan
Heat No. 5 (10 laps -- Top 3 Transfer): Pearson, McDowell, Dohm, Birkhofer, Kinzer, Kerr, B. Sheppard, George, Carley, Stone
Heat No. 6 (10 laps -- Top 3 Transfer): Moyer, Eckert, Rattliff, Madden, Weiss, Knowles, Collins, Nuttall, Zona (DNS) J. DeHaven
B-Main No. 1 (12 laps -- Top 2 Transfer): Carrier, Schlieper, Lanigan, G. Johnson, Wells, J. Beyers, Reddick, Rihn, Peters, Julien, Hammerle, Fuller, Neat, Feger, Ziegler, McCreadie
B-Main No. 2 (12 laps -- Top 2 Transfer): Landers, Hubbard, Korte, King, Bruening, McBride, Robinson, Knight, Briggs, R. DeHaven, Bland, S. Sheppard (DNS) Vaught, Callahan
B-Main No. 3 (12 laps -- Top 2 Transfer): Birkhofer, Madden, Kinzer, Weiss, Kerr, B. Sheppard, Knowles, George, Zona, Nuttall, Stone, Collins (DNS) Carley, J. DeHaven
World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners:
Arizona Sports Shirts ($50 product certificate to fifth-place finisher in each B-Main): Eric Wells, Tyler Bruening, Tommy Kerr Armor All (one case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main w/decal): Earl Pearson Jr. Eibach Springs (one free spring to each B-Main winner): Eddie Carrier Jr., Jared Landers, Brian Birkhofer MSD Ignition ($75 cash award to A-Main winner w/decal): Brady Smith MSD Ignition ($25 cash award to last-place finisher in A-Main w/decal): Shane Clanton Ohlins Pole Award ($50 cash award to fast qualifier w/decal): Brady Smith Pink Carburetors ($100 product certificate for new/rebuild to A-Main winner w/decal): Brady Smith Pink Carburetors ($50 product certificate for new/rebuild to last-place finisher in A-Main w/decal: Shane Clanton Quartermaster ($100 product certificate to A-Main winner w/decal): Brady Smith Quartermaster ($50 product certificate to fifth-place finisher in A-Main w/decal): Shannon Babb Quartermaster ($25 product certificate to 15th-place finisher in A-Main w/decal): Jason Feger STP ($50 cash award to the winner of B-Main No. 1 w/decal): Eddie Carrier Jr. VP Racing Fuels Nice Jugs Award (two free VP five-gallon containers to fastest qualifier who does not make the A-Main if decal is displayed): Will Vaught Wrisco Aluminum (three sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner w/decal): Brady Smith
2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of Feb. 13 -- 2 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):
1. Brady Smith 294 (-0) 2. (tie) Josh Richards 292 (-2) 2. (tie) Earl Pearson Jr. 292 (-2) 4. Tim McCreadie 286 (-8) 5. Billy Moyer 274 (-20) 6. Dale McDowell 268 (-26) 7. Dennis Erb Jr. 266 (-28) 8. Rick Eckert 260 (-34) 9. Shannon Babb 256 (-38) 10. Darrell Lanigan 254 (-40) 11. Tim Dohm 252 (-42) 12. John Blankenship 238 (-56) 13. (tie) Austin Hubbard 236 (-58) 13. (tie) Clint Smith 236 (-58) 15. Steve Francis 234 (-60) 16. (tie) Tim Fuller 230 (-64) 16. (tie) Chub Frank 230 (-64) 16. (tie) Jimmy Owens 230 (-64) 19. (tie) Eddie Carrier Jr. 218 (-76) 19. (tie) Jason Feger 218 (-76)
FOLLOW THE ACTION ON TWITTER: Fans can now keep up-to-date with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series online and through text messages on cell phones via Twitter, the internet's fast-growing social-networking and micro-blogging website. Updates are provided to Twitter 'followers' of the WoO LMS throughout each race night, and fans also receive breaking news and interesting notes from the tour.
To sign-up as a WoO LMS 'follower' on Twitter to receive updates anywhere at anytime, visit http://twitter.com/WoOLateModels.
What A Charge: Richards Wins World of Outlaws Late Model Series Opener For Fourth Straight Year At Volusia Speedway Park
BARBERVILLE, FL - Feb. 11, 2010 - No one was surprised to see Josh Richards win Thursday night's 50-lap World of Outlaws Late Model Series season opener at Volusia Speedway Park.
But from the 17th starting spot? Even Richards couldn't have conjured up a more exciting way to kick off his WoO LMS title defense and capture the national tour's lidlifter for an unprecedented fourth consecutive year.
"I was not expecting that at all," Richards said after putting on the most memorable performance of the 39th annual DIRTcar Nationals by University of Northwestern Ohio. "To have a car that good, and to start so far back and be that dominant in a race against these guys -- it's just very rare. It's an awesome feeling."
Richards, 21, of Shinnston, W.Va., blasted through the field in the Rocket Chassis house car he drove to victory in last year's opener, cracking the top five on a lap-15 restart and then sliding by Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis., Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., and Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., in succession to reach second on lap 19. He quickly ran down race-long leader Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla., and sailed by the homestate driver on lap 27 to assume command for good.
Pearson settled for second place in the Bobby Labonte Motorsports MasterSbilt mount, crossing the finish line 4.320 seconds behind Richards. Brady Smith had his Team Zero by Bloomquist car hot on Pearson's rear deck in the final laps and finished third, while McCreadie placed fourth in the Sweeteners Plus Rocket and 2007 WoO LMS champion Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., advanced from the 19th starting spot to finish fifth in his Valvoline Rocket.
Richards pocketed $10,675 for what might have been the most spectacular of his 21 career WoO LMS triumphs. He won from the 18th starting spot on Oct. 7, 2008, at Fayetteville (N.C.) Motor Speedway, but that race didn't come with the extra significance of extending an amazing win streak.
"To win four openers in a row is just really cool," said Richards, who started from the pole position in 2007 and third in both the 2008 and 2009 opening-night WoO LMS events at the half-mile oval outside Daytona Beach. "There's always the luck factor involved -- and we've been very lucky here. But I feel like we earned this one too.
"To come from the back really shows how strong your team is. Matt (Barnes), Jimmy (Frey), Joe (Pilkenton), Ernie (Davis), my dad (Mark Richards), Steve Baker -- they all did an awesome job."
Richards found himself mired deep in the starting field after finishing third in his heat race, but he began the A-Main confident he could climb forward. It didn't take him long to realize he just might be able to still pull off a victory.
"I drove a little hard in the heat and fell back to third, so I was a little disappointed in myself for that," said Richards. "But I was like, 'You know what? Just get out there and race, do what you always do.' I put the heat out of my head and just started fresh in the feature.
"The way the car felt, after a few laps I knew we were gonna be good," he continued. "The car was just phenomenal. We started passing cars, but I had no idea what position we were in. Then I looked up (at the scoreboard), saw Brady (Smith) was fifth and he was right there in front of us, and I was like, 'We're up there and have a pretty good shot of running top-three.'
"After I got the lead I just tried to stay patient. Those last few laps I just about stopped going around there, and I guess going slower actually made me faster. The car was just phenomenal."
The drivers Richards vanquished certainly agreed with his assessment.
"(Richards) was extremely good tonight," said Pearson, who started third but moved up one row after polesitter Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., spun between turns one and two at the initial green flag. "He could roll right through that middle or wherever he needed to go. We were a little bit too tight and had to stay down there on the bottom. I don't even know where he started, but he blew by me and that's all I saw of him."
Smith, meanwhile, stood in awe of Richards's opening-night superiority but was very satisfied with his outing. He didn't even qualify for last year's opener at Volusia, putting him in a points hole for the start of his first campaign as a WoO LMS regular.
"I don't know what it is about the opener here, but Josh has something figured out," said Smith, who started sixth. "We got tight and couldn't run the way he could, but we're very happy with third. This is a lot better start than last year."
Four caution flags slowed the event, but there were no serious incidents. After McDowell's opening-lap spin, the other cautions flew for stopped cars -- Jared Landers of Batesville, Ark., on lap 15; Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., on lap 19; and Brad Neat of Dunnville, Ky., on lap 37.
Finishing in positions 6-10 was McDowell, who rallied from the rear after his disappointing miscue; Moyer; 21st-starter Tim Dohm of Cross Lanes, W.Va., who earned the $500 WoO LMS 'Bonus Bucks' cash for being the highest-finishing driver who hasn't won a tour A-Main; Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill.; and WoO LMS rookie Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del.
A banner field of 68 cars was signed in for the event.
Landers, who won the DIRTcar UMP Modified 'Gator Championship' on Monday night, blistered the track in 15.961 seconds during qualifying to earn the Ohlins Shocks Pole Award. It was his first-ever fast-time honor on the WoO LMS.
Heat winners were Moyer, McCreadie, Brady Smith, Babb, McDowell and Pearson. The B-Mains were captured by Francis, Greg Johnson of Bedford, Ind., and Dohm.
The 39th annual DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH continue on Fri., Feb. 12 (a grand finale for DIRTcar UMP Late Models with a $10,000 top prize) and Sat., Feb. 13 (another 50-lap, $10,000-to-win show for the WoO LMS). A full program featuring the Super DIRTcar Series for big-block Modifieds is also on the agenda each evening.
Additional info on the DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH is available by logging on to www.dirtcar.com, www.volusiaspeedwaypark.com or www.dirtcarnationals.com.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.
Results of WoO Late Model Series (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):
1. (17) Josh Richards/50 $10,675 2. (3) Earl Pearson Jr./50 $5,000 3. (6) Brady Smith/50 $3,500 4. (2) Tim McCreadie/50 $2,600 5. (19) Steve Francis/50 $2,650 6. (1) Dale McDowell/50 $1,700 7. (5) Billy Moyer/50 $1,500 8. (21) Tim Dohm/50 $1,800 9. (22) Dennis Erb Jr./50 $1,200 10. (24) Austin Hubbard/50 $1,850 11. (10) Darrell Lanigan/50 $1,650 12. (18) Eddie Carrier Jr./50 $1,000 13. (7) Rick Eckert/50 $1,450 14. (25) Tim Fuller/50 $1,400 15. (23) Eric Jacobsen/50 $850 16. (15) Jack Sullivan/49 $800 17. (4) Shannon Babb/49 $770 18. (14) Chub Frank/49 $1,250 19. (26) Clint Smith/49 $1,230 20. (16) Brandon Kinzer/48 $700 21. (8) Jimmy Owens/36 $700 22. (11) John Blankenship/36 $700 23. (12) Brad Neat/35 $700 24. (29) Russell King/23 $500 25. (9) Chris Madden/19 $700 26. (27) Jason Feger/13 $700 27. (13) Jared Landers/13 $750 28. (20) Greg Johnson/13 $700 29. (28) Shane Clanton/0 $525
* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses
Time of Race: 22 Mins., 13.879 Secs. Margin of Victory: 4.320 Secs. Yellow Flags: 4 (Laps 0, 15, 19, 37) Lap Leaders: Pearson (1-26); Richards (27-50) Provisional Starters: Fuller, C. Smith, Clanton, King (WoO); Feger (UMP) Rookie of the Race: Hubbard ($250) WoO LMS Bonus Bucks Winner: Dohm ($500) Integra Shocks Crew Chief of the Race: Matt Barnes (Richards)
Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):
1. 777-Jared Landers/Batesville, AR 15.961 2. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 16.047 3. 1x-Jack Sullivan/Greenbrier, AR 16.055 4. 18-Shannon Babb/Moweaqua, IL 16.063 5. 23-John Blankenship/Williamson, WV 16.069 6. 41-Brad Neat/Dunnville, KY 16.095 7. 21-Billy Moyer/Batesville, AR 16.110 8. 20-Jimmy Owens/Newport, TN 16.117 9. 2-Brady Smith/Solon Springs, WI 16.195 10. 18K-Brandon Kinzer/Allen, KY 16.206 11. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 16.236 12. 44P-Earl Pearson Jr./Jacksonville, FL 16.267 13. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 16.301 14. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 16.327 15. 44M-Chris Madden/Gaffney/SC 16.334 16. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 16.335 17. 17M-Dale McDowell/Chickamauga, GA 16.341 18. 4T-Tommy Kerr/Maryville, TN 16.355 19. 16T-Tyler Bruening/Decorah, IA 16.377 20. 28E-Dennis Erb Jr./Carpentersville, IL 16.380 21. 14-Kyle Berck/Marquette, NE 16.383 22. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 16.385 23. 88-Wendell Wallace/Batesville, AR 16.412 24. 12-Jordan Bland/Campbellsville, KY 16.419 25. 18W-Eric Wells/Hazard, KY 16.424 26. 32c-Vic Coffey/Caledonia, NY 16.480 27. C9-Steve Casebolt/Richmond, IN 16.491 28. 5s-Steve Sheppard Jr./New Berlin, IL 16.496 29. 17T-Tim Dohm/Cross Lanes, WV 16.514 30. 28-Eddie Carrier Jr./Salt Rock, WV 16.533 31. 9k-Mike Knight/Ripley, NY 16.554 32. 15-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 16.556 33. 11R-Tyler Reddick/Corning, CA 16.561 34. 1V-Will Vaught/Crane, MO 16.606 35. 00-Randy Korte/Highland, IL 16.625 36. 19H-Austin Hubbard/Seaford, DE 16.625 37. 16R-Justin Rattliff/Campbellsville, KY 16.668 38. 9-Dan Schlieper/Sullivan, WI 16.683 39. 26-Tony Knowles/Tyrone, GA 16.703 40. 5-Eric Jacobsen/Sea Cliff Beach, CA 16.736 41. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 16.757 42. 56-Russell King/Bristolville, OH 16.763 43. 21d-Dan Stone/Thompson, PA 16.768 44. 7W-Ricky Weiss/Winnipeg, MAN 16.772 45. 46-Greg Johnson/Bedford, IN16.801 46. 23P-Patrick Sheltra/Indiantown, FL 16.849 47. 47-Tyler Ivey/Tallahassee, FL 17.023 48. 27-Jeff Beyers/Pana, IL 17.030 49. b5-Brandon Sheppard/New Berlin, IL 17.061 50. 15b-Brian Birkhofer/Muscatine, IA 17.072 51. 25F-Jason Feger/Bloomington, IL 17.278 52. 3-Brent Robinson/Smithfield, VA 17.441 53. 77-Jason McBride/Carbondale, IL 17.612 54. 40-Joe Callahan/Dubuque, IA 17.755 55. 19d-Ronnie DeHaven Jr./Winchester, VA 17.816 56. 13d-Jonathan DeHaven/Winchester, VA 17.845 57. 1P-Darren Peters/Fort Erie, ONT 17.911 58. 25z-Mason Ziegler/Chalk Hill, PA 18.011 59. 3c-Mike Collins/Carter Lake, IA 18.077 60. 99z-Dave Zona/Montrose, PA 18.102 61. 5M-Whitney McQueary/Liberty, KY 18.558 62. 27d-Donald Beyers/Pana, IL 18.647 63. 29R-Ronnie Rihn/Bloom, WI 18.778 64. 57-Chuck Julien/Apopka, FL 18.829 65. 99B-Rick Briggs/Bear Lake, PA 19.010 66. 16H-Mike Hammerle/St. Charles, MO 19.037 67. 22-Jill George/Cedar Falls, IA N/T 68. 25-Shane Clanton/Locust Grove, GA N/T
Heat No. 1 (10 laps -- Top 3 Transfer): Moyer, Eckert, Landers, Wells, Bruening, Stone, Knight, McQueary, B. Sheppard, Rattliff, R. DeHaven (DNS) George
Heat No. 2 (10 laps -- Top 3 Transfer): McCreadie, Owens, Frank, Schlieper, Coffey, Francis, Erb, Weiss, J. DeHaven, D. Beyers, Birkhofer
Heat No. 3 (10 laps Top 3 Transfer): B. Smith, Madden, Sullivan, Casebolt, Feger, Reddick, G. Johnson, Rihn, Peters, Berck, Knowles
Heat No. 4 (10 laps -- Top 3 Transfer): Babb, Lanigan, Kinzer, Jacobsen, Sheltra, S. Sheppard, Vaught, Robinson, Ziegler, Julien, C. Smith
Heat No. 5 (10 laps -- Top 3 Transfer): McDowell, Blankenship, Richards, Dohm, Korte, Fuller, Briggs, Ivey, McBride, Collins, Wallace
Heat No. 6 (10 laps Top 3 Transfer): Pearson, Neat, Carrier, Hubbard, Kerr, King, Bland, J. Beyers, Callahan, Zona, Hammerle
B-Main No. 1 (12 laps -- Top 2 Transfer): Francis, Erb, Schlieper, Stone, Knight, McQueary, Bruening, Wells, J. DeHaven, George, Coffey, B. Sheppard, Birkhofer, Weiss, R. DeHaven (DNS) D. Beyers, Rattliff
B-Main No. 2 (12 laps -- Top 2 Transfer): G. Johnson, Jacobsen, Casebolt, Sheltra, Reddick, Vaught, Knowles, C. Smith, Ziegler, Rihn, Peters, Julien, S. Sheppard, Robinson, Feger (DNS) Berck
B-Main No. 2 (12 laps -- Top 2 Transfer): Dohm, Hubbard, Korte, Fuller, Ivey, Bland, Kerr, McBride, J. Beyers, Wallace, Collins, Zona, Briggs, Callahan, King, Hammerle
World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners:
Arizona Sports Shirts ($50 product certificate to fifth-place finisher in each B-Main): Mike Knight, Tyler Reddick, Tyler Ivey Armor All (one case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main w/decal): Earl Pearson Jr. Eibach Springs (one free spring to each B-Main winner): Steve Francis, Greg Johnson, Tim Dohm MSD Ignition ($75 cash award to A-Main winner w/decal): Josh Richards MSD Ignition ($25 cash award to last-place finisher in A-Main w/decal): Shane Clanton Ohlins Pole Award ($50 cash award to fast qualifier w/decal): Jared Landers Pink Carburetors ($100 product certificate for new/rebuild to A-Main winner w/decal): Josh Richards Pink Carburetors ($50 product certificate for new/rebuild to last-place finisher in A-Main w/decal): Shane Clanton Quartermaster ($100 product certificate to A-Main winner w/decal): Josh Richards Quartermaster ($50 product certificate to fifth-place finisher in A-Main w/decal): Steve Francis Quartermaster ($25 product certificate to 15th-place finisher in A-Main w/decal): Eric Jacobsen STP ($50 cash award to the winner of B-Main No. 1 w/decal): Steve Francis VP Racing Fuels 'Nice Jugs Award' (two free VP five-gallon containers to fastest qualifier who does not make the A-Main if decal is displayed): Tyler Bruening Wrisco Aluminum (three sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner w/decal): Josh Richards
FOLLOW THE ACTION ON TWITTER: Fans can now keep up-to-date with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series online and through text messages on cell phones via Twitter, the internet's fast-growing social-networking and micro-blogging website. Updates are provided to Twitter 'followers' of the WoO LMS throughout each race night, and fans also receive breaking news and interesting notes from the tour.
To sign-up as a WoO LMS 'follower' on Twitter to receive updates anywhere at anytime, visit http://twitter.com/WoOLateModels.
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.
Favorite Again: Defending Champ Josh Richards Tops World of Outlaws Late Model Series Pre-Season Media Poll For Second Straight Year
CONCORD, NC - Feb. 11, 2010 - Can Josh Richards repeat as the champion of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series in 2010?
According to the dirt Late Model press contingent, there's a very good chance the young sensation from Shinnston, W.Va., will reign supreme again.
Richards, 21, was voted the overwhelming favorite to win the national tour's 2010 points title in the third annual WoO LMS Pre-Season Media Poll. It marks the second consecutive year that he has topped the voting.
More than two-dozen writers, photographers and broadcasters who cover the WoO LMS participated in the poll, which asked the press members to predict the top-five finishers in the tour's 2010 points standings. Points were distributed to each driver named on the media ballots using a 5-4-3-2-1 system.
Richards tallied 113 points in the poll, including an impressive 15 first-place votes. No other driver received more than five first-place selections and Richards appeared on 26 of the 27 ballots that were submitted.
Last year Richards certified himself as a true full-fender superstar, leading the WoO LMS in A-Main victories (eight) and becoming the youngest driver in dirt Late Model history to capture a national touring series championship. Now Richards and his father Mark's Rocket Chassis team are primed to begin their sixth season as regulars on the WoO LMS, which kicks off on Feb. 11 and 13 with a pair of programs during the 39th annual DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla.
If Richards can grab another WoO LMS championship trophy, he will become the first driver to win two titles since the tour was reincarnated in 2004 under the World Racing Group banner. He was the sixth champion in as many years last season, demonstrating the competitiveness of the nation's premier dirt Late Model series.
Steve Francis, 42, of Ashland, Ky., who battled Richards for the 2009 title before settling for his third runner-up finish since 2004 in the WoO LMS points standings, placed second in the Pre-Season Media Poll. The 2007 series champion -- who returns to his own equipment this season after spending the last two years driving for Maryland car owner Dale Beitler -- was listed on 22 ballots, accumulating 72 points on the strength of five first-place votes and five second-place picks.
Finishing third in the poll was 2008 champion Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., who spent much of the '09 campaign in a tight three-way points tussle with Richards and Francis before faltering down the stretch and finishing third in the standings. The 39-year-old appeared on 20 ballots, garnering three first- and a poll-leading eight second-place votes and registering 65 points.
Tim Fuller, 42, of Watertown, N.Y., received more love from the media than he ever had before -- thanks, no doubt, to a break-out 2009 season that saw him win a career-high seven A-Mains, including a record-tying four in a row. The DIRTcar big-block Modified transplant finished fourth in the poll, earning two first- and seven second-place votes among the 21 ballots on which his name appeared and tallying 62 points.
Rick Eckert, 44, of York, Pa., did not receive a first-place vote, but he was named on 16 ballots and totaled 35 points to place fifth in the poll. One of only two drivers (Francis is the other) who has started all 237 WoO LMS A-Mains contested since 2004, Eckert is in the unfamiliar position of fielding his own team this season after the passing of his longtime car owner, Raye Vest, last November.
Ironically, the top five drivers in the Pre-Season Media Poll voting finished in the exact same order in the 2009 WoO LMS points standings.
A newcomer to the WoO LMS in 2009, Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis., turned enough heads with strong runs en route to an eighth-place finish in the points standings that the media listed him on eight ballots to put him sixth in the poll results with 23 points. The 32-year-old was one of seven drivers who received a first-place vote.
Other drivers receiving first-place votes were Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., and 2006 WoO LMS champion Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y. Both earned a single first-place nod.
Frank, 48, was named on eight ballots and totaled 18 points to finish seventh in the poll, while McCreadie, 35, placed 10th in the poll with seven points. McCreadie was named on only three ballots (he also received two fifth-place votes), but several poll respondents noted that they would have included him in their top-fives if they were certain he would follow the entire WoO LMS schedule in 2010; he has indicated he wants to return as a tour regular but has not yet committed to running the series.
Rounding out the drivers earning votes in the poll were Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga., who was listed as high as third on a ballot and earned 13 points; 2010 Rookie of the Year candidate Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., a teenager whose lofty expectations as the new driver of Beitler's No. 19 were evident with the two fourth- and five fifth-place votes he received from the media; and Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., who tallied one fourth- and one fifth-place vote.
As part of the poll, media members were also asked to predict who will win the most WoO LMS A-Mains in 2010 as well as the victors of the season's three richest events -- the inaugural Commonwealth 100 ($25,000 to win) on April 16-17 at Virginia Motor Speedway in Jamaica, Va.; the fourth annual Firecracker 100 ($30,000 to win) on June 24-26 at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa.; and the 23rd annual USA Nationals ($50,000 to win) on Aug. 6-7 at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis.
Richards was far-and-away the top choice of the media to lead the tour in victories for the second consecutive season. He received 15 votes in the top-winner category, besting Fuller (six), Francis (three), McCreadie (two), Clanton (one) and Eckert (one).
Media members predicted that Richards will lead the tour with as many as 12 wins or as few as six. The single-season win record for the WoO LMS since 2004 is held by Scott Bloomquist, who captured nine A-Mains in 2004.
Richards was also the favorite among the media to win the Commonwealth 100, which will light up the spring schedule as the biggest event ever staged at Bill Sawyer's spic-and-span half-mile oval 40 minutes outside Richmond. He received five votes in balloting for the event.
Other drivers earning multiple votes as potential Commonwealth 100 winners were McCreadie (four), Frank (three), Fuller (three), Francis (two), Hubbard (two) and Chris Madden of Gaffney, S.C. (two). Receiving single votes were Booper Bare of Rockbridge Baths, Va., Clanton, Eckert, Lanigan, Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, Wis., Jeremy Miller of Gettysburg, Pa., and Brady Smith.
Defending Firecracker 100 champion Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, received the most votes in the event's polling, picking up seven selections. Other drivers receiving multiple votes were Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn. (four), Francis (four), Richards (three), Clanton (two), Frank (two) and McCreadie (two), while single votes were cast for Eckert, Fuller, Mars and Lanigan.
Mars emerged as the consensus favorite to win the 100-lap USA Nationals, which returns to the WoO LMS for the first time since 2005. He received eight votes, besting fellow Badger State star Brady Smith (five), Bloomquist (four), McCreadie (three), Birkhofer (two), Fuller (two), Richards (two), Francis (one) and Clint Smith (one).
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.
2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Pre-Season Media Poll (Driver/first pl. votes/2nd pl/3rd pl/4th pl/5th pl/total points on 5-4-3-2-1 tabulation system):
1. Josh Richards 15-6-4-1-0 = 113 points 2. Steve Francis 5-5-6-3-3 = 72 points 3. Darrell Lanigan 3-8-3-3-3 = 65 points 4. Tim Fuller 2-7-5-2-5 = 62 points 5. Rick Eckert 0-1-4-8-3 = 35 points 6. Brady Smith 1-1-2-4-0 = 23 points 7. Chub Frank 1-0-2-2-3 = 18 points 8. Shane Clanton 0-0-2-2-3 = 13 points 9. Austin Hubbard 0-0-0-2-5 = 9 points 10. Tim McCreadie 1-0-0-0-2 = 7 points 11. Clint Smith 0-0-0-1-1 = 3 points 12. Russell King 0-0-0-0-0 = 0 points
Babb Rolls To Victory In DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH Debut On Wednesday At Volusia Speedway Park
BARBERVILLE, FL - Feb. 10, 2010 - There was no stopping Shannon Babb on Wednesday night at Volusia Speedway Park.
Babb, 36, of Moweaqua, Ill., dominated the 30-lap DIRTcar UMP Late Model A-Main, rolling to a flag-to-flag victory in his first night of action during the 39th annual DIRTcar Nationals by University of Northwestern Ohio.
Driving his Sheltra Construction Rocket car, Babb grabbed the lead at the initial green flag from his pole starting position and never looked back. He easily withstood two caution flags to secure the $7,000 triumph by 2.163 seconds over fifth-starter Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., who inherited second place on lap 17 when Jordan Bland of Campbellsville, Ky., spun in turn four but wasn't able to challenge Babb with his Bowyer Dirt Motorsports Warrior car.
"The track was just in my favor tonight," said Babb, a two-time champion of the grueling DIRTcar UMP Summer Nationals tour. "When that bottom lane is dominant, it's really hard to pass. So I just sat there and cruised.
"My guys were sitting here (in the infield) communicating with me real good and I could understand them, and that put me in the driver's seat where I could just relax, breathe and drive the car."
Dan Schlieper of Sullivan, Wis., fought forward from the eighth starting spot to finish third. Defending World of Outlaws Late Model Series champion Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., started and finished fourth and three-time DIRTcar UMP Summer Nationals titlist Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., settled for fifth after taking the green flag from the outside pole.
Babb ended a long victory drought with his standout performance, winning for the first time since July 10, 2009, in a DIRTcar UMP Summer Nationals event at Ohio's Waynefield Motorsports Park.
In addition, Babb scored his first win at Volusia behind the wheel of a Rocket Chassis car. His last win at the half-mile oval, on Feb. 14, 2007, came in a Rayburn mount.
"We learned a lot here over the last couple of years in this Rocket Chassis," said Babb. "It's getting more to where I know what to do all the time (with a Rocket), more consistent. I'm real happy with the car."
Babb sat out Monday night's DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH opener for the UMP Late Models, opting to spend some extra time working on his equipment at his teammate Patrick Sheltra's shop in Indiantown, Fla. Tuesday night's rainout pushed his 2010 Volusia debut to Wednesday -- and Sheltra, a young ARCA Racing Series stock car regular who enters selected dirt Late Model events, was on hand to join Babb in Victory Lane.
According to Babb, Sheltra plans to climb behind the wheel of a team car to compete in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series season opener on Thursday night (Feb. 11) at Volusia.
The race's two caution flags were for minor incidents. Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., was left sitting in turn two on lap one after a scrape with Mike Knight of Ripley, N.Y., and Bland suffered the heartbreak of the evening when he lost control of his fleet car on lap 17 and spun out of second place -- a position he had held from the start -- while chasing Babb.
Rick Eckert of York, Pa., finished sixth, followed by Eddie Carrier Jr. of Salt Rock, W.Va., opening-night winner Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., who started 14th, Billy Moyers of Batesville, Ark., and Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y.
A field of 68 cars entered the evening's action.
Babb turned the best overall lap of the group time-trial session, flashing around the sweeping track in 16.523 seconds.
Other group fast-timers included Erb (16.689 seconds), Eric Wells of Hazard, Ky. (17.531), Richards (17.938), McDowell (17.952) and Eckert (17.759).
Heat winners were Babb, Erb, Bland, Richards, McDowell and Eckert. The B-Mains were captured by McCreadie, Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla., and Jack Sullivan of Greenbrier, Ark.
The 39th annual DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH continue on Thursday (Feb. 11) with the season-opening 50-lap, $10,000-to-win event for the World of Outlaws Late Model Series. A full program featuring the Super DIRTcar Series for big-block Modifieds is also on the agenda.
For more information visit www.dirtcar.com, www.volusiaspeedwaypark.com or www.dirtcarnationals.com.
DIRTcar UMP Late Model A-Main Finish (30 laps):
1. Shannon Babb 2. Dale McDowell 3. Dan Schlieper 4. Josh Richards 5. Dennis Erb Jr. 6. Rick Eckert 7. Eddie Carrier Jr. 8. Darrell Lanigan 9. Billy Moyer 10. Tim Fuller 11. Eric Jacobsen 12. Eric Wells 13. Brad Neat 14. Brandon Sheppard 15. Jordan Bland 16. Mike Knight 17. Earl Pearson Jr. 18. Jack Sullivan 19. Wendell Wallace 20. Clint Smith 21. Jimmy Owens 22. Tim McCreadie 23. Austin Hubbard 24. Randy Korte
Lap Leaders: Babb (1-30)
Heat No. 1 (8 laps -- Top 3 Transfer): 1. Shannon Babb, 2. Brandon Sheppard, 3. Brad Neat, 4. Steve Sheppard Jr., 5. Eric Jacobsen, 6. Tim McCreadie, 7. Dan Stone, 8. Russell King, 9. Chub Frank, 10. Ronnie DeHaven Jr., 11. Tyler Reddick (DNS) Dillan White
Heat No. 2 (8 laps -- Top 3 Transfer): 1. Dennis Erb Jr., 2 Dan Schlieper, 3. Darrell Lanigan, 4. Brady Smith, 5. Tim Dohm, 6. Kyle Berck, 7. Steve Francis, 8. Jason Feger, 9. Whitney McQueary, 10. Chuck Julien, 11. Roy Mitchell (DNS) Brian Birkhofer
Heat No. 3 (8 laps -- Top 3 Transfer): 1. Jordan Bland, 2. Eric Wells, 3. Clint Smith, 4. Earl Pearson Jr., 5. Tommy Kerr, 6. Greg Johnson, 7. Stacy Boles, 8. Jared Landers, 9. Brandon Kinzer, 10. Danny Mitchell (DNS) Mason Ziegler
Heat No. 4 (8 laps -- Top 3 Transfer): 1. Josh Richards, 2. Tim Fuller, 3. Wendell Wallace, 4. Bub McCool, 5. Randy Korte, 6. Ricky Weiss, 7. Will Vaught, 8. Jonathan DeHaven, 9. Donald Beyers, 10. Ronnie Rihn, 11. Vic Coffey
Heat No. 5 (8 laps -- Top 3 Transfer): 1. Dale McDowell, 2. Jimmy Owens, 3. Mike Knight, 4. Austin Hubbard, 5. Joe Callahan, 6. Jason McBride, 7. Tyler Ivey, 8. Rick Briggs, 9. Justin Rattliff, 10. Brian Nuttal Jr., 11. Kevin Colston
Heat No. 6 (8 laps -- Top 3 Transfer): 1. Rick Eckert, 2. Eddie Carrier Jr., 3. Billy Moyer, 4. Jack Sullivan, 5. Brent Robinson, 6. Jeff Beyers, 7. Tyler Bruneing, 8. Dave Zona, 9. John Blankenship, 10. Darren Peters, 11. Mike Hammerle
B-Main No. 1 (10 laps -- Top 2 Transfer): McCreadie, Jacobsen, Berck, Frank, S. Sheppard, Feger, Stone, McQueary, Reddick, Julien, B. Smith, Dohm, R. DeHaven, King, Mitchell (DNS) White, Birkhofer, Francis
B-Main No. 2 (10 laps -- Top 2 Transfer): Pearson, Korte, Kerr, Boles, Johnson, Weiss, McCool, Vaught, J. DeHaven, Mitchell, Kinzer, Lander, D. Beyers, Rihn (DNS) Ziegler, Coffey
B-Main No. 3 (10 laps -- Top 2 Transfer): Sullivan, Hubbard, Robinson, J. Beyers, Callahan, Ivey, Bruening, Briggs, McBride, Nuttal, Blankenship, Zona, Hammerle, Colston, Peters (DNS) Ratliff
Lanigan Outduels Owens & Birkhofer To Capture DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH Opener For UMP Late Models
BARBERVILLE, FL - Feb. 8, 2010 - Darrell Lanigan won't be a bridesmaid during the 39th annual DIRTcar Nationals by University of Northwestern Ohio.
The standout racer from Union, Ky., made sure of that on Monday night, scoring a hard-fought victory in the 30-lap UMP Late Model A-Main that opened the meet's full-fender action at Volusia Speedway Park.
Lanigan, 39, outdueled Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., and Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, to pocket a $7,000 top prize -- almost exactly one year after finishing second in the first event of the DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH. He went on to record two more runner-up finishes in the remaining five nights of the 2009 series.
"It feels good to get a win right out of the box this year," said Lanigan, the 2008 World of Outlaws Late Model Series champion. "But we didn't do anything real different from last year. We just made some little tweaks and got some breaks."
Driving a Rocket Chassis car he debuted late in the 2009 season, Lanigan used the inside lane to move forward from the fifth starting spot and grab the lead from Birkhofer on lap 14. Birkhofer regained command on lap 16, but Lanigan surged ahead on lap 19 and repelled late-race challenges in lapped traffic from Owens and Birkhofer to emerge victorious.
Owens settled for second place, 0.582 of a second behind Lanigan after his high-side bid rounding turns three and four on the final lap fell short. He started seventh in his Team Zero by Bloomquist machine.
Birkhofer finished third in his MB Customs car after leading laps 1, 3-13 and 16-18 in the wildly competitive affair, which included five lead changes among three drivers.
Completing the top five was 17th-starter Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., and eighth-starter Dan Schlieper of Sullivan, Wis.
"The car was awesome and the track was perfect tonight," said Lanigan, who made his first start of 2010 in preparation for his seventh consecutive season as a WoO LMS regular. "You could race all over it -- so hat's off to the Volusia Speedway track crew, and hat's off to my crew too."
Owens, a four-time DIRTcar UMP Modified national champion, wasn't disappointed with his second-place finish.
"To race like that with Lanigan and Birkhofer -- man, that was fun," said Owens. "It was a great race."
Birkhofer, meanwhile, came through his first appearance of the season with a good idea of what he should have done to his machine.
"We thought one thing and should've done the other," said Birkhofer, who didn't plan to enter the DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH until less than two weeks ago. "I'm looking forward to the rest of the week. It's an awesome racetrack, and you're gonna have to get your car right if you want to win."
Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla., finished sixth after starting 20th, followed by Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., Jack Sullivan of Greenbrier, Ark., who started from the pole position and led lap two, Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., and Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y.
Two cautions flags slowed the feature -- on lap five for a spin by Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., and lap 10 for the slow car driven by Tommy Kerr of Maryville, Tenn.
Sixty-seven cars entered the evening's action.
Owens turned the best overall lap of the evening's group time-trial session, blistering the sweeping track in 15.962 seconds.
Other group fast-timers included Kyle Berck of Marquette, Neb. (16.360), Erb (16.268), McCreadie (16.347), Will Vaught of Crane, Mo. (16.328) and Jared Landers of Batesville, Ark. (16.704).
Heat winners were Sullivan, Birkhofer, Vic Coffey of Caledonia, N.Y., Jordan Bland of Campbellsville, Ky., Lanigan and Ross Camponovo of Clarksdale, Miss., who pulled off an impressive prelim triumph in his first-ever start at Volusia. The B-Mains were captured by Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., Pearson and Rick 'Boom' Briggs of Bear Lake, Pa.
The 39th annual DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH continue on Tuesday (Feb. 9) with a DIRTcar UMP Late Model/Modified doubleheader. Race time is 7:30 p.m.
For more information visit www.dirtcar.com, www.volusiaspeedwaypark.com or www.dirtcarnationals.com.
DIRTcar UMP Late Model A-Main Finish (30 laps):
1. Darrell Lanigan 2. Jimmy Owens 3. Brian Birkhofer 4. Billy Moyer 5. Dan Schlieper 6. Earl Pearson Jr. 7. Tim McCreadie 8. Jack Sullivan 9. Dennis Erb Jr. 10. Tim Fuller 11. Dale McDowell 12. Josh Richards 13. Jason Feger 14. Vic Coffey 15. Rick Eckert 16. Rick Briggs 17. Brady Smith 18. Clint Smith 19. Steve Francis 20. Tommy Kerr 21. Jordan Bland 22. Tyler Ivey 23. Eric Jacobsen 24. Ross Camponovo
Lap Leaders: Birkhofer (1); Sullivan (2); Birkhofer (3-13); Lanigan (14-15); Birkhofer (16-18); Lanigan (19-30)
Heat No. 1 (8 laps -- Top 3 Transfer): 1. Jack Sullivan, 2. Jimmy Owens, 3. Rick Eckert, 4. Jason Feger, 5. Jason McBride, 6. John Blankenship, 7. Dan Stone, 8. Mike Knight, 9. Ronnie Rihn, 10. Chuck Julien, 11. Steve Sheppard Jr. (DNS) Brandon Kinzer
Heat No. 2 (8 laps -- Top 3 Transfer): 1. Brian Birkhofer, 2. Dan Schlieper, 3. Tim Fuller, 4. Justin Rattliff, 5. Dale McDowell, 6. Eric Wells, 7. Kyle Berck, 8. Dave Zona, 9. Dillan White, 10. Danny Mitchell (DNS) Brent Robinson
Heat No. 3 (8 laps -- Top 3 Transfer): 1. Vic Coffey, 2. Dennis Erb Jr., 3. Josh Richards, 4. Brady Smith, 5. Ricky Weiss, 6. Bub McCool, 7. Russell King, 8. Chub Frank, 9. Tim Dohm, 10. Brandon Sheppard, 11. Mason Ziegler
Heat No. 4 (8 laps -- Top 3 Transfer): 1. Jordan Bland, 2. Tim McCreadie, 3. Steve Francis, 4. Earl Pearson Jr., 5. Eddie Carrier Jr., 6. Brad Neat, 7. Austin Hubbard, 8. Dwight Falcon, 9. Jonathan DeHaven, 10. Darren Peters (DNS) Jeff Phipps
Heat No. 5 (8 laps -- Top 3 Transfer): 1. Darrell Lanigan, 2. Billy Moyer, 3. Tyler Ivey, 4. Clint Smith, 5. Ronnie DeHaven Jr., 6. Randy Korte, 7. Whitney McQueary, 8. Will Vaught, 9. Tyler Bruening, 10. Stacy Boles, 11. Wendell Wallace
Heat No. 6 (8 laps -- Top 3 Transfer): 1. Ross Camponovo, 2. Eric Jacobsen, 3. Tommy Kerr, 4. Rick Briggs, 5. Jared Landers, 6. Jeff Beyers, 7. Joe Callahan, 8. Kevin Colston, 9. Donald Beyers, 10. Mike Hammerle (DNS) Tyler Reddick
B-Main No. 1 (10 laps -- Top 2 Transfer): Feger, McDowell, Stone, Rattliff, Blankenship, Berck, Wells, Knight, Zona, S. Sheppard, McBride, Kinzer, White, Rihn, Julien, Mitchell (DNS) Robinson
B-Main No. 2 (10 laps -- Top 2 Transfer): Pearson, B. Smith, Neat, Carrier, McCool, Dohm, Hubbard, Frank, B. Sheppard, Peters, Ziegler, J. DeHaven, Falcon, Weiss, King (DNS) Phipps
B-Main No. 3 (10 laps -- Top 2 Transfer): Briggs, C. Smith, Korte, R. DeHaven, Wallace, J. Beyers, Bruening, Boles, Callahan, McQueary, D. Beyers, Colston, Reddick, Hammerle, Vaught (DNS) Landers
World of Outlaws Late Model Series Announces Star-Studded Roster Of Drivers Set To Chase 2010 Championship
CONCORD, NC - Feb. 4, 2010 - A star-studded group of drivers has committed to chasing the 2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series schedule, setting up another fierce battle for the nation's richest and most prestigious full-fender points title.
The top 10 finishers in the 2009 WoO LMS points standings have signed on to return as regulars on the grueling tour. One additional driver is also eligible to start the campaign as part of the 'Platinum Member' travel-incentive program, creating an even more attractive '10 roster for fans of the country's premier dirt Late Model series.
Led by defending WoO LMS champion Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., the 2010 committed-driver lineup is filled with standout chauffeurs. The contracted racers represent a combined 125 career WoO LMS A-Main victories and occupy eight of the top 11 spots on the tour's win list since 2004, when the series began its modern era under the World Racing Group banner.
In addition, the drivers own a combined 24 touring-series titles, six Dirt Track World Championship triumphs, three World 100 wins and two $100,000 Dirt Late Model Dream checkered flags. The group includes the last three series champions -- Richards, Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky. (2008) and Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky. (2007) -- and could swell to four former titlists with the possible addition of 2006 champ Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., who has not yet committed but is seriously considering returning as a regular.
With 'Platinum Member' status available at the start of the season to the owners and/or drivers who finished among the top 10 in the 2009 WoO LMS points standings as well as former series champions, WoO LMS Rookie of the Year candidate Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., also qualifies because his car owner, Dale Beitler, fielded the machine that Francis drove on last year's tour.
"It's a testament to the strength and stability of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series that the top 10 drivers from last year's points standings are coming back as regulars," said WoO LMS director Tim Christman, who is entering his fourth season at the helm of the tour. "Add in the up-and-coming Austin Hubbard joining the series with Dale Beitler and several other drivers who have hopes of breaking into the top 12 in the points standings, and it's clear that the 2010 season is shaping up as one of the most competitive in series history.
"We're proud that so many great drivers and teams understand the benefits of following the World of Outlaws Late Model Series. It's their support that allows the series to continue building momentum with fans, racetrack promoters and sponsors across the country."
The touring drivers are set to follow a 2010 WoO LMS schedule that features more events, at more different tracks, than any previous season. There are currently 48 confirmed events at 41 tracks in 20 states and two Canadian provinces, including first-time visits to nearly a dozen speedways.
The 2010 WoO LMS kicks off with 50-lap, $10,000-to-win events on Feb. 11 and 13 as part of the 39th annual DIRTcar Nationals by University of Northwestern Ohio at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla.
The tour's 2010 driver roster includes (in order of '09 points finish):
* Josh Richards, the 21-year-old sensation who last year became the youngest national touring series champion in dirt Late Model history. The 2005 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year outdueled Francis for the $100,000 title, topping off a season that saw him lead the series with eight victories, move to second behind Francis on the tour's win list since 2004 (with 20 triumphs) and cement his status as a full-fledged superstar.
* Steve Francis, a 42-year-old who in 2009 scored six wins and fell just short of becoming the first driver to repeat as WoO LMS champion during the tour's modern era. A three-time STARS/Renegade Series champ and former winner of the World 100 and Dirt Track World Championship events, the veteran known as the 'Kentucky Colonel' leads all drivers with 26 WoO LMS victories since 2004. He will be back behind the wheel of his own Valvoline No. 15 in 2010 after spending the last two seasons running for Beitler.
* Darrell Lanigan, who slipped to third place in last year's points standings after his spectacularly-steady 2008 campaign made him a WoO LMS champion for the first time by the largest points margin in tour history. The 39-year-old owner-operator known as the 'Bluegrass Bandit' has 12 career WoO LMS victories to his credit, and his resume boasts triumphs in such dirt Late Model mega-events as the $100,000 Dirt Late Model Dream and Dirt Track World Championship.
* Tim Fuller, 42, of Watertown, N.Y., a DIRTcar big-block Modified superstar who broke out in the full-fender ranks with a memorable 2009 season. The 2007 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year finished a career-best fourth in last year's points standings after rolling to seven victories, including a record-tying four-race win streak during the summer.
* Rick Eckert, 44, of York, Pa., the third-winningest driver (19 victories) on the WoO LMS since 2004 and one of only two drivers (Francis is the other) to start all 237 tour A-Mains contested over the past six years. The two-time UDTRA/Hav-A-Tampa Series champion, whose major-event victories include the $100,000 Dirt Late Model Dream and the Dirt Track World Championship, switched to a Team Zero by Bloomquist chassis in 2009 and racked up three wins -- his first multiple-victory WoO LMS season since 2006 -- and finished fifth in the points standings. He'll field his own team this season after his longtime car owner, Raye Vest, passed away last November.
* Shane Clanton, 34, of Locust Grove, Ga., who will seek to regain the form he displayed during his breakout 2008 season after winning just once and finishing sixth in the 2009 points standings. The driver of Ronnie Dobbins's RSD Enterprises No. 25 owns 11 career WoO LMS triumphs as well as an '08 victory in the sport's most prestigious event, the DIRTcar UMP-sanctioned World 100 classic at Ohio's Eldora Speedway.
* Chub Frank, 48, of Bear Lake, Pa., the popular driver known as 'Chubzilla' who has finished as high as second (2007) in the WoO LMS points standings. He finished seventh in the points standings during a frustrating 2009 season that ended abruptly due to a facial injury in a lead-in event to the World Finals, but the owner-operator did score back-to-back victories in August and possesses a sparkling resume that includes 16 career WoO LMS wins as well as four STARS/Renegade Series titles and victories in crown-jewel shows such as the World 100, Dirt Track World Championship and North-South 100.
* Brady Smith, 32, of Solon Springs, Wis., who fell short of Victory Lane during a 2009 campaign that marked his first as a fulltime WoO LMS traveler but flashed the type of potential that established him as a serious championship contender in the future. A two-time WoO LMS winner in 2008 and eighth-place finisher in the '09 points standings, the former Knoxville Late Model Nationals champion joins Eckert as a Team Zero by Bloomquist member on the national tour.
* Clint Smith, 44, of Senoia, Ga., who has been a WoO LMS stalwart since 2004. The veteran known as 'Cat Daddy' experienced a rare winless season on the tour in 2009 and has switched to Rocket Chassis in hopes of returning to form so he can pad a resume that features 11 career WoO LMS A-Main victories, a UDTRA/Hav-A-Tampa Series championship and four titles with the Southern All-Stars Series.
* Russell King, 20, of Bristolville, Ohio, emerged as the 2009 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year, registering eight top-10 finishes to best four other contenders for the crown. The fourth driver with DIRTcar big-block Modified roots to capture the tour's top rookie award, he returns for another trip through the schedule with his family-owned team.
* Austin Hubbard, a teenager who ranks as one of the country's most exciting young dirt Late Model drivers. After testing the waters by running half of the 2009 WoO LMS, the affable racer was hired to replace Francis as the driver of the high-profile Beitler Motorsports No. 19 and will attempt the entire schedule this season. Hubbard, who turns 18 on Feb. 17, has already gained national attention in 2010 with a $12,000 victory -- and very unique post-race celebration -- on Jan. 30 at Georgia's Golden Isles Speedway.
At least a half-dozen other drivers have indicated that they plan to head out on the road with the WoO LMS in 2010 in hopes of racing their way into the tour's travel-incentive program. Drivers who do not begin the season with 'Platinum Member' status are assured of receiving the benefits of the plan if they rank among the top 12 in the points standings after five events and maintain perfect attendance.
McCreadie leads the list of drivers interested in following the entire series. Others include 2009 Rookie of the Year contenders Brent Robinson of Smithfield, Va., Dustin Hapka of Grand Forks, N.D., and 15-year-old Tyler Reddick of Corning, Calif., and 2010 Rookie of the Year candidates Jill George of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Chas Shellenberger of Winfield, Pa.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.
DIRTcar Racing Western Region Late Model Drivers Share Over $22,000 In 2009 Points-Fund Awards
CONCORD, NC - Feb. 2, 2010 - DIRTcar Racing Western Region Late Model drivers shared over $22,000 in points-fund awards for the 2009 season, providing another milestone in the growth of the organization's fledgling full-fender activities in the Pacific Time Zone.
The 2009 DIRTcar Western Region points-fund figure more than tripled the total cash distributed to drivers following the 2008 season, which served as DIRTcar's debut campaign on the West Coast Late Model scene through sanctioning of the DIRTcar Western Allstars Late Model Series and the Southwest Dirt Racing Association (SWDRA) tour. DIRTcar increased its presence in 2009 with the addition of the DIRTcar Northwest I-5 Late Model Tour and the creation of Pacific and Southwest Regions under the DIRTcar UMP Late Model points program.
"The 2009 season was a great step forward for DIRTcar Late Model racing on the West Coast," said DIRTcar Racing Western Region director Chris Morgan. "Teams had more opportunities to be rewarded and recognized for their performances and a solid foundation for the future was put in place. Now we're looking forward to bringing more special events to fans throughout California, Oregon and the rest of the West Coast in 2010."
The biggest DIRTcar Western Region prize went to Bobby Hogge IV of Salinas, Calif., who collected a $3,000 check for winning the 2009 DIRTcar Western Allstars Late Model Series championship during the tour's awards dinner on Jan. 23 in Bakersfield, Calif. It was his first title on the California-based series.
A total of $10,000 was distributed to the top 15 finishers in the 2009 Western Allstars points standings. Chris Shannon received $1,500 for placing second, followed by Rob Sanders ($1,000), Nick Bartels ($700), Matt Micheli ($600), Ron Bartels ($500), Mike Johnson ($400), Andy Obertello ($300), Ken Micheli ($250), Johnny Malcolm ($200), Jeff Decker ($150), Clay Daly ($150), Richard Papenhausen ($150), John Lowery ($150) and Bill Bartels ($150).
Also during the Western Allstars awards ceremony, a new Victory Circle Chassis was presented to Micheli Racing. The Micheli operation emerged as the winner of a drawing featuring all teams that had perfect attendance on the 2009 series.
Earlier in the month, during an awards gathering for the 2009 DIRTcar Northwest I-5 Late Model Tour held in Albany, Ore., Jeremy Shank of Salem, Ore., pocketed a $1,000 check for capturing his first series crown.
The top 10 drivers in the 2009 Northwest I-5 Tour points standings shared a $3,100 points fund. John Duty earned $500 for finishing second, followed by Mike Miller ($400), Rob Mayea ($300), Billy Workman Jr. ($250), Mark Carrell ($200), Jim Whisler ($150), Steve Moore ($100), Joey Tanner ($100) and Jimmy Schram ($100).
In addition, Workman received a new body from Victory Lane Chassis for being named the 2009 Northwest I'5 Tour's Most Improved Driver.
More than two-dozen drivers were also eligible to received points-fund cash for their finishes in two DIRTcar UMP Late Model regions -- the Pacific Region that included Western Allstars and Northwest I-5 events, and the Southwest Region that encompassed SWDRA races and other DIRTcar-sanctioned shows in Arizona, New Mexico and East Texas.
Young Nick Bartels of El Segundo, Calif., won the Pacific Region championship, earning $2,000 from the $6,300 points fund. He traveled to the DIRTcar Racing UMP 'Night of Champions' Awards Banquet on Jan. 9 in Springfield, Ill., to accept his check and trophy and was also recognized during the recent Western Allstars awards ceremonies.
Hogge earned $1,000 for finishing second in the Pacific Region, followed by Shannon ($750), Matt Micheli ($500), Shank ($400), Mayea ($300), Duty ($250), Sanders ($200), Daly ($150), Papenhausen ($100), Mike Johnson ($100), Obertello ($100), Ron Bartels($100), Whisler ($100) and Carrell ($100).
Lonnie Parker Jr. of El Mirage, Calif., emerged as the champion of the Southwest Region points battle, collecting a $1,000 check from the $3,100 points fund. His regional crown was earned on the strength of his sixth consecutive championship on the DIRTcar-sanctioned SWDRA tour.
Parker was unable to attend the DIRTcar UMP awards banquet because he was competing in the 'Wild West Shootout' at USA Raceway in Tucson, Ariz., so he was recognized for his regional title by Morgan during the SWDRAs membership meeting on Jan. 27 in Casa Grande, Ariz.
Anthony Madrid picked up $500 for placing second in the Southwest Region points standings, followed by Brad Williams ($400), Jeremy Thornton ($300), Joey Moriarty ($200), Keith Noyes ($150), Jamie Throckmorton ($125), R.C. Whitwell ($115), John Romero ($110) and Art Lacey ($100).
Additional info on all of the series, sanctioning and member tracks of DIRTcar Racing is available at www.DIRTcar.com.
With DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH Looming, Shane Clanton Hospitalized For Treatment Of Infection
CONCORD, NC - Jan. 31, 2010 - The only place Shane Clanton wants to be right now is in his race shop, making final preparations for the 2010 season-opening World of Outlaws Late Model Series events on Feb. 11 and 13 during the 39th annual DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla.
Instead, the WoO LMS star is in an Atlanta-area hospital, undergoing treatment for complications related to a cut he suffered on his left thumb.
Clanton, 34, of Locust Grove, Ga., was working on his RSD Enterprises racing equipment on Jan. 26 when he sliced his finger on a bolt. He thought the injury would amount to just a minor nuisance, but significant swelling from an infection that set in left him no choice but to seek medical assistance the following night. He was immediately admitted to the hospital and was still there as of Sunday evening.
They pumped me up with fluids and cut my thumb to try to get the infection out, said Clanton, speaking by phone from his hospital room on Sunday night. The next day there was more swelling, so I had to have surgery on the thumb.
Its been a frustrating waiting game since the operation for Clanton, who said doctors told him that his problems likely stemmed from a case of strep throat he happened to have at the same time he cut his thumb. Clanton said he hadnt been feeling well for several days before suffering the injury and he might have unwittingly transferred strep bacteria into his open wound, causing his serious infection.
Clanton said he was hopeful that a weekend of treatment with antibiotics would put him on the road to recovery. He was scheduled for further evaluation on Monday and a positive opinion from doctors would likely allow him to head home.
As for his racing plans
Ill be there (at Volusia) for the World of Outlaws races, asserted Clanton, who is unsure if hell arrive at the half-mile oval in time for the DIRTcar UMP Late Model programs (Feb. 8, 9, 10) that kick off the full-fender of the DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH. Im not missing the start of the season. My thumb might not be 100 percent, but my doctor said I can race as long as I can take a little bit of pain.
Clanton is focused on erasing memories of a frustrating 2009 season. He entered the campaign with high hopes after enjoying a career year in 08 highlighted by his first-ever DIRTcar UMP-sanctioned World 100 triumph at Ohios Eldora Speedway but managed just one WoO LMS A-Main victory and slipped to a sixth-place finish in the points standings.
A WoO LMS regular since 2005, Clanton finished a career-best second in the tours 2006 points standings. He has committed to chasing the national tour again in 2010 behind the wheel of car owner Ronnie Dobbinss Rocket machines.
Get-well wishes can reach Clanton by e-mail at shane@shaneclanton.com.
The dirt Late Model portion of Volusia Speedway Parks DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH is headlined by 50-lap, $10,000-to-win WoO LMS cards on Thurs., Feb. 11, and Sat., Feb. 13. There are also four UMP Late Model events, including a $10,000-to-win special on Fri., Feb. 12.
For more information on the DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH, visit www.dirtcarnationals.com.
Additional info on the WoO LMS is available by logging on to www.worldofoutlaws.com.
World Racing Group Appeal Commission Decision Affirmed In Penalty to Scott Bloomquist for Competing With Illegally Treated Tires
CONCORD, N.C. (Jan. 30, 2010) -- A Commissioner Potestas confirmed the decision of the World Racing Group Appeal Commission regarding a penalty to World of Outlaws Late Model Series driver, Scott Bloomquist, issued at The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., for the event on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009.
As part of a routine post qualifying inspection that retained the tires of the top six qualifiers, the tires from two of the top six indicated a reasonable suspicion of treatment. Tire samples were collected and acknowledged in a classic evidence chain of custody procedure. The samples were submitted to a respected southeastern lab for analysis. The lab determined the tire used by Bloomquist was significantly altered and contained the presence of chemicals not found in the control tire(s) or part of tire chemistry. Following the report from the lab, Bloomquist was disqualified for all events, levied a fine equal to his winnings and suspended from DIRTcar and World of Outlaws events for six months.
As a member of DIRTcar, Bloomquist appealed the penalty to the World Racing Group Appeals Committee. The committee met in December and heard testimony from the officials and Bloomquist. In a unanimous decision, the independent panel reduced the overall penalty by reinstating his win in the events on Nov. 6 as the illegal tire was from qualifying for the Nov. 7 event.
The World Racing Group Appeal process offers a second appeal to the Chairman Potestas, who reviews the process and serves as the final authority. Bloomquist appealed to the Chairman. The Chairman confirmed the Commissions decision.
The Appeal Commission determined Dec. 12, and the Commissioner Potestas affirmed yesterday, penalties should be: * The loss of purse and award earnings from Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009, in the amount of $1,350. * A penalty of $1,350. * A six (6) month suspension from Nov. 7, 2009, to May 7, 2010. * The loss of 1,000 championship points.
Bloomquist will be eligible to compete in World of Outlaws Late Model Series and DIRTcar Racing events beginning May 8, 2010.
After Public Debut With Beitler No. 19, Teenage Sensation Austin Hubbard Eyes DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH
CONCORD, NC - Jan. 26, 2010 - Austin Hubbard posed alongside his new high-profile dirt Late Model ride in public for the first time last weekend during the Motorsports 2010 show at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pa.
Now the teenage sensation from Seaford, Del., is ready to climb in Dale Beitler's familiar No. 19 and step on the gas.
Hubbard, 17, will get that chance when he begins his quest for the 2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Rookie of the Year crown during the 39th annual DIRTcar Nationals by University of Northwestern Ohio at Volusia Speedway Park. On his agenda are the national tour's season-opening events on Feb. 11 and 13 and DIRTcar Racing UMP Super Late Model programs on Feb. 8, 9, 10 and 12.
While garnering plenty of attention from the thousands of fans who attended Area Auto Racing News editor Lenny Sammons's 25th annual Motorsports extravaganza outside Philadelphia, Hubbard stood in the DIRTcar Racing booth and veritably bubbled with enthusiasm for his upcoming assault on the Volusia half-mile.
“I'm excited to go down there,” said Hubbard, who had Beitler's Rocket in the Virginia Motor Speedway booth and displayed his father's distinctive Hulk-themed No. 11 in DIRTcar Racing's area. “Last year was the first time I ran at Volusia and I loved it. That's one of my favorite tracks.
“I like the ‘D' shape. I like the size. I like how it's all wide-open. I like how you come off (turn) two and you're almost in the fence every lap. It's just such a fun place to race.”
Hubbard already got a taste, albeit an abbreviated one, of what the track will offer during the 2010 DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH when he visited for a test session in mid-December. Rain cut the practice short, but not before Hubbard found the track's new clay surface to his liking.
“With that new clay, I think racing there (during the DCN) is gonna be a blast,” said Hubbard, who had Charles Jarvis's Delaware-based No. 45 machine at his disposal for three days of off-season testing at tracks in the Southeast. “We only made about six laps there because the track was too wet, but you could tell they put some good clay down. It's gonna be hammer-down and a good time for the fans, that's for sure.”
Hubbard speaks glowingly of Volusia despite experiencing a truly forgettable debut trip there in 2009. He qualified for just one of the six DCN events (finishing 22nd in Wednesday night's UMP Super Late Model A-Main) during an expensive week that saw him lose three powerplants.
“The third night we blew up, the fourth night we blew up and the fifth night we blew up,” Hubbard said in exasperation, recalling his run of misfortune. “That kind of ruined the whole week, but it didn't make me hate the place. We just had a lot of bad luck.”
Of course, returning to Volusia as the hired-gun driver of Beitler's Reliable Painting machine gives Hubbard a healthy dose of confidence. Following a 2009 season during which Hubbard turned heads with his performance on the WoO LMS (three top-fives and two fast-time awards in 28 starts) and in crown-jewel events (second-youngest driver to qualify for the World 100 and fast time for the Dirt Track World Championship), Beitler surprised the dirt Late Model world by hand-picking the rising star to succeed former WoO LMS champion Steve Francis behind the wheel of his blue-and-white cars.
The opportunity to replace Francis, who scored WoO LMS points finishes of second (2009) and third (2008) and won 12 A-Mains during his two years with Beitler's West Friendship, Md.-based team, simply blows Hubbard's mind. While his friends at home are still completing high school, he's heading out on the road as a fulltime professional driver with a well-established race team financed by Beitler and led by veteran crew chief Robby Allen, who returns as a WoO LMS mechanic for the first time since departing Rick Eckert's team after the 2006 season.
“I don't know how I deserve this,” said Hubbard, who turns 18 on Feb. 17 and will soon complete a final night-school project that allows him to graduate early from Sussex Tech High School. “This is a deal you dream about, but it never happens. I mean, this is one of the premier rides in dirt Late Model racing, a World of Outlaws championship-caliber team, and to have it so early in my career is a dream come true.
“I know a lot of people are gonna hate me for getting this ride this year. Dale's definitely throwing it out there putting me in the car, and I appreciate that. I guess he saw something in me that made him think he could help take me to the next level, so I want to do everything I can to make sure I take advantage of this.
“Dale's given me a great opportunity,” he added, “and I have to be totally serious about this. I've tried to make sure for the last couple months that I'm always dedicated to racing – live it, breathe it, sleep it – because Dale deserves nothing less from me.”
Hubbard feels no pressure to perform from the 52-year-old Beitler, who has experienced plenty of success fielding cars for such drivers as Francis, Davey Johnson, Gary Stuhler and Steve Casebolt.
“This isn't me just being his driver, but Dale is one of the nicest, most giving people I've ever met,” said Hubbard. “He has a lot of confidence in me already, which he's said and he's told me, but he's put no pressure on me.”
Hubbard paused, and then said, “Eighty percent of the pressure is put on by myself, and 20 percent from ‘Hog' (Allen) – not that ‘Hog' is on me, but this is his job, how he makes his living, and how I do is gonna reflect on him and what people think of him and his (chassis setup consulting) business. He's putting his name on the line to help me. If he didn't think I could do anything he wouldn't help me no matter how much we paid him.”
What are Hubbard's expectations for 2010? He understands there's still plenty for him to learn, but making at least one WoO LMS Victory Lane appearance tops his to-do list.
“Realistically, I'd like to win one World of Outlaws race,” said Hubbard, who seeks to join Josh Richards (2005), Brian Shirley (2007) and Tim Fuller (2007) as drivers who won WoO LMS A-Mains while competing as Rookie of the Year contenders. “If I didn't win a World of Outlaws race this year I would be devastated, because I don't see how we couldn't.
“There's no reason I – well, anybody in my shoes – shouldn't be able to win a race. It's all there for me. I just gotta get after it.”
And how will the approachable, outgoing Hubbard react upon earning his career-first WoO LMS triumph? He refuses to divulge details of his plan, but insider reports indicate that the post-race celebration will be, uh, quite interesting.
“I'm gonna show some emotion,” Hubbard said with a sly smile.
The DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH begin on Feb. 2 and run nightly through Feb. 13. Joining the dirt Late Models on the schedule are the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series (Feb. 5-7); the Super DIRTcar Series for big-block Modifieds (Feb. 10-13); the All-Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car Series (Feb. 3-4); and the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds (Feb. 2-9).
For tickets to the 39th annual DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH, visit www.DIRTcarNationals.com or call Volusia Speedway Park at 386-985-4402. A ticket package for all six nights of dirt Late Model racing is available for $175.
In addition, for the first time in DIRTcar Nationals history, all fans will have the chance to see the competitors and their teams up close during each race nightt. A FREE Fan Pit Pass is available to every ticket-buying fan who comes through the main gates every night; fans can show their grandstand ticket and sign in to the pits at a table near the pit entrance.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.
2010 COLORADO LATE MODEL ASSOCIATION
DIRTcar SERIES SCHEDULE
APRIL 9th – TBA
APRIL 10TH – TBA
APRIL 24TH – Colorado Motorsports Park, Byers, CO - $1,200 to win, $200 to
start – CLMA
APRIL 25TH – I-76 Speedway, Ft. Morgan, CO - $1,200 to win, $200 to start –
CLMA
MAY 7TH – Dodge City Raceway Park, Dodge City, KS - $1,200 to win, $200
to start – CLMA, MDLMS
MAY 8TH – Dodge City Raceway Park, Dodge City, KS - $1,200 to win, $200 to
start – CLMA, MDLMS
MAY 14TH – Black Hills Speedway, Rapid City, SD - $1,200 to win, $200 to
start – CLMA
MAY 15TH – Gillette Thunder Speedway, Gillette, WY - $1,200 to win, $200 to
start – CLMA
June 4th – Great American Speedway, Jetmore, KS – Prelim
June 5th - Great American Speedway, Jetmore, KS - $10,000 to win, $700 to
start – CLMA, NCRA, MARS
June 25th - Black Hills Speedway, Rapid City, SD - $1,200 to win, $200 to
start – CLMA
June 26th - Gillette Thunder Speedway, Gillette, WY - $1,200 to win, $200 to
start – CLMA
JULY 10TH – Colorado Motorsports Park, Byers, CO - $1,200 to win, $200 to start – CLMA
AUGUST 27TH - TBA
AUGUST 28TH – Gillette Thunder Speedway, Gillette, WY - $1,200 to win, $200
to start – CLMA
September 25th - Colorado Motorsports Park, Byers, CO - $1,200 to win, $200 to start – CLMA
October 2nd – Pueblo Motorsports Park, Pueblo, CO - $1,200 to win, $200 to start – CLMA
WE ARE WORKING ON PUTTING TOGETHER A 20 RACE SCHEDULE BUT THESE ARE ALL OF THE DATES THAT WE HAVE LOCKED IN AT THIS TIME. ALL DATES ARE TENTATIVE AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
2009 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Rookie of the Year Russell King Ready For DIRTcar Nationals
BARBERVILLE, FL - Jan. 21, 2010 - Russell King remembers the timid, uncertain feeling he took into last year's DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park.
One flip of the calendar, however, has produced a dramatic change in the up-and-coming driver's mental outlook.
Coming off a 2009 season that saw him obtain a serious full-fender education while marching to World of Outlaws Late Model Series Rookie of the Year honors, King is a new (young) man entering the 39th annual mid-winter racing extravaganza at the half-mile oval outside Daytona Beach.
King, 20, of Bristolville, Ohio, simply has a much better vibe about the dirt Late Model portion of the 2010 DIRTcar Nationals, which features the season-opening WoO LMS events on Feb. 11 and 13 as well as UMP DIRTcar-sanctioned programs on Feb. 8, 9, 10 and 12.
“When we went to Volusia last year I didn't really have any confidence at all,” said King, a DIRTcar big-block Modified transplant who had barely two dozen career dirt Late Model starts to his credit when he unloaded for the 2009 DCN. “It was a whole new experience for me. I didn't know many guys, and we didn't really know what we doing with a Late Model. We were just trying to find our way.”
King certainly isn't returning to Volusia with everything figured out, but going through a season full of hard knocks on the grueling, hyper-competitive Outlaw trail has him in a different place. Though the tough-as-nails kid would have liked to put up a better performance record on the 40-event '09 WoO LMS schedule (he had eight top-10s and a best finish of ninth), he understands that the campaign was all about learning the ropes.
And make no mistake – King absorbed all the lessons like an eager student. In fact, he chuckles when asked to compare the depth of his knowledge today to one year ago.
“It's not even in the same ballpark,” said King, who earned the $10,000 Rookie of the Year award over Jordan Bland of Campbellsville, Ky., by a margin of 148 points (3,604-3,456) in a battle determined by the drivers' best 30 finishes. “Knowing what we know now, I don't even know how we attempted to race (as a WoO LMS regular) last year. It's like anything else – you have to do it to learn what it really takes.”
King has enjoyed a very productive off-season preparing his family-owned equipment, assuring he'll be in a much stronger position when the first green flag drops at Volusia. With his work in the shop assisted by the hiring of Craig (‘Snowman') McCrimmon as a fulltime mechanic (last year King's primary crewman for most of the season was veteran wrench Bobby Bachman, a dedicated volunteer who often had to arrange travel to races around his work schedule), he has black- and blue-front end Rocket cars re-skinned and ready to roll with fresh powerplants and his trailer stocked with spare parts.
Buoyed by the most active campaign of his short career, King can't wait to leave freezing Northeastern Ohio for the Sunshine State. He will arrive in Florida several days before the start of competition at Volusia in order to participate in a test session with several other Outlaw regulars at Ocala Speedway, which will host its first-ever WoO LMS event on March 19.
“I'm really looking forward to that test,” said King, who validated his WoO LMS education when he broke through for his first career dirt Late Model feature victory (worth $12,000) on Oct. 3, 2009, at McKean County Raceway in East Smethport, Pa. “Last year I would've just been out there testing to make laps, but this year I know guys like Chub (Frank) and (Tim) Fuller so I feel like I will understand more about what they're talking about (during the practice) and can compare it to what my car feels like.”
King hopes the test will help him get off to a great WoO LMS start at Volusia, a track that happens to hold a special place in his heart. He made the first start of his racing career there, entering the DIRTcar big-block Modified action during the 2004 DIRTcar Nationals just one month shy of his 15th birthday.
“Volusia is where I learned how to put a car in high gear and go,” said King, whose 44-year-old father, Rex Sr., and 18-year-old brother, Rex Jr. (aka ‘Cooter'), will also travel south with their DIRTcar big-block Modifieds to compete in the DCN. “I'll always have good memories of Volusia.”
King experienced some frustration last year at Volusia, failing to qualify for a dirt Late Model A-Main during the DCN. The two 50-lap, $10,000-to-win WoO LMS events that highlight the week were especially heartbreaking to the upstart – he missed transferring on Thursday night by just two spots in a B-Main, and on Saturday night he was headed to victory in a B-Main when his car's engine expired in a cloud of steam.
“We had finally gotten our act together at the end of the week last year and then we blew up,” said King, who turns 21 on March 18. “Hopefully we can run like we did that last night from the start this year and not run into any bad luck. We started (the WoO LMS) behind last year – not only in the points, but with our motor program – so it would be nice to get through Volusia in good shape.”
King has the right focus for the task at hand. With all indications pointing to the 2010 season boasting one of the most competitive, talent-laden fulltime driver rosters in WoO LMS history, he knows he can give nothing less than his best if he expects to improve upon his 10th-place finish in the 2009 points standings.
“I gotta take this thing real seriously,” said King, whose racing effort is funded primarily through his family's business, King Bros. Concrete. “My family is still behind this whole deal, but I know they can't fund it forever. They're giving me a chance to do what I love to do, but it's up to me to make this deal successful. You hope you can turn some heads so hopefully somebody will take notice and pick you up or back you.
“I feel like we can do it,” he continued, looking toward the '10 campaign. “I felt more comfortable toward the end of last year – we were working with Chub and Fuller, and we had some good runs (top 10s in four out of five races) at Tri-City. So as a realistic goal, I'm looking at a top-seven (finish) in the points and maybe a win if we hit it right at the right track.
“It's gonna be hard, but if we stay focused I think we can do it.”
The DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH begin on Feb. 2 and run nightly through Feb. 13. Joining the dirt Late Models on the schedule are the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series (Feb. 5-7); the Super DIRTcar Series for big-block Modifieds (Feb. 10-13); the All-Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car Series (Feb. 3-4); and the UMP DIRTcar Modifieds (Feb. 2-9).
For tickets to the 39th Annual Florida DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH, visit www.DIRTcarNationals.com or call Volusia Speedway Park at 386-985-4402. A ticket package for all six nights of dirt Late Model racing is available for $175.
In addition, for the first time in DIRTcar Nationals history, all fans will have the chance to see the competitors and their teams up close during each race nightt. A FREE Fan Pit Pass is available to every ticket-buying fan who comes through the main gates every night; fans can show their grandstand ticket and sign in to the pits at a table near the pit entrance.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.
UMP DIRTcar Super Late Model Champ Jason Feger Ready To Tackle DIRTcar Nationals For First Time
BARBERVILLE, FL - Jan. 14, 2010 - Jason Feger officially put the cap on his spectacular 2009 season last Saturday night when he received his UMP DIRTcar Racing Super Late Model national championship check and trophy during the organization's awards banquet in Springfield, Ill.
So what's next for the rising star from Bloomington, Ill.? His first-ever winter racing trip to Florida, an excursion highlighted by six nights of Super Late Model action during the 39th annual DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park.
Feger, 31, will test his considerable skills at the half-mile oval outside Daytona Beach in four UMP DIRTcar-sanctioned events (Feb. 8, 9, 10, 12) and two World of Outlaws Late Model Series programs (Feb. 11 and 13) that open the national tour's 2010 schedule.
“I'm pretty anxious to get down there,” said Feger, who left the recent UMP DIRTcar gala with $32,700 in points-fund cash, including 20-grand for winning his first career national title. “All of the best in the business will be there, so it's definitely gonna be a measuring stick to show where we're at.”
Coming off a campaign that saw him win a UMP DIRTcar- and career-best 23 features at 13 different tracks in four states, Feger certainly brings a growing reputation to Volusia's week-long blockbuster. But he'll also be tackling one of the country's most competitive Super Late Model meets for the first time since entering the division in 2002.
Feger has previously experienced the DIRTcar Nationals atmosphere, but only as a high-profile crewman. Two years ago he provided a helping hand during the week to his buddy from the UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals trail, Jeep Van Wormer of Pinconning, Mich., giving him an up-close taste of what it takes to speed around the sprawling track.
“I think that year I was (at Volusia) with Jeep is gonna help me a lot,” said Feger, whose 2009 season included his first-ever WoO LMS A-Main triumph on May 24 at Charter Raceway Park in Beaver Dam, Wis. “It looks like a challenging place and has a lot of unique characteristics, and I know that with so many good cars there it's gonna be tough if your car's not right and your stuff's not good. But I like fast racetracks and feel like I learned a lot just by watching (while working with VanWormer), and hopefully that will translate to success on the track.”
Feger's long-awaited chance to kick off his racing season in the Sunshine State comes courtesy of Stearn Ironworks and Jaxon Chase Steel Detailing, the Midwestern companies that joined his family-owned team midway through the 2009 schedule. The extra sponsorship gave Feger the financial boost he needed to obtain a larger hauler and trailer (a transporter formerly used by Scott Bloomquist) and hit the road more actively.
Two cars built by Midwestern racing legend Bob Pierce will be in strapped into Feger's rig for the haul south – one a virtually-new machine with just four starts on it, the other Feger's battle-tested ‘Good Old Girl' that's two-and-a-half years old and has seen action in more than 120 events.
“We're gonna give it everything we got with our best stuff,” said Feger, who won't have to adjust to an open-tire rule for the WoO LMS events at Volusia because the UMP DIRTcar Hoosier tires he knows so well are mandatory in all DIRTcar Nationals shows. “We're not going down there to run second. We had a great run (in November) at the World Finals (charging from 19th to second in the WoO LMS 50-lapper before cutting down a tire) and that was our first time at Charlotte (Motor Speedway), so hopefully we can do the same thing (at Volusia).
“I know it would be awesome if we could get a win. To kick off the year beating the best guys in the country – man, that would mean a lot. That would sell Bob (Pierce) some cars and give me a lot of notoriety.”
Feger should say more notoriety, because, win or lose, he figures to attract plenty of attention throughout his visit to Volusia Speedway Park. He's one of the hippest, most gregarious drivers currently on the dirt Late Model scene, his car sports a cool color scheme and ‘tumbling dice' graphics, he sells trendy apparel and he displays a hard-charging driving style (he's not called the ‘Highside Hustler' for nothing).
With a unique first-time promotion for this year's DIRTcar Nationals providing all ticket-buyers an opportunity to sign into the pits each night at no additional charge, a steady procession of fans will undoubtedly make their way to Feger's trailer. You can bet that he'll be accommodating to every last one of them – after all, he succinctly summed up his feelings toward his supporters during the speech he delivered to a packed ballroom upon accepting his 2009 UMP DIRTcar national championship laurels.
“It can't be possible without the fans – that's absolutely positive,” Feger said near the end of his heartfelt banquet remarks, which stretched for more than 20 minutes. “They buy your t-shirts, they fill (tracks') stands. We all gotta do what we can in this day and age for the fans, and I'm fortunate I have a lot of really good ones.
“I work really hard at (fan relations) – I try to treat them good, and I try to put on a show. Sometimes it's hard to determine if you're in the entertainment business or the racing business, but it's always really great when you can get the support of the fans because of what you do.”
The DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH begin on Feb. 2 and run nightly through Feb. 13. Joining the Super Late Models on the schedule are the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series (Feb. 5-7); the Super DIRTcar Series for big-block Modifieds (Feb. 10-13); the All-Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car Series (Feb. 3-4); and the UMP DIRTcar Modifieds (Feb. 2-9).
For tickets to the 39th Annual Florida DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH, visit www.DIRTcarNationals.com or call Volusia Speedway Park at 386-985-4402. A ticket package for all six nights of Super Late Model racing is available for $175.
Anyone who purchases a ticket before Jan. 15 will be entered in the ‘Fan of February' contest, which rewards its winner with two free tickets and a free hotel stay during the DIRTcar Nationals. Fans can log on to www.fanoffebruary.com for more information.
In addition, for the first time in DIRTcar Nationals history, all fans will have the chance to see the competitors and their teams up close during each race nightt. A FREE Fan Pit Pass is available to every ticket-buying fan who comes through the main gates every night; fans can show their grandstand and sign in to the pits at a table near the pit entrance.
For more information on UMP DIRTcar Racing and the WoO LMS, visit www.dirtcar.com and www.worldofoutlaws.com.
Illinois Stars Feger & Cook Realize National Title Dreams As Over $400,000 Is Handed Out During UMP DIRTcar Racing Awards Banquet
SPRINGFIELD, IL – Jan. 9, 2010 – Rising Midwestern stars Jason Feger and Gary Cook Jr. saw their dreams meet reality during Saturday night's 26th annual UMP DIRTcar Racing ‘Night of Champions' Awards Banquet inside the Springfield Crowne Plaza Hotel's ballroom.
Feger, 31, of Bloomington, Ill., was saluted for his spectacular 2009 season, which saw him win his first UMP DIRTcar Super Late Model national championship – ending the two-year reign of Carpentersvile, Ill.'s Dennis Erb Jr. – lead the circuit with 23 feature wins and capture the UMP DIRTcar-sanctioned Monster Midwest Series title. The homegrown talent's success earned him a total of $32,700 in points-fund checks during the gala evening.
Deer Creek, Ill.'s Cook, meanwhile, celebrated his first career UMP DIRTcar open-wheel Modified national title. The championship crowning was an emotional moment for the 33-year-old driver, who came back strong after falling short in the 2008 national points race while receiving treatment for a cancerous tumor that was found in his nasal package.
Over 750 attendees from more than a dozen states and Canada filled the ballroom to watch UMP DIRT Racing officials distribute over $400,000 to the organization's 2009 champions and top performers.
An approachable racer known for his outgoing personality, Feger surprised no one when he accepted his championship laurels with a heartfelt, banquet-ending speech that stretched for more than 20 minutes. He spent much of his time behind the podium thanking the people who made his championship season possible, including his crew – led by his younger brother Austin, who earlier in the night was named the 2009 UMP DIRTcar Super Late Model Mechanic of the Year by vote of the organization's membership – mother, grandmother, chassis builder Bob Pierce, engine builder Matt Rhyne and long list of sponsors.
Feger had especially kind words for Pierce, the legendary racer whose chassis Feger has used for the past two-and-half years.
“It's such an honor to race with my childhood hero and help make his business succeed,” Feger said of Pierce. “You can't imagine how much that means to me.”
After posing for photos with his close-knit team, Feger reflected on his career campaign.
“Earlier today I did a radio show at the Speed Expo (at the nearby Illinois State Fairgrounds) with Larry Lembeck and he kind of put (the national title) in perspective for me,” said Feger, who won the championship one year after being named UMP DIRTcar's Most Improved Driver. “He started naming off some of the guys who have won this deal and the history behind it, and that really made it sink in for me. To be able to be listed with a group of guys like Gary Webb, Erb, (Randy) Korte, (Rodney) Melvin and a lot of others – that's pretty impressive to me.
“Just to think that someday down the road somebody is gonna look back and see my name on this list (of UMP DIRTcar champions) – I hope they can have the same respect for me that I have for the guys who have won it.”
Feger's points-fund earnings were topped by the $20,000 he received for the national title. He picked up another $5,000 for winning Don and Bonnie Hammer's Monster Midwest Series, plus $5,000 for finishing fourth in the UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals points standings; $2,000 for placing second in the Central Region points battle; and $700 for fourth place in the Northern Allstars Late Model Series points standings. Feger also received two sets of Dyer's Top Rods for his national and Monster Midwest Series titles.
The only driver who left the banquet with more points-fund cash than Feger was Erb, who collected a total of $38,100 despite failing to three-peat as national champion. He still earned $25,000 for winning his third consecutive UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals title; $10,000 for finishing second in the national points standings; $2,000 for a runner-up placing on the Northern Allstars Late Model Series; $700 for fourth place on the Monster Midwest Series; and $400 for sixth place in the Central Region.
A feel-good vibe ran through the banquet attendees when Cook walked across the stage to receive his 2009 UMP DIRTcar Modified national championship hardware. His impeccable 24-victory season completed the title march he had begun in 2008 before his health scare sidetracked his hopes.
Cook finished third in the 2008 UMP DIRTcar national Modified points standings despite missing some mid-season racing time while undergoing radiation and chemotherapy treatments for an inoperable cancerous tumor that doctors found in July near his nasal passage. With doctors determining before New Year's Day 2009 that Cook's cancer had gone into remission and subsequent cancer scans finding that the dead tissue was continuing to deteriorate, Cook was able to race full-strength for the entire '09 campaign.
“It was pretty emotional,” Cook said of his moment in the UMP DIRTcar banquet spotlight. “Winning this championship is what we set out to do last year, but we couldn't do it because of unfortunate circumstances. Fortunately we were able to come back strong (in 2009) and meet our goal, which makes us feel great.”
Cook reached the UMP DIRTcar promised land driving a Pierce Chassis Modified for car owners Jim and Kim Scott. With his mission accomplished, the father of two young children plans to put his focus on chasing big-race wins in 2010.
Cook's points-fund earnings totaled $22,100, including $2,000 for winning the Northwest Region title and $100 for placing 10th in the Midwest Region.
Cook's crew chief, Bill Klingbiel, was also honored during the night as the 2009 UMP DIRTcar Modified Mechanic of the Year by vote of the organization's membership.
The night's third-largest championship booty was claimed by Bobby Dauderman of Alhambra, Ill., who pocketed $10,000 for unseating Tait Davenport of Paducah, Ky., as the UMP DIRTcar Pro Late Model national titlist. He padded his earnings with an additional $1,000 check for winning the North Region points standings during the second season for UMP DIRTcar's fledgling crate-engine Late Model class.
“It was definitely a nerve-wracking points race,” the 22-year-old Dauderman said of a dramatic battle with Davenport. “We didn't win it until the last night. It was pretty exciting.”
Russell Eilers, 19, of Highland, Ill., celebrated his first career UMP DIRTcar Sportsman national championship after roaring to 17 feature wins in 2009. An up-and-comer whose older brother drives a Modified and younger brother runs in the Sportsman division, he earned $3,500, including $500 for capturing the West Region points.
Chad Boone, 28, of Owensboro, Ky., accepted his first-ever UMP DIRTcar Limited Modified national title. The union painter won 15 features in 2009 driving his self-owned equipment and collected $3,500 in points-fund checks, including $500 for topping the East Region standings.
Rick Thomas of Dwight, Ill., celebrated the biggest championship honor of his three-decade-long racing career, enjoying the spotlight as the UMP DIRTcar Stock Car national titlist. At 52 the oldest national champion in 2009, Thomas earned $3,500, including $500 for winning the West Region points race.
Bob Zbinden, 20, of Alhambra, Ill. (Sport Compact) and Bill May, 47, of Muskegon, Mich. (Factory Stocks) were honored as the national champions of UMP DIRTcar's entry-level classes, which debuted in 2007. Both drivers earned $1,500, including $500 checks for capturing regional titles.
Following a 2009 campaign that saw over 10,000 drivers earn points, all eight 2009 national champions wore their crowns for the first time.
What's more, three of the national champs graduated from the same high school. Dauderman (Class of 2006) as well as Eilers and Zbinden (Class of 2008) attended Highland (Ill.) High School.
Regional champions were named in all eight divisions.
* Late Model regional titlists Steve Sheppard Jr. of New Berlin, Ill. (Central), Michael Kloos of Trenton, Ill. (West), Rusty Schlenk of Jackson, Mich. (East) received checks for $3,000 apiece, while Nick Bartels of El Segundo, Calif., earned $2,000 as the Pacific Region champ and Lonnie Parker Jr. of El Mirage, Calif., picked up $1,200 as the Southwest Region king. Only Parker did not make the trip to accept his laurels in person.
* Capturing Modified regional crowns worth $2,000 apiece were Cook (Northwest), Gilpin (Southeast), Tim Hancock of Mt. Olive, Ill. (Southwest), Randle Sweeney of Clifty, Ky. (South), Lance Dehm of Chatsworth, Ill. (Midwest), Todd Sherman of Churbusco, Ind. (East), John McCaul of Montague, Mich. (Northeast), Jimmy Ray of Las Cruces, N.M. (Wild West), Curt Rackers of Holts Summit, Mo. (West) and Jeremiah Oalmann of Franklinton, La. (Deep South). Ray, Rackers and Oalmann were not on hand.
* Dauderman (North) and Davenport (South) pocketed $1,000 apiece as champions of the two Pro Late Model regions.
* Sportsman regional champs (worth $500) included Eilers (West), Clayton Perry of North Vernon, Ind. (South) and Brian Williams of Bailey, Mich. (East).
* Limited Modified regional crowns (worth $500) were claimed by Boone (East) and John Paul Talkington of Denham Spring, La. (West), who was not in attendance.
* Stock Car regional titles (worth $500) fell to Thomas (West), Ervin Turner of Marion, Ind. (East), Stacy Tretter of Princeton, Ind. (South) and Dave Mannise of Fulton, N.Y. (North). Tretter and Mannise were not able to attend the banquet.
* Entry-level division regional champions (worth $500) included Zbinden (West), C.J. Rector of Sparta, Mich. (East), Richard Ashby of Caneyville, Ky. (South) and Joe Reed of Decatur, Ill. (North) in the Sport Compacts and May (North) and Dennis Ponder of Collinsville, Ill. (South) in the Factory Stocks.
Other UMP DIRTcar-sanctioned series titlists recognized during Saturday's festivities were Jon Henry of Ada, Ohio (American Late Model Series) and Kevin Weaver of Gibson City, Ill. (Northern Allstars Late Model Series). Henry also earned a $1,000 bonus for emerging as the 2009 UMP DIRTcar Super Late Model Rookie of the Year.
A number of special awards determined by a vote of the UMP DIRTcar Racing membership were handed out:
* Modified driver Mike Spatola of Manhattan, Ill., earned recognition as the circuit's Most Improved Driver.
* Feger (Late Models) and Cook (Modifieds) received Sportsman of the Year trophies.
* Brownstown (Ind.) Speedway was announced as the UMP DIRTcar Racing Track of the Year. Promoter Tim Keithley accepted the award.
* Tom Sprague of Winston Speedway in Rothbury, Mich., was feted as the 2009 UMP DIRTcar Racing Promoter of the Year.
Clarksville (Tenn.) Speedway promoter William Scoggins received the fifth annual Bob Memmer Achievement Award, which honors the memory of UMP DIRTcar Racing's late founder. The prestigious plaque was presented to Scoggins by Hoosier Tire's Terry Young, who won the award last year.
The 2009 UMP DIRTcar Racing Chassis Builder of the Year awards went to Rocket Chassis of Shinnston, W.Va., in the Late Models and Bob Pierce Race Cars of Oakwood, Ill., in the Modifieds. Rocket cars won 167 UMP DIRTcar-sanctioned features and Pierce machines reached Victory Lane 210 times in Modified competition.
Pierce Race Cars was recognized as the champion chassis builder in the Super Late Model, Modified and Limited Modified national points races – the first time a single manufacturer has swept three UMP DIRTcar titles in a single season.
Claiming the 2009 Engine Builder of the Year awards were Pro Power Racing Engines (Late Models) and Mullins Racing Engines (Modifieds). Late Models using Pro Power motors scored 38 feature wins and Modifieds equipped with Mullins powerplants registered 96 triumphs.
The affair began for the second consecutive year with an awards ceremony for the top-seven drivers in the new Kid Modz division, a four-cylinder version of a UMP DIRTcar Modified that car builder Bob Pierce launched to bring youngsters into the sport. Heidi Goodman, 12, of Chillicothe, Ill., received a check for $2,000 as the division's 2009 champion.
Appreciation plaques were presented during the evening to promoters or representatives from Fairbury American Legion Speedway, Kankakee County Speedway, Charleston Speedway, Spoon River Speedway, Mt. Pleasant Speedway, Winston Speedway, Brownstown Speedway, Twin Cities Raceway Park/Thunder Valley Speedway, Farmer City Raceway/Lincoln Speedway, Eldora Speedway, I-55 Raceway, Track Enterprises (Macon Speedway/Paducah International Raceway), Clarksville Speedway, Windy Hollow Speedway, Highland Speedway, Belle-Clair Speedway, Tri-City Speedway and Shepp's Speedway.
Earlier in the day, World Racing Group Chief Operating Office Tom Deery and UMP DIRTcar Racing director Sam Driggers hosted a meeting with promoters of several tracks to discuss a variety of topics, including 2010 UMP DIRTcar memberships, sanctioning agreements, insurance, rules and publicity initiatives.
The 2010 UMP DIRTcar Racing season begins with a five-day meet for the open-wheel Modifieds running from Jan. 26-30 at East Bay Raceway Park in Gibsonton, Fla. Both the Modifieds and Super Late Models will then be part of the 39th annual DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla., with the Modifieds running nightly from Feb. 2-9 and the Super Late Models contesting sanctioned events on Feb. 8, 9, 10 and 12.
For more information on UMP DIRTcar Racing, visit www.dirtcar.com.
World of Outlaws Late Model Series Champ Josh Richards Will Enter February's DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH Hot Off ARCA Debut At Daytona
BARBERVILLE, FL - Jan. 7, 2010 - Josh Richards is ready for what just might be the first week in the rest of his racing life.
With his national profile soaring in the wake of a World of Outlaws Late Model Series championship season in 2009, the 21-year-old sensation brings superstar status into the dirt Late Model portion of the 39th annual DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH from Feb. 8-13 at Volusia Speedway Park.
And if Richards can make some noise a couple days earlier in his stock-car debut at a certain nearby superspeedway, he'll grab even more attention from the legions of race fans who make nightly pilgrimages to the half-mile Volusia oval every February.
Richards loves making the annual trek from his Shinnston, W.Va., home to the Daytona Beach area for Volusia's big festival of speed – he has, after all, won the WoO LMS season opener there in each of the past three years – but he's never so eagerly anticipated heading south for the winter. As part of his bid to use his WoO LMS title as a launching pad to NASCAR stardom, Richards will take his first laps in ARCA Racing Series competition at Daytona International Speedway before entering the DIRTcar Nationals.
“It's going to be the most exciting Speedweeks ever for me,” said Richards, who has been competing in the DIRTcar Nationals since 2005, when he was still in high school and had to skip a couple days of classes to go racing. “Running at Volusia is always fun because it's one of my favorite tracks – and now I'm getting a chance to run at Daytona too while I'm there. It's a dream come true.”
Richards has visited the famed Daytona tri-oval during past DIRTcar Nationals, but only to network and chat with such friends as former Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart, who enters selected dirt Late Model events in a car that Richards helps prepare. Speeding around the high banks this year will be a new experience for the young talent.
Coming off a 2009 season that saw him enter a combined four pavement events on the NASCAR Camping World East Series (Greenville-Pickens, New Hampshire, Dover) and ARCA Racing Series (Kentucky Speedway) amid his busy dirt Late Model schedule, Richards got his first taste of Daytona's 2.5-mile layout during a late-December ARCA test. He turned over 100 laps in a Ken Schrader Racing Chevy during the three-day practice session, ending the weekend with the 12th-fastest circuit overall (out of over 80 drivers) at 182.120 mph.
Richards relished the experience he acquired during the ARCA test, which attracted an unusually large media contingent because it featured the first public stock-car laps taken by IndyCar starlet Danica Patrick. He's anxiously awaiting his opportunity to qualify for the 200-mile ARCA event, which is scheduled for the afternoon of Sat., Feb. 6.
“It was a lot of fun to get out there (at Daytona),” said Richards, who was actually scheduled to sit next to Patrick on his connecting flight from Charlotte to Daytona but missed that chance because she swapped seats just before Richards boarded the plane. “I felt pretty comfortable right from the start. When you peel off down the backstretch for the first time you can't help but wonder for a second if the car's gonna stick in (turn) three, but you just say, ‘Hey, this car is made to go around here,' and you put your foot down.”
Of course, Richards's focus will shift to his Seubert Calf Ranches Rocket Chassis house car once he drives out of Daytona's infield tunnel. There's six nights of dirt Late Model action on his plate at Volusia, including four UMP DIRTcar-sanctioned events (Feb. 8, 9, 10 and 12) and the season-opening 50-lap, $10,000-to-win programs for the WoO LMS on Feb. 11 and 13.
Richards will attempt to win the WoO LMS lidlifter for an unprecedented fourth consecutive year at Volusia, a track that has treated him very well. He also pocketed $10,000 for capturing last year's UMP DIRTcar finale, becoming just the second driver since 2004 to win the week's big UMP DIRTcar show and a WoO LMS event during the same DIRTcar Nationals.
“I've always had pretty good luck there,” Richards said of Volusia. “I remember the first time we ran there back in 2005, I won a heat and was in contention to win. It's a big, fast, sweeping track, and I just feel like it fits my driving style real well.”
But Richards understands that his spectacular record at Volusia is no guarantee of continued success in 2010. He expects this year's DIRTcar Nationals to be a major challenge – and not merely a result of the always-tough field of dirt Late Model teams that annually bring their ‘A' game to the event.
“I think the (track) surface is gonne be a little bit different this year,” said Richards, who led the WoO LMS in A-Main victories last season with eight. “They put some new clay on it. I saw it when we went down there (in early December) to test (his planned session was rained out), and it looks like there's less sand in the clay. I think it's going to be fast when they get it wet.”
With Richards planning to defend his WoO LMS title in 2010 unless a serious ARCA or NASCAR ride materializes, his Mark Richards Racing Enterprises team is geared up to spend another season on the road. Richards has two new and two rebuilt Rocket cars in his arsenal, plus a full complement of powerful Cornett racing engines.
Richards gives the lion's share of the credit for his team's meticulous off-season preparation to his mechanic Matt Barnes. That's understandable, considering Richards's busy off-season schedule made him largely absent from the race shop from shortly after he clinched the '09 crown in early-November through Christmas.
“Matt was pretty much the ‘Lone Ranger' here for a month-and-a-half,” said Richards. “He stayed home and worked while we were away. If it wasn't for Matt, there's no way we'd be ready.”
Yes, it was a fast-moving off-season for Richards. In December alone, he went from the International Motorsports Industry Trade Show in Indianapolis (where his car was displayed)...to three days of dirt Late Model testing in the Southeast...to the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show in Orlando...to Charlotte for a seat-fitting in Schrader's ARCA car...to Daytona testing. He even snuck in a visit with West Virginia governor Joe Manchin III for a discussion about the state's tourism arm lending some sponsorship help to his racing efforts.
“It's like there's been no off-season,” said Richards, who has an autograph appearance on Jan. 22 at the Motorsports show in Oaks, Pa. (outside Philadelphia) and duties at the annual Rocket Chassis Open House on Jan. 23 still on his itinerary before he begins his competitive campaign in Georgia just days later. “We've had so much going on, the days have just flown by. Before you even know it, it's time to go racing again.”
The DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH begin on Feb. 2 and run nightly through Feb. 13. Joining the dirt Late Models on the schedule is the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series (Feb. 5-7); the Super DIRTcar Series for big-block Modifieds (Feb. 10-13); the All-Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car Series (Feb. 3-4); and the UMP DIRTcar Modifieds (Feb. 2-9).
For tickets to the 39th Annual Florida DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH, visit www.DIRTcarNationals.com or call Volusia Speedway Park at 386-985-4402. A ticket package for all six nights of dirt Late Model racing is available for $175.
Every fan who purchases a ticket before Jan. 15 will be entered in the ‘Fan of February' contest, which rewards its winner with two free tickets and a free hotel stay during the DIRTcar Nationals. Fans can log on to www.fanoffebruary.com for more information.
In addition, for the first time in DIRTcar Nationals history, all fans will have the chance to see the competitors and their teams up close during each race nightt. A FREE Fan Pit Pass is available to every ticket-buying fan who comes through the main gates every night; fans can show their grandstand and sign in to the pits at a table near the pit entrance
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.
A Final Look Back: Facts, Figures & Statistical Notes From The 2009 World of Outlaws Late Model Series
CONCORD, NC - Dec. 31, 2009 - As a new year arrives, here's a final look back at facts, figures and statistical notes from the 2009 World of Outlaws Late Model Series...
SELECT GROUP: With his 2009 championship, Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., entered an exclusive club of superstar drivers with WoO LMS points titles to their credit. He joined Billy Moyer (1988, 1989, 2005), Scott Bloomquist (2004), Tim McCreadie (2006), Steve Francis (2007) and Darrell Lanigan (2008) – and what's more, became the sixth different driver in as many years to win the crown since the national tour was reincarnated in 2004 under the World Racing Group banner.
HE'S ARRIVED: At 21, Richards is by far the youngest driver to ever win the WoO LMS championship – Moyer was 30, 31 and 48 years old when he clinched his titles, while Bloomquist and Francis were 40, Lanigan was 38 and McCreadie was 32.
In addition, Richards is the youngest chauffeur in dirt Late Model history to capture a national touring series championship.
But the cool, calm standout didn't perform in 2009 like a driver who just reached the legal drinking age. His championship was the product of an incredibly steady campaign that belied his years.
Richards was spectacularly consistent, most evidenced by the fact that he used just one provisional starting spot while qualifying through a heat race for 39 of the '09 season's 40 A-Mains. (Only points runner-up Francis could make the same claim.) He also completed a series-leading 99.7% of the A-Main laps run in 2009 (2,154 of a possible 2,160 circuits); he wasn't running at the checkered flag in just a single race, on April 17 at Fayetteville (N.C.) Motor Speedway when he tangled with the slowing car driven by Vic Coffey on the final lap.
Proving he could win races as well as he could finish them, Richards's career-high eight victories made him the tour's winningest driver in ‘09, leaving him as the first driver since Bloomquist in 2004 to top the points battle and the victory chart. The racer formerly known as ‘Kid Rocket' also led the series with six fast-time awards (Francis and Lanigan tied for second with five); 34 top-10 finishes (Francis was second with 33); an average A-Main finish of 5.65 (Francis was next at 5.88); and the most consecutive top-10 finishes (16 in a row to end the season, nearly doubling Lanigan's second-best total of nine straight). He was second to Francis, meanwhile, in several other categories, including average time-trial placing (7.4, behind Francis's 5.93), average A-Main starting position (6.8 to Francis's 5.65), consecutive lead-lap finishes (25-22 in favor of Francis), heat wins (25-17 Francis) and A-Main laps led (272, tied with Tim Fuller behind Francis's 306).
CHECKERED FLAGS: Richards claimed top-winner status for the second consecutive season, albeit this time without having to share the honor. He finished the 2008 campaign tied with Francis with six triumphs.
A total of 18 drivers reached Victory Lane on the WoO LMS in 2009 – three short of the single-season record of 21 winners set in '08.
Six drivers recorded two or more wins, and there were five first-time WoO LMS winners in 2009: Jeff Smith, Jason Feger, Jamie Lathroum, Jimmy Mars and Steve Shaver.
WHAT A BATTLE: Following two seasons in which the WoO LMS points race turned into a runaway (both Lanigan and Francis clinched their crowns in the next-to-last events of the '07 and '08 campaigns), the 2009 battle was tight from start-to-finish.
Of course, Richards's 14-point championship margin over Francis was the third-closest in WoO LMS history, but that only tells part of the story. There was an epic, season-long struggle at the top of the points standings; the points lead changed hands or ended up tied after 20 events, with Richards seizing control for the final time following Race No. 39 (of 40) on Nov. 6 at The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C.
Richards was one of four drivers who held at least a share of the top spot in the points standings during the campaign. He was atop the standings after the most events (25), followed by Francis (12), Lanigan (five) and Shane Clanton (one).
There were three ties for the points lead over a five-race span early in the summer – after Race 18 on June 23 at Canandaigua (N.Y.) Speedway (Francis/Lanigan), Race 19 on June 24 at Pennsylvania's Big Diamond Raceway (Richards/Lanigan) and Race 22 on July 8 at Minnesota's Big Diamond Raceway (Richards/Francis). The largest points lead a driver was able to muster was Francis's 34-point edge after the 14th A-Main of the season, on May 31 at Tyler County Speedway in Middlebourne, W.Va.
PROVING THEM RIGHT: Richards certainly lived up to the lofty expectations placed on him by dirt Late Model press members, who voted him the overwhelming favorite to win the 2009 title in the second annual WoO LMS Pre-Season Media Poll.
Richards received 17 of the 24 first-place votes in the poll, which included writers, photographers and broadcasters who cover the WoO LMS. The participants were asked to predict the top-five finishers in the tour's 2009 points standings.
Two writers – D.J. Johnson of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Don Davies of Area Auto Racing News – were spot-on with four of their top-five selections. Both missed on their fourth-place picks – Johnson incorrectly listed Clanton and Davies voted for Frank.
Joining Johnson and Davies in correctly predicting the top-three finishers in the '09 WoO LMS points standings were DirtonDirt.com cohorts Michael Rigsby and Todd Turner. The other media members who nailed at least three of the top-five finishers in the correct order were Jerry Reigle of Area Auto Racing News (Richards, Francis and fifth-place Eckert) and Lou Long of Area Auto Racing News (Richards, Lanigan and Eckert).
The poll also asked the media to predict the season's winningest driver, including their number of victories. Fifteen entrants selected Richards in that category, but only Long, Walt Wimer of RPM Racing News, Thomas Pope of the Fayetteville Observer and Scott Jackson of LateModelRacer.com correctly hit on his eight-win total.
NOW IT'S FOUR: With Billy Moyer failing to win an A-Main in five tour starts during the 2009 season, Francis, Lanigan, Clanton and Chub Frank are now the only drivers who have won at least one A-Main in each WoO LMS campaign since 2004.
EXTENDING HIS EDGE: Six victories in '09 left Francis with 26 career WoO LMS triumphs since 2004, lengthening his lead on the tour's World Racing Group-era win chart. He now leads Richards, who moved into second on the win list with 20 victories, Rick Eckert (19), Bloomquist (18) and Chub Frank (16).
Moyer 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 2009 WoO LMS was comprised of 40 A-Mains at 33 tracks in 19 states and one Canadian province.
Pennsylvania was the site of the most tour events, hosting eight races. There were five events held in North Carolina; four in Ohio; three in New York; two in Florida, Illinois, Missouri and Ontario; and one each in Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Eight scheduled events were canceled and not rescheduled. Rain washed out shows at Deep South Speedway in Loxley, Ala. (March 14), Lawrenceburg (Ind.) Speedway (May 16), 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa (May 23), Quebec's Autodrome Drummond (June 20), Fayetteville Motor Speedway (Aug. 28), I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo. (Sept. 19) and La Salle (Ill.) Speedway (Sept. 20), while the July 9 event at North Central Speedway in Brainerd, Minn., was canceled by track management.
Six events were postponed by rain and rescheduled at a later date during the rainy 2009 season – the Colossal 100 and Hungry Man Showdown at The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway, plus races at K-C Raceway in Alma, Ohio (Buckeye 100), Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa. (Showdown in Sarvertown), Muskingum County Speedway in Zanesville, Ohio, and Eriez Speedway in Hammett, Pa. The Eriez program was finally completed on the tour's third trip to the track.
FULL PITS: The average field for a WoO LMS event in 2009 was 43.6 cars.
The season-high turnout of 82 cars was for the Hungry Man Showdown on Nov. 4 at The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway. In all, 11 events drew 50 or more cars.
A total of 524 drivers representing 35 states, three Canadian provinces and Australia entered at least one WoO LMS event in 2009, and 216 drivers started an A-Main.
CASH: Over $2.6 million was paid out to drivers during the 2009 WoO LMS schedule, including nearly $400,000 in points-fund cash.
Eight drivers topped the six-figure mark in race and points-fund earnings on the '09 tour, led by Richards ($286,170), Francis ($227,885), Lanigan ($211,326), Fuller ($172,150), Eckert ($133,325), Chub Frank ($120,800), Clanton ($120,420) and Brady Smith ($107,915).
HARD CHARGER: The deepest in the starting field that a driver came from to win a WoO LMS A-Main in 2009 was 18th – Jimmy Mars in the Firecracker 100 on June 27 at Lernerville Speedway. Making that run even more impressive is the fact that he pitted to change a flat tire early in the distance and restarted at the rear of the pack.
Nine A-Mains were won by drivers starting from the pole position, but only one of those victors led the event from flag-to-flag. There were a total of seven flag-to-flag race winners, with six of those races were captured by drivers starting from the outside pole.
The average starting spot for a WoO LMS A-Main winner in 2009 was 3.55.
ROOKS: Russell King, 20, of Bristolville, Ohio, topped the biggest rookie crop in WoO LMS history, earning the $10,000 Rookie of the Year award by defeating Jordan Bland of Campbellsville, Ky., Brent Robinson of Smithfield, Va., Dustin Hapka of Grand Forks, N.D., and Tyler Reddick of Corning, Calif.
King, who became the fourth driver with DIRTcar big-block Modified roots in the last six years to win the WoO LMS Rookie of the Year Award, registered eight top-10 finishes en route to the title. Bland (three) and Robinson (one) were the only other rookies to crack the top 10 in an A-Main.
MANUFACTURER BATTLE: Five dirt Late Model chassis companies claimed victories in WoO LMS A-Mains during the 2009 season.
Rocket Chassis led the way with 31 wins, divided among Richards, Fuller, Francis, Lanigan, Frank, Clanton, Shannon Babb, Earl Pearson Jr., Jeff Smith and Steve Shaver. The domination of Victory Lane brought Rocket its sixth straight victory in the WoO LMS Chassis Builders' Challenge.
Team Zero by Bloomquist Chassis finished second on the win list with six victories (Eckert, Bloomquist, Chris Madden and Jimmy Owens), followed by single triumphs for Bob Pierce Chassis (Jason Feger), MasterSbilt (Jamie Lathroum) and MB Customs (Mars).
A total of 11 engine builders, meanwhile, laid claim to a WoO LMS A-Main triumphs in 2009. Cornett Racing Engines – the winner of the tour's Engine Builders' Challenge for the second consecutive year – led the way with 17 victories, split among Richards, Francis, Lanigan and Owens.
Other motor builders with multiple victories were Custom Race Engines (10), Dickens (three), Pro Power (three) and Vic Hill (two). Single race victors included Dargie, Larry Wallace, Gaerte, Clements, Eatmon Ford and Malcuit.
ETCETERA...
* Thirteen drivers had perfect attendance on the 40-race '08 tour: Richards, Francis, Lanigan, Fuller, Eckert, Clanton, Brady Smith, Clint Smith and rookies King, Bland, Robinson, Hapka and Reddick. Frank didn't enter every show because he was sidelined for the two season-ending World Finals events due to a facial injury he suffered during qualifying for the Hungry Man Showdown, but as a contracted driver he received ‘hardship' show-up points for both races.
* Seven drivers started all 40 A-Mains: Richards, Francis, Lanigan, Fuller, Eckert, Clanton and Clint Smith.
* How rock-solid steady were Richards and Francis in '09? Consider this: while both drivers failed to qualify through a heat just once in 40 events, next-best on the list was Lanigan, who missed the cut in heat action six times.
* Twenty-two different drivers earned a WoO LMS fast-time honor in 2009.
* Fifty-two different drivers won at least one heat race on the tour in '09, led by Francis's amazing 25 victories. He surpassed the 100 heat-race win mark for his WoO LMS career.
* There were 47 different B-Main winners, with Brady Smith and Bland tying for the lead with five last-chance victories apiece.
* Thirty different drivers led at least one A-Main lap in '09. Francis led the most (306 laps) for the second consecutive year, followed by Fuller and Richards (272 apiece), Lanigan (172) and Frank (132)
* Fuller enjoyed the longest winning streak in '08, capturing four straight events to tie Eckert's modern-era record for consecutive wins set in 2006. Three other drivers scored back-to-back wins during the campaign: Francis (twice), Richards (twice) and Frank.
* Richards won the season-opener at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla., for the third consecutive year.
* Richards is actually just two freak last-lap incidents away from being able to claim that he's been running at the checkered flag of every WoO LMS A-Main for the past two years. His lone official DNF in 2008 came when he was swept up in a final-lap tangle in turn two at Ohio's Sharon Speedway – virtually an identical situation to his single '09 DNF at Fayetteville.
* Francis led the tour in top-five finishes (25) and most consecutive top-five finishes (six).
* There was one caution-free A-Main in '09 – Aug 20 at Muskingum County Speedway in Zanesville, Ohio. Eight A-Mains were slowed by just a single caution flag, however.
An average of 3.55 caution flags flew in WoO LMS features during the '09 campaign. The most caution-plagued event was the 50-lap ‘Showdown in Sarvertown' on June 25 at Lernerville (11 caution flags) – one of just two races that saw a double-figure yellow-flag total (the other was Lernerville's Firecracker 100, with 10), and one of eight A-Mains slowed by five or more caution periods.
* Three red flags were needed for significant wrecks during A-Mains in 2009 – on May 28 at Delaware International Speedway, June 18 at Ohsweken (Ont.) Speedway and Sept. 1 at Eriez Speedway.
* Slump-busters: drivers who snapped long, frustrating winless streaks on the WoO LMS in '09 included Eckert (36 races), Lanigan (46), Fuller (46) and Frank (62).
* The WoO LMS career win lists now show 39 drivers have won an A-Main since 2004 and 49 drivers own tour victories when the 1988-89 seasons are included.
* Francis and Eckert remain the only drivers who have started all 237 WoO LMS A-Mains contested since 2004.
COMING SOON: The 2010 WoO LMS season kicks off on Feb. 11 and 13 with a pair of 50-lap, $10,000-to-win events during the 39th annual DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.
‘Racers For Walt' On-Line Auction Benefitting Late Official Walter Burson Now Up-And-Running
CONCORD, NC - Dec. 30, 2009 - An on-line auction to benefit the family of late World of Outlaws Late Model Series technical inspector Walter Burson is now up-and-running.
Organized by Arizona Sport Shirts and GottaRace.com, the ‘Racers For Walt' auction is stocked with an ever-growing list of intriguing dirt Late Model-related items. Supporters of the well-known and respected official can log on to www.racersforwalt.com to check out the available items and place bids.
Bidding will continue through the dedicated Web site until at least mid-January and all auction proceeds will be forwarded to the family of Burson, who passed away on Dec. 26 at the age of 66 following a year-long battle with cancer. Burson's friends decided to launch the fund-raising effort to help the family of the ‘Big Guy' pay some of the excess medical expenses resulting from his treatment.
Current items up for bid at www.racersforwalt.com include:
* The No. 14 door of the dirt Late Model that NASCAR star Tony Stewart drove in the 2009 Prelude to the Dream event at Eldora Speedway.
* A door from the Rocket Chassis No. 1 house car driven by 2009 WoO LMS champion Josh Richards.
* A dirt Late Model wrap courtesy of the Indiana Decal Company.
* An order of 144 custom t-shirts from Arizona Sport Shirts.
* Four new Genesis Racing Shocks.
* Pairs of tickets to the 2010 Firecracker 100, World of Outlaws World Finals, Dirt Track World Championship and Hillbilly 100 events.
* Four pit passes and two nights of lodging for the 2010 Dirt Track World Championship and a firesuit worn by Scott Bloomquist, both courtesy of Arizona Sport Shirts EVP of Operations Gerald Newton.
In addition, supporters can purchase ‘In Memory of Big Walt' inspection stickers and/or make a donation to Burson's family by visiting www.racersforwalt.com.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.
World of Outlaws Late Model Series Mourns Passing Of Veteran Official Walter Burson
CONCORD, NC - Dec. 28, 2009 - The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is mourning the passing of former chief technical inspector Walter Burson, who succumbed on Saturday following a year-long battle with cancer.
Burson, 66, of Sherrodsville, Ohio, died on Saturday morning at the Carroll Healthcare Center in Carrollton, Ohio. He had been hospitalized since Dec. 7 when his condition began deteriorating.
A dirt Late Model official for more than two decades, Burson was a mainstay of the WoO LMS. After working for engine builder Brad Malcuit and spending a long stint (1987-2003) as the technical director for the regional STARS series, he served as the head tech man of the WoO LMS from the national tour's reincarnation under the World Racing Group banner in 2004 through the start of the 2009 season when a diagnosis of lung cancer forced him off the road.
“Walter was a special person and an important part of the World of Outlaws and World Racing Group family,” said WRG CEO Brian Carter. “Walter never failed to bring a smile to our faces and will be sorely missed as we express our deepest sympathy to Pat (Burson's wife) and the rest of Walter's family.”
Affectionately known by many in the racing community as the ‘Big Guy,' Burson flashed a distinctive personality and officiating style during his long tenure in the industry. He was gruff yet friendly, tough yet fair.
“He had that rough exterior, but if you really knew him on the inside he was a big teddy bear,” said WoO LMS race director Bret Emrick, who also worked with Burson on the STARS series. “He would do anything for you.”
“Walter always pretended to be a hard ass, but that was only because he wanted the drivers to think he was,” said WoO LMS star Chub Frank, who won four consecutive STARS championships (2000-2003) racing under Burson's watchful eye before moving to the Outlaws trail. “You know how drivers are – they're gonna try to get away with stuff if they think they can. Walter wouldn't let that happen.
“The thing about Walter was, he treated everybody the same way. It didn't matter if you were one of the guys who traveled down the road with him, a guy who ran a few races or a local guy – if you had something wrong, he'd come over and let you know.”
Former WoO LMS champion Steve Francis held Burson in the highest esteem. Like Frank, Francis had a long history with Burson and came to know what made the Buckeye State native tick on and off the track.
“He was an old-school tech guy,” said Francis, a three-time STARS champion (1996-1998) and one of only two drivers who have started all 237 WoO LMS A-Mains contested since 2004. “If you got something past him and then he realized it, he'd come over and say, ‘Hey, you got me this time, but I know what you did and if you do it again I'm gonna hang you up.'
“He understood the sport really, really well, and that's why I had the most respect for Walter of anybody who's ever been in the tech line – not to mention he was an all-around good guy. I know there were times when I cursed him and he cursed me, but after the race it was forgotten and he'd talk and have a beer with you. He knew how to keep friends and his job separate.”
As a chassis builder and stalwart WoO LMS team owner, Mark Richards had as many conversations with Burson as anyone over the past six seasons. He saw in Burson a person who simply cherished his line of work.
“Walter loved racing,” said Richards, who has fielded a car in every WoO LMS event run since 2004 and won the 2009 championship with his 21-year-old son Josh behind the wheel. “He just loved to go racing and be around racing people. He sacrificed a lot to drive up and down the highway and spend so much time away from his family, but he did it because he was with his other family, his racing family.”
In recognition of his devotion to the sport, earlier this year, on June 27 during the Firecracker 100 at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa., Burson was presented the WoO LMS Lifetime Achievement Award. The pre-race ceremony honoring Burson marked his last appearance at a WoO LMS event.
Burson is survived by his wife Pat, with whom he celebrated his 38th wedding anniversary on Christmas Eve; two sons, Michael Burson of Canal Fulton, Ohio, and Joshua Burson of Brewster, Ohio; one daughter, Michelle (Gary) Burtt of Dellroy, Ohio; and two grandchildren.
At Burson's request, he was cremated and a private family service will be held in his memory.
In hopes of defraying some of the excess medical costs Burson incurred during his nearly year-long treatment, Arizona Sport Shirts and GottaRace.com are sponsoring an on-line auction of racing apparel and other assorted items with all proceeds going directly to Burson's family. A Web site address will soon be released so those in the dirt Late Model community can log on to participate in the auction, which already includes such pledged items as four new Genesis Shocks; a race car wrap from Indiana Decal Co.; 144 custom t-shirts from Arizona Sport Shirts; various autographed dirt Late Model doors; and four old STARS uniforms courtesy of Bret Emrick.
Arizona Sport Shirts' Gerald Newton said anyone in the motorsports fraternity who would like to donate items for auction can contact him at 800-922-9918 or by e-mail at gerald@gottarace.com.
Friends and supporters can also make a donation to Burson's medical fund and send condolences to Burson's family by mail to Pat Burson, 5263 Roswell Rd. Southwest, Sherrodsville, Ohio, 44675.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.
New York's Rolling Wheels Raceway & Brewerton Speedway Trade Dates On 2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Schedule
CONCORD, NC - Dec. 23, 2009 - The 2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series dates at Rolling Wheels Raceway and Brewerton Speedway have been flipped, series and track officials announced.
Both central New York tracks will still host 50-lap A-Mains paying $10,000 to win, but they have traded spots on the 2010 WoO LMS schedule that was released on Dec. 10. Brewerton Speedway's ‘Dirt Demon 50' is now set for Tues., June 22, while Rolling Wheels will host the national tour for the first time since 2005 on Thurs., Aug. 19.
With the changes, Brewerton becomes part of the ‘Great Northern Tour' that will kick-start the WoO LMS's summer action. A D-shaped, one-third-mile oval owned by trucking company magnate John Wight – whose Gypsum Express Racing team includes WoO LMS star Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y. – Brewerton drew a standing-room-only crowd to its first-ever WoO LMS event in September 2009.
The 2010 ‘Great Northern Tour' will also include WoO LMS events on June 15 at Can-Am Motorsports Park in Lafargeville, N.Y.; June 17 at Merrittville Speedway in Thorold, Ont.; June 19 at Autodrome Drummond in Drummondville, Que.; June 20 at Cornwall (Ont.) Motor Speedway; and June 24-26 at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa. (the fourth annual Firecracker 100).
The half-mile Rolling Wheels oval, meanwhile, is now one of three tracks that are currently slated to comprise a late-summer swing through the Northeast. Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville, Pa., begins the stretch on Wed., Aug. 18, followed by Rolling Wheels and a 100-lap, $20,000-to-win spectacular on Aug. 20-21 at Mohawk International Raceway in Hogansburg, N.Y., that is billed as the biggest dirt Late Model event ever run in the Empire State.
Rolling Wheels has been absent from the WoO LMS schedule since Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., emerged victorious there on Aug. 16, 2005.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.
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