Barberville, FL — CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS FROM VOLUSIA SPEEDWAY!
Pat Ward and Dan Schlieper logged many miles to race in Florida at the season-opening Alltel DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park. On Wednesday night, they made it pay off.
Ward, of Genoa, N.Y., drove his Advance Auto Parts Big-Block Modified to victory before Schlieper, of Sullivan, Wis., held off Darrell Lanigan to capture the checkered flag in the UMP DIRTcar Super Late Model main event. Ward becomes the second New Yorker to win during the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH, joining Randy Hall of Olean. With three more nights to go, the winners represent eight different states: Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Wisconsin.
Ward and Schlieper are now eligible for voting in the Alltel All-Star competition. Fans can vote via text message to 247253 and enter their favorite driver’s letter code, or by visiting AlltelAllStar.com and casting a ballot. Votes will be tallied daily until Feb. 28. The overall winner as determined by fan votes will receive the $10,000 grand prize, while the top vote-getter in the other three divisions will earn $1,000. Over 12 consecutive nights from Feb. 3 to Feb. 14, 410 Sprint Cars, UMP DIRTcar Modifieds, Dirt Late Models and Big-Block Modifieds will all compete.
Ward earned his first victory at Volusia after several years of trying. He started on the outside of Row 2, worked to the front and held off Dale Planck down the stretch for the victory at the sweeping half-mile oval, making him eligible for voting at AlltelAllStar.com.
“I’m a good clean racer and I’ve got an old motorhome that keeps breaking down every time I come down to Florida,” said Ward about why fans should choose him as the Alltel All-Star. “The money would help pay for that, and me and my girlfriend wouldn’t have to worry about that every time we get in it and drive it.”
Schlieper took the green on the inside of Row 2, working past pole-sitter Eddie Carrier Jr. midway through the 30-lap feature event. Darrell Lanigan came from 10th to take the lead with five to go before Schlieper motored back in front on the high side of the track and held off Lanigan at the checkered flag, making the Wisconsin Wild Man eligible in Alltel All-Star voting.
“Just to be able to get some votes, and maybe even get the most votes, would be an accomplishment,” Schlieper said. “Alltel is putting up a lot of money for that and I just hope everybody votes for me.”
Through nine nights of competition at the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH, the Alltel All-Star contenders and their text message Letter Codes (in parenthesis) include:
Sprint Cars — Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. (b); Stevie Smith, Broken Arrow, Okla. (d); Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, Ind. (f).
UMP DIRTcar Modifieds — Jared Landers, Batesville, Ark. (a); Austin Dillon, Lewisville, N.C. (c); Randy Hall, Olean, N.Y. (e).
Dirt Late Models — Darren Miller, Chadwick, Ill. (g); Earl Pearson Jr., Jacksonville, Fla. (h); Dan Schlieper, Sullivan, Wis. (j).
Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series — Pat Ward, Genoa, N.Y. (i).
For more information about Alltel, please visit www.alltel.com. To cast your vote online visit www.AlltelAllStar.com.
Alltel DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH Statistical Report — Night 9
Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series 30-lap A-main
Pos. / Name
1. Pat Ward
2. Dale Planck
3. Andy Bachetti
4. Dan Vauter
5. Brett Hearn
6. Jamie Mills
7. Jeff Brownell
8. Matt Jester
9. Keith Flach
10. Jimmy Johnson
11. Dave Camara
12. Tim Kerr
13. Randy Chrysler
14. Rich Scagliotta
15. Rex King Jr.
16. Matt Sheppard
17. Darwin Greene
18. Brad Trice
19. Larry Wight Jr.
20. Michel Chicoine
21. Jeff Brown
22. Jim Rasey
23. Dave Rauscher
24. Sean Beardsley
25. Jimmy Horton
26. Mario Clair
27. Gary Risch Jr.
UMP DIRTcar Super Late Model 30-lap A-main
Pos. / Driver
1. Dan Schlieper
2. Darrell Lanigan
3. Rick Eckert
4. Earl Pearson Jr.
5. Billy Moyer
6. Eddie Carrier Jr.
7. Tim Fuller
8. Chub Frank
9. Jimmy Owens
10. Scott James
11. Steve Francis
12. Darren Miller
13. Dennis Erb Jr.
14. John Anderson
15. Josh Richards
16. Billy Decker
17. Mark Pettyjohn
18. Vic Coffey
19. John Blankenship
20. Frank Heckenast Jr.
21. Justin Ratliff
22. Austin Hubbard
23. Tommy Kerr
24. Scott Bloomquist
Alltel DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH Daily Schedule
Pits open at 3 p.m., grandstands at 5 p.m., racing at 7:30 p.m.
February 3, Tuesday
All Star Circuit of Champions (Donny Schatz)
UMP DIRTcar Modifieds (Jared Landers)
February 4, Wednesday
All Star Circuit of Champions (Donny Schatz)
UMP DIRTcar Modifieds (Jared Landers)
February 5, Thursday
All Star Circuit of Champions (Stevie Smith)
UMP DIRTcar Modifieds (Austin Dillon)
February 6, Friday
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series (Donny Schatz)
UMP DIRTcar Modifieds “The Gator” qualifying Night 1 (Jared Landers)
February 7, Saturday
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series (Joey Saldana)
UMP DIRTcar Modifieds “The Gator” qualifying Night 2 (Randy Hall)
February 8, Sunday
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series (Donny Schatz)
UMP DIRTcar Modifieds “The Gator” Championship (Jared Landers)
February 9, Monday
UMP DIRTcar Late Models (Darren Miller)
UMP DIRTcar Modifieds (Jared Landers)
February 10, Tuesday
UMP DIRTcar Late Models (Earl Pearson Jr.)
UMP DIRTcar Modifieds (Austin Dillon)
February 11, Wednesday
UMP DIRTcar Late Models (Dan Schlieper)
Advance Auto Parts Big Block Modifieds (Pat Ward)
February 12, Thursday
World of Outlaws Late Model Series
Advance Auto Parts Big Block Modifieds
February 13, Friday
UMP DIRTcar Late Models
Advance Auto Parts Big Block Modifieds
February 14, Saturday
World of Outlaws Late Model Series
Advance Auto Parts Big Block Modifieds
