Weedsport, NY — October 27, 2010 – By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing Northeast PR Director
DIRTcar Racing Northeast drivers will be sharing nearly $300,000 in post-season awards when the organization’s 35th consecutive year of operation takes the final checkered flag in November.
Mr. DIRTcar is one of the most prestigious titles a driver can hold in auto racing today, and in 2010 lucrative point funds are once again ready to be distributed on DIRTcar Northeast’s four major traveling tours.
‘Super Matt’ Sheppard currently leads the overall Big-Block Modified points chase in search of his first-ever Mr. DIRTcar crown worth a whopping $50,000. Like Sheppard in pursuit of his first title, Jimmy Phelps holds down the runner-up position heading into Lowes Foods World of Outlaws World Finals Presented By Bimbo Bakeries and Tom’s Snacks at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, Nov. 4-6.
Already capturing Hoosier-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Championships are Danny Johnson (358-Modified), Tim Sears Jr. (Sportsman Modified) and Louie Jackson (Pro Stock).
Johnson used a runner-up finish to overtake Canadian star Danny O’Brien in the tour finale at Brockville Ontario Speedway and earn his fourth career Mr. DIRTcar 358 title worth $10,000.
Teenager ‘Tiger’ Tim Sears Jr. just needed to start the feature at Brockville to collect Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman high-point honors and the $4,500 first-place payoff, yet he went out and won his series-high sixth race of the season.
In the closest battle over 16 years of Pro Stock tour competition coming to an end at BOS, veteran Louie Jackson crossed the line ninth to edge Corey Wheeler and Joey Ladouceur by a total of three points in the final standings and will be rewarded with a $1,500 top prize next month.
An additional $2,500 is waiting for the top finishing DIRTcar NE rookies receiving Motorsports Safety Systems (MSS) and G-FORCE safety gear accolades. Big-Block ($1,000), 358-Mod ($750), Sportsman Modified ($500) and Pro Stock ($250) first-year honorees will all be recognized at the annual ‘Night of Champions’ Banquet at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in November.
Close to $50,000 will also be distributed to track champions, with more than $20,000 waiting to be divided among the 10 Big-Block point winners. 358-Modified ($13,200), Sportsman ($9,750) and Pro Stock ($3,750) divisions will continue to share in the wealth this season.
Another $28,500 in the popular regional points program started in 2006 has been allocated for top open-wheel teams in the Big-Block Modified, 358-Modified and Sportsman Modified divisions as their reward for season-long success. Among the Top-10 earning dividends, Big-Block region winners will each receive $1,200, 358-Mod winners $1,000 and Sportsman winners $500.
The DIRTcar Northeast Regional point standings were finalized over Labor Day Weekend with Sheppard (Central), Brett Hearn and Bobby Varin (Eastern-tie) and Jeremiah Shingledecker (Western) crowned in the Big-Blocks, Stephane LaFrance and Tim O’Brien (Northern-tie) and Pete Bicknell taking top honors with the 358-Modifieds, and Chris Raabe (Northern), Bodie Bellinger (Eastern), Steve Gray (Central) and Greg Panunte (Western) heading each Sportsman Modified points chart.
2010 Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Point Funds
Pos. Big-Block 358-Mod Sportsman Pro Stock
1. $50,000 $10,000 $4,500 $1,500
2. 25,000 5,000 1,500 900
3. 12,500 3,500 1,200 700
4. 9,000 3,000 1,000 600
5. 8,000 2,500 950 500
6. 7,000 2,250 900 400
7. 6,000 2,000 750 300
8. 5,000 1,750 650 250
9. 4,000 1,600 500 200
10. 3,000 1,500 400 200
11. 3,000 1,000 400
12. 3,000 1,000 400
13. 3,000 1,000
14. 3,000 1,000
15. 3,000 1,000
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 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.
