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Just a handful of weeks have passed since the DIRTcar Racing NorthEast season came to a close. In just two more months the roar of the big-block powered DIRTcar Big-Block Modifieds will be heard once again when open-wheel teams make their way down south for the 37th Annual DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park.
With entries beginning to trickle into the DIRTcar NorthEast Office in Weedsport , N.Y. , third-generation racer David VanHorn Jr. from Phillipsburg , New Jersey was the first driver to officially sign up for DIRTcar’s 11th consecutive year of competition at the popular Barberville speedplant. VanHorn has participated in the past two winter tour excursions to the Sunshine State , last February placing eighth in the final point standings after a fourth-place finish in the 50-lap finale.
"Its always nice to make the trip to Florida , just to get everybody back in the groove," said VanHorn, 24, who will make a return aboard the familiar yellow Diamond Hart Enterprises no. 71 Harmony Sand & Gravel-Art's Radiator-Robinson Products/TEO machine powered by a motor prepared by his father. “Volusia doesn’t compare much to any track up north but you can still try out some new stuff and whatever is learned can be brought back home.”
The Advance Auto Parts Florida Tour begins Feb. 13 at Volusia with a 30-lap DIRTcar Big-Block Modified feature headlining the program. The open-wheel action continues at the Barberville oval with 30-lap feature events on Thursday and Friday before a big $5,000-to-win 50-lapper brings the curtain down Sat., Feb. 16. An optional practice day has been set for Thursday, Feb. 12.
VanHorn was satisfied after missing only one feature at Volusia in his 2006 debut and gained more confidence qualifying for all three main events last winter. This coming February, the recently crowned DIRTcar 358-Modified points champion at Orange County Fair (NY) Speedway hopes to be a factor every time out.
“I’d like to win at least one race and finish in the top-five in points, I think they’re realistic goals right now,” added VanHorn, who also finished fourth in Orange County 's final '07 Big-Block point standings. He qualified for four Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series shows, finishing 15th in May at Orange County and placing 29th & 30th in the July ‘Firecracker Twin 50s’ at Rolling Wheels (NY) Raceway before mechanical problems relegated him to 44th in the Eastern States 200 at Orange County.
“Back up north I’d like to get another Small-Block championship and if things work out one in the Big-Blocks. When all the schedules come out we’ll make our final plans. This year we want to do a little something different, do more traveling and look around for some new tracks to run on. Starting out in Florida is a fun way to start, it’s a nice winter break, especially when you do well.”
More than 30 DIRTcar Modified teams are expected to join VanHorn for the popular Advance Auto Parts Florida mini-tour staged at Volusia.
Volusia Speedway Park www.volusiaspeedwaypark.com (386/985-4402) is located 15 miles west of Daytona Beach on State Road 40 in Barberville , Fla. For additional information, contact the DIRTcar NorthEast Office (315/834-6606) during normal business hours or log into www.superdirtcarseries.com.
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