Northeast Big-Block Teams Ready To Relocate For Florida DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park

With entries already representing six states and two Canadian provinces, an admirable Big-Block Modified preliminary pre-race roster for the 39th Annual Florida DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park boasts nearly 40 drivers geared up to take the trip south in February.

The anticipated trek to Volusia kicks off with an optional practice day on Tuesday, Feb. 9, opens for racing on Wednesday and concludes Saturday, Feb. 13 with a big $5,000-to-win 50-lapper. Two more Big-Block shows are scheduled in between, Feb. 11-12.

“The momentum is building as more teams continue to firm up plans to make the haul to Florida next month,” remarked Joe Skotnicki, DIRTcar Racing Northeast Director of Competition & Track Sanctioning. “There’s a great mix of series veterans and rising young talent ready to carry on a tradition that is like no other during the winter months.”

The current cast of stars and cars from the Northeastern Big-Block Modified ranks includes over 20 drivers from last year, with 11 of the Top-12 in final 2009 Florida Tour points once again slated to depart for the Sunshine State in the coming weeks.

Headlining the list are defending overall Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Champion Brett Hearn, reigning Florida DIRTcar Nationals points king Pat Ward and DIRTcar Northeast's all-time winningest Big-Block Modified driver Alan Johnson. Hearn holds the current mark with 19 career DCN victories while Johnson is the only driver to win at least one Modified feature every season in DIRTcar Racing’s 34 years of existence.

That legendary trio is joined by Super DIRTcar Series standouts Jimmy Phelps, Danny Johnson, Gypsum teammates Billy Decker and Larry Wight, Xtreme Lubricants racers Matt Sheppard and teammate Jeff Brownell Jr., and ’09 Motorsports Safety Systems/G-FORCE Presented By ButlerBuilt DIRTcar NE Big-Block Modified Rookie of the Year Rich Scagliotta.

New York notables include Bobby Varin, Dave Rauscher, Keith Flach, Rob Bellinger, brothers Randy & Roger Chrysler, plus Jeremy Markle and rookie Billy VanInwegen in his maiden voyage from the Empire State. Tim Kerr is the lone entry from Ontario while Frenchmen Mario Clair, Michel Chicoine along with Wallace and Dexter Stacey are slated to make the long haul from Quebec.

Veteran Jimmy Horton, brothers Ryan & Mark Forte Jr. and partners Richie Pratt Jr. and Brett Ballard are signed up from New Jersey while Rick Laubach, Ray Swinehart, Dan Vauter and Darwin Greene will be representing Pennsylvania in their journey south.

’09 DCN points runner-up Andy Bachetti from Massachusetts is the only New Englander ready to roll into gator country while Rex & Rex King Jr. will be flying the Ohio banner for another year. A race winner last February at VSP, Jamie Mills will be towing into town for the 13th consecutive winter while First State foe H.J. Bunting III can’t wait for his inaugural start in DIRTcar’s 22nd Sunshine State showdown.

Drivers wishing to update team information for the pre-race roster, please contact DIRTcar Northeast PR Director Tom Skibinski by phone (585/350-8997) or through e-mail tskibinski@dirtcar.com correspondence. Specific questions regarding rules can be directed to DIRTcar NE Chief Technical Inspector Bob Dini (845/358-5049, bdini@dirtcar.com) and Director Joe Skotnicki (704/796-4566, jskotnicki@dirtcar.com).

Tickets are on sale for the 39th Annual DIRTcar Nationals, February 2-13, available for any individual night and also in blocks for each headline division at Volusia. Along with the Big-Block Modifieds, competition also features Sprint Car racing (Feb. 3-7), Late Model action (Feb. 8-13) and UMP/DIRTcar Modified activity (Feb. 2-9).

A FREE Fan Pit Pass has been made available to every ticket buyer who comes through the main gates each night of the DIRTcar Nationals at VSP beginning on Feb. 2. All fans have to do once they arrive at the track is take their grandstand ticket and head toward the pits, where a table will be set up to sign-in for an up-close look at the cars and stars who will be racing that night. To purchase tickets call Volusia Speedway Park at 386/985-4402, for more information visit www.DIRTcarNationals.com.

In addition, every person that purchases a ticket for the DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia before January 15 will be entered in the “Fan of February” contest currently being held. The winner will be announced on January 16 and will receive two tickets for each of the (4) Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modified shows run at VSP In February, as well as a free hotel stay during that time. Winners will also be selected for the World of Outlaws Sprint Car and WoO Late Model Series portion of the 2010 DCN, as well as the UMP DIRTcar Modified segment. For more information visit www.fanoffebruary.com.

Big-Block Modified news is always available on-line at www.superdirtcarseries.com <http://www.superdirtcarseries.com/> . Be sure to sign up as a Super DIRTcar Series follower on Twitter by visiting http://www.twitter.com/SuperDIRTcar and receive updates anywhere at anytime as the 2010 season gets underway.

2010 Florida DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH – Volusia Speedway Park
Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modified Roster (thru Jan. 11)
0          Richie Pratt Jr./Woodbury Heights,NJ….Only other Florida trip made in 2004
01        Brett Ballard/Pennsville,NJ….Pratt’s partner in Sal DeBruno’s South Jersey ride
07        Tim Kerr/Picton,ONT….4th voyage to VSP with 12th-place best in ’09 opener
1          Darwin Greene/Susquehanna,PA….Now with both dirt & asphalt experience
3d        Dexter Stacey/Kahnawake,QUE….2nd-generation teenager set for Fla. debut
7          Rich Laubach/Quakertown,PA….Returns for title run with best equipment ever
8          Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ....Furthest traveler on ’09 Big&Small-Block tours
8r         Rob Bellinger/Dexter,NY….Qualified for 3 races in 2008 inaugural appearance
9s        Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY….DIRTcar NE’s winningest in ’09 looks for more
10v      Bobby Varin/Sharon Springs,NY….Secures proven ride with Saya & Kingsley
14        Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ….Past DCN champion & winner knows VSP
14j       Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY….Launches 35th straight year in DIRTcar Big-Block
20        Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ….Since 1998, went home winless only once in Feb. ‘07
21k      Randy Chrysler/Lewiston,NY….2002 overall Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Champion
t21       Roger Chrysler/Lewiston,NY….Older half of popular Western New York tandem
22        Mario Clair/St-Edmond,QUE….2007 overall Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Champ
23        Billy VanInwegen/Sparrowbush,NY….Transition from open-cockpit to open-wheel
29        Jeff Brownell Jr./Waterloo,NY….Out of Sheppard’s shadow after ’09 track title
30        Jamie Mills/Milford,DE….Sunshine State staple ready to open 3rd decade at VSP
33        Ray Swinehart/Bechtelsville,PA….DCN’s most seasoned chauffeur at 57 years
34        Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA….Earned lone VSP feature win & points crown in ‘05
m40    Mark Forte Jr./Blue Anchor,NJ….Joined father Mark Sr. for 2008 trip to Florida
r40      Ryan Forte/Blue Anchor,NJ….Set for maiden voyage with Big-Block brother
42p     Pat Ward/Genoa,NY….Kicks off new decade as defending Fla. tour champ
43        Keith Flach/Ravena,NY….3 Top-10s solid in 3rd trip to Volusia last winter
48too  Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY….Posted 14th-place best a year ago
49er    Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY….Experimental ride lined up for Fla. DCN veteran
65        Rex King/Bristolville,OH….Veteran recovered after last winter hip surgery
66w     Wallace Stacey/Kahnawake,QUE….Hauling down 3 cars w/son & Alan Johnson
79        Jeremy Markle/Port Jervis,NY….Teaming with Modified rookie VanInwegen
85        Dan Vauter/Forest City,PA….Consistent competitor with 4th-place best in ‘09
85j       H.J. Bunting III/Milford,DE….DCN debut for ’08 Georgetown Super Series winner
91        Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY….Only Mr. DIRTcar champ in field without DCN crown
97        Michel Chicoine/Ste-Cecile Milton,QUE….2 starts in 1st trip to Fla. last winter
98h     Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY….Only other DCN runs made in 2006 & ‘08
99L     Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY….1 of 3 17 year-olds registered for 2010 at Volusia 
165     Rex King Jr./Bristolville,OH….Scored 7th-place best in 1st trip last February

By Tom Skibinski, Super DIRTcar Series PR Director