Weedsport, NY — May 13, 2008 – By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing NorthEast PR Director
With the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series and Mr. DIRTcar Championship Series underway for Big-Block Modified, 358-Modified and Sportsman Modified teams, so has begun the chase for the coveted regional points titles in DIRTcar Racing NorthEast’s open-wheel divisions.
Central New York standout Jimmy Phelps, New Jersey superstar Brett Hearn and Western Pennsylvania veteran Brian Swartzlander are looking to reclaim their regional crowns in Big-Block competition, with Hearn already topping the Eastern Region points chart using three feature wins at Orange County Fair Speedway. Currently the hottest driver on the DIRTcar NE circuit, Billy Decker (7 wins) has the Central division cornered while Kevin Bolland (3 wins) leads the Western round-up.
Teenage sensation Larry Wight has copped both of his checkered flags at Can-Am Motorsports Park to pace the 358-Modified Northern Regional standings, with Pete Bicknell (Western, 2 wins) and David VanHorn (Eastern) on course to defend their Small-Block titles earned last season. Frenchman Yan Bussiere was the top 2007 Northern points earner and awaits this weekend’s season-openers at his hometracks of Granby and Drummond in Quebec.
While Don Spatorico has returned in search of a second straight Western Regional title, Northern and Central high-point honors are up for grabs with 2007 Sportsman Modified division winners Chris Higgins and Shawn Donath advancing into the Big-Block ranks. Chris Raabe (Northern, 2 wins), Daryl Hilkert (Central) and Tyler McPherson (Western) already lead the charge toward ‘08 Sportsman supremacy.
The distribution of Regional Racing funds makes this the most lucrative regional post-season awards program for weekly teams found anywhere. Top teams in the Big-Block Modified, 358-Modified and Sportsman Modified divisions collected over $45,000 in 2007, with 135 drivers rewarded in the popular regional points program developed by DIRTcar in ’06.
For further questions regarding the 2008 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 or log into the DIRTcar homepage at www.dirtcar.com to find out more about the entire circuit.
DIRTcar NorthEast Big-Block Modified Regions
*Events held at Rolling Wheels, Oswego (June 18) and Airborne (August 6) count toward any region.
East (best 10 finishes): Lebanon Valley, Orange County, Granby (July 11), Drummond (July 12);
Central (best 15 finishes): Brewerton, Can-Am, Canandaigua, Cayuga County, Fulton, Brockville (July 10), Cornwall (July 13);
West (best 12 finishes): Lernerville, Tri-City, Ransomville (July 3), Merrittville (August 4), BRP Modified Tour events.
DIRTcar NorthEast 358-Modified Regions
*Events held at Rolling Wheels, Oswego (June 18) and Airborne (August 6) count toward any region.
East (best 7 finishes): Orange County;
North (best 15 finishes): Airborne, Brockville, Can-Am, Cornwall, Drummond, Edelweiss, Granby, Mohawk, Lucas DIRTcar Series events (Granby-July 18, Drummond-July 19, Mohawk-July 31, Edelweiss-August 1, Brockville-August 2, Cornwall-August 3);
West (best 12 finishes): Merrittville, Ransomville, Lucas DIRTcar Series events (Merrittville-May 19, Ransomville-May 23, Humberstone-June 22, Merrittville-July 12, Ransomville-July 18, Ohsweken-August 8, Humberstone-August 17).
DIRTcar NorthEast Sportsman Modified Regions
*Events held at Rolling Wheels count toward any region.
Central (best 15 finishes): Black Rock, Brewerton, Canandaigua, Cayuga County, Fulton, Orange County;
North (best 12 finishes): Brockville, Can-Am, Thunder Alley, Lucas DIRTcar Series events (Can-Am-July 5, Brighton-July 18, Thunder Alley-August 1, Brockville-August 2);
West (best 15 finishes): Genesee, Humberstone, Merrittville, Ransomville, Lucas DIRTcar Series events (Genesee-June 14, Merrittville-June 21, Humberstone-July 6, Ohsweken-August 1, Ransomville-August 8).
2008 DIRTcar NORTHEAST REGIONAL POINTS (as of May 12)
BIG-BLOCK MODIFIED
CENTRAL (Best 15)
Pos. Driver Points
1 Billy Decker 458
2 Alan Johnson 435
3 Matt Sheppard 406
4 Frankie Caprara 310
5 Steve Paine 300
6 Pat O’Brien 280
7 Larry Wight 280
8 Jimmy Phelps 277
9 Ryan Phelps 276
10 Kevin Bates 250
11 Billy Dunn 248
12 Mike Bowman 243
13 Steve Hulsizer 242
14 Justin Haers 225
15 Gary Tomkins 223
EASTERN (Best 10)
Pos. Driver Points
1 Brett Hearn 286
2 Mike Storms 165
3 Andy Bachetti 164
4 Mark Flach Jr. 164
5 J.R. Heffner 150
6 Jerry Higbie 148
7 David Van Horn 140
8 Jimmy Phelps 140
9 Keith Flach 133
10 Guy Sheldon 130
11 Wayne Jelley 128
12 Kenny Tremont 128
13 Jeff Heotzler 126
14 Jeff Trombley 126
15 Chuck McKee 116
WESTERN (Best 12)
Pos. Driver Points
1 Kevin Bolland 256
2 Jeramiah Shingledecker 242
3 Del Rougeux Jr. 234
4 Dean Pearson 186
5 Carl Murdick 178
6 Brian Swartzlander 166
7 Dave Murdick 163
8 Steve Feder 153
9 Mike Turner 151
10 Joe Crawford 150
11 Tom Winkle 148
12 Garrett Krummert 139
13 JR McGinley 132
14 Jim Weller Jr. 115
15 Brett Hearn 106
358-MODIFIED
NORTHERN (Best 15)
Pos. Driver Points
1 Larry Wight 120
2 Carey Terrance 106
3 Roy Tarbell 106
4 Kyle Jacobs 104
5 Lance Willix 102
6 Andy Howard 100
7 John Lazore 98
8 Eric Gauvreau 96
9 Mark Smoke 94
10 Mitchell Jock ® 88
11 Martin Gagne 86
12 Clayton Benedict ® 86
13 Adam Roberts 84
14 Tom Jock Jr. 76
15 Brad Shova 70
EASTERN (Best 7)
Pos. Driver Points
1 Brett Hearn 60
2 Tommy Meier 56
3 Jerry Higbie 52
4 David Van Horn 50
5 Tim Hindley 48
6 Chuck McKee 46
7 Ric Hill 44
8 Jimmy Johnson 42
9 Kirk Horton 40
10 Johnny Guarino 38
11 Craig Mitchell 36
12 Dom Roselli 34
13 Darryl Ford 32
14 Eric Palmer 30
15 Gary Napolitano 28
WESTERN (Best 12)
Pos. Driver Points
1 Pete Bicknell 168
2 Chad Brachmann 158
3 Rick Richner 120
4 Larry Lampman Jr. 92
5 Scott Wood 90
6 Todd Burley 88
7 Ken Cosgrove 86
8 Boyd MacTavish 83
9 Chris Steele 82
10 Fred Carleton 82
11 Scott Kerwin 78
12 Robbie Krull 76
13 Kevin Wills 70
14 Scott George 67
15 Tommy Flannigan 67
Sportsman Modified
NORTHERN (Best 12)
Pos. Driver Points
1 Chris Raabe 235
2 Brandon Sweet 206
3 Mark Webb 176
4 Tyler Rand 161
5 Adam Turner 141
6 Luke Whittaker 140
7 Terry Gould 131
8 Kevin Gamble 122
9 Josh VanBrocklin 119
10 Christine Martin 110
11 Les Humiston 105
12 Jason Parkhurst 102
13 Brandon Hagan 102
14 Mark Davison 98
15 Jeff Stevenson 98
CENTRAL (Best 15) … Revised 5/14
Pos. Driver Points
1 Daryl Hilkert 340
2 Justin Wright 288
3 Todd Henderson 286
4 Tim Currier 274
5 Jeremy Pitcher 268
6 Fran Hilton 254
7 Kevin Ridley 254
8 Tom Juhl 251
9 Loren Lincoln 226
10 Sammy Reakes IV 219
11 Marcus Dinkins 219
12 Brady Fultz 214
13 Dan Wiesner 194
14 James Friesen 188
15 Tim Sears Jr. 174
WESTERN (Best 15)
Pos. Driver Points
1 Tyler MacPherson 236
2 Mike Bowman 211
3 James Michael Friesen 199
4 Matt Williamson 192
5 Rob Pratt 183
6 Brad Rouse 150
7 Rick Bellante 147
8 Ryan Susice 134
9 Ken Winfield 132
10 Greg Panunte 132
11 Justin Sharp 120
12 Don Spiece 120
13 B.J. Willard 119
14 Don Spatorico 112
15 Paul Gaboury 108
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 and Hoosier Racing Tire. Rite Aid Corporation is a promotional partner and the contingency sponsors are Bars Leaks, Bert Transmission, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Crane Cams, Dig Safely New York, Holley HP Carburetors, Integra Shocks, Intercomp, KSE Racing Products, Motorsports Safety Systems, Penske Shocks, Rislone Oil Stabilizer and Wrisco Industries.
