Brandon Planck
Weedsport, NY — June 1, 2008 – By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing NorthEast PR Director
Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series star Dale Planck has been competing behind the wheel of a race car for well over half his life. His teenage sons are now following in their father’s tire tracks.
Together in 2008 the Planck family will be ‘driving for education’ as Dale Planck Racing has recently formulated a unique partnership with SUNY Canton. This season third-generation drivers Steve Planck, 18, and Brandon Planck, 16, will share driving experiences in the DPR/SUNY Canton race shop with the eldest son, and soon-to-be Cortland (NY) High School graduate, planning to attend SUNY Canton in the Fall.
“When we started visiting colleges, SUNY Canton stood out and instantly became Steve’s first choice. We’re proud to be a part of their college family and have SUNY Canton be a part of our DPR racing family. As our boys are approaching college age it’s fitting for our team to endorse higher education. It’s essential in today’s world to continue your education broadening your knowledge or define your skills and abilities in whatever career path you choose” Dale said.
While Dale, 37, has been showcasing his own talents aboard Carey Terrance’s big block Rez X Racing no. 77x Grow It Hydroseeding-Action Race Parts entry which has carried him to second-place in the current Advance Series Big-Block Modified point standings, youngest son Brandon has so far logged valuable track time in the DIRTcar Sportsman Modified division at Cayuga County Fair Speedway and Rolling Wheels Raceway Park. Steve is expected to make his debut steering a brand-new SUNY Canton Teo Modified in early June at Fulton.
“The Sportsman car is really a filler until we get the Big-Block ready to go,” noted Dale, who said his goal this year is to have just one Modified for the boys to alternate behind the wheel throughout the season. “Brandon’s red no. 77x Bicknell car is the same one Steve drove last year, just with a new body. Steve will have a blue Teo with a Kevlar engine and use the number 77. We’re gearing up for Fulton’s tour race but not rushing the deal. When I build a car I build them right, also taking the opportunity to teach the boys as we go and that’s why it takes a little longer than most,” Dale said. “I’ll be skipping around this year with my Rez X team but still want to run Fulton as much as possible so it’s just a matter of time and I’ll be racing against Steve in our family car there.”
“This is definitely a family operation; family fun day is race day. Right now we have the means to field a car and everybody works hard at it. They’ll find out this season if they really like it and want to stick with it. My kids have had to sacrifice because of my own career as I’ve never had the means to hire a crew and take them racing. Thankfully, this year with the sponsorship package that Mike (Perry) has spearheaded for us, they can get a lot of seat time and earn some exposure if they do well,” Planck added.
“SUNY Canton is excited to associate itself as sponsor of Dale Planck Racing and especially Stephen Planck who is entering the SUNY Canton Mechanical Engineering program this fall,” said Michael Perry, College Association Executive Director at SUNY Canton. “With an outstanding Associates Degree program in Automotive Technology as well as one year certificate programs in Motorsports, Automotive Service Advisers and Service Technicians, it’s a natural for the college to be a sponsor of a driver like Stephen along with local racing facilities such as Can-Am Motorsports Park and Thunder Alley Speedway. The campus is excited to work this year with Steve and these (DIRTcar) racing facilities as sponsor of the SUNY Canton Street Stock Series as track officials continue to give SUNY Canton students the opportunity to participate in the Series.”
Added Dale, “It’s great that SUNY Canton has gotten involved with motorsports marketing. It reaches many young people and encourages them to be thinking about advancing their schooling beyond high school. They have various educational programs to offer and we are glad to be partnered with them this race season.”
The State University of New York at Canton www.canton.edu is a public, coeducational, residential college located on a spacious campus along the banks of the Grasse River. Its northern location places SUNY Canton close to the Adirondack Mountains, the St. Lawrence River, and major Canadian cities such as Ottawa and Montreal. SUNY Canton is a member of the Associated Colleges of the St. Lawrence Valley, a four-college consortium that also includes Clarkson University, SUNY Potsdam and St. Lawrence University. The Associated Colleges, with nearly 12,500 students in two villages 11 miles apart, expand opportunities through such activities as cross-registration for courses at the other three campuses, coordination of social events, and library privileges at all four college libraries.
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 and Sunoco Race Fuels. Promotional partners include AMB i.t., Rite Aid Corporation and the University of Northwestern Ohio and the contingency sponsors are Bert Transmission, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Crane Cams, Integra Shocks, MSD Ignitions, Motorsports Safety Systems, Penske Shocks and Wrisco Industries.
