Weedsport, NY — March 19, 2008 – By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing NorthEast PR Director
Big-Block Modified teams will continue to share in the lucrative DIRTcar Racing points fund program at the end of the 2008 race season, with further incentive for weekly racers surpassing the $20,000 mark for a second straight year.
Open-wheel teams in the Big-Block Modified, 358-Modified and Sportsman Modified divisions collected over $45,000 in 2007, with 135 drivers rewarded in the popular regional points program developed by DIRTcar officials to entice further competition around the entire circuit.
“Last year was a stepping stone for Big-Block teams as for the first time drivers had the opportunity to race for regional point funds outside the boundaries of the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series and their local track championships,” said Cory Reed, DIRTcar Racing NorthEast Director of Competition & Track Sanctioning. “The addition of regional awards offered further incentive to race at DIRTcar tracks on a weekly basis when not chasing the Advance Series.”
DIRTcar-sanctioned tracks hosting Big-Block Modifieds in 2008 have once again been divided into three regions with teams searching for a piece of the $20,175 pie. Licensed drivers will compete against others within their own region for a series point fund that will reward $6,725 to the top-15 in each. Regional points will be kept separately with no direct bearing on any individual track points race.
“DIRTcar remains the leading short-track organization in the country and the funds offered in ’08 continue to make it the most lucrative regional post-season awards program for weekly racers found anywhere,” Reed added. “There’s a lot at stake for competitors in all of our divisions with more of the wealth spread through the ranks, something that will get more racers involved over time.”
In each of the three Regional Championships, points will be awarded for the best finishes (10 in East, 12 in West, 15 in Central) in DIRTcar Big-Block events, with the exception of those Advance Auto Parts Series shows held at non DIRTcar-sanctioned tracks Grandview, Hagerstown and Virginia Motor speedways. Legal events may be of any distance and may be either home track point events, part of a special mini-series or special events at tracks within that region. Events held at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park throughout the season count toward any region with all Regional points ending on Monday, September 1, 2008.
The chase for DIRTcar Racing NorthEast Regional Championships concluded last year on Labor Day after five straight months of wheel-to-wheel, paint-trading action at more than 20 tracks. Crowned champions of their respective DIRTcar Region in the Big-Block ranks were Jimmy Phelps (Central), Brett Hearn (Eastern) and Brian Swartzlander (Western).
For further questions regarding the 2008 DIRTcar Regional Racing Series format, please contact Cory Reed in the DIRTcar NorthEast Office (315/834-6606) during normal business hours or log into the DIRTcar homepage at www.dirtcar.com to find out more about the entire circuit.
DIRTcar Big-Block Modified points structure for each Regional event:
Pos. Pts. Pos. Pts.
1. 60 13. 32
2. 56 14. 30
3. 52 15. 28
4. 50 16. 27
5. 48 17. 26
6. 46 18. 25
7. 44 19. 24
8. 42 20. 23
9. 40 21. 22
10. 38 22. 21
11. 36 23. 20
12. 34 24.- end 20
DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Regional Championship Point Funds
Pos. East Central West
1. 1800 1800 1800
2. 1200 1200 1200
3. 800 800 800
4. 600 600 600
5. 400 400 400
6. 350 350 350
7. 300 300 300
8. 250 250 250
9. 200 200 200
10. 200 200 200
11. 2009 License 2009 License 2009 License
12. 2009 License 2009 License 2009 License
13. 2009 License 2009 License 2009 License
14. 2009 License 2009 License 2009 License
15. 2009 License 2009 License 2009 License
Total 6,725 6,725 6,725
Total regional payouts: $20,175
DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Regions
*Events held at Rolling Wheels count toward any region.
East (best 10 finishes): Lebanon Valley, Orange County, Granby (July 11), Drummond (July 12), Airborne (August 6);
Central (best 15 finishes): Brewerton, Can-Am, Canandaigua, Cayuga County, Fulton, Brockville (July 10), Cornwall (July 13);
West (best 12 finishes): Lernerville, Tri-City, Ransomville (July 3), Merrittville (August 4), BRP Modified Tour events.
The Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series for Big-Block Modifieds is brought to fans across the Northeast by several sponsors and partners, including series sponsors Advance Auto Parts, Hoosier Racing Tire and Sunoco Race Fuels. Promotional partners include AMB i.t., Rite Aid Corporation and the University of Northwestern Ohio and the contingency sponsors are Bert Transmission, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Crane Cams, Integra Shocks, MSD Ignitions, Motorsports Safety Systems, Penske Shocks and Wrisco Industries.
