CONCORD, NC – Jan. 26, 2010 – The implementation of a uniform rules package for the DIRTcar Racing UMP Stock Car division will take another major step forward in 2010.
One year after introducing the new Stock Car rules on a trial basis, DIRTcar Racing officials are working with track promoters to make the technical specifications a staple of the upcoming campaign.
“Three years ago teams and tracks – especially those in the Midwest – asked us to develop a common set of rules for the DIRTcar UMP Stock Car division (then called Street Stocks),” said Sam Driggers, the director of DIRTcar Racing’s UMP circuit. “With input from the tracks and teams, we came up with Stock Car rules that will put all the cars on the same page, similar to the template we already have with DIRTcar’s successful UMP Late Model and UMP Modified programs.
“We released the Stock Car rules at the start of the 2009 season in order to begin the process of bringing the tracks and teams under the common set of rules. This season we’re continuing the process and looking forward to great results for the future of the division.”
The new Stock Car rules have several attractive aspects for track promoters, including the creation of an ever-increasing pool of cars running under the same specifications. In addition, drivers competing in DIRTcar UMP Stock Car action at tracks sanctioned by DIRTcar Racing have the opportunity to battle for the division’s UMP national and state points funds.
All sanctioned tracks will be required to enforce the Stock Car rules in 2010 in order for drivers to receive national and state points. In that vein, DIRTcar Racing technical inspectors will visit sanctioned tracks throughout the 2010 season to ensure that the rules are being followed.
Many of the nearly three-dozen DIRTcar-sanctioned tracks that hosted Stock Car racing in 2009 have announced plans to utilize the new rules this season, including Track Enterprises sister ovals Macon (Ill.) Speedway and Paducah (Ky.) International Raceway; Fairbury (Ill.) American Legion Speedway; Kankakee (Ill.) County Speedway; and Michigan tracks such as I-96 Speedway, Mt. Pleasant Speedway, Thunderbird Speedway and Winston Speedway. A number of other tracks have also expressed interest in joining the DIRTcar Racing family and running the growing Stock Car division.
Track Enterprises’ Bob Sargent is one promoter solidly behind the new Stock Car rules package.
“It’s always a good thing to get cars running under uniform rules,” said Sargent, one of the country’s most well-known race organizers. “The blueprint for us is out there with the UMP Late Models and Modifieds. If we follow the same idea with the Stock Cars, it will benefit the tracks, the teams and the fans because it will help get more people involved in the division.”
Nearly $18,000 in points-fund cash was distributed to drivers in the DIRTcar UMP Stock Car class during the 2009 ‘Night of Champions’ Awards Banquet held earlier this month in Springfield, Ill., including a $3,000 prize to national champion Rick Thomas of Dwight, Ill.
The 2010 Stock Car national champion will receive $3,000, with the top 20 in the nation points standings rewarded and recognized. Additionally in 2010, the top 15 finishers in each State points race will be recognized.
For more information on DIRTcar Racing, visit www.dirtcar.com
