‘Mr. DIRT Track U.S.A’ brings Super DIRTcar Series to Lebanon Valley

Local runner and series regular Keith Flach hopes to fare well in one of the season’s most competitive fields of racers

WEST LEBANON, N.Y. — August, 7, 2014 — Lebanon Valley Speedway’s classic ‘Mr. DIRT Track U.S.A.’ is just around the corner, and Super DIRTcar Series racers are preparing for the always action-packed battle on the high banks. The Super DIRTcar Big Block Modified Series returns to half-mile Thursday, Aug. 14, for the $17,500-to-win show.

Local racer and series regular Keith Flach, of Ravena, N.Y., is looking forward to taking on other Super DIRTcar Series greats on his home turf, and says this race is bound to be a challenge for outsiders.

“It’s different. It’s unique. It’s one of the faster tracks we run,” said Flach, who is currently fifth in Big Block Modified track points at Lebanon Valley. “It’s fun when we do it, but it’s tough on equipment, tough on drivers.”

The famed 100-lap ‘Mr. DIRT Track U.S.A.’ can make or break a race team, and two years ago it did both for the Madsen Motorsports No. 20 team. Brett Hearn’s No. 20 wrecked in the heat race, and, when the feature hit the track, he charged from the 23rd starting spot to win one of the season’s biggest payouts. Hearn, of Sussex, N.J., has picked up 13 Super DIRTcar Series wins at Lebanon Valley, with J.R. Heffner, Matt Sheppard and Andy Bachetti having also claimed impressive victories there in recent years. Flach hopes to be able to add his name to that list.

“We’ve got to see some momentum,” Flach said of his weekly running at Lebanon Valley. “But the track always changes when you go to a race like that — different drivers and stuff, a little bit higher competition — so we just have to take it as it comes. Hopefully it works out.”

Flach finished 14th in last year’s ‘Mr. DIRT Track U.S.A.” and 13th in 2012, but his full-time participation in the Super DIRTcar Series may have given him the extra racing experience he needs to conquer the tough tour race.

“We’re just trying to learn, we’re getting the experience and just trying to learn every time we hit the track,” said Flach of his first year running the series full-time.

Grandstand gates open at 5 p.m. and pit gates open at 3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 14, at Lebanon Valley Speedway. Racing gets underway at 7 p.m. For more information about the Super DIRTcar Series, visit www.superdirtcarseries.com.

AT A GLANCE

‘Mr. DIRT Track U.S.A.’

Date: Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014

Time: Pit gates open at 3 p.m. and grandstand gates open at 5 p.m., racing begins 7 p.m.

Location: Lebanon Valley Speedway, 1746 US Route 20, West Lebanon, NY 12195

About the track: High-banked half-mile clay oval

More track information: lebanonvalley.com| @LVSpeedway | facebook.com/lebanonvalleyspeedway

More series information: superdirtcarseries.com | @SuperDIRTcar | facebook.com/DIRTcar

Super DIRTCAR Big Block Modified Series Schedule of Events

* Note:  To be eligible to compete at the 8^th Annual World Finals a driver must attempt to qualify for a scheduled Super DIRTcar  Big Block Modified Series event during the 2014 calendar year (this includes the 43rd Annual DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park). * Note: All Super DIRTcar and/or Mr. DIRTcar Series events are “Syracuse Qualifiers” offering a “Preferred Qualifying Position” for Super DIRT Week XLIII.

The Super DIRTcar Series and DIRTcar Racing in the Northeast Region is brought to fans by several sponsors and partners including Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, Chevy Performance Parts, NAPA Auto Parts, Safety-Kleen, and Velocita USA. Contingency partners include the University of Northwestern Ohio, ASI, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix, ButlerBuilt, Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Edelbrock, Integra Shocks, Intercomp, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, KSE Racing Products, Motorsports Safety Systems, MSD LLC, Fox Shocks, Racing Electronics, Superflow and Wrisco Industries.