*Alex Bruce Photo: Mark Flach, 2009 SDW Big-Block Futures winner
Weedsport, NY — August 12, 2010 – By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing Northeast PR Director
There isn’t a bigger event in dirt track racing than Super DIRT Week, so the task of competing against the legends of the sport can be daunting for those tackling the Syracuse Mile for the first time.
A week that is seemingly filled with non-stop action on the New York State Fairgrounds “Moody Mile” doesn’t offer much time to learn on the job, especially when so much is at stake as competitors gear up for the Syracuse 200 on Oct. 10.
Therefore, DIRTcar Racing officials created a chance for drivers who are looking to gain experience at Syracuse to compete against others seeking the same chance. Those races have become known as DIRTcar Futures events, which give open-wheel and full fender competitors a chance in the massive spotlight. Following combined practice and qualifying sessions, 358-Modified and Sportsman Modified Futures events will go off on Thursday, Oct. 7, while DIRTcar Big-Block Modified and Pro Stock rookie race entries run main events Friday, Oct. 8.
“The Futures have provided great opportunities for rising stars on the DIRTcar circuit to hone their skills at Syracuse,” remarked Cory Reed, DIRTcar Racing Northeast Region General Manager. “Last year nearly 20 first-timers signed up in the Big-Block and 358 divisions, and with over 40 registered in the Sportsman ranks we had to run two races.
“Offering this type of event also takes away some of the pressure having to qualify for the features in each class. Drivers may then jump right into the Super DIRT Week championship events if they choose and won’t lose their rookie status by competing.”
Last October, Canadian chauffeur Mat Williamson from St. Catharines, Ontario, captured the small-block Futures race and went on to place 10th in the 150-lap, 358-Modified Championship while both Sportsman Futures winners Neal Williams (finished 7th) from New Jersey and transplanted Western New Yorker James Henry (29th) qualified for their own Super DIRT Week title event. Maybe most impressive was Pro Stock Futures winner Chuck Dumblewski of Amsterdam, N.Y., who garnered runner-up laurels in the 25-lap full-fender finale.
The 39th edition of Super DIRT Week officially kicks off with Modified ‘Happy Hour’ on Wed., Oct. 6 and runs straight through Sunday with the Syracuse 200 Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modified Championship going green at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 10. The Syracuse 150 358-Modified Championship also gets under way at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 9, followed by the Sportsman Championship. The 25-lap SDW Pro Stock finale begins Sunday at noon.
A full slate of Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Championship Series point races are on the 2010 SDW agenda, while the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars ‘King of the Mile’ Dash hits the Moody Mile on Oct. 8 before the winged warriors travel across town to Rolling Wheels Raceway Park in Elbridge for a Saturday night showdown.
Can-Am Motorsports Park in LaFargeville hosts a 358-Mod/Sportsman Series twin-bill on Wed., Oct. 6 and Brewerton Speedway follows with a 100-lap 358-Modified main event Thursday. Headlining Fri., Oct. 8 cards are ‘360 Sprint Car Challenge’ and ‘Parts Plus Big Six’ Street Stock Series shows at Cayuga County Fair Speedway in Weedsport while another 358/Sportsman doubleheader makes up the twilight program at Rolling Wheels, where the ‘Win And You’re In’ Big-Block show accompanies the WoO Sprint Series special on Saturday.
For more information about Super DIRT Week, including ticket order placement, lap sponsorship and vendor space availability, please contact DIRTcar Racing Northeast Region Headquarters during the week at 315-834-6606. More news can be found at www.superdirtcarseries.com and www.dirtcar.com while tickets can be ordered online at www.superdirtweekonline.com.
Super DIRT Week – Past ‘Futures’ Feature Race Winners
New York State Fairgrounds – Syracuse, New York
Year Big-Block 358-Modified Sportsman-Mod Pro Stock
2009 Mark Flach Mat Williamson Neal Williams & James Henry Chuck Dumblewski
2008 Dave Rauscher Larry Lampman Jr. Mike Bowman Mike Middleton
2007 Craig Mitchell Brett Graham Kevin Ridley Nick Stone
DIRTcar Racing Northeast main office is located in Weedsport, New York on the Cayuga County Fairgrounds, home of DIRTcar All-Star Weekend in July. DIRTcar Northeast’s crown jewel event —Super DIRT Week at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse runs annually in October featuring Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Championship Series events for Big-Block Modified, 358-Modified, Sportsman and Pro Stock divisions. Ticket and schedule information is available by contacting the Weedsport office (315/834-6606) during the day or logging into www.allstar100weekend.com and www.superdirtweekonline.com anytime.
The Big-Block Super DIRTcar Series is brought to fans across the Northeast by several sponsors and partners, including series sponsors Hoosier Racing Tire www.hoosiertire.com and VP Racing Fuels www.vpracingfuels.com. Promotional partners include the University of Northwestern Ohio www.unoh.com and Chizmark & Larson Insurance www.chizmarklarson.com, and contingency sponsors are Bicknell Racing Products www.bicknellracingproducts.com, Bilstein Shocks www.bilstein.com, KSE Racing Products www.kse-racing.com, Motorsports Safety Systems www.motorsportssafetysystems.com, MSD Ignition www.msdignition.com, Penske Shocks, www.penskeshocks.com, Racing Electronics www.racingelectronics.com, Vicci Racing Apparel www.vicci.com and Wrisco Industries www.wrisco.com
