Podsiadlo Whistling New Tune On CNY DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Circuit

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Weedsport, NY - July 20, 2007 - By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing NorthEast PR Director



Three months ago Derrick Podsiadlo felt somewhat empty and was yearning to have a
little more fun running the DIRTcar Racing Big-Block Modified circuit in Central New
York.



Talk to the talented open-wheel upstart from Penn Yan, N.Y. today and his plate is
loaded and he can't get enough racing in on two of DIRTcar NorthEast's charter
member tracks, Canandaigua and Cayuga County Fair speedways. A recent feature win
under his belt has his confidence brimming and the chance for more victory lane
appearances raises his enthusiasm like never before.



'I've definitely changed my tune and everything has really come together at the
right time," admitted Podsiadlo, 29, still coming down to ground level after scoring
his first career Big-Block feature win at Canandaigua on July 7. "Nobody likes
change, good or bad, and nobody knew what to expect when the season started. Now my
confidence is up, I'm knocking on the door every week and having a lot of fun along
the way. I'm probably more disappointed with fewer races on the schedule this year.
Everything is clicking right now and I want to run as much as I can around here."



When the 2007 season schedules for DIRTcar NE were unveiled in the Spring,
restructured race day purses and a new point system for declaring the overall Mr.
DIRTcar Modified champion sent teams scrambling to revise their own weekly agendas.
Canandaigua mainstays like Gary Tomkins, Vic Coffey and Justin Haers relocated their
Saturday night efforts while names like Alan Johnson, Matt Sheppard, Tim Fuller and
Pat Ward no longer filled Cayuga County's stacked roster every Sunday.



"All I ever knew was running against those same Series guys, but there's really no
slouches out here anymore with all the money on the line," said Podsiadlo, who was a
Big-Block rookie in 2004 following four seasons of DIRT 358-Modified activity which
came to a fitting climax with the '03 Small-Block points title at Canandaigua. Tour
travelers and current track leaders Steve Paine (Canandaigua) and Jimmy Phelps
(Cayuga County) are two of his biggest hurdles as the '07 campaign rolls on. "Now
I'm coming into every race knowing where we have to be. The car's been fast
everywhere and I'm learning some new things like working in lapped traffic. I've
always started up front in the past and just tried to hold on to finish there. It
doesn't matter anymore where we start, I'm able to move forward and the confidence
is growing very week."



As much as he is enjoying his new found success in DIRTcar NorthEast's premier
Big-Block Modified class, Podsiadlo is just as content harboring hopes that he will
finally complete a full season behind the wheel. On the point charts he currently
stands 4th at Canandaigua and 5th at Cayuga County, with his no. 21 Penn Yan Mini
Storage/TEO entry quickly becoming a fan favorite as it challenges for the checkers
without any fear.



"That first win at Canandaigua is still sinking in but being able to run every week
is even better for us in the long run. Year after year motor trouble has always
managed to keep us out of the line-up at some point in the season," said Podsiadlo,
who graduated from Elmira (NY) College in 2000 with a BA degree in Nursing. He is
currently employed by Geneva General Hospital where he serves as a member of the
Surgical/Pediatrics unit. "Now my biggest problem is the frustration factor, I'm
just not used to having to get through traffic and moving forward on a black track.
I used to be the one the leaders were chasing most of the race and now I'm the guy
having to charge from the back to the front. But having a chance to win is certainly
worth the change."



One driver that Podsiadlo won't have to contend with this year is his sister Lorra's
boyfriend, former Modified runner Tim McCreadie, the '06 World of Outlaws Late Model
Series National Champion and a Richard Childress Racing teammate this season. "Timmy
keeps telling me I'm doing fine, but we're not on the same page yet. He's really
smooth and uses a lot of finesse and I'm usually hard on and off the gas. The only
cure for that is more and more track time and I'm getting plenty of that lately."



So much for missing close friends in the pits on weekends. Podsiadlo is now one of
the rising stars in the DIRTcar Big-Block ranks as the landscape continues to take
on new shape. He used to believe that running with the best forced him to step up
his game. Yet after reaching victory lane there's a new game in town and Podsiadlo
is among today's new breed of player finding the rules to his liking as he speeds
onward in 2007.


Follow Derrick Podsiadlo throughout the season as he chases track crowns at
Canandaigua www.canandaiguaspeedway.com and
Cayuga County
www.cayugacountyfairspeedway.com, while
mixing specials in between at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park
www.rollingwheelsraceway.com. Be sure to check
out the DIRTcar Racing NE main page at
www.superdirtcarseries.com for additional
information or contact the Weedsport office (315/834-6606) directly during regular
weekday hours.


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., F.X. Caprara Car Companies, Rite Aid Corporation and the
University of Northwestern Ohio and the contingency sponsors are Bert Transmission,
Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Integra Shocks,
MSD Ignitions, Miller Electric Manufacturing Company and Wrisco Industries.


    

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