*DIRTcar Staff Photo: #44 Frank Cozze disabled in 1989 SDW disaster
Weedsport, NY — August 26, 2010 – By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing Northeast PR Director
Were you there when Kenny Tremont ran out of gas with just a lap to go? What about when leaders Frank Cozze and Danny Johnson crashed with only eight miles left in the Super DIRT Week finale?
How about when afternoon showers stopped Merv Treichler’s bid to win the first-ever rain-shortened Syracuse show? And who could forget the year bespectacled Bob McCreadie dominated only to fall two spots short after a late-race pit stop?
Fortunately for this determined group of Big-Block Modified stars, each has reached victory lane at the storied New York State Fairgrounds’ Moody Mile during their legendary careers. Yet so many, many more have been locked out since the richest Modified event in the nation was inaugurated in 1972.
Don’t miss a chance to be part of the stories that emerge from this year’s Syracuse 200 that will no doubt add to the event’s lore. Check out http://www.SuperDIRTWeekOnline.com for all camping and ticket needs, and to reserve a space to see history made on the Mile.
The stories of what might have been are certain to continue this autumn when the 39th Annual Super DIRT Week takes center stage from Oct. 6-10 at the New York State Fairgrounds. The Syracuse 200 at 2 p.m. on 10-10-10 (Oct. 10, 2010) is the prestigious 200-mile test of wills on Super Sunday that caps an entire week of speed throughout Central New York.
Tremont had his fuel tank run dry on the final lap to turn the victory over to Tim Fuller in 2004 while last-place starter Alan Johnson inherited the lead when his younger brother made contact with Cozze on lap 181 in the 1989 nail-biter.
Pole-sitter Billy Osmun got the win over ‘Marvelous Merv’ in 1974 when rain curtailed the event five miles shy of the 100-lap distance just as Treichler pulled up to his rear bumper. In 1985, Brett Hearn moved to the point for good when McCreadie ducked pitside at the midway mark, then held off a furious rally from ‘Barefoot’ with Jack Johnson securing second at the stripe.
Tremont won earlier in 1999 while Cozze returned to take top honors 2008 and Danny Johnson copped a pair of Syracuse 200s in 1997 & 2006. Treichler was victorious back-to-back in 1981-82 as McCreadie avenged any misfortune the following October in 1986.
Other Salt City shortfalls include when the title race was extended to 125 laps in 1979 and native Floridian Buzzie Reutimann lost the lead to Jack Johnson on lap 101. Father of current NASCAR Cup star David Reutimann, Buzzie claimed the first two Super DIRT Week Modified mains in 1972-73 to bring instant notoriety to today’s premier event.
Garden State standout Jimmy Horton was on track to take his second straight checkered flag in the 1988 edition when he scraped the turn three wall and relinquished the lead to Pennsylvania legend Kenny Brightbill. Runner-up in that heart-breaker, Horton came back a half-dozen years later to score his second victory and forever solidify his place in the record book among Super DIRT Week’s all-time best.
Super DIRT Week kicks off in 2010 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.
Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Championship Series point races remain a major part of Super DIRT Week as does Sprint Car racing in Central New York. The World of Outlaws ‘King of the Mile’ Dash is slated for Syracuse on Oct. 8 prior to the winged warriors traveling across town to Rolling Wheels Raceway Park in Elbridge for a Saturday night showdown.
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.
The night action gets going on Wed., Oct. 6 as Can-Am Motorsports Park in LaFargeville hosts a 358-Mod/Sportsman Series twin-bill and Brewerton Speedway follows with a 100-lap 358-Modified main event Thursday.
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.
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, VP Racing Fuels www.vpracingfuels.com, and GM Performance Parts http://www.gmperformanceparts.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.
