2010dirtcar.htm

2009archives

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.

This Weekend's Winter Meltdown Puts DIRTcar West Modifieds In Spotlight Again At Southern New Mexico Speedway

LAS CRUCES, NM - March 4, 2010 - Big money and DIRTcar West Modified racing have become synonymous at Southern New Mexico Speedway.

And no one is prouder of that fact that Royal Jones, the co-owner of the 5/16th-mile oval sanctioned by the DIRTcar Racing organization.

A veteran DIRTcar West Modified driver, Jones is ready to put the division he loves in the spotlight once again this weekend (March 5-7) with the running of the 15th annual Winter Meltdown/Chub Daniels Memorial. The 50-lap headline event on Sun., March 7, boasts a top prize of at least $10,000 and a cool $1,250 payoff just for taking the green flag.

"Everybody knows that if it's the first weekend in March or the first weekend in November, Southern New Mexico Speedway is having a big show for the (DIRTcar) Modifieds," said Jones, who also posts a five-figure winner's purse for the 10-year-old Fall DIRTcar Nationals that traditionally cap the track's season. "We've been doing these races for so long now, the racers trust us and know we're not gonna let them down. That's why we've gotten so much support."

Indeed, a 77-car field was signed in for last year's Winter Meltdown and a whopping 104 DIRTcar West Modifieds entered the Fall Nationals. Jones is confident that this weekend's three-day spectacular will draw more than 80 competitors, including some of the division's best drivers from the Southwest and Midwest regions.

The huge event will give drivers an opportunity to earn maximum points toward DIRTcar Racing's UMP circuit state/regional and national points races, which in 2009 paid out nearly $200,000 in points-fund cash.

"Royal Jones and his staff have built Southern New Mexico Speedway into a mainstay of the DIRTcar West Modified program," said DIRTcar Racing Western Region director Chris Morgan, "and DIRTcar Racing is honored to be part of the Winter Meltdown. After the Modifieds just completed a great DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH at (Florida's) Volusia Speedway Park, it's exciting to cross the country and fly the DIRTcar Racing banner over one of the division's most prestigious early-season events in the Southwest."

The DIRTcar Modified teams will make the long haul to the Land of Enchantment knowing that Jones might put even more money up for grabs in Sunday's finale. The 55-year-old trucking company magnate was so pleased with the turnout for last November's Fall Nationals that he added $5,000 to the first-place pay, producing a $15,000 booty for young winner Johnny Scott of Las Cruces, N.M.

"If we're O.K. with cash after paying our bills, I'll do that again," Jones said of the possibility that the Winter Meltdown/Chub Daniels Memorial will receive a last-minute purse increase. "But instead of putting the extra money on top, I might do something different with it. We'll see what happens."

Scott and his twin brother Stormy Scott, who won a DIRTcar UMP Modified feature last month at Florida's East Bay Raceway Park, head the very talented local contingent of drivers ready for this weekend's action. Christy Georges of El Paso, Texas, who finished third in the 2009 DIRTcar UMP Wild West Region points standings and is the only female DIRTcar West Modified driver with a $10,000 victory to their credit, is another area standout to watch.

The hometown crowd will also be represented, of course, by Jones, who will balance his weekend track-operation concerns with racing his Modified, and several other contenders who have close links to the longtime SNMS promoter. That group includes Royal's son Bumper Jones, who is looking for his first Winter Meltdown triumph, and daughter Holly, who is emerging as a Modified contender after excelling in the Limited Late Model and Stock Car classes; 2009 Southern New Mexico Speedway UMP DIRTcar Modified champion Fito Gallardo of Las Cruces, N.M., who is Royal's son-in-law, and Gallardo's son Jacob; and 2009 DIRTcar UMP Wild West Region champion Jimmy Ray of Las Cruces, N.M., a 60-year-old veteran who happens to be Royal's business partner and co-owner of SNMS.

"There's a lot of Modified racers in the family," smiled Jones, who won the 2002 Fall Nationals at SNMS but is still searching for a victory in the March event. "And all three of my kids have little boys who are three or four years old, so we might have more racers on the way."

An array of well-known drivers from across the country are expected to top off the field, including defending Winter Meltown/Chub Daniels Memorial winner and reigning DIRTcar MARS Racing Series champion Terry Phillips of Springfield, Mo., and his young teammate Jeremy Payne, a native of Tucson, Ariz., who now lives in the Show-Me State; Jared Landers of Batesville, Ark., who won the rich 'Gator Championship' event for DIRTcar UMP Modifieds during last month's DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park; Jason Hughes of Watts, Okla., who finished second in last year's Winter Meltdown finale; R.C. Whitwell of Tucson, Ariz., who finished third in last year's Chub Daniels Memorial; eight-time USMTS champion Kelly Shryock of Fertile, Iowa; and Kellen Chadwick of Oakley, Calif.

The weekend will be jam-packed with racing. Preliminary programs -- consisting of heats (lined up by pill draws), last-chance races and a feature -- will be contested on Fri., March 5, and Sat., March 6, with each day's 25-lap A-Main locking five drivers directly into the 50-lap championship headliner on Sun., March 7, and additional finishers into Sunday's B- and C-Mains. The Sunday finale will feature several last-chance events and the series of 'alphabet' races topped by the Chub Daniels Memorial.

Sunday's 50-lapper offers a hefty $1,250 just to take the green flag, while drivers making it to the B-Main are guaranteed $700 and those reaching the C-Main are assured $400.

Support-division action for Street Stocks, Legends Cars and Super Trucks will also be part of the weekend, which boasts a total payout in the neighborhood of $100,000.

Gates are scheduled to open at 4 p.m. on Friday, March 5, with racing getting underway at 6:30 p.m. The Saturday and Sunday programs will begin earlier -- gates opening at 12 noon and racing at 2 p.m.

General admission is $10 on both Friday and Saturday and $12 on Sunday. A $3 discount is available each day for students ages 11-15, New Mexico State University students with I.D., senior citizens and members of the military (with ID), and children 10-and-under are admitted free of charge.

Pit passes are $35 on both Friday and Saturday and $40 on Sunday, with a three-day combo pass available for $100.

To view the full Winter Meltdown/Chub Daniels Memorial DIRTcar West Modified entry list, log onto http://forums.snmspeedway.com/showthread.php?t=3835.

For more information on Southern New Mexico Speedway, visit www.snmspeedway.com or call 575-524-7913.

Additional info on all of the series, sanctioning and member tracks of DIRTcar Racing is available at www.DIRTcar.com.
 

Rain cancels Friday action at DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH, sets stage for huge Saturday finale featuring World of Outlaws Late Models and Super DIRTcar Big-Blocks

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

Rain Forces Cancelation Of Tuesday Night's DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH Action At Volusia Speedway Park

BARBERVILLE, FL - Feb. 9, 2010 - Wet weather continued to plague the 39th annual DIRTcar Nationals by University of Northwestern Ohio, forcing the cancelation of Tuesday night's DIRTcar UMP Late Model/Modified doubleheader at Volusia Speedway Park.

Steady rain associated with a cold front that swept across the state of Florida began falling on the half-mile oval around 1 p.m. and continued for several hours, soaking the racing surface and grounds. Officials decided shortly after 3 p.m. to cancel the evening's planned program.

It was the third rainout in eight nights of the 2010 DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH but marked the first lost show for the DIRTcar UMP Late Model division that invaded Volusia on Monday. The cancelation ended the week of competition for the UMP Modified class, which was a victim of all three rainouts.

With Tuesday's program scheduled to end the UMP Modified portion of the mid-winter racing extravaganza outside Daytona Beach, Dave Hess Jr. of Waterford, Pa., was declared the division's 2010 DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH champion.

Four nights of doubleheader action remain for the DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH, highlighted by UMP Late Model events on Wednesday (Feb. 10) and Friday (Feb. 12) and the season-opening World of Outlaws Late Model Series programs on Thursday (Feb. 11) and Saturday (Feb. 13). Each evening's card will also include the Super DIRTcar Series for big-block Modifieds, which were slated to get in practice laps on Tuesday night.

Tickets purchased for Tuesday night's rained-out event may be presented for any of the remaining programs during the DIRTcar Nationals. In the event that tickets cannot be used, tickets may be mailed for a refund to Volusia Speedway Park, 1500 E SR 40, DeLeon Springs, FL, 32130.

For more information visit www.dirtcar.com, www.volusiaspeedwaypark.com or www.dirtcarnationals.com.
 

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

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.
 

DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH Kicks Off Wednesday With Sprint Cars, UMP Modifieds

Not Just A Sponsor: University of Northwestern Ohio Bringing Army Of UMP Modifieds, Students To DIRTcar Nationals

NASCAR Star David Reutimann Heads List Of UNOH Drivers At Volusia Speedway Park

BARBERVILLE, FL  Jan. 29, 2010  The letters UNOH  short for University of Northwestern Ohio  will be seen all over Volusia Speedway Park from Feb. 2-13.

And that includes speeding around the sprawling half-mile clay oval.

The 39th annual DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH will be teeming with DIRTcar UMP Modifieds that carry the UNOH logo  a total of eight cars, to be exact, including one driven by NASCAR star David Reutimann.

A Lima, Ohio-based school that has earned a reputation as the leader in providing a high-performance motorsports education, UNOH is bringing an army of machines and students to Volusia for the eight nights (Feb. 2-9) of UMP Modified competition during the DIRTcar Nationals. The Sunshine State assault is all part of a unique extra-curricular activity that provides UNOHs budding mechanical minds some truly unique real-world training.

Since 1991, UNOH has offered a High Performance/Motorsports degree, making it the only school of higher learning in the world that boasts such a program. Three years ago the university enhanced the curriculum by launching a fully-sponsored UMP Modified team  basically, an after-school activity in which students from the Motorsports program combine to build and maintain UMP Modifieds and race them in the weekly action at nearby Limaland Motorsports Park, which is owned and operated by UNOH.

The 36 students on our UMP Modified team are all scholarship athletes, said Steve Farmer, the UNOH Vice President of Corporate Development. Every year students in our High Performance/Motorsports program try out for various positions on the race teams and those that are selected receive scholarships, just like basketball and football players do at other schools.

The dirt-track program has been a phenomenal success for us, he added. A grassroots program like this gives us a great platform to recruit students and show them what the University of Northwestern Ohio has to offer.

The trip to Florida for the DIRTcar Nationals serves as the culmination of the 2009-2010 racing season for the UNOH UMP Modified team, which is housed in a shop on the universitys 189-acre campus. Farmer said 36 students will be transported south in vans to spend the week working on the schools UMP Modifieds. (Another 42 students will also be in Florida working as pit crew members and ARCA inspectors during the ARCA Racing Series 200 on Feb. 5-6 at the nearby Daytona International Speedway.)

Seven drivers are set to steer the UNOH cars (an eighth machine will be brought as a backup), led by the high-profile Reutimann. The son of DIRTcar big-block Modified legend Buzzie Reutimann, David learned of the UNOH motorsports program when he drove a UNOH-sponsored Late Model in last years Prelude to the Dream event at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. When Farmer asked the 2009 Coca-Cola 600 winner if hed be interested in driving one of the schools UMP Modifieds during the 2010 DIRTcar Nationals, he didnt hesitate to respond in the affirmative.

He said, Absolutely, Id love to do it, Farmer said of Reutimann, who spent some time in the 90s competing on the upstate New York DIRTcar 358-Modified circuit. We have him set up to drive a double-zero (UMP Modified)  just like his (Sprint) Cup car  every night as long as his schedule allows him to be there.

The UNOH driver roster for the DIRTcar Nationals also includes UNOH students Stephen Schnapf of Newburgh, Ind., and Schuyler Nahre of Indianapolis and former Limaland Motorsports Park champions Tony Anderson of Lima, Ohio, Jeff Babcock of Wayne, Ohio, Jon Henry of Ada, Ohio, and Todd Sherman of Churubusco, Ind.

The UNOH team will have little time to catch its breath during the big week of competition, which features $1,000-to-win A-Mains Feb. 2-5; a pair of $700-to-win preliminary events on Feb. 6-7 leading into the headline Gator spectacular paying $5,000 to win on Feb. 8; and a multiple-features-only finale on Feb. 9.

Throughout the DIRTcar Nationals, UNOH representatives will be available in the tracks midway area to promote the schools Motorsports programs. And make no mistake  the mid-winter racing extravaganza is a great marketing tool for UNOH.

The University draws students from all 50 states and 16 foreign countries, and in the last few years we have had an influx of students interested in our High Performance/Motorsports Programs from the state of Florida, said UNOH President Dr. Jeffrey A. Jarvis. By building and racing vehicles in Florida that will be driven and crewed by UNOH High Performance Motorsports students, the University hopes to continue to encourage both interested prospective students and local Florida high school instructors to check out everything that UNOH has to offer them.

Founded in 1920, UNOH is a private, not-for-profit institution comprised of the College of Business, College of Technologies and College of Distance Learning. UNOH offers over 60 programs in High Performance, Alternate Fuels, Diesel, Automotive, HVAC, Agricultural, Business, Medical, Legal, Travel, IT Computer and Marketing with Associate degrees, Baccalaureate degrees and a Masters Degree in Business Administration.

For more detailed information about the University of Northwestern Ohio, visit www.unoh.edu.

The DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH run nightly from Feb. 2-13. Joining the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds on the schedule are the DIRTcar UMP Late Models (Feb. 8, 9, 10 and 12); the the World of Outlaws Late Model Series (Feb. 11 and 13); the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series (Feb. 5-7); the All-Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car Series (Feb. 3-4); and the Super DIRTcar Series for big-block Modifieds (Feb. 10-13).

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 eight nights of UMP DIRTcar Modified racing is available for $200.

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, visit www.dirtcar.com.

DIRTcar Racing Continues Implementation Of Uniform Rules For UMP Stock Car Division In 2010

CONCORD, NC – Jan. 26, 2010 – The implementation of a uniform rules package for the DIRTcar Racing UMP Stock Car division will take another major step forward in 2010.

One year after introducing the new Stock Car rules on a trial basis, DIRTcar Racing officials are working with track promoters to make the technical specifications a staple of the upcoming campaign.

“Three years ago teams and tracks – especially those in the Midwest – asked us to develop a common set of rules for the DIRTcar UMP Stock Car division (then called Street Stocks),” said Sam Driggers, the director of DIRTcar Racing's UMP circuit. “With input from the tracks and teams, we came up with Stock Car rules that will put all the cars on the same page, similar to the template we already have with DIRTcar's successful UMP Late Model and UMP Modified programs.

“We released the Stock Car rules at the start of the 2009 season in order to begin the process of bringing the tracks and teams under the common set of rules. This season we're continuing the process and looking forward to great results for the future of the division.”

The new Stock Car rules have several attractive aspects for track promoters, including the creation of an ever-increasing pool of cars running under the same specifications. In addition, drivers competing in DIRTcar UMP Stock Car action at tracks sanctioned by DIRTcar Racing have the opportunity to battle for the division's UMP national and state points funds.

All sanctioned tracks will be required to enforce the Stock Car rules in 2010 in order for drivers to receive national and state points. In that vein, DIRTcar Racing technical inspectors will visit sanctioned tracks throughout the 2010 season to ensure that the rules are being followed.

Many of the nearly three-dozen DIRTcar-sanctioned tracks that hosted Stock Car racing in 2009 have announced plans to utilize the new rules this season, including Track Enterprises sister ovals Macon (Ill.) Speedway and Paducah (Ky.) International Raceway; Fairbury (Ill.) American Legion Speedway; Kankakee (Ill.) County Speedway; and Michigan tracks such as I-96 Speedway, Mt. Pleasant Speedway, Thunderbird Speedway and Winston Speedway. A number of other tracks have also expressed interest in joining the DIRTcar Racing family and running the growing Stock Car division.

Track Enterprises' Bob Sargent is one promoter solidly behind the new Stock Car rules package.

“It's always a good thing to get cars running under uniform rules,” said Sargent, one of the country's most well-known race organizers. “The blueprint for us is out there with the UMP Late Models and Modifieds. If we follow the same idea with the Stock Cars, it will benefit the tracks, the teams and the fans because it will help get more people involved in the division.”

Nearly $18,000 in points-fund cash was distributed to drivers in the DIRTcar UMP Stock Car class during the 2009 ‘Night of Champions' Awards Banquet held earlier this month in Springfield, Ill., including a $3,000 prize to national champion Rick Thomas of Dwight, Ill.

The 2010 Stock Car national champion will receive $3,000, with the top 20 in the nation points standings rewarded and recognized. Additionally in 2010, the top 15 finishers in each State points race will be recognized.

For more information on DIRTcar Racing, visit www.dirtcar.com.
 

Florida In February A Dirt Racing Fan's Paradise: A dozen nights of doubleheaders at Volusia Speedway Park features the best of the best on dirt

$5,000-To-Win ‘Gator' Special, Features-Only Final Night Highlight DIRTcar Nationals Action For UMP DIRTcar Modifieds

BARBERVILLE, FL – Jan. 19, 2010 – UMP DIRTcar Modified racers will have some well-deserved turns in the spotlight during the 39th annual DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park.

Beginning with a solo engagement to kick off the DIRTcar Nationals on Feb. 2 and continuing with the second annual ‘Gator' championship on Feb. 8 and a huge multiple-feature finale on Feb. 9, the popular open-wheel division will attract plenty of attention during the mid-winter racing extravaganza outside Daytona Beach.

“We've worked hard the last couple years to make the DIRTcar Nationals more attractive for the UMP DIRTcar Modified teams and the overall response has been great,” said UMP DIRTcar director Sam Driggers. “They see that we're taking care of them and making them a big part of the DIRTcar Nationals.”

This year's 12-night meet at the sweeping half-mile oval on Route 40 will actually begin with a UMP DIRTcar Modified-only program paying $1,000 to win on Tues., Feb. 2. The Modifieds will then contest successive A-Mains for $1,000 top prizes on Feb. 3-4 (doubleheaders with the All-Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car Series) and Feb. 5 (alongside the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series) before diving into two nights of preliminary action that lead into the ‘Gator' spectacular.

The always-massive field of UMP DIRTcar Modifieds at Volusia will be split in half for the ‘Gator' preliminaries, with one group competing on Sat., Feb. 6, and the other hitting the track on Sun., Feb. 7. Both evenings will feature A-Mains that pay $700 to win and share the bill with the WoO Sprint Car tour.

The two prelim nights will set the lineups for an ‘alphabet' series of races on Mon., Feb. 8, that culminates with the 30-lap ‘Gator' championship. A $5,000 first-place check will be handed to the winner of the second annual headline event for the UMP DIRTcar Modifieds.

Last year's inaugural ‘Gator' special was captured by Jared Landers of Batesville, Ark., who dominated the week's UMP DIRTcar Modified competition. He won five of the seven features he entered – only teenager Austin Dillon of Welcome, N.C., who won twice, managed to defeat Landers – en route to snaring the division's DIRTcar Nationals points crown.

“The ‘Gator' is only a year old but it's definitely already a race that will be considered a feather in the cap of the driver who wins it,” said Driggers. “They know that they've outrun some of the best cars in the country if they win the ‘Gator.'”

UMP DIRTcar Modified racing during the DIRTcar Nationals will end on Feb. 9 with a multi-feature program in which all drivers on hand will battle in a $700-to-win main event. At least two – and perhaps three or four – 20-lappers will be run, depending on car count. The starting fields will be determined using the DCN points standings, with the leader running in the first feature, the second-place driver in the second event, and so on.

“In the past, the fields of UMP DIRTcar Modifieds have been so big (for the DCN) that there's 30 or 40 cars that don't even see a feature,” said Driggers. “This new format will give everyone a chance to get some track time in a feature to end the week.”

Volusia's pit area will be jammed with drivers from across the country and even Canada. Landers will lead the charge to the Sunshine State with plans to defend his DIRTcar Nationals points title.

The UMP DIRTcar Modified field is also expected to include NASCAR drivers David Reutimann of Zephyrhills, Fla., and Kenny Wallace of Concord, N.C., as well as 2008 UMP DIRTcar Modified national champion Jeff Leka of Buffalo, Ill.; Devin Gilpin of Columbus, Ind., who finished second in the 2009 UMP DIRTcar Modified national points standings; 2009 American Late Model Series champion Jon Henry of Ada, Ohio, who will join Reutimann in running a UNOH-backed car; Austin Dillon and his younger brother Ty, the grandsons of NASCAR team owner Richard Childress; Peyton Taylor of Batesville, Ark.; Jesse Stovall of Galena, Mo.; and Stormy Scott of Las Cruces, N.M.

The DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH run nightly from Feb. 2-13. Joining the UMP DIRTcar Modifieds on the schedule are the Super Late Models (UMP DIRTcar-sanctioned on Feb. 8, 9, 10 and 12 and World of Outlaws Late Model Series events on Feb. 11 and 13); the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series (Feb. 5-7); the All-Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car Series (Feb. 3-4); and the Super DIRTcar Series for big-block Modifieds (Feb. 10-13).

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 eight nights of UMP DIRTcar Modified racing is available for $200.

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, visit www.dirtcar.com.

‘Fans of February' Thrilled to Launch 2010 Season With DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia

BARBERVILLE, FL — Jan. 18, 2010 — Volusia Speedway Park laid down the challenge a month ago. Are you a Fan of February? Dirt track fans from across North America responded, and four of them are being rewarded with a free hotel stay and two tickets to the Feb. 2-13 Florida DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH.

Winners from New Mexico, New York, Oregon and South Dakota are excited to start the racing season with all of the competitors from the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series, the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, the Super DIRTcar Series and UMP DIRTcar Racing at Volusia Speedway Park, just down State Road 40 from Interstate 95 and Ormond Beach.

Together with partners 4m.net, Hoseheads.com, STLRacing.com and DirtTrackDigest.com, Volusia Speedway Park reached across the Web to find four fans who live and breathe dirt track racing, and who can't wait to start the 2010 season.

“This is the first time I've ever won anything in my life,” said Tim Sweeney from Oregon, who wants to see his favorite driver, Steve Kinser, rip around Volusia's high-speed half-mile oval. “I usually go to Volusia every year. It starts the season for me, and after a long winter I really look forward to watching the World of Outlaws. It's the first taste of racing for the year and I'm counting on warm weather.”

For Joel Johnson, a Billy Moyer fan from New Mexico, this year marks a new adventure.

“This will be the very first time I've gone to Volusia,” Johnson said. “I've never even been to Florida in my life. I'm a DIRTcar nut. I've gone to Lernerville and Eldora and I've been to the World Finals every year in Charlotte. In fact, two years ago I got to carry the New Mexico flag in the parade of flags at the World Finals. At the World Finals last November I was talking to a guy who was wearing a Volusia Speedway Park coat and he said I ought to go because it is some of the best racing you'll see. So I'm really looking forward to it.”

Then there's Big-Block Modified fan Shannon Dietrich of New York. Her family has been going to Volusia for three years. She got the tickets for her Dad as a Christmas gift, but is counting on going to the races to cheer for Danny Johnson.

“Just going to Florida is fun,” Dietrich said. “It's a beautiful area, and winning is a nice reward for my dad.”

Wrapping up the Fan of February drawing was winner Nicole Whitman from South Dakota, who earned a DIRTcar UMP Modified hotel and ticket package.

There is still plenty of time to reserve your favorite seats to the 39^th Annual DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH. Don't miss a chance to see if Donny Schatz and Jason Meyers will continue their rivalry after the closest points race in World of Outlaws history, or if Josh Richards can duplicate his success in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, or if Brett Hearn can post another Florida victory to start rolling toward an eighth Super DIRTcar Series crown. Call the track today at 386-985-4402 or visit http://www.dirtcarnationals.com for all the latest news and information. Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/DIRTcarNats, or visit us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/WorldRacing.

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.
 

DIRTcar Racing Adds Sanctioning To Final Four Nights Of USA Raceway's ‘Wild West Shootout'

TUCSON, AZ – Jan. 13, 2010 – The 2010 DIRTcar Racing campaign will get off to an early start following the announcement that the organization will sanction the final four events of the ‘Wild West Shootout' for Super Late Models and Modifieds at USA Raceway.

Over $150,000 in prize money is posted for the blockbuster six-night event, which began with weekend shows on Jan. 9 and 10. DIRTcar Racing's sanctioning of the series starts with the doubleheader scheduled for tonight (Jan. 13) and continues with the events on Fri., Jan. 15; Sat., Jan. 16; and Sun., Jan. 17.

The grand finale of the three-eighths-mile Arizona oval's season-opening spectacular comes on Jan. 17 with the running of the Bill Cheesebourg Memorial, a $10,000-to-win event held in honor of the late Tucson native who starred on his homestate's dirt-track circuit for decades and made six starts in the Indianapolis 500 from 1957-1965.

“DIRTcar Racing is honored to be part of the ‘Wild West Shootout' for the first time,” said DIRTcar Racing Western Region director Chris Morgan. “(USA Raceway promoter) Benji Lyons has done a great job building anticipation for the series and we're excited that it will serve as the lead-in to an exciting season of DIRTcar Racing in the Western Region.

“DIRTcar Racing's sanctioning of the ‘Wild West Shootout' is super news for the West's Late Model and Modified racers, who will now have several addition opportunities to build up their points totals in the UMP DIRTcar regional and national programs.”

USA Raceway is a flagship DIRTcar Racing track in the Southwest, headlining UMP DIRTcar West Modifieds on a weekly basis. The DIRTcar-sanctioned Southwest Dirt Racing Association (SWDRA) Late Model series also makes multiple visits to the speedway each season.

With the ‘Wild West Shootout' now carrying sanctioning from DIRTcar Racing, the UMP DIRTcar points program will allow drivers to count two finishes toward their 2010 regional and national totals. The weekly UMP DIRTcar points season runs from April through early October, but drivers can also count their best finish/points night each week (Sunday-Saturday represents a week during the Wild West Shootout) from Jan. 1 until the start of weekly points racing – which means drivers will count their best finish in the events on Jan. 13, 15 and 16 along with their finish in the Jan. 17 finale.

“DIRTcar Racing and USA Raceway are great partners and we're excited to add their sanctioning to the remainder of the ‘Wild West Shootout' events for the Super Late Models and Modifieds,” said Benji Lyons, who co-promotes the Arizona track with Kevin Montgomery. “This will be a great opportunity for drivers to start collecting some UMP DIRTcar Racing points and increase their chances of sharing in some of the 2010 points-fund money.”

Nearly 50 Super Late Model teams and 40 DIRTcar Modified competitors from more than a dozen states and Canada have already entered Wild West Shootout action. The Super Late Models have a trio of $3,000-to-win shows and the $10,000-to-win finale remaining, while the Modifieds will chase $1,000 first-place prizes in the remaining events.

Racing is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. on Jan. 13 and 15, while a 4 p.m. start will be utilized on Jan. 16 and 17.

Ticket pricing and other ‘Wild West Shootout' information can be found online at www.usaraceway.net or by calling the USA Raceway office at 520-574-8515.

USA Raceway is located east of Tucson off I-10 exit 268, then 1.6 miles south on Craycroft Road, which turns into Los Reales.

Additional info on all of the series, sanctioning and member tracks of DIRTcar Racing is available at www.DIRTcar.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.

Sponsors and supporters of the 2009 UMP DIRTcar Racing season included Hoosier Racing Tires, Midwest Speed Expo, VP Racing Fuels, Wrisco Aluminum, C.J. Rayburn Race Cars, Bob Pierce Race Car, Dyer's Top Rods, University of Northwest Ohio, Integra Shocks, Eibach Springs, Just Plugs, QuarterMaster, ASI Racewear, Racing Electronics, Bert Transmissions, stlracing.com, Intercomp Scales, dirtondirt.com and Fusion Sign Co.

Western Region DIRTcar Modified Racing Picks Up Steam In 2009 With Down-To-The-Wire Points Battle

CONCORD, NC – Dec. 22, 2009 – A showdown between a grizzled veteran and a fresh-faced youngster. A dramatic, down-to-the-wire points battle. A dose of national recognition and cool points-fund checks at the end of the rainbow.

Those were the lead stories of the 2009 season in DIRTcar Racing Western Region's open-wheel Modified division, which picked up more steam thanks to an exciting duel for regional supremacy featuring fellow Las Cruces, N.M., residents Jimmy Ray and Stormy Scott.

In what was by far the closest points race among the 10 regions that comprised the nationally-known UMP DIRTcar Modified program in 2009, the 60-year-old Ray nipped the 19-year-old Scott by a mere two points (1,989-1,987) to win the championship of the Wild West Region, which includes the best DIRTcar Modified racers from New Mexico, Arizona and Western Texas. The title will bring Ray a $2,000 prize from the $6,400 Wild West Region points fund when checks are distributed during the 2009 UMP DIRTcar Racing ‘Night of Champions' Awards Banquet on Jan. 9 in Springfield, Ill.

“Seeing an established standout like Jimmy Ray outduel a rising star like Stormy Scott in the closest regional points battle in the country made the 2009 season truly memorable for DIRTcar Modified racing in the DIRTcar Racing Western Region,” said DIRTcar Racing Western Region director Chris Morgan. “The exciting points race – and the season-ending points-fund bonuses that went to the top DIRTcar Modified drivers in the Western Region – put DIRTcar Racing in the headlines as we continue to build Modified racing in the Western Region under the DIRTcar Racing banner.”

A prominent proponent of DIRTcar Modified racing's expansion in the Southwest is Ray, who not only is a leading driver in the region but also co-promotes two flagship DIRTcar-sanctioned tracks in the area. Ray and his business partner Royal Jones, a 55-year-old from Las Cruces who also competes regularly in the DIRTcar Modified class, operate Southern New Mexico Speedway in Las Cruces and El Paso (Texas) Speedway Park.

“I enjoy racing a DIRTcar Modified,” said Ray, who combines with Jones to operate Mesilla Valley Transportation. “I like the (DIRTcar) rules because a racer can still feel like he can build things and be creative – to a degree – rather than having everything controlled, and the points deal is a nice bonus.”

A competitive sort who has driven everything from Modifieds to Sprint Cars to Late Models to Legends Cars during his long career behind the wheel, Ray built up his '09 UMP DIRTcar points total running his 10-year-old, homebuilt DIRTcar Modified weekly at Southern New Mexico and El Paso. He also competed in special events at other DIRTcar Racing-sanctioned tracks in the region – White Sands Speedway in Tularosa, N.M., where Ray was crowned the 2009 track champ for his success in a six-race Modified series, and USA Raceway in Tucson, Ariz., where Tucson's R.C. Whitwell emerged as the Modified titlist (and finished 12th in the Wild West Region).

Ray held off a furious late-season rush from Scott to secure the Wild West Region title.

“We knew it was gonna be close coming down the stretch,” Ray said of his points battle with Scott. “(Scott) had more wins (11) than we did (Ray was victorious just twice), but we had an awful lot of seconds and that kept us on top.”

Scott, meanwhile, ran out of time in his pursuit of Ray. The teenager (who turned 20 on Dec. 16) won nearly half his DIRTcar-sanctioned starts in 2009 competing at the same selection of sanctioned tracks as Ray, but he didn't enter as many events as Ray, putting him at a disadvantage in a points system that used drivers' best 30 finishes/points nights to determine the regional standings. While Ray was able to replace several of his worst outings, Scott didn't make enough starts to wipe out any of his low points nights.

“Once we realized we had a shot in the points we started running more DIRTcar shows,” said Scott, a DIRTcar Modified racer since the ripe age of 12 who competed in 2009 as a teammate to his fraternal twin brother Johnny in cars fielded by his grandparents. “We could've used a few more races.”

Scott figures to be a contender for the Wild West Region title in 2010 – and perhaps even the UMP DIRTcar national crown (worth $20,000) if he enters more DIRTcar-sanctioned events. He finished 21st in the national standings in 2009 (besting Ray's 29th-place finish because he earned points outside the Wild West Region), earning himself an additional $700 to go along with the $1,500 he will collect for taking the runner-up spot in the regional race.

“I think DIRTcar Modified racing is a good deal for our area,” said Scott, a sophomore business major at New Mexico State University. “It allows you to pretty much run anywhere in the country with the same car, and I'm looking forward to running more races next year.”

In fact, Scott will make his second consecutive February trip to Florida in 2010 for some DIRTcar Modified racing. He has landed a ride in a car owned by J.R. Baxter of Albuquerque, N.M., for the eight nights of UMP DIRTcar Modified action (Feb. 2-9) that are part of the 39th annual DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla.

Ray and Scott were two of five Wild West Region drivers who cracked the top 100 in the 2009 UMP DIRTcar Modified national points standings. They were joined by female driving standout Christy Georges of El Paso, Texas (third regional, 62nd national), Royal Jones (fourth region, 90th national) and Royal's son Bumper Jones (fifth region, 64th national).

Scott and Royal Jones also made the tow out to last month's inaugural Silver State DIRTcar Championships at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, showing their backing of DIRTcar Modified racing in the West. Scott was victorious in the weekend's preliminary feature and finished second in the main event.

Jones made a point of supporting the Silver State DIRTcar Championships. He wants to see the DIRTcar Modified division expand across the western states.

“I'm a big supporter of DIRTcar,” said Royal Jones, who scored a pair of top-10 finishes at Las Vegas. “I think the rules and structure (DIRTcar provides) can be a real good thing for our area.”

With strong testimonials from such major players as Jones, DIRTcar Modified racing's growth in the West is sure to continue in 2010 – with more tracks, more cars, more big events (like November's Fall DIRTcar Nationals which paid $15,000 to win and drew 107 cars to Jones's Southern New Mexico oval) and more opportunities for drivers to bid for the biggest UMP DIRTcar points prizes.

Additional info on all of the series, sanctioning and member tracks of DIRTcar Racing is available at www.DIRTcar.com.
 

Fan of February? Win FREE Hotel and Tickets to DIRTcar Nationals

CONCORD, N.C. — Dec. 18, 2009 — Are you a Fan of February? Are you already packed for the DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park, just waiting to see the superstars from the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series, the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, the Super DIRTcar Series and UMP DIRTcar Racing?

DIRTcar Racing To Sanction Colorado Late Model Association Series In 2010

CONCORD, NC – Dec. 14, 2009 – DIRTcar Racing will sanction the 2010 Colorado Late Model Association (CLMA) series for Super Late Models, officials from the two organizations have announced.

The CLMA becomes the fourth Super Late Model tour to come under the DIRTcar Racing Western Region banner since 2008, joining the Western Allstars DIRTcar Late Model Series, Northwest I-5 DIRTcar Late Model Tour and the Southwest Dirt Late Model Association (SWDRA) series.

“We're proud to bring the Colorado Late Model Association series under the DIRTcar Racing umbrella in 2010,” said DIRTcar Racing Western Region director Chris Morgan. “Sanctioning a growing series like the CLMA is another key element of DIRTcar Racing's expansion. With the CLMA's location in the Rocky Mountain region bordering our DIRTcar series to the east and west, we are creating a bigger base of Super Late Model teams to draw from as we strive to create bigger, more exciting events for the fans and racers.”

While the CLMA will remain under the direction of president (and racer) J.T. Botts of Broomfield, Colo., all events in 2010 will offer DIRTcar Racing-licensed drivers points toward the UMP DIRTcar Racing regional and national standings. Drivers will have an opportunity to share in a UMP DIRTcar Racing points fund that annually tops $200,000.

In existence since 2001, the Denver-based CLMA is coming off a 10-event 2009 season that visited I-76 Speedway in Fort Morgan, Colo., Gillette (Wyo.) Thunder Speedway and Sweetwater Speedway in Rock Springs, Wyo. Dave Garmann of Milliken, Colo., won the series championship for the second time in his career.

According to CLMA promotions director Cory Moul, tour officials are planning to expand the schedule in 2010 to as many as 20 events spread over multiple two-race weekends. He said Colorado and Wyoming will remain the epicenter of the series, but tracks in Nebraska, Kansas and New Mexico are possible additions.

“We told everybody about the DIRTcar sanctioning during our (awards) banquet (on Dec. 4 in Westminster, Colo.) and the response was great,” said Moul. “Everyone with the CLMA is excited about the benefits that being part of DIRTcar will provide – from the increased recognition and the chance to race for the UMP DIRTcar national and regional points funds that CLMA drivers will now have, to the increased insurance coverage that DIRTcar members receive.”

Several CLMA drivers got a preview of DIRTcar Racing-sanctioned competition last month, competing in the inaugural Silver State DIRTcar Championships on Nov. 20-21 at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The Colorado contingent included Botts, Scott Lewis (third-place finisher in the 2009 points standings), Dean Moore (fifth in points) and Steve Lewis (ninth in points).

For more information on the CLMA, visit www.coloradolatemodel.com.

Additional info on all of the series, sanctioning and member tracks of DIRTcar Racing is available at www.DIRTcar.com.