Weedsport, NY — July 2, 2008 – By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing NorthEast PR Director
Fireworks start early when the stars of the Hoosier Tire Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Championship Series arrive in full force at Brewerton Speedway for the big Fourth of July holiday special on Friday.
Another big field of Sportsman Modified racers is expected to jam the Brewerton pits, with round number three of the Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Series scheduled to run at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park the night before. In the first two events on the 2008 championship trail, Black Rock Speedway attracted 56 open-wheel entries in April and 52 drivers contended at Rolling Wheels in May.
Consistency has paid off for Jeremy Pitcher as fourth-place (BLK) and seventh-place (RWR) finishes have vaulted him into the early-season points lead entering the Independence day twin-bill.
Current Big-Block Modified tour follower Larry Wight won the opener with Dan Wiesner grabbing his first-ever Series checkered flag at The Wheels. But its still Pitcher (157 pts) leading Wiesner (141) by 16 markers, followed closely by Canandaigua Speedway regular Eric Giguere (140), Canadian standout Mike Bowman (135) and Central New Yorker John Pietrowicz (125) among the top-five.
A new Series winner is certain to be crowned Friday at the ‘D-Shaped Dirt Demon’ as the top-four finishers from last year’s 30-lap finale have all since moved up in division for the 2008 race season.
The final outcome of last year’s Sportsman Series thriller at Brewerton was in doubt until the final lap. Another top traveler from Canada, Mark D’llario, and local favorite Pitcher tangled late in the race setting up a first time tour winner Alan Fink, who now competes in the DIRTcar Big-Block class. Small-blocker Chris Hile was chased across the line by eventual Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman titlist Joe Williams, ’08 Big-Block chauffeur Chris Higgins and current DIRTcar NorthEast Sportsman Modified feature win leader Chris Raabe from Ontario, Canada.
With Brewerton not racing Sportsman Modifieds on a weekly basis, this race will be another wide open affair with no driver laying claim to home track advantage. Also racing on the holiday card will be the IMCA Modifieds, ESDCA Mod Lites and the Four-Cylinder Super Stocks, with the night capped off by a huge fireworks display.
Brewerton gates open at 5:30 p.m. on Friday with the first green flag set to wave at 7:30. Admission prices are Adults 15 and over – $15.00, Children 10 to 14 – $8.00, Children 9 and under – Free. Pit Admission is $23.00 for DIRT Members and $28.00 for Non-Members.
For additional tour information, please contact Sportsman Series Competition Director Michael Sanchelli (cell 862/432-3597; e-mail suitcase@optonline.net) or DIRTcar NE Competition Director Cory Reed at the Weedsport office (315/834-6606). Be sure to log into the homepage at www.dirtcar.com to find out more about the entire circuit and for specific track information please contact the Brewerton office on raceday at 315/668-6906 or visit www.brewertonspeedway.com.
Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Championship Series Top-5s at Brewerton
DATE LAPS FIRST – SECOND – THIRD – FOURTH – FIFTH
7/6/07 30 Alan Fink – Chris Hile – Joe Williams – Shawn Donath – Chris Raabe
9/16/05 40 -rain-
9/28/02 50 Bob Henry,Jr. – Tom Sears,Jr. – Randy Chrysler – Tim Sears – Scott George
9/19/97 50 Steve Hall – Jim Gabriel,Jr. – Karl Comfort – Mike Button – Garry Moreash
9/20/96 50 Steve Hall – Gus Schmidt – Tim Hindley – Billy Krull – Jeff Hoff
7/23/96 50 Steve Hall – Tim Hindley – Gary Stage – Mike Button – Vince Vitale
Headquartered in Roanoke, Va., Advance Auto Parts, a leading automotive aftermarket retailer of parts, accessories, batteries, and maintenance items in the United States, serves both the do-it-yourself and professional installer markets As of April 19, 2008, the Company operated 3,291 stores in 40 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Additional information about the Company, employment opportunities, customer services, and on-line shopping for parts and accessories can be found on the Company’s web site at www.advanceautoparts.com.
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.
