Hearn Scores 6th Coors National 200 Win At The Valley
Posted Saturday, Sep 15, 2007
West Lebanon, NY — September 15, 2007 – By Tom Skibinski, Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series PR Director
A week delay for rain had little effect on Brett Hearn as he returned to the high banks of Lebanon Valley Speedway on Saturday, September 15 to capture his sixth Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series event of the season in the prestigious 39th Annual Coors National 200. Victory in the double-century grind was also Hearn’s 6th in the traditional Big-Block Modified season finale in the Capital District and earned him the $10,000 top prize.
“It was a very strange race, at the beginning I didn’t feel like we had the car to compete then all of a sudden it just came to me,” said Hearn, after turning back every challenge thrown his way by runner-up Eddie Marshall en route to his 97th career Advance Auto Parts Series victory. Past National 200 champion Andy Bachetti held off recently crowned Lebanon Valley Big-Block points champion J.R. Heffner after a race-long battle for the show position while current overall Hoosier-Sunoco Mr. DIRTcar Big-Block Modified points leader Tim Fuller settled for fifth.
“We had a great fuel stop and then after that the car got really tight. I fought a push with the car the whole race. I was really worried after I saw Eddie stick his nose in there that one time and I figured I better get myself gassed up and get going. Our radios didn’t work after I got the lead so I didn’t really have any idea where I was at,” noted Hearn, who is the career leader with a DIRTcar-best 28 feature wins in ‘200 lap’ Series races. His sweep of the two tour races at the West Lebanon, N.Y. oval in ’07 increased his track total to 14 at the site of his inaugural tour triumph in 1981; the same year he garnered his first 200-lap win on the high banks.
Twenty-six of the original 32 starters took the green flag with 25 laps already posted on the scoreboard. Marshall assumed the lead position as he paced the field back on September 8 before rain forced postponement of the event to one week later.
The week long build-up for tour traveler Jimmy Phelps quickly soured as contact with Hearn in turn one brought out the first yellow flag of the evening. Nearing the end of the front straightaway to begin lap 27, Hearn touched wheels with Guy Sheldon and immediately shot across the track resulting in his right rear tapping Phelps’ Troyer mount and forcing it high up into the turn one retaining wall. The Baldwinsville, N.Y. driver was towed to the infield pits and eventually returned some 35 laps down to the leaders.
Marshall’s front row partner Decker took advantage of the ensuing lap 32 restart and ducked low out of turn four to grab the top spot. On the heels of Marshall in the early going were Fuller and Valley regulars Jeff Trombley and Bachetti. Fuller needed just a couple more laps around to move past Marshall and there he would stay for the next 80 laps.
Lap 50 clicked off and the pits were officially open for drivers to make their mandatory stop if necessary. When Mike King’s no. 55 Thoma Tire/PMC mount came to a stop in the back chute pit lane entrance to incur the second caution period on lap 56, 10 drivers were ready to make that first stop including front runners Marshall (3rd), Bachetti (4th), Hearn (6th) and Heffner (8th). Electing to remain trackside were leaders Decker and Hearn, along with Trombley, heat race winner Wayne Jelley and Brian Berger, who filled out the new top-five when the green lights reappeared on lap 63.
Marshall led the pack out of the pits with Hearn and Heffner right behind while Bachetti got shuffled back briefly before bolting back toward the front in the potent no. 4 Albraeda Waste/PMC entry. The all-star quartet was easily able to make up ground on the top running cars with Marshall cracking the top-five after 65 laps were scored. Just five laps later, Hearn had quietly crept into sixth and sped past both Marshall and Jelley within the next 10 circuits.
Decker and Fuller continued to stay out front at the halfway mark as Trombley, Hearn and Marshall tightened up the front-five in the field while Bachetti, Jelley, Heffner, John Alberti and Hector Stratton settled in among the top-10. That order remained intact for the most part until Steve Paine slowed in turns three and four to force out the third yellow flag, at which time Decker and Fuller surrendered their spots as they stopped for gas only on lap 116.
That was all that Integra Shocks Fast Time Trialer Hearn needed as the Madsen Motorsports no. 20 Wentworth Custom Homes/TEO ride inherited the lead, one the Sussex, N.J. standout would not relinquish as the second half of the race rolled on. Marshall moved in right behind followed closely by Bachetti, Heffner and Kenny Tremont, winner of last week’s Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Series ‘Race of Kings’ staged at Lebanon Valley.
Hearn opened up a seemingly insurmountable margin although with less than 70 laps to go Marshall began to reel in the leader. Lap after lap, Marshall went downstairs in turns one and three with his no. 98 Marshall Oil Co.-Advance Water Technologies/TEO car searching for the needed traction to carry him past the five-time Lebanon Valley Big-Block points king and perennial long-distance favorite. Hearn answered him back each time as he exited corners two and four, with Marshall finally getting caught up in traffic by lap 150 to give the ‘Jet’ some breathing room for the stretch run.
The fourth caution period slowed the field for the final time on lap 181 when Steve Hough drifted high in turn one and rapped the outside cement wall to bring an abrupt halt to his night long effort. Waiting anxiously in line for the last restart with 15 laps to go were Hearn, hungry for his 64th career Big-Block Modified win at Lebanon Valley, and Marshall, looking for his first-ever 200-lap victory on the DIRTcar circuit. Once under green, Hearn never looked back, leaving Marshall to finish all alone in second ahead of Bachetti, Heffner and Fuller. Decker, Trombley and Valley favorite Keith Flach, the Bert Hard Charger, were the last drivers to be scored on the lead lap out of 17 cars that took the final checkered flag.
“Besides being good friends with Eddie, I wouldn’t feel safer racing against anybody else,” added Hearn, as he moved to within a dozen points of ’05 title holder Fuller in his bid to collect his first overall Hoosier Tire-Sunoco Race Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Championship since 2001. “He’s gonna race you as clean as he possibly can, I always do the same for him. It was just a great race, I’m ecstatic.”
“We’re down right now to who wins the heat race for five bonus points and who fast times for another five points, that’s all important. I calculated the points and we’re only a few back now so we’re (Fuller) going to Rolling Wheels virtually tied. I have to believe that this deal will come down to the last race, it should be an exciting month coming up with every position becoming more and more meaningful,” added Hearn, following his DIRTcar NorthEast high 13th Big-Block feature win of the season.
The most recent Coors National 200 on Saturday marked Marshall’s best-ever performance, with three fourth-place finishes registered in 2003, 1994 and 1989. “It feels good, we had a good run and the car worked very good tonight,” said Marshall quite matter-of-factly, as the second-generation veteran made his first podium appearance at his hometrack. “I’m always happy with the TEO Chassis and we had all kinds of motor, Kevin Enders always gives us a good piece.”
“Brett was really strong, I could get to him but I couldn’t clear him and he changed his line a little bit and squirted away from me. He’s a great guy to run with, super professional and a good friend. I always enjoy competing with him, just hoped we were going to be side-by-side a few more laps. We’re still really happy to finish second in a big race like this,” added Marshall, who actually thought he had a flat tire after contact with Jelley following the first round of pit stops. Facing the possibility of losing control and foiling his top-notch run, then fourth-place runner Marshall turned conservative for a lap or two only to have Hearn slip past in traffic at the same instance with 80 laps scored.
Bachetti was content with his third top-three tally in the past four years, especially after running bumper-to-bumper with weekly rival Heffner for the last 80 laps. “We ran a ton of laps together, my hats off to (J.R.), he ran me clean and gave me a ton of room,” acknowledged Bachetti, who collected his lone Coors National 200 victory in 2004. “A third-place finish here to these guys is awesome, they’re the best in the business as far as I’m concerned.”
“I can’t thank my crew enough, they did an awesome job the whole season and I’m really proud of these guys. Its all about spending money and a team effort, and these guys poured their heart into this whole deal from day one. My car is prepared for 500 laps, 600 laps, however many laps you want to go. It’s always ready and they do the job,” concluded Bachetti, who finished right behind track champion Heffner in the final 2007 Lebanon Valley point standings with Marshall placing third.
The last Advance Auto Parts Series point event of the month arrives next Saturday before teams make their final run toward the coveted Mr. DIRTcar Championship in October. The Advance Auto Parts Triple 50s presented by Budweiser during World Series Weekend at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park on September 22 comes next with a guaranteed starting spot up for grabs in the Rite Aid 200 Championship during Super DIRT Week XXXVI at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse.
Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Race #25 – Lebanon Valley Speedway, September 15, 2007 Coors National 200 Big-Block Modified Event Summary
FIN STR CAR# DRIVER/HOMETOWN
1 10 20h Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
2 1 98 Eddie Marshall/Ridgefield,CT
3 8 4 Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA
4 13 74 J.R. Heffner/Pittsfield,MA
5 4 19 Tim Fuller/Edwards, NY
6 2 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
7 3 21j Jeff Trombley/Altamont,NY
8 19 43 Keith Flach/Ravena,NY
9 5 60 Brian Berger/Castleton,NY
10 11 87 Hector Stratton/Bennington,VT
11 7 45 Wayne Jelley/Pittsfield,MA
12 18 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
13 17 20 Matt Quinn/New Ashford,MA
14 14 7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY
15 31 347 Skip Fox/Springfield,MA
16 23 21L Danny Ody/Albany,NY
17 20 34 Steve Hough/East Greenbush,NY
18 12 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
19 15 115 Kenny Tremont/West Sand Lake,NY
20 21 473 John Alberti/Schodack,NY
21 16 87x Paul Gilardi/Pittsfield,MA
22 9 42 Guy Sheldon/Nassau,NY
23 27 r24 Rich Salisbury/Averill Park,NY
24 25 55 Mike King/Nassau,NY
25 29 49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY
26 22 24 John Hewitt/Troy,NY
27 32 10 Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY
28 24 27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
29 6 44s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
30 30 2b Ron Cartwright Jr./Portageville,NY
31 28 25 Mike Kolka/Circleville,NY
32 26 24s Chris Shultz/Pawling,NY
GATER NEWS LAP LEADERS: Marshall (1-31), Decker (32-115), Hearn (116-200).
CAUTIONS: 4 for 24 laps; 1 RED FLAG (lap 25).
RITE AID 200 QUALIFIER: Eddie Marshall(P).
BERT HARD CHARGER: Keith Flach.
QUALIFYING (run 9/8)
FAST AVE
TIME MPH CAR# DRIVER
1 20.428 88.114 20h Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
*$100 Integra Shocks Fast Qualifier Award
2 20.531 87.672 19 Tim Fuller/Edwards, NY
3 20.538 87.642 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
4 20.583 87.451 44s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
5 20.681 87.036 4 Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA
6 20.700 86.957 87 Hector Stratton/Bennington,VT
7 20.712 86.906 98 Eddie Marshall/Ridgefield,CT
8 20.750 86.747 45 Wayne Jelley/Pittsfield,MA
9 20.761 86.701 42 Guy Sheldon/Nassau,NY
10 20.781 86.618 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
11 20.828 86.422 60 Brian Berger/Castleton,NY
12 20.878 86.215 21j Jeff Trombley/Altamont,NY
13 20.910 86.083 74 J.R. Heffner/Pittsfield,MA
14 20.921 86.038 20 Matt Quinn/New Ashford,MA
15 20.929 86.005 473 John Alberti/Schodack,NY
16 20.950 85.919 87x Paul Gilardi/Pittsfield,MA
17 20.962 85.870 7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY
18 20.986 85.771 115 Kenny Tremont/West Sand Lake,NY
19 21.052 85.503 24 John Hewitt/Troy,NY
20 21.073 85.417 24s Chris Shultz/Pawling,NY
21 21.081 85.385 27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
22 21.092 85.340 43 Keith Flach/Ravena,NY
23 21.100 85.308 34 Steve Hough/East Greenbush,NY
24 21.311 84.463 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
25 21.352 84.301 55 Mike King/Nassau,NY
26 21.417 84.045 49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY
27 21.499 83.725 r24 Rich Salisbury/Averill Park,NY
28 21.518 83.651 25 Mike Kolka/Circleville,NY
29 21.739 82.800 10 Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY
30 21.886 82.244 2b Ron Cartwright Jr./Portageville,NY
31 22.163 81.216 347 Skip Fox/Springfield,MA
32 22.804 78.934 21L Danny Ody/Albany,NY
Heat Races (run 9/8, 10 laps, all transferred to feature, top 4 went to re-draw)
#1: Marshall, Decker, Sheppard, Hearn, Heffner, Gilardi, Flach, Hewitt, King, Kolka, Fox.
#2: Jelley, Bachetti, Berger, Fuller, Paine, Quinn, Hough, Ody, Shultz, Dunn, A.Johnson(DNS).
#3: Sheldon, Stratton, Trombley, Phelps, Tremont, Planck, Alberti, D.Johnson, Salisbury, Cartwright.
Hoosier Tire-Sunoco Race Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Modified/
Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Point Standings (Thru Sept. 15, 2007)
Rank No. Driver Total Series Bonus Diff Wins Top-5 Top-10 Starts
1 19 Tim Fuller 3,019 1,819 1200 0 3 16 25 25
2 20 Brett Hearn 3,007 1,807 1200 -12 6 15 21 25
3 91 Billy Decker 2,957 1,757 1200 -62 3 14 20 25
4 98h Jimmy Phelps 2,764 1,564 1200 -255 1 13 19 25
5 7x Steve Paine 2,716 1,516 1200 -303 1 7 18 25
6 77x Dale Planck 2,681 1,481 1200 -338 1 4 15 25
7 27j Danny Johnson 2,666 1,466 1200 -353 4 9 14 25
8 44s Matt Sheppard 2,495 1,295 1200 -524 0 3 14 24
9 84 Gary Tomkins 2,394 1,194 1200 -625 2 5 11 24
10 44c Frank Cozze 2,349 1,149 1200 -670 1 3 8 23
11 49 Billy Dunn 2,243 1,043 1200 -776 0 1 7 23
12 3 Justin Haers 2,080 880 1200 -939 0 1 6 20
13 99 Ryan Phelps 1,613 413 1200 -1,406 0 0 2 12
14 6 Pat O'Brien 1,529 329 1200 -1,490 1 1 3 6
15 60 Kenny Stafford 1,526 326 1200 -1,493 0 0 0 8
16 99b Chuck Bower 1,492 292 1200 -1,527 0 0 1 10
17 45 Wayne Jelley 1,456 256 1200 -1,563 0 0 1 5
18 1a Brian Weaver 1,450 250 1200 -1,569 0 0 1 5
19 15 Brett Tonkin 1,441 241 1200 -1,578 0 0 0 7
20 26 Ryan Godown 1,441 241 1200 -1,578 0 1 2 4
21 98 Eddie Marshall 1,431 231 1200 -1,588 0 1 2 2
22 16 Mike Bowman® 1,430 230 1200 -1,589 0 0 1 9
23 56 Vince Vitale 1,412 212 1200 -1,607 0 0 0 7
24 21j Jeff Trombley 1,409 209 1200 -1,610 0 1 2 2
25 4 Andy Bachetti 1,406 206 1200 -1,613 0 1 1 2
26 115 Kenny Tremont 1,405 205 1200 -1,614 0 1 1 3
27 18 Sean Beardsley 1,401 201 1200 -1,618 0 0 0 7
28 21 Derrick Podsiadlo 1,398 198 1200 -1,621 0 0 0 7
29 74 J.R. Heffner 1,387 187 1200 -1,632 0 1 1 2
30 87 Hector Stratton 1,365 165 1200 -1,654 0 0 1 2
31 60 Brian Berger 1,363 163 1200 -1,656 0 0 1 2
32 r24 Jimmy Horton 1,361 161 1200 -1,658 0 0 1 3
33 43 Keith Flach 1,359 159 1200 -1,660 0 0 1 2
34 X Chad Phelps 1,359 159 1200 -1,660 0 0 0 5
35 8 Rob Bellinger® 1,346 146 1200 -1,673 0 0 0 6
36 02 Roy Bresnahan® 1,343 143 1200 -1,676 0 0 0 4
37 91h Chad Homan 1,340 140 1200 -1,679 0 0 0 5
38 24 Chris Shultz 1,339 139 1200 -1,680 0 0 0 3
39 Z Butch Tittle 1,337 137 1200 -1,682 0 0 0 5
40 121 Joe Beyea 1,330 130 1200 -1,689 0 0 0 6
41 88 Steve Hulsizer 1,325 125 1200 -1,694 0 0 0 5
42 7j Jeff Isabell 1,321 121 1200 -1,698 0 0 0 3
43 20 Matt Quinn 1,320 120 1200 -1,699 0 0 0 2
44 62s Tom Sears Jr. 1,314 114 1200 -1,705 0 0 1 2
45 28p Eldon Payne Jr. 1,312 112 1200 -1,707 0 0 0 5
46 42 Guy Sheldon 1,310 110 1200 -1,709 0 0 0 2
47 83 Brian Swartzlander 1,308 108 1200 -1,711 0 0 0 2
48 5 Jason Potter 1,301 101 1200 -1,718 0 0 0 2
49 45m Mike Ward 1,300 100 1200 -1,719 0 0 0 4
50 24 John Hewitt 1,298 98 1200 -1,721 0 0 0 2
51 44 Shannon Whaley 1,296 96 1200 -1,723 0 0 0 4
52 51m Keith Hoffman® 1,295 95 1200 -1,724 0 1 1 1
53 71 David VanHorn 1,292 92 1200 -1,727 0 0 0 3
54 46 Jeremy Smith 1,292 92 1200 -1,727 0 0 0 2
55 33.3 Tommy Meier 1,288 88 1200 -1,731 0 0 0 2
56 24 Jim Witko Jr. 1,283 83 1200 -1,736 0 0 0 2
57 85 Jim Robertson® 1,280 80 1200 -1,739 0 0 0 2
58 93 Ryan Bartlett 1,280 80 1200 -1,739 0 0 0 3
59 55 Mike King 1,270 70 1200 -1,749 0 0 0 1
60 224 Chris Whitehead 1,270 70 1200 -1,749 0 0 0 1
61 5 Chuck McKee 1,265 65 1200 -1,754 0 0 1 1
62 09 Kyle Lewis 1,264 64 1200 -1,755 0 0 0 2
63 8 Tim O'Brien 1,264 64 1200 -1,755 0 0 1 2
64 47 Jerry Higbie 1,260 60 1200 -1,759 0 0 0 1
65 2b Dominick Buffalino®1,259 59 1200 -1,760 0 0 0 1
66 32 Cliff Ehrmann 1,255 55 1200 -1,764 0 0 0 1
67 777 Kevin Bolland 1,254 54 1200 -1,765 0 0 0 1
68 7 RonJon Koczon® 1,254 54 1200 -1,765 0 0 0 1
69 73 Rick Mills 1,250 50 1200 -1,769 0 0 0 1
70 518 Kyle Sheldon 1,248 48 1200 -1,771 0 0 0 1
71 3 Sam Martz® 1,246 46 1200 -1,773 0 0 0 1
72 5w Pat Wall® 1,245 45 1200 -1,774 0 0 0 1
73 66 Jeff Heotzler 1,244 44 1200 -1,775 0 0 0 1
74 10 Rich Eurich 1,242 42 1200 -1,777 0 0 0 1
75 673 Joe Morel® 1,241 41 1200 -1,778 0 0 0 1
76 41 Rich Rutski® 1,241 41 1200 -1,778 0 0 0 1
77 60 Bill Gill 1,240 40 1200 -1,779 0 0 0 1
78 53 Dave Franek 1,240 40 1200 -1,779 0 0 0 1
79 23 Tom Carberry® 1,240 40 1200 -1,779 0 0 0 1
80 7j Joe Isabell 1,235 35 1200 -1,784 0 0 0 1
81 25 Mike Kolka 1,233 133 1100 -1,786 0 0 0 3
82 99 Charlie Donk 1,231 31 1200 -1,788 0 0 0 1
83 83 Tim Sears 1,220 20 1200 -1,799 0 0 0 0
84 93x Craig Mitchell 1,210 10 1200 -1,809 0 0 0 0
85 11 Dan Creeden 1,210 10 1200 -1,809 0 0 0 0
86 OBs Gary Edwards Jr 1,210 10 1200 -1,809 0 0 0 0
87 17j Jeff Heotzler Jr. 1,210 10 1200 -1,809 0 0 0 0
88 160 Johnny Hill 1,210 10 1200 -1,809 0 0 0 0
89 25 Paul Habeck® 1,210 10 1200 -1,809 0 0 0 0
90 34r Russ Reckner 1,210 10 1200 -1,809 0 0 0 0
91 88 Steve Dodd 1,210 10 1200 -1,809 0 0 0 0
92 39 Tyler Bartlett 1,210 10 1200 -1,809 0 0 0 0
Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Modified Entries – September 8 (32)
CAR# DRIVER / HOMETOWN TEAM (Sponsor / Chassis / Engine)
2b Ron Cartwright Jr./Portageville,NY DJ Beardsley & Sons Electrical Contractor-Volvo Rents/TEO/Mastin
4 Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA Albraeda Waste LLC-Wentworth Construction/PMC/Morrison
7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY Tallmadge Tire-Terrell's Potato Chips-Swarthout Recycling/Troyer/Finger Lakes
10 Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY Tri-State Roofing-Cedar Ridge RV/TEO/Morrison
19 Tim Fuller/Edwards, NY JL Motorsports-Chiefs Tobacco & Gas-G&R Auto Parts/TEO/Enders
20 Matt Quinn/New Ashford,MA Earthworm Cat Rental/Bicknell/Dan Bedell
20h Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ Madsen Mtrsports-Wentworth Custom Homes-Kruger-WLR/TEO/Enders
21j Jeff Trombley/Altamont,NY FWC Construction-Morris Auto Group/TEO/Enders
21L Danny Ody/Albany,NY Lutes Family Racing-Keicher's Metal Arts/TEO/JPM
24 John Hewitt/Troy,NY Hewitt Farms/Troyer/Bedell
24s Chris Shultz/Pawling,NY Liberty Rock Crushing-TEO Fabrication/TEO/JPM
r24 Rich Salisbury/Averill Park,NY Herrington Farms-Silly's Comp. Engines-Wynantskill Service Center/Bicknell/Enders
25 Mike Kolka/Circleville,NY Distinctive Hardwood Floors-Minisink Paving/Bicknell/Precision
27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY Thompson Motorsports-Chiefs Tobacco & Gas/Troyer/Morrison
34 Steve Hough/East Greenbush,NY Steve Hough Motors/PMC/JPM
42 Guy Sheldon/Nassau,NY Saxton Sign Corp.-Judd Construction-Sheldon Oil Services/PMC/Sheldon
43 Keith Flach/Ravena,NY Flach Crane & Rigging/TEO/Enders
44s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY Currier Plastics-Magee Transport-Adam Ross/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
45 Wayne Jelley/Pittsfield,MA K&F Modular Homes-Freedom Plains/TEO/Dan Bedell
49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY Number One Speed-Fast Lube of Watertown/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
55 Mike King/Nassau,NY Thoma Tire-Armory Trucks-Otterbeck Builders/PMC/Waters
60 Brian Berger/Castleton,NY Pittsfield Lawn & Tractor-Legends Bar & Grill-Phaze3 Racing/PMC/Dan Bedell
74 J.R. Heffner/Pittsfield,MA A.Colarusso & Son-Turner Auto-Miller's Automotive/Bicknell/Dan Bedell
77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY East End Auto Parts & Construction-Jacob's Excavation/Bicknell/Kevlar
87 Hector Stratton/Bennington,VT Big Boy's Toys-Quality Plumbing & Heating/PMC/AC Performance
87x Paul Gilardi/Pittsfield,MA Fast Loans Greylock Federal Credit Union-Modern Home Connection/Bicknell/Marollo
91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY Gypsum Wholesalers-Stadium Int'l-Quality Hardwoods/Bicknell/Enders
98 Eddie Marshall/Ridgefield,CT Marshall Oil Co.-Advance Water Technologies/TEO/Enders
98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY Mohawk Northeast-New England Race Fuels/Troyer/Bruneau
115 Kenny Tremont/West Sand Lake,NY S&S Asphalt-Park East Sales-Doherty Bros. Construction/Bicknell/Tremont
347 Skip Fox/Springfield,MA Fox Racing/TEO/Skip Fox
473 John Alberti/Schodack,NY Abele Tractor & Equipment-Riley & Shea Construction/Bicknell/JPM
SKIDMARKS
2007 Tour Travelers: For the third straight year tour officials once again signed up the best Big-Block Modified teams in the Northeast to compete in every Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series show. The star-studded group of drivers accepting contract extensions are reigning Mr. DIRTcar points king and winningest Big-Block Modified driver Alan Johnson, current Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series points leader Tim Fuller, all-time DIRTcar Modified win leader Brett Hearn, five-time DIRTcar NorthEast Driver of the Year Danny Johnson, ‘04 Mr. DIRTcar titlist Gary Tomkins, recently crowned Cayuga County & Fulton points king Jimmy Phelps, Canandaigua Speedway record-setter Steve Paine, New Egypt Speedway points champion Matt Sheppard, full-time tour follower Dale Planck, Keystone State open-wheel veteran Frank Cozze, four-time Super DIRT Week Rite Aid 200 champion Billy Decker and Central New York talent Justin Hears.
Pot Holes: Failing to return as the Coors National 200 resumed on Saturday were Matt Sheppard (scheduled to restart 6th), Danny Johnson (24th), Chris Shultz (26th), Mike Kolka (28th), Ron Cartwright Jr. (30th) and Alan Johnson (32nd). According to Sheppard’s car owner Randy Ross, ‘Super Matt’ was not racing anywhere and back at the shop getting the fresh skinned no. 44s Currier Plastics-Magee Transport-Adam Ross/Bicknell entry prepped for Super DIRT Week. Without a Big-Block motor available, Danny Johnson ran north of the border at Brockville Ontario Speedway where he finished third in the 100-lap Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Series Championship event…..Without Sheppard to tag along, Randy Ross transported Tim Fuller from the local airport to the track Saturday afternoon, with Fuller flying in fresh off his sixth-place finish scored the night before in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series A-Main at Paducah (KY) Int’l Raceway…..Steve Paine remained the master of misery on the high banks, finishing 14th after completing 192 laps around the West Lebanon oval where he has posted just one top-five finish (5th in 1985) in more than two decades of competition…..Following last Saturday’s rain out at Lebanon, pole-sitter Eddie Marshall was forced to scrap plans he and his wife had made for their annual trek to New Hampshire. “I lost the $350 deposit on the room, hopefully a good run here today will pay off in the end,” Marshall said prior to going out and finishing a best-ever second to collect a base purse of $6 grand plus lap money…..Hearn had plans to return all along, stripping down the TEO machine and performing a general maintenance check during the week before dominating the field for an unprecedented 6th win in The Valley’s biggest event…..J.R. Heffner only completed a couple laps in warm-ups after the motor kept “loading up” and his crew was relegated to changing spark plugs in time for the 200-lap nightcap…..While Kenny Tremont suffered mechanical failure with his own no. 115 S&S Asphalt-Park East Sales-Doherty Bros. Construction/Bicknell machine on Saturday, the ‘Sand Lake Slingshot’ remains successful at Hudson Valley Community College offering instruction to students attending the two-year school about rebuilding engines and fuel systems. “Track conditions are a lot different from last week,” noted Tremont, who won the 50-lap 358-Mod tour race the week before. “The wind will keep the track a lot less moist, definitely make it dry and slick come feature time”…..A short delay came after the running of a Sportsman feature as teams scrambled to change gears with the track slickening up even after the Big-Blocks had run hot laps an hour earlier…..Tour traveler Billy Dunn stayed trackside for 47 laps despite suffering terminal motor trouble in practice while Valley mainstay Paul Gilardi completed 118 circuits after blowing out the rear-end gears in warm-ups and replacing a broken rocker arm in the aftermath…..Early rainfall on Saturday morning forced track promoter Howie Commander to cancel his drag racing card slated for the strip located directly behind the straightaway of the dirt track. That was a blessing for the oval track enthusiasts as good weather would have delayed the start of Modified practice well beyond 6 p.m. to prevent dust from getting on the adjacent asphalt runway.
Get Out The Word First: RACEceiver is the Official Driver Communicator of DIRTcar Racing. 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 select events.
Tracks Know The Score: In the ongoing effort to assist every sanctioned track with presenting the best possible race programs, DIRTcar has teamed with AMB i.t. which continues to be recognized as the Official Timing System of DIRTcar racing. 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 DIRTcar Racing events.
UPCOMING EVENT
The Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series returns to action at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park on September 22 for Big-Block Modified Triple 50s presented by Budweiser during World Series Weekend at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park . All three feature races offer valuable points towards the overall Hoosier-Sunoco Mr. DIRT Championship plus a guaranteed starting spot in the Rite Aid 200 Championship on Oct. 7 of Super DIRT Week XXXVI at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse.
2007 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Schedule
NP=Non-Point event.
Day-Date Laps Track Winner/Rite Aid 200 Qualifier (Location)
Wed-Feb 14 30-NP Volusia Speedway Park Danny Johnson
Thr-Feb 15 30-NP Volusia Speedway Park -rain-
Fri-Feb 16 30-NP Volusia Speedway Park Tim Fuller
Sat-Feb 17 50-NP Volusia Speedway Park Danny Johnson
Sat-Mar 31 100 Hagerstown Speedway Tim Fuller(G)
Thr-May 3 60 Virginia Motor Speedway Danny Johnson(G)
Thr-May 31 75 Orange Co Fair Speedway Frank Cozze(G)
Sat-Jun 9 100 Fulton Speedway Alan Johnson(G)
Tue-Jul 3 50 Rolling Wheels Raceway Brett Hearn(G)
Tue-Jul 3 50 Rolling Wheels Raceway Gary Tomkins(G)
Fri-Jul 6 100 Ransomville Speedway D.Johnson/Billy Decker(P)
Tue-Jul 10 100 Brockville Ont Speedway Pat O’Brien(G)
Wed-Jul 18 100 Grandview Speedway B.Hearn/Ryan Godown(P)
Sun-Jul 22 100 Cornwall Motor Speedway Billy Decker(G)
Mon-Jul 23 100 Autodrome Drummond B.Hearn/Steve Paine(P)
Fri-Aug 3 100 Brewerton Speedway Dale Planck(G)
Mon-Aug 6 100 Merrittville Speedway D.Johnson/Jimmy Phelps(P)
Thr-Aug 9 50 Canandaigua Speedway B.Hearn/Vic Coffey(P)
Thr-Aug 9 50 Canandaigua Speedway Rain-Cancelled
Sat-Aug 11 100 Lebanon Valley Speedway B.Hearn/Jeff Trombley(P)
Wed-Aug 15 60 New Egypt Speedway B.Decker/Keith Hoffman(P)
Sat-Aug 18 50 Can-Am Motorsports Park T.Fuller/Pat Ward(P)
Sat-Aug 18 50 Can-Am Motorsports Park Steve Paine(G)
Sun-Aug 19 53 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway D.Johnson/Billy Dunn(P)
Sun-Aug 19 53 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway T.Fuller/Justin Haers(P)
Sun-Sep 2 53 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway B.Decker/Matt Sheppard(P)
Sun-Sep 2 53 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway A.Johnson/Mike Bowman(P)
Mon-Sep 3 50 Rolling Wheels Raceway Jimmy Phelps(G)
Mon-Sep 3 50 Rolling Wheels Raceway G.Tomkins/Willy Decker(P)
Sat-Sep 15 200 Lebanon Valley Speedway B.Hearn/Eddie Marshall-2nd
Sat-Sep 22 3-50 Rolling Wheels Raceway Elbridge, NY
Sun-Oct 7 200 New York State Fairgrnds Syracuse, NY
Sat-Oct 13 2-60 New Egypt Speedway New Egypt, NJ
Sun-Oct 21 200 Orange Co Fair Speedway Middletown, NY
*All events subject to change.
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS MODIFIED SERIES SPONSORS
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, Motorsports Safety Systems, Penske Shocks and Wrisco Industries.