WEEDSPORT, NEW YORK_ The Rolling Wheels Raceway may not have a bigger fan than DIRTcar Sportsman star Jipp Ortiz.
The Ransomville, New York second generation driver has won a lot of short track races in his career, but waited until the 2009 campaign before taking his first Rolling Wheels Raceway DIRTcar Sportsman win in May. He considers Rolling Wheels as the one track that can get his excitement at a high pitch.
“I really don’t know what it is,” said Ortiz, who has won five DIRTcar Pro Stock events at the five-eighths mile fast track. “I think it’s a combination of technical and speed. If you have the faster car, it doesn’t mean anything. You must put together the two elements to be the best.”
Ortiz will be ready for the 2010 season opener at Rolling Wheels Raceway on Sunday May 2nd when the DIRTcar Sportsman make it’s first of eight scheduled appearences at the “fast track” in Elbridge, New York. Opening day will be the DIRTcar Challenge Cup for the big block Modifieds, who will run 75 laps. The DIRTcar Pro Stock Series will also make an appearence.
In three events at Rolling Wheels Raceway in 2009, Ortiz was nearly perfect. He won two of the races and finished second in the season closer during Super DIRT Week in which the popular class ran with the World of Outlaws Sprints before a massive crowd.
“That last show at Super DIRT Week was probably the best I’ve seen the track surface. I was set up for the speedway to be slick but that didn’t happen. It was a great surface.”
After winning his first two races at Rolling Wheels in 2009, he’s looking forward to this season with enthusiam.
“The track really fits my driving style. It’s a fast track and when you’re car is right, you can have a lot of fun out there.”
The DIRTcar Challenge Cup on Sunday, May 2nd is a 5pm start
