Erick Rudolph
Ransomville, NY — December 30, 2008 – By Tana Robinson, Ransomville Speedway PR & Marketing Director (raceransomville@aol.com)
Considered to be one of the better asphalt short track racers in the Northeast, teenage phenom Erick Rudolph will be taking his talents on the DIRTcar Racing circuit as well for the 2009 season.
Rudolph has teamed with H & H Motorsports for much of the 2009 Ransomville Speedway 358-Modified schedule. It will be Erick’s first time in a DIRTcar 358 Modified but considering how well the Ransomville, New York superstar has adapted to new experiences, he is expected to adjust very quickly to Ransomville’s premier division.
“I’m real excited about the opportunity to race at my hometown track,” Rudolph commented. “I appreciate that H & H Motorsports and Billy Colton have given me an opportunity to join such a high profile team as this.”
Erick turned many heads including, Al Heinke and John Holland from H & H Motorsports and Troyer’s Colton, during his amazing run at Syracuse during Super DIRT Week 2008. Rudolph piloted the Jipp Ortiz #0 DIRTcar Sportsman to victory some 13 seconds better than the remainder of the field in just his first attempt at taming the Syracuse Mile.
“It wasn’t Erick winning by a ½-mile that impressed us the most, it was that his car was too tight,” Colton commented. “But even without having DIRT experience, he was able to move around on the track and find a way to get the most out of his car that day. In his 16 years Erick has accomplished so much, we feel that we can help Erick reach the next level. In addition, the knowledge the Rudolph’s bring to the table is certain to help Troyer Inc. as well.”
H & H Motorsports has had much success with their DIRTcar Big-Block Modified program with Jimmy Phelps behind the wheel. The experience that Troyer Race Cars and H & H Motorsports brings to Rudolph’s inaugural season behind the wheel of a 358-Modified will aid his already anticipated success.
Erick has benefited from his dad Charlie Rudolph and grandfather Jim, both of which have enjoyed successful racing careers. Their knowledge, along with Erick’s raw talent, has already given the youngster a statistical advantage most veteran drivers will never see. In 48 races during the 2008 season, Erick had 18 victories and was only out of the Top-10 on eight occasions. He was the Dunn Tire Raceway Park SST Modified and Modified track champion and recently won an indoor Winged Midget event in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Charlie’s career highlights include the overall Mr. DIRTcar Modified title in 1986. That same year he also won track point championships at Rolling Wheels Raceway, Cayuga County Fair Speedway and Ransomville Speedway. He also claimed the Ransomville crown in 1982, winning several Dunn Tire Park Modified titles and even had a brief stint in NASCAR’s Cup division in 1987 and ’88 posting a career-best finish of 13th at Pocono his first year.
Erick will kick off his DIRTcar Racing 358-Modified career on Friday, May 1 when Ransomville Speedway (716/791-3602) opens for the 52nd season. A full schedule will be available soon on www.ransomvillespeedway.com.
