For more info, please visit DIRT .
Weedsport, NY - June 30, 2006 - By Tom Skibinski, DIRT NorthEast PR Director
WHAT
The Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series gears up for its second back-to-back DIRT
doubleheader of the season, leading off with the 37th 'Firecracker 100'
Championship on July 3 at Rolling Wheels Raceway in Central New York before the
big-block teams pack up and head north into Canada for the Coca-Cola 100 at
Brockville Ontario Speedway on the Fourth of July in the first-ever AAP Super DIRT
Series race in BOS history. Both $6,000-to-win main events offer valuable points
towards the overall Hoosier-Sunoco Mr. DIRT Championship and each winner receives
an automatic starting berth in the prestigious Eckerd 200 Championship race on
Oct. 8 of Super DIRT Week XXXV at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse.
WHERE
Centrally located, Rolling Wheels Raceway sits West of the village of Elbridge at
NYS Route 5 just five minutes east of the city of Auburn; also 10 minutes from
exit 40 of the New York State Thruway. Located in Brockville, Ontario, Canada, the
BOS is easily accessible from all directions: From Watertown N.Y. and south take
1-81 to Thousand Islands Bridge, exit onto Highway 401 East, follow Highway 401
East to Highway 29 at Brockville, then turn left at lights following exit follow
Highway 29 to track on left; From Ottawa ON and north take Highway 417 to Highway
7, take Highway 7 west to Highway 15 at Carleton Place, follow Highway 15 South to
Smith's Falls, pick up Highway 29 at light just after bridge in Smith's Falls,
then follow (appox 30kms) to track on right hand side; From Kingston ON and west
take Highway 401 East to Highway 29 exit at Brockville, turn left at lights, take
Highway 29 13 kms North to find track on left; From Cornwall ON and east, take
Highway 401 West to Highway 29 exit at Brockville, turn right at lights, take
Highway 29 13 kms North and track is on the left.
WHEN
Rolling Wheels' pit gates are scheduled to unlock Monday at 3 p.m. and the main
grandstands will open at 4 o'clock. Integra Shocks Modified Time Trials will get
underway at 6 p.m. followed by qualifying heats for all divisions. On Tuesday at
Brockville, pits open at 4 o'clock and spectators will be allowed through the main
gates at 4:30 p.m. Integra Shocks time trials will take place at 6:30 p.m.
following 6 o'clock warm-ups with the first heats of the night getting underway at
7 p.m.
TICKETS
The cost of adult general admission tickets at Rolling Wheels are $20 each, Senior
Citizens (60 yrs. + over) $18, Students (11-18 yrs) $10 and Children (10 yrs. +
under) Free. Warm-ups are scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. At Brockville, adult
admission will be $30 (Canadian currency) while youths 12 yrs. + under are Free.
For additional information, contact DIRT NE HQ at 315/834-6606, call Rolling
Wheels on raceday at 315/689-7809, or Brockville at 613/345-6324 (track) and
613/348-3998 (office). General Admission tickets and pit passes will be available
at the gate on raceday.
WEB SITES
DIRT MotorSportsT is at http://www.dirtmotorsports.com.
Rolling Wheels is at http://www.rollingwheelsraceway.com.
Brockville is at http://www.brockvillespeedway.com.
Dirtvision.comT Cybercast is at http://www.dirtvision.com.
All remain accessible 24-hours daily.
ABOUT THE TRACKS
Rolling Wheels is a spacious 5/8-mile clay oval. Tim Fuller established the single
lap record in an Advance Auto Parts SDS event when he circled the track in 20.146
seconds (111.685 mph) on July 5, 2004; also stands as the high water mark for the
'Firecracker' Championship. Gary Tomkins is the defending Rolling Wheels season
champion and Billy Decker tops the current points chart in Elbridge as Decker and
Tim Fuller split opening day feature wins in the initial track point races.
Brockville is a racy quarter-mile bullring that has hosted 30 Mr. DIRT
358-Modified Championship Series events (3rd-most in DIRT track history) yet none
so far on the Advance Auto Parts big-block Modified tour. Brockville's first 358
SDS event was held September 9, 1983 and won by inaugural Mr. DIRT 358-Modified
Champion Tony Corcoran that same year. Last season, third-generation pilot Stewart
Friesen won the first of two scheduled 358-Modified SDS events that was
rain-delayed from June to August, before the traditional BOS finale in September
was scrapped altogether due to showers. Friesen also set fast time at Brockville
in small-block qualifying, turning in a single-best lap of 14.037 sec. (64.116
mph) on June 22, 2004.
PREVIOUS WINNERS
Fourth of July marks the first-ever AAP Super DIRT Series show for big-block
Modifieds at Brockville. Past winners of Rolling Wheels' Firecracker 100 include
many of the biggest names in DIRT MotorSportsT today. The two-time defending race
winner is Tim Fuller while fellow north country driver and recent DIRT MotorSports
NorthEast Hall of Fame inductee 'Barefoot' Bob McCreadie leads all competitors
with seven triumphs. Danny Johnson, Jack Johnson and Will Cagle each captured five
main events while Brett Hearn (4) and all-time DIRT big-block feature winner Alan
Johnson (2) are the only other repeat winners in 36 events staged since 1970 when
the late Jim Shampine posted his lone Independence Day victory.
RWR "Firecracker" Independence Day Winners (1970-2005)
(1975 event made up of three feature races all won by Will Cagle)
7/4/05-Tim Fuller-100L; 7/5/04-Tim Fuller-100L; 7/3/03-Alan Johnson-101L;
7/4/02-Brett Hearn-102L; 7/4/01-Tim McCreadie-100L; 7/4/00-Danny Johnson-100L;
7/1/99-Brett Hearn-99L; 7/2/98-Danny Johnson-98L; 7/3/97-Brett Hearn-97L;
7/4/96-Bob McCreadie-75L; 7/4/95-Danny Johnson-100L; 7/4/94-Bob McCreadie-100L;
7/5/93-Bob McCreadie-100L; 8/18/92-Jack Johnson-100L; 7/4/91-Bob McCreadie-79L;
7/4/90-Danny Johnson-69L; 8/14/89-Bob McCreadie-76L; 7/4/88-Jack Johnson-100L;
7/3/87-Danny Johnson-100L; 7/4/86-Bob McCreadie-100L; 7/4/85-Bob McCreadie-100L;
8/13/84-Merv Treichler-100L; 7/4/83-Brett Hearn-100L; 7/5/82-Dave Lape-100L;
7/3/81-Will Cagle-50L; 7/4/80-Alan Johnson-100L; 7/4/79-Jack Johnson-100L;
7/4/78-Will Cagle-100L; 7/4/77-Jack Johnson-100L; 7/5/76-Will Cagle-76L;
7/4/75-Will Cagle-100L; 7/5/74-Will Cagle-100L; 7/4/73-Jack Johnson-92L;
7/4/72-Budd Olsen-100L; 7/5/71-Lou Lazzaro-100L; 7/3/70-Jim Shampine-50L.
TRACK HISTORY
One of three founding-member speedways when DIRT MotorSportsT was formed in 1976,
Rolling Wheels boasts a unique specials-only race format instituted throughout the
season that has continued to produce a hotbed of trackside activity for both fans
and drivers alike. The "Fast Track" was first mapped out by the late Bob Petrocci,
yet just one year following the August 17, 1969 opener Petrocci lost his life in a
freak accident while spectating at a nearby speedway. Sons Robert Jr. and Donald
Petrocci inherited promotional duties and eventually signed up the second weekly
track to join DIRT founder Glenn Donnelly and his fledgling motorsports operation.
Rolling Wheels ran regularly every Friday night with big-block Modifieds and Late
Models until cutting back the summer schedule in 1982. This season eight race
dates include open-wheel Modified, winged Sprint Car and full-fender Stock Car
racing.
Although opening for its inaugural season of stock car racing in 1969 ---Bob Green
won the first-ever 25-lap Sportsman feature on July 1 and Howard Shaw garnered the
initial season points champion--- Brockville became a DIRT affiliate for the first
time in 1983 and has remained a loyal member of the organization every year since
1993. During that same time frame, a number of promoters have guided track
operations with the current team of Paul & Cheryl Kirkland the most stable taking
over the helm following the conclusion of racing in 1994. Ralph and Iris Hurley
were the original owners but it wasn't until 1979 when Helen and Harold Hollister
purchased the track that it joined up with an organization as the
Canadian-American Racing Society (CARS) sanctioned the Saturday night card at
Brockville. The following year John Cameron and Peter Head became the newest
owners with Doug Matthews in charge of promotion, yet their failure forced the
track to close for the 1981 season. Back again for the 1982-83 campaigns ---this
time on Friday nights--- was Ralph Hurley and former GM Wayne McCaugherte, with
Marcel LaFrance wearing the first DIRT small-block crown in '83. The saga
continued as Street Stock driver and future DIRT NorthEast staffer Doug Young
leased the track from Hurley in 1984 for $1.00 and Bob McCreadie earned the
320-Modified title. Harold Westondorp took control of Brockville at the end of
that same season and demolished the entire facility in '85, putting in place the
new walls and grandstand/tower structures that still exist today. Randy Ritskes
(1986) and Pat O'Brien (1987) won DIRT season point battles before the track sat
vacant for the next four years. John Eckert re-open for a half-dozen events in
1992 then re-applied for DIRT membership and a Thursday night program the
following year. Brockville returned to the Friday slot in 1994 in time for the
Kirklands to move into their current roles. Four-time Mr. DIRT 358-Modified
Champion Pat O'Brien won the BOS points championship last season.
Rolling Wheels Round One Results: The 2006 Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRT
Series ran off its second event in May at Rolling Wheels. Defending Syracuse
Eckerd 200 winner Billy Decker and reigning overall Hoosier Tire-Sunoco Race Fuels
Mr. DIRT champion Tim Fuller shared victory lane laurels as they each captured a
leg of the 26th Annual DIRT Challenge Cup held Sunday afternoon. The twin 50-lap
feature races awarded the winners $3,000 each and valuable points in the 28-race
Advance Auto Parts SDS and Decker was the best on the day, securing runner-up
honors in the second main event. Decker timed fourth fastest and won the fourth of
five qualifying heats before drawing the pole-position to start the initial DIRT
big-block AAP Modified main. In a race that was slowed for just two brief caution
periods, Decker opened up a comfortable lead on each restart in the LJL
Motorsports no. 91 Gypsum Wholesalers-Stadium International-Quality
Hardwoods/Bicknell entry before scoring an eight car-length victory over runner-up
Gary Tomkins, who began the today besting a strong field of 47 cars registered for
the Integra Shocks Time Trials, touring the smooth 5/8-mile Elbridge oval in a
time of 20.643 sec. (108.996 mph). Alan Johnson, Fuller and World of Outlaws Late
Model Series star Tim McCreadie completed the top-five. Decker rolled a pair of
dice ---three and six turned up--- to invert the top-nine finishers for the start
of the 50-lap finale. Vic Coffey secured the pole and pulled out to an early
advantage while Fuller began sixth and after just five laps had already put his JL
Motorsports no. 19 Native Poker-Chiefs Tobacco & Gas-G&R Auto Parts/TEO mount in
the top-three. Fuller slid past Pat Ward on the seventh circuit and chased down
Coffey before bolting past high on the back straightaway for the final lead
exchange on lap 11. Despite runner-up Decker getting a glimpse of the leader late
in the race, it was all for naught as Fuller outlasted his nearest chaser by four
car-lengths at the wire. Tomkins, Tim McCreadie and Coffey filled out the
front-five slots.
2005 RWR Race Review: Not everyone celebrates the holidays. Tim Fuller wishes
every day was the Fourth of July as he dominated the 'Firecracker 100' at Rolling
Wheels for the second straight year. 2004 DIRT Driver of the Year Fuller was even
more decisive in his '04 holiday jaunt at RWR, setting the current track record
(20.146 sec.) in time trials before leading all 100 laps en route to the first of
four Series victories. Last July he was still fourth fastest while Chuck Bower
turned the quickest lap of 20.321 sec. for an average speed of 110.723 mph around
the 5/8-miler. Brett Hearn, who won the '05 Super DIRT Series opener at Rolling
Wheels in May, timed seventh fastest and earned the pole-position start through
luck of the draw. Fuller filed right behind in the third slot and took his first
lead from Hearn on lap 24, yet on a lap 35 restart Hearn regained the point as
they raced side by side. Fuller shadowed the 'corporate jet' until once again
ducking low to force the final lead change as the two TEO machines straddled the
stripe to complete lap 44. The top-ten running order remained intact for much of
the second half although Billy Decker sped past third-place Hearn on lap 97 and
Tomkins mirrored the maneuver the following circuit. At the checkers Fuller had
opened up a half straightaway advantage over Jimmy Phelps with Tomkins edging
Decker for third at the line and Hearn hanging on for fifth.
Advance Auto Parts Super Series Point Standings (through June 21, 2006)
No. Driver Points Diff Money Wins
Top-5 Top-10 Starts
1 91 Billy Decker 540 0
$17,300 2 5 6 7
2 42p Pat Ward 471 (69) $8,800
0 3 6 7
3 1 Gary Tomkins 456 (84)
$10,350 0 4 5 7
4 19 Tim Fuller 453 (87)
$11,600 1 4 4 7
5 14J Alan Johnson 449 (91) $12,525
1 3 3 7
6 32c Vic Coffey 426 (114) $5,775
0 2 5 7
7 7x Steve Paine 423 (117)
$5,600 0 0 5 7
8 20 Brett Hearn 420 (120)
$10,850 1 2 3 7
9 44s Matt Sheppard 404 (136) $6,000
0 1 4 7
10 27J Danny Johnson 403 (137) $9,300
1 1 3 7
11 44c Frank Cozze 388 (152) $4,350
0 1 3 7
12 98h Jimmy Phelps 388 (152) $5,200
0 1 5 7
13 10 Stewart Friesen 376 (164)
$2,813 0 0 2 7
14 3 Justin Haers 368 (172)
$3,100 0 0 2 7
15 8J Tom Sears Jr. 356 (184) $4,025
0 1 2 7
16 77x Dale Planck 340 (200)
$5,875 0 1 3 6
17 39 Tim McCreadie 308 (232) $6,950
0 3 4 5
18 11 Kyle Jacobs 239 (301)
$1,525 0 0 0 6
19 Z Butch Tittle 222 (318)
$1,500 0 0 0 6
20 60 Kenny Stafford 189 (351)
$1,200 0 0 0 4
21 3b Chad Brachmann 188 (352) $2,600
0 1 1 4
22 42 Jimmy Horton 168 (372) $6,500 1
1 1 2
23 99 Ryan Phelps 133 (407)
$900 0 0 0 4
24 62 Todd Burley 131 (409)
$1,500 0 0 1 2
25 6J Joe Isabell 131 (409) $600
0 0 0 2
26 99b Chuck Bower 109 (431) $600
0 0 0 2
27 30 Jamie Mills 105 (435) $900
0 0 1 2
28 22g Mitch Gibbs 105 (435) $663
0 0 0 3
29 42B Kevin Bates 102 (438) $600
0 0 0 2
30 2 Ronnie Johnson 96 (444) $600
0 0 0 2
31 18 Sean Beardsley 95 (445) $600
0 0 0 3
32 9 Bob McCreadie 90 (450) $600 0
0 0 3
33 88 Steve Hulsizer 89 (451) $600
0 0 0 3
34 115 Kenny Tremont Jr. 88 (452) $2,000
0 1 1 1
35 14 Rick Laubach 86 (454) $300
0 0 0 2
36 00 Doug Manmiller 83 (457) $600
0 0 0 2
37 777 Kevin Bolland 58 (482) $300
0 0 0 1
38 49 Billy Dunn 58 (482) $300
0 0 0 1
39 42 Pete Bicknell 57 (483)
$350 0 0 0 1
40 88 Jeff Strunk 56 (484) $350
0 0 0 1
41 33.3 Tommy Meier 55 (485) $0
0 0 0 1
42 12J Danny Williams 54 (486) $300
0 0 0 1
43 8 Rich Scagliotta 53 (487) $300
0 0 0 1
44 R2 Rusty Smith 52 (488) $300
0 0 0 1
45 71 David VanHorn Jr. 52 (488) $300
0 0 0 1
46 73 Ryan Jacobs 50 (490)
$0 0 0 0 0
47 19B Kenny Brightbill 50 (490) $300
0 0 0 1
48 20D Del Rougeux Jr. 50 (490) $300 0
0 0 1
49 21k Randy Chrysler 43 (497) $300
0 0 0 1
50 32 Jim Rasey 43 (497) $300
0 0 0 1
51 15 Brett Tonkin 43 (497) $300
0 0 0 2
52 26 Ryan Godown 41 (499) $300
0 0 0 1
53 X Chad Phelps 41 (499)
$300 0 0 0 2
54 44w Shannon Whaley 40 (500) $300
0 0 0 1
55 19k Joe Kubiniec 40 (500)
$300 0 0 0 1
56 12 Brian Sage 40 (500) $300
0 0 0 1
57 7NY Bill Torissi 40 (500)
$300 0 0 0 1
58 XXX Todd Gordon 40 (500) $300
0 0 0 1
59 357 Billy Pauch 40 (500) $300
0 0 0 1
60 86 Billy Pauch Jr. 40 (500) $300
0 0 0 1
61 12a Jack Johnson 40 (500) $300
0 0 0 1
62 37md Jer. Shingledecker 40 (500) $300
0 0 0 1
63 31 Jim Weller Jr. 40 (500) $300
0 0 0 1
64 2 Mark Flick 40 (500) $300
0 0 0 1
65 83 Brian Swartzlander 40 (500) $300
0 0 0 1
66 23 Jim Weller III 40 (500)
$300 0 0 0 1
67 56 Vince Vitale 40 (500) $300
0 0 0 1
68 91d Kevin Hirthler 40 (500) $300
0 0 0 1
69 FX1 Frankie Caprara Jr. 40 (500) $300
0 0 0 2
70 66 Jeff Heotzler 40 (500)
$300 0 0 0 2
Gater Racing News Modified Lap Leaders
DATE TRACK LAPS LAP LEADERS
Mar. 25 Hagerstown 100 95-Hearn, 5-Tremont
May 7 Rolling Wheels 50 50-Decker
May 7 Rolling Wheels 50 40-Fuller, 10-Coffey
May 28 Cayuga County 100 61-D.Johnson, 24-Coffey,
15-Fuller
Jun 14 Lernerville 100 50-A.Johnson, 36-Fuller, 14-Decker
Jun 15 Susquehanna 100 71-D.Planck, 29-Horton
June 21 Ransomville 100 50-A.Johnson, 50-T.McCreadie
TRACK HEAT WINNERS
Hagerstown B.Decker, J.Horton, B.Hearn, A.Johnson, S.Friesen,
M.Sheppard.
Rolling Wheels G.Tomkins, S.Paine, T.McCreadie, B.Decker, F.Cozze.
Cayuga County S.Paine, J.Phelps, P.Ward, C.Bower
Lernerville A.Johnson, M.Sheppard, S.Friesen, S.Paine.
Susquehanna B.Decker, S.Friesen, R.Johnson, S.Paine.
Ransomville B.Decker, A.Johnson, F.Cozze, M.Sheppard
Integra Shocks Modified Time Trials
*New track record.
TRACK SIZE QUICK QUALIFIER TIME
AVE.SPEED
Hagerstown 1/2-mile Billy Decker 19.391
sec. 92.827 mph
Rolling Wheels 5/8-mile Gary Tomkins 20.643 sec.
108.996 mph
Cayuga County 3/8-mile Steve Paine 15.868
sec. 85.077 mph
Lernerville 4/10-mile Alan Johnson *16.180
sec. 88.999 mph
Susquehanna 4/10-mile Billy Decker *18.060
sec. 79.734 mph
Ransomville 3/8-mile Billy Decker 16.771
sec. 80.496 mph
NEWS & NOTES
Mr. DIRT Title On The Line: In 2006 the overall Hoosier Tire-Sunoco Race Fuels Mr.
DIRT Modified Champion will be determined by adding a driver's best five (5)
feature race finishes (through Labor Day) from a designated home track to the
points earned in Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series events. With many drivers
accustomed to competing at multiple tracks on a regular basis, only the best
finishes at one track are counted. The 31st Mr. DIRT Championship run will be
contested at 19 tracks throughout New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and
Ohio, along with the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Twenty-seven
scheduled tour events will carry valuable points counting directly towards the
coveted title, with the champion crowned after eight months of ground-pounding
short-track activity.
Commitment To Excellence: The impressive 2006 collection of the Advance Auto Parts
Super DIRT Series racers signed up to compete in every championship event are past
Eckerd 200 champion Vic Coffey, four-time and defending Eckerd 200 titlist Billy
Decker, third-generation big-block upstart Stewart Friesen, reigning overall
Hoosier Tire-Sunoco Race Fuels Mr. DIRT champion Tim Fuller, '04 Rookie of the
Year Justin Haers, all-time Advance Auto Parts SDS and round one (Hagerstown) race
winner Brett Hearn, DIRT's winningest big-block Modified driver Alan Johnson,
Canandaigua (NY) Speedway record-setter Steve Paine, second-year tour mainstay
Jimmy Phelps, rising star Matt Sheppard, former Mr. DIRT champion Gary Tomkins and
30-year open-wheel veteran Pat Ward. This select group of open-wheel chauffeurs
accounts for more than 1150 DIRT Modified feature race wins, nearly 80 DIRT
big-block track point titles and 13 overall Mr. DIRT Championships in DIRT
MotorSports NE's premier division.
Fast Timers Earn Integra Shocks Award: In a joint agreement made between Integra
Shocks and DIRT MotorSports NorthEast, Integra Shocks will play an active role in
point fund sponsorship of the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series during the 2006
race season. The fast driver during Advance Auto Parts SDS qualifying will earn
the 'Integra Shocks Fast Time Award' and the driver winning the most Integra
Shocks Fast Time awards during the season will collect a bonus set of four Integra
Shocks ($1,000 value) at the DIRT MotorSports NorthEast Banquet in November. The
Advance Auto Parts Series has recognized fast time trialers since 1983, with 1999
marking the first year the awards program included every tour event scheduled
during the year. All-time Advance Auto Parts SDS race winner Brett Hearn is also a
leader when it comes to speed, earning a series-best total of 34 Integra Shocks
Fast Time awards during the past 20 years.
Drivers will continue to draw for time trial order and the 'Integra Shocks Fast
Time Award' winner will collect $100 and 5 bonus points as well as pole-position
in the first qualifying heat. A heads-up format based on time trial results will
be used to determine the starting order for each qualifying race, with the top
three finishers earning additional bonus points as follows: 1st-5 pts, 2nd-3 pts,
3rd-1 pt. A driver may earn only a maximum of 5 points in preliminary events even
if the fast timer is also a heat race winner.
Big-Blocks A Bonus At Brockville: The DIRT big-block Modifieds have provided
Brockville fans with a glimpse of their ground-pounding speed in the past but this
season the debut of the Advance Auto Part Super DIRT Series at the 'Beast of the
East' will offer locals a truly all-star cast of open-wheel teams from around the
entire DIRT NorthEast circuit. "We always had a small-block tour race during the
summer but with the Mr. DIRT 358 Series only running after Labor Day this year we
looked for something to fill the void and the big-blocks fit in perfectly," said
BOS Promoter Paul Kirkland, who honored Steve Paine from Waterloo N.Y. as the lone
big-block season points champion at Brockville in 2004. "I've always wanted to try
something different for our fans that was also very special so getting the
opportunity to have the best drivers and crews make a trip to our quarter-mile
track was a chance we couldn't pass up. We started the year by moving the weekly
show to Saturday nights and then added an Advance Series race. It's been good year
so far, just wish the weather was as cooperative as all the drivers and fans have
been. They've been talking a lot lately about the big show on Tuesday and are
curious to see if it will really work on a short track. Even better, a lot of
American fans have been calling and e-mailing about directions, camping and where
they can stay overnight. With the fans getting geared up for this one I can
already feel the excitement building, it should be a great turnout on both sides
of the fence." A long-time Brockville-area resident and BOS fan, Kirkland landed
the job of driving the pace car as his employer Riverside Pontiac in nearby
Prescott, Ont. supplied the custom-lettered vehicle every race night during the
1994 season. "I always thought getting behind the wheel of the pace car was the
coolest thing and that got the whole family involved from the start," Kirkland
said. "For our first trip we took the pace car to Williams Grove (Pa.) and the
family has been hooked ever since." And traveling to many other tracks and logging
laps at them all throughout the summer kept the Kirkland family yearning for more;
so much more that they finally took over ownership of the entire Brockville
speedplant as soon as the '94 campaign was checker-flagged. "There's always some
setbacks in the racing business and a lot of the work done goes mostly unnoticed.
But it's still all the friends and acquaintances, whether drivers, crew members,
owners or fans, you develop that makes it all worthwhile. Being a race fan and
having my family involved is one helluva ride I'm on right now," added Kirkland,
who singled out Cornwall (Ont.) Motor Speedway proprietor Ron Morin for spending a
month of his valuable time offering tips on proper track preparation when he
began.
Early Season Winners: Coming into the holiday weekend, 16 tracks have hosted
DIRT-sanctioned big-block Modified races with 36 drivers scoring victories in the
81 features run. Current SDS points leader Billy Decker, reigning Mr. DIRT
Champion Tim Fuller and all-time Advance Auto Parts Series race winner Brett Hearn
top the chart with six wins each. The talented tour trio is followed by past Mr.
DIRT champs Alan Johnson and Gary Tomkins, and Tri-City (Pa.) record-setter Kevin
Bolland with five apiece while Matt Sheppard has reached victory lane four times.
Other drivers posting more than one victory are Steve Paine (3), Pat Ward (3), Pat
O'Brien (3), Frankie Caprara (3), Rex King (3), Danny Johnson (2), Kenny Tremont
(2), Andy Bachetti (2), Jimmy Horton (2) and Dave Murdick (2). Tour regulars
Justin Haers, Jimmy Phelps and Vic Coffey have reached victory lane once so far
while committed AAP Series driver Stewart Friesen remains in search of his first
big-block feature win after notching his initial three last season.
Super Series Stats: Since the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series debut in 1980,
42 tracks have staged 543 extra-distance events with 63 drivers posting feature
wins. Along with Brett Hearn's DIRT-best 478 (320 big-block/158 small-block)
Modified wins registered at more than 30 tracks throughout the Northeast, the
'Jet' has also flown to the top on the all-time Advance Auto Parts (88) Super DIRT
Series win chart. The Sussex, N.J. standout has also posted four Mr. DIRT
358-Modified Series wins in previous appearances at Brockville with his last
victory scored in September, 2004.
Rolling Wheels Show Anything But Regular: Beginning with its first full season in
1970, Rolling Wheels ran regularly every Friday night with open-wheel Modifieds
and full-fender Late Models until ultimately trimming the summer schedule in 1982.
Since then, some of the greatest events continue to be staged at the popular
Elbridge speedplant with the best DIRT big-block Modified teams in the Northeast
showing up in hopes of taking home the prized trophies in the unique specials-only
format that has lasted for a quarter-century.
ROLLING WHEELS RACEWAY - All-Time Modified Feature Winners: 1969-5/7/06 (384 Evts
/ 62 Drivers)
WINS DRIVER FIRST LAST
70 Will Cagle 7/21/71 7/24/84
34 Alan Johnson 6/18/76 7/3/03
32 Bob McCreadie 6/18/85 5/30/02
28 Jack Johnson 5/12/72 10/6/96
25 Danny Johnson 7/17/81 5/28/03
24 Brett Hearn 8/11/82 5/1/05
11 Jim Winks 5/7/71 6/17/77
9 Jim Shampine 6/26/70 5/23/75
9 Dave Lape 5/13/77 9/24/89
8 Chuck Ciprich 8/21/70 7/22/77
7 Billy Decker 9/25/88 5/7/06
6 John McArdell 7/7/72 7/11/75
6 Dave Kneisel 8/31/69 9/1/75
6 Lou Lazzaro 7/5/71 8/12/77
6 Merv Treichler 7/9/71 8/13/84
6 Steve Paine 9/5/88 4/29/01
6 Tim Fuller 9/21/03 5/7/06
5 Sammy Reakes 8/24/69 9/11/70
5 Ed Ortiz 8/14/70 9/3/71
5 Lloyd Holt 5/22/70 5/25/73
4 Kenny Tremont 6/18/85 9/6/99
4 Gary Tomkins 5/16/99 9/18/05
3 Mert Hulbert 7/26/74 6/22/76
3 Tommy Hager 8/9/77 8/10/79
3 Chuck Akulis 6/25/76 9/1/80
3 Mike McLaughlin 7/25/80 5/17/81
3 Gary Iulg 6/9/78 9/6/82
3 Kenny Brightbill 9/4/72 5/3/87
3 Jimmy Horton 6/20/78 6/6/95
3 Doug Hoffman 8/14/90 5/18/97
3 Joe Plazek 7/17/94 9/1/97
3 Tim McCreadie 9/26/99 7/4/01
2 Terry Edwards 8/17/69 9/25/70
2 Tommy Corellis 8/7/70 5/26/72
2 Harry Peek 6/11/71 7/28/72
2 Don Beagell 8/25/72 6/22/73
2 Jackie Wilson 8/17/73 7/19/74
2 Johnny Podolak 6/3/77 6/17/77
2 Pat Ward 6/3/98 5/16/04
2 Vic Coffey 5/18/03 6/2/04
1 Gary Reddick 9/21/69
1 Wes Moody 5/14/71
1 Cliff Norton 6/8/71
1 Budd Olsen 7/4/72
1 Gerald Chamberlain 6/27/73
1 Tighe Scott 4/25/75
1 Wayne Reutimann 6/24/75
1 George Ely 8/1/75
1 Pep Pepicelli 4/30/76
1 Bill Matteson 6/11/76
1 Davey Moore 8/10/76
1 Ray Dalmata 8/27/76
1 Wally Burnett 7/8/77
1 Darrell Welty 8/5/77
1 Frank Cozze 9/4/78
1 Denny Planck 7/20/79
1 Mike Romano 4/27/80
1 Charlie Castle 8/22/80
1 Charlie Rudolph 5/4/86
1 Lin Hough 8/11/87
1 Jeff Heotzler 9/2/96
1 Chuck Bower 5/20/01
DIRT Doubleheader Aired On The Internet: If fans can't make the trip to Central
New York or venture across the divide into Ontario, Canada, they can tune in for
LIVE Audio coverage of Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series Races #8 & #9 from
Rolling Wheels and Brockville. Host Shane Andrews will report on every lap from
Integra Shocks Time Trials to victory lane on Monday, July 3 and Tuesday, July 4
starting at 7:30pm ET both nights. The LIVE Dirt Radio Network audio broadcasts on
Dirtvision.com are free to enjoy. Enhanced features to the Dirt Radio Network
broadcasts include online text chat, another advantage that ALL Registered users
can enjoy for FREE throughout the season.
DIRTVision.com is celebrating its third year of providing fans, media, teams,
promoters and sponsors with access to live and on-demand cybercasts of many DIRT
MotorSports-sanctioned events. In 2006 the DIRTVision schedule will include more
than 100 live and on-demand cybercasts including select World of Outlaws Sprint
Series, World of Outlaws Late Model Series, Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRT
Series, plus UMP and MARS events. 2006 Season Subscriptions are available now (May
- September) for just $49.99 or on a month-to-month basis for $9.99.
Unfamiliar with the LIVE DIRT Radio Network broadcasts? Log on to Dirtvision.com
and click the "Help/FAQ" menu for tips and common issues that some users may
experience. Make sure to register well in advance of the next show to help
troubleshoot any problems that may be encountered. Basic tools will be a
Dirtvision.com account, Internet Explorer 5 or higher, and Windows Media Player 9;
all of which are FREE.
The Official DIRT MotorSports NorthEast Web site at
http://www.dirtmotorsports.com/DirtNE/SDS includes Advance Auto Parts Series
driver biographies with individual statistics and pictures, race-by-race
statistics, detailed track information and race coverage, series news and team
press releases. There are also specific links to the 2006 DIRT MotorSports Media
Guide, the Official Rulebook and the 2006 DIRT MotorSports Membership form.
Get Out The Word First: RACEceiver is the Official Driver Communicator of DIRT
MotorSports. A compact radio receiver that conveniently fits into a driver's
pocket, a RACEceiver allows each driver to hear directions from series officials,
which greatly enhances the safety and timeliness of events. A similar version
available to fans will allow RACEceiver users to hear what information series
officials are relaying to the drivers. For more information about RACEceiver,
visit www.raceceiver.com, call 866-301-7223, or look for their sales trailers at
various events.
Tracks Know The Score: In DIRT MotorSportsT ongoing effort to assist every
sanctioned track with presenting the best possible race programs, DMS has teamed
with AMB i.t. which continues to be recognized as the Official Timing System of
DIRT MotorSports. AMB i.t. is the world's leader in automatic race timing and
scoring systems and the DIRT organization is proud to retain the company as a
valued partner in the timing and scoring of all DIRT MotorSports events.
Eckerd Store Specials: Eckerd Pharmacies in New York and Pennsylvania will give
away close to 1,000 free tickets for Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series/Eckerd
200 Qualifier Races held throughout the 2006 season. The popular Eckerd program is
part of the promotion for the Oct. 8 Eckerd 200 Championship race at Super DIRT
Week in Syracuse, N.Y. Each Eckerd Pharmacy promotion will feature DIRT driver
appearances, race cars, the Eckerd "cut-away" Modified, free autograph cards and
free tickets to Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series/Eckerd 200 Qualifier Races.
Brett Hearn led off the Eckerd activity in Kittanning, Pa. on Wednesday, June 14th
as the first 90 fans arriving at the store received a free ticket to the Advance
Auto Parts Super DIRT Series/Eckerd 200 Qualifier Race at Lernerville Speedway
scheduled for later that same day. Eckerd, America's Family Pharmacy, has been a
sponsor of DIRT MotorSports racing and the Eckerd 200 race at Super DIRT Week
since 1997. Eckerd kicked off its 2006 season with promotions in the Carolinas and
sponsorship of the Eckerd Outlaw Showdown at the Dirt track @ Lowes Motor Speedway
on May 24. Fans can find more information on the Eckerd promotion by visiting
Eckerd Pharmacy online at www.eckerd.com. For race information, please visit
www.dirtmotorsports.com.
DATE TRACK (PHONE)
DRIVER/APPEARANCE ECKERD STORE ADDRESS
Mon-Jul 3 Rolling Wheels Raceway (315-689-7809) Matt Sheppard /
11:00am-1:00pm 153 Grant Avenue - Auburn, NY
Thr-Jul 13 Orange Co. Fair Speedway (845/342-2573) Brett Hearn / 12noon-2:00pm
701 Rte 211 East - Middletown, NY
Wed-Jul 19 Grandview Speedway (610/754-7688) Brett Hearn / 12noon-2:00pm
1140 Town Square Rd - Pottstown, PA
Thr-Aug 10 Canandaigua Speedway (585/394-0961) Vic Coffey / 12noon-2:00pm
539 North Main St - Canandaigua, NY
Wed-Aug 30 Brewerton Speedway (315/668-6906) Pat Ward / 12noon-2:00pm
8379 Thompson Road - Cicero, NY
Sun-Sep 3 Cayuga Co. Fair Speedway (315/834-6606) Matt Sheppard /
11:00am-1:00pm 113 Downer Street - Baldwsinville, NY
Mon-sep 4 Rolling Wheels Raceway (315/689-7809) Steve Paine /
11:00am-1:00pm 153 Grant Avenue - Auburn, NY
Sat-sep 9 Lebanon Valley Speedway (518/794-9965) Kenny Tremont /
10:00am-12noon 463 Albany-Shaker Rd - Loudonville, NY
Sat-Sep 30 Fulton Speedway (315/593-6531) Vic
Coffey / 9:00am-11:00am 503 South Second St. - Fulton, NY
Mon-Oct 9 Super DIRT Week XXXV WINNER /
10:0am-12noon Eckerd, TBA
Upcoming Events: After only a few days off from tour competition, the Advance Auto
Parts all-stars return to Canada for a second straight back-to-back DIRT
doubleheader on foreign soil. Cornwall Motor Speedway in Ontario hosts the 12th
Akwesasne Mohawk Casino International 100 Championship on July 9 before big-block
teams pack up and head further north to Autodrome Drummond (Que.) and attempt to
qualify for the 29th Annual Budweiser 100 on Monday, July 10. Both $6,000-to-win
main events offer valuable points towards the overall Hoosier-Sunoco Mr. DIRT
Championship.
2006 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series Schedule
NP=Non-Point event.
DAY-DATE LAPS TRACK WINNER/LOCATION
Wed-Feb 15 30-NP Volusia Speedway Park JIMMY HORTON
Thr-Feb 16 30-NP Volusia Speedway Park TIM FULLER
Fri-Feb 17 30-NP Volusia Speedway Park BRETT HEARN
Sat-Feb 18 50-NP Volusia Speedway Park BRETT HEARN
Sat-Mar 25 100 Hagerstown Speedway BRETT HEARN
Sun-May 7 50 Rolling Wheels Raceway BILLY DECKER
Sun-May 7 50 Rolling Wheels Raceway TIM FULLER
Sun-May 28 100 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway DANNY JOHNSON
Wed-Jun 14 100 Lernerville Speedway BILLY DECKER
Thr-Jun 15 100 Susquehanna Speedway JIMMY HORTON
Wed-Jun 21 100 Ransomville Speedway ALAN JOHNSON
Wed-Jun 28 100 Fulton Speedway -Rain-
Mon-Jul 3 100 Rolling Wheels Raceway Elbridge,NY
Tue-Jul 4 100 Brockville Ont Speedway Brockville,ONT
Sun-Jul 9 100 Cornwall Motor Speedway Cornwall,ONT
Mon-Jul 10 100 Autodrome Drummond Drummondville,QUE
Thr-Jul 13 100 Orange Co Fair Speedway Middletown,NY
Wed-Jul 19 100 Grandview Speedway Bechtelsville,PA
Sat-Aug 5 100 Eldora Speedway Rossburg,OH
Mon-Aug 7 100 Merrittville Speedway Thorold,ONT
Thr-Aug 10 100 Canandaigua Speedway Canandaigua,NY
Wed-Aug 16 100 New Egypt Speedway New Egypt,NJ
Wed-Aug 30 100 Brewerton Speedway Brewerton,NY
Sun-Sep 3 100 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway Weedsport,NY
Mon-Sep 4 100 Rolling Wheels Raceway Elbridge,NY
Sat-Sep 9 200 Lebanon Valley Speedway West Lebanon,NY
Fri-Sep 15 100 Canandaigua Speedway Canandaigua,NY
Sat-Sep 23 200 Rolling Wheels Raceway Elbridge,NY
Sat-Sep 30 200 Fulton Speedway Fulton,NY
Sun-Oct 8 200 New York State Fairgrnds Syracuse,NY
Sun-Oct 15 100 Williams Grove Speedway Mechanicsburg,PA
Sun-Oct 22 200 Orange Co Fair Speedway Middletown,NY
*All events subject to change.
The DIRT MotorSportsT Advance Auto Parts Modified Series 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., DealMaker Auto Group and the University of Northwestern Ohio and
the contingency sponsors are Bert Transmission, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein
Shocks, Brodix Cylinder Heads, DART Machinery, Holley HP Carburetors, Integra
Shocks, MSD Ignitions, Miller Electric Manufacturing Company, Penske Shocks and
Wrisco Industries.