Syracuse, NY — SDW ‘Media Day’ Boasts G-Mac Appearance & Super DIRTcar Series ’10 Dates
Return Venture To Lowe’s Dirt Track For World Finals Brings Curtain Down Next Season
Syracuse, NY – October 8, 2009 – By Chris Dolack, World Racing Group VP Media/Public Relations
The annual Quaker Steak & Lube Super DIRT Week Media Day tipped off with flair and ended with a slam dunk, thanks to help from several Super DIRTcar Series competitors and former Syracuse University basketball star Gerry McNamara.
The festivities opened with the racers challenging McNamara, a guard on the 2003 Syracuse NCAA championship basketball team and the grand marshal for Sunday’s Rite Aid 200 Presented by Ferris & Snapper Mowers, in a free-throw competition. Billy Decker, a late entry to the tournament, emerged as the winner by showcasing a calmness that would eventually lead him to a third-place qualifying effort later in time trials for Sunday’s 200-miler.
The event then moved indoors to the John Hill Infield Media Center, where representatives from Super DIRT Week sponsors were warmly greeted, including Bill Shea, Roy Dust, Jennifer Loran and Leah McDonald from Briggs & Stratton, the parent company of presenting sponsor Ferris and Snapper. Representatives from event sponsor Rite Aid will be in attendance on Sunday for the 200-mile main feature, as will Dean Pectal from Benjamin Moore Paints. Larry Bishop of Dig Safely New York was also welcomed as he reminded everyone to call 811 before you dig. Jim Kelly and Freddie Turza of VP Racing Fuels were also highlighted even as they worked to supply fuel to all the modifieds preparing for an afternoon of time trials.
A highlight of the media gathering was a standing ovation for Staff Sergeant Scott Dunne and Sergeant First Class Sean Walsh from the New York Army National Guard.
Then drivers again were in the spotlight to make several major revelations about next season, including the highly anticipated announcement delivered by Brett Hearn that the Super DIRTcar Series will be a major part of the 2010 World Finals on Nov. 4-6 at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., where they’ll join the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars and the World of Outlaws Late Models as all three series wrap up their seasons with championship-deciding points events.
Billy Decker helped reveal the Super DIRTcar Series will compete April 9-10 at Fulton Speedway as part of a two-day event that also includes a 358-modified feature. The Super DIRTcar stars will also return to Fulton on Oct. 1-2 for the Fulton 200.
Matt Sheppard announced to the media that the traditional Hall of Fame event will be a Super DIRTcar Series race on Sunday, May 30, at Cayuga County Fair Speedway, while Ryan Phelps was excited to talk about the second annual All-Star 100 Weekend returning to Cayuga County Fair Speedway on July 16-17 with two Super DIRTcar Series features.
Jimmy Phelps was given the job of announcing the 2010 dates for Super DIRT Week at Syracuse. With the event running from Oct. 6-10, the 39th Annual Rite Aid 200 Presented By Ferris & Snapper Mowers will be on 10-10-10. That led to Gary Tomkins announcing the Super DIRTcar Series will compete Oct. 16 at Brockville Ontario Speedway, creating an exciting event the weekend after Super DIRT Week and setting the stage for the series’ first appearance at the World Finals.
The World Racing Group’s Tom Deery and Brian Carter also addressed the large media contingent, reinforcing a commitment to weekly and series events, and noting Super DIRT Week coverage can be seen on SPEED at 8 p.m. Eastern on Oct. 31 in a two-hour special event.
The appearance of Gerry McNamara was made possible through DIRTcar Racing Northeast’s direct affiliation with flagship stations Classic Rock TK99 and TK105, each of which are serviced by the locally owned and operated radio company Galaxy Communications, LP and recognized as the ‘Official Media Partners of Super DIRT Week’ in 2009. G-Mac returns to the fairgrounds Sunday afternoon, Oct. 11 when he gives the ceremonial command “Gentlemen, start your engines” to send off the mighty Big-Block Modifieds as they contend for the coveted Super DIRTcar Series ‘Rite Aid 200’ Championship crown.
