Weedsport, NY — May 29, 2009 – By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing Northeast PR Director
With the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series and Mr. DIRTcar Championship Series recently launched for Big-Block Modified, 358-Modified and Sportsman Modified teams, point chases are also underway for the coveted regional titles in DIRTcar Racing Northeast’s headline open-wheel divisions.
JB Motorsports teammates Matt Sheppard (Central) and Jeff Brownell Jr. (Eastern), and rising star Jeremiah Shingledecker (Western) currently top the Big-Block regional charts, looking to replace ’08 champions Billy Decker (Central), Brett Hearn (Eastern) and Brian Swartzlander (Western) in the season-long battle. Sheppard (4), Decker (4), Brownell (3) and Shingledecker (3) are among the winningest drivers in the Northeast, although Pennsylvania veteran Kevin Bolland (5) tops the overall open-wheel list entering the final weekend of May.
While still in search of his first checkered flag of the ’09 campaign, Tim O’Brien currently paces the 358-Modified Northern Regional standings, with Pete Bicknell (Western, 2 wins) on course to defend his Small-Block title for a second straight season. Frenchman Kayle Robidoux was the top Northern points earner in 2008, designating autodromes Granby and Drummond as his home tracks, with Ransomville regular Todd Burley scoring a DIRTcar-best three Small-Block victories heading back out to the ridge this season.
The ultra-competitive Sportsman division has expanded to four regions this year with Brandon Sweet (Northern), Steve Gray (Central), Greg Panunte (Western) and Jeremiah Munson in the newly created Eastern section clinging to early point advantages. Chris Raabe (Northern), Todd Henderson (Central) and James Friesen (Western) collected regional crowns a year ago, although third-generation racer Friesen recently graduated into the 358-Modified ranks. Each posting a pair of victories this spring, Munson, Panunte and Sweet are among the top feature winners in 2009 while Ryan Susice and Raabe own three apiece.
Last season Modified teams in the Big-Block, 358 and Sportsman divisions shared $45,000, with 135 drivers rewarded in the popular regional points program developed by DIRTcar officials to further enhance weekly competition around the entire circuit.
For further questions regarding the 2009 DIRTcar Regional Racing Series format, please contact DIRTcar Racing Northeast Director of Competition & Track Sanctioning Cory Reed in the DIRTcar NE Office (315/834-6606) during normal business hours. To view the most updated standings, log into the DIRTcar homepage at www.dirtcar.com, click ‘Driver Points’ on left, select Division, highlight ‘2009 Points To Date’ (open with MS Excel), then scroll down to the track or region of your choice.
DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Regions
*Events held at Rolling Wheels count toward any region.
East (best 12 finishes): Glen Ridge, Lebanon Valley, Airborne (June 7), Granby (July 10), Drummond (July 11);
Central (best 15 finishes): Brewerton, Can-Am, Canandaigua, Cayuga County, Fulton, Brockville (July 9), Cornwall (July 12);
West (best 12 finishes): Lernerville, Tri-City, Ransomville (July 3), Merrittville (August 3), BRP Modified Tour events.
DIRTcar 358-Modified Regions
*Events held at Rolling Wheels count toward any region.
North (best 15 finishes): Airborne, Brockville, Can-Am, Cornwall, Drummond, Edelweiss, Granby, Mohawk, Lucas DIRTcar Series events (Cornwall-May 17, Granby-July 17, Drummond-July 18, Mohawk-July 30, Edelweiss-July 31, Brockville-August 1, Cornwall-August 2);
West (best 12 finishes): Humberstone, Merrittville, Ransomville, Lucas DIRTcar Series events (Merrittville-May 18, Ransomville-May 22, Humberstone-August 23).
DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Regions
*Events held at Rolling Wheels count toward any region.
East (best 10 finishes): Albany-Saratoga, Glen Ridge, Devil’s Bowl-July 4;
Central (best 15 finishes): Black Rock, Canandaigua, Cayuga County, Fulton, Brewerton-July 3;
West (best 15 finishes): Genesee, Humberstone, Merrittville, Ransomville, Lucas DIRTcar Series events (Genesee-June 13, Merrittville-June 20, Humberstone-July 26, Ransomville-August 7).
North (best 12 finishes): Brockville, Can-Am, Thunder Alley, Lucas DIRTcar Series events (Brockville-June 13, Brighton-August 1, Brockville-August 8).
2009 DIRTcar NORTHEAST REGIONAL POINTS (as of May 26)
BIG-BLOCK MODIFIED
CENTRAL (Best 15)
Pos. Driver Points
1 Matt Sheppard 770
2 Billy Decker 586
3 Rob Bellinger 585
4 Alan Johnson 582
5 Jimmy Phelps 532
6 Ryan Phelps 484
7 Justin Haers 481
8 Steve Paine 474
9 Billy Dunn 452
10 Chad Phelps 448
11 Larry Wight 425
12 Chuck Bower 416
13 Chad Homan 402
14 Gary Tomkins 387
15 Tom Sears Jr. 380
EASTERN (Best 12)
Pos. Driver Points
1 Jeff Brownell Jr. 312
2 Craig Hansen 256
3 Paul Kinney 254
4 Bobby Varin 250
5 Andy Bachetti 248
6 Keith Flach 247
7 Kenny Tremont Jr. 236
8 Brett Hearn 232
9 Donnie Corellis 226
10 Eddie Marshall 213
11 Floyd Billington 204
Guy Sheldon 204
13 Josh Hohenfrost 202
14 Richie Price 199
15 Dustin Purdy 198
WESTERN (Best 12)
Pos. Driver Points
1 Jeremiah Shingledecker 550
2 Dave Murdick 513
3 Kevin Bolland 505
4 Del Rougeux Jr. 491
5 Brian Swartzlander 356
6 Dean Pearson 336
7 Mike Turner 323
8 Carl Murdick 322
9 Joe Crawford 314
10 Steve Feder 296
11 Brian Sadler 284
12 Rex King 250
13 Kevin Hoffman 224
Brad Rapp 224
15 Tom Winkle 215
358-MODIFIED
NORTHERN (Best 15)
Pos. Driver Points
1 Tim O’Brien 370
2 Lance Willix 364
3 Martin Roy 304
4 Adam Roberts 298
5 Danny O’Brien 282
6 Bill Gill 254
7 Eric Gauvreau 252
8 Kayle Robidoux 224
9 Denis Gauvreau 214
10 Kyle Dingwall 210
David Hébert 210
12 Mario Clair 200
13 Steve Bernard 192
14 Todd Stewart 183
15 Joel Doiron 176
WESTERN (Best 12)
Pos. Driver Points
1 Pete Bicknell 504
2 Larry Lampman Jr. 384
3 Mat Williamson 374
4 Tom Flannigan 342
5 James M. Friesen 341
6 Chad Brachmann 338
7 Chris Steele 312
8 Rick Richner 274
9 Mike Bowman 272
10 Justin Sharp 250
11 Brian Stevens 249
12 Travis Braun 244
13 Todd Gordon 241
14 Scott Wood 240
15 Jeff McGinnis 234
SPORTSMAN MODIFIED
NORTHERN (Best 12)
Pos. Driver Points
1 Brandon Sweet 469
2 Chris Raabe 440
3 Matt Billings 388
4 Sammy Reakes IV 352
5 Luke Whitteker 329
6 Matt Hulsizer 326
7 Jordan Bennett 308
8 Brandon Hagan 280
9 Tim Sears Jr 268
10 Tom Juhl 251
11 Adam Turner 250
12 Dylan Evoy 248
13 Dana Atkins 232
14 Shane Pecore 213
15 Ally Amell 207
CENTRAL (Best 15)
Pos. Driver Points
1 Steve Gray 475
2 Kevin Ridley 395
3 John Pietrowicz 315
4 Dave Marcuccilli 304
5 Justin Wright 262
6 Eric Giguere 254
7 Ryan Susice 234
8 Alan Fink 228
9 Tom Juhl 227
10 Dan Wiesner 224
11 Anthony Rizzardo 214
12 Todd Town 201
13 Darryl Hilkert 192
Rob Bussey 192
15 Jeremy Pitcher 186
Phil LaVare 186
EASTERN (Best 10)
Pos. Driver Points
1 Jeremiah Munson 276
2 Kory Wilder 264
3 Jim Nagle 238
4 Angela Hanson 230
5 Bodie Bellinger 226
6 Lenny Billings 224
7 John Marsh 218
8 Rob Gray 200
9 Chris McCoy 197
10 John Constantino 180
11 Laudy Hoyenga 178
12 Justin Boehler 141
13 Bittany Liggett 124
14 Jeff Townsend 100
15 Tony Farone 91
WESTERN (Best 15)
Pos. Driver Points
1 Greg Panunte 438
2 Cody McPherson 414
3 Tyler McPherson 406
4 Justin Wright 406
5 Nick Cupolo 388
6 B.J. Willard 368
7 Rick Bellante 359
8 Brad Rouse 358
9 Ryan Susice 336
10 Steve Schumacher 330
11 Chad Chevalier 320
12 Ricky Newton 284
13 Rob Knapp 264
14 Jim Johnstone 254
15 Len Dignard 226
DIRTcar Racing Northeast main office is located in Weedsport, New York on the Cayuga County Fairgrounds www.cayugacountyfairspeedway.com, home of the 2009 DIRTcar All-Star Weekend, July 17-19, featuring Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Championship Series events for Sportsman and Big-Block Modifieds in the richest short-track show of its kind in the nation — the $20,000-to-win Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series “DIRTcar All-Star 100” on Sunday, July 19.
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 www.hoosiertire.com and VP Racing Fuels www.vpracingfuels.com. Promotional partners include Rite Aid Corporation www.riteaid.com, Dig Safely New York www.digsafelynewyork.com and the University of Northwestern Ohio www.unoh.com and the contingency sponsors are Bars Leaks www.barsproducts.com, Bert Transmission www.berttransmission.com, Bicknell Racing Products www.bicknellracingproducts.com, Bilstein Shocks www.bilstein.com, Brodix Cylinder Heads www.brodix.com, Ferris Industries www.ferrisindustries.com, Integra Shocks www.integrashocksandsprings.com, Intercomp www.intercomp-racing.com, KSE Racing Products www.kse-racing.com, Motorsports Safety Systems www.motorsportssafetysystems.com, Penske Shocks, www.penskeshocks.com, Racing Electronics www.racingelectronics.com, Rislone Oil Stabilizer www.barsproducts.com and Wrisco Industries www.wrisco.com.
