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Planck Finally Etches Name in Alltel DIRTcar Nationals Big-Block Record Book
Barberville, FL – February 15, 2008 – By Tom Skibinski , Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series PR Director
Dale Planck has been taking the trek down I-95 since the new millennium arrived. It took the Cortland , New York driver 15 tries and on Friday he finally made his way into the winner’s circle at Volusia Speedway Park , scoring a decisive victory in round three of the 37th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals for his sixth career DIRTcar Big-Block Modified triumph.
“It seems like I’ve been coming here for years and come so close, so often … now finally,” beamed Planck, 37, as he celebrated in Alltel Victory Lane for the first time ever in gator country. “We’ve been the fastest car here for years so I’m really happy to finally get one, it makes it all worth while.”
Salvaging his third straight front-five finish was runner-up Alan Johnson followed by fellow Central New York veteran Pat Ward and opening two nights winners Billy Pauch and Brett Hearn. Frenchman Mario Clair charged into sixth with Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series stars Matt Sheppard and Jimmy Phelps, Jeff Isabell and Vince Vitale rounding out the final top-10.
Johnson out-dragged pole-sitter Jamie Mills to open the 30-lap main event and the Sherlock Motorsports no. 14J Tri-State Roofing-Dirt Works-Cedar Ridge RV/TEO car paced the field for the initial nine circuits. After filing into eighth on the 26-car starting grid, Planck methodically plodded his way to the front before ducking under ‘A.J. Slideways’ in his new RezX Racing no. 77x Grow It Hydroseeding-Action Race Parts/TEO mount to forge the final lead change on lap 10.
“I couldn’t get through turns one and two for anything, luckily three and four saved me. I was able to keep enough momentum up through one and two and tried to fight off the challenges in the end,” Planck added. “This team has only been together for about a month and we had 3-1/2 weeks to put the program together in time for Florida . I couldn’t be happier with how things have worked out.”
Through three of four Florida Tour races, Pauch tops the point standings with 166 markers while Hearn (164) is right in the shadows just two back. Alan Johnson (154), Ward (148) and Sheppard (138) remain closest in pursuit while Planck stands sixth with 132 points.
Open-wheel action at Volusia concludes for the Advance Auto Parts Series teams on Saturday night with a 50-lap big-block main paying $5,000 to win headlining the Florida Tour finale. The 2008 Alltel DIRTcar Nationals points champion will be crowned following conclusion of the fourth race scheduled for Feb. 16.
Headquartered in Roanoke , Va. , Advance Auto Parts is the second-largest retailer of automotive aftermarket parts, accessories, batteries, and maintenance items in the United States , based on store count and sales. As of October 6, 2007, the company operated 3,228 stores in 40 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands . The company serves both the do-it-yourself and professional installer markets.
Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series – Volusia Speedway Park, February 15, 2008
37th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals Event #3
BIG-BLOCK MODIFIED FEATURE
FIN STR CAR# DRIVER/HOMETOWN
1 8 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY($2,000)
2 2 14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY
3 7 42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
4 11 1w Billy Pauch/Frenchtown,NJ
5 15 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
6 13 22 Mario Clair/St-Edmond,QUE
7 16 44s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
8 10 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
9 5 7j Jeff Isabell/Pennellville,NY
10 21 56 Vince Vitale/ Phoenix , NY
11 26 43 Keith Flach/ Ravena , NY
12 20 91w Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY
13 19 34 Andy Bachetti/ Sheffield , MA
14 3 m40 Mark Forte,Jr./Blue Anchor,NJ
15 12 8s Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ
16 24 8 Rob Bellinger/ Dexter , NY
17 17 117 Kevin Hirthler/ Boyertown , PA
18 9 32 Jim Rasey/ Southington , OH
19 14 39w Steve Downs/Georgetown,DE
20 25 66w Wallace Stacey/Kahnawake,QUE
21 23 30 Jordan Watson/Milford,DE
22 6 20p Mike Perrotte/Plattsburgh,NY
23 4 71 David VanHorn/ Phillipsburg , NJ
24 18 40 Mark Forte,Sr./Blue Anchor,NJ
25 1 55 Jamie Mills/ Milford , DE
26 22 5 Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ
DID NOT QUALIFY(11)
OB's-Bob Hentschel/Pine Bush,NY
1-Darwin Greene/Susquehanna,PA
14-Rick Laubach/ Quakertown , PA
18-Sean Beardsley/Central Square, NY
20s-Steve Haggan/ Flemington , NJ
t21-Roger Chrysler/ Lewiston , NY
27j-Danny Johnson/ Rochester , NY
48too-Dave Rauscher/ Waterloo , NY
79-Jeremy Markle/Port Jervis , NY
85-Dan Vauter/ Forest City , PA
923-Colin Jackson/ Peckville , PA
Lap Leaders: A.Johnson (1-9), Planck (10-30).
Cautions: 7 (lap 2, lap 3, lap 6, lap 10, lap 13, lap 20, lap 25).
QUALIFYING
Heat Races (8 laps, top 5 finishers transferred to feature)
#1: Mills, Isabell, Rasey, Clair, Hirthler, Stacey, Vitale, Haggan, Greene, Hentschel (DNS).
#2: A.Johnson, Perrotte, Phelps, Downs , Forte Sr., Bellinger, Markle, Laubach, Horton.
#3: Forte Jr., Ward, Pauch, Hearn, Bachetti, Chrysler, Beardsley, Jackson, Watson.
#4: VanHorn, Planck, Scagliotta, Sheppard, Wight, Vauter, Flach, Rauscher, D.Johnson.
Consolation Round (8 laps, top 3 finishers transferred to feature)
#1: Vitale, Watson, Stacey, Beardsley, Haggan, Greene, Jackson, Chrysler, Hentschel (DNS).
#2: Horton, Bellinger, Flach, Vauter, Laubach, Markle, Rauscher, D.Johnson (DNS).
Alltel DIRTcar Nationals Point Standings (through Feb. 15, 2008)
POINTS CAR# DRIVER / HOMETOWN
166 1w Billy Pauch/Frenchtown,NJ
164 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
154 14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY
148 42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
138 44s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
132 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
128 22 Mario Clair/St-Edmond,QUE
120 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
100 91w Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY
96 14 Rick Laubach/ Quakertown , PA
92 7j Jeff Isabell/Pennellville,NY
90 8s Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ
90 43 Keith Flach/ Ravena , NY
89 117 Kevin Hirthler/ Boyertown , PA
88 71 David VanHorn/ Phillipsburg , NJ
88 56 Vince Vitale/ Phoenix , NY
80 5 Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ
80 39w Steve Downs/Georgetown,DE
80 m40 Mark Forte,Jr./Blue Anchor,NJ
79 55 Jamie Mills/ Milford , DE
72 34 Andy Bachetti/ Sheffield , MA
66 18 Sean Beardsley/Central Square, NY
64 85 Dan Vauter/ Forest City , PA
57 32 Jim Rasey/ Southington , OH
57 8 Rob Bellinger/ Dexter , NY
55 79 Jeremy Markle/Port Jervis,NY
43 27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
43 66w Wallace Stacey/Kahnawake,QUE
42 30 Jordan Watson/Milford,DE
41 20p Mike Perrotte/Plattsburgh,NY
40 48too Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY
40 40 Mark Forte,Sr./Blue Anchor,NJ
30 OB 's Bob Hentschel/Pine Bush,NY
30 1 Darwin Greene/Susquehanna,PA
30 20s Steve Haggan/Flemington, NJ
30 t21 Roger Chrysler/Lewiston,NY
30 923 Colin Jackson/Peckville,PA
20 71r John Reome/ Greenfield Center , NY
0 6j Joe Isabell/Pennellville,NY
0 20p Pierre Berthiaume/Quebec City,QUE
0 91 Billy Decker/ Unadilla , NY
2008 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modified Roster (37)
Car# Driver/Hometown Team (Sponsor / Chassis / Engine)
OB's Bob Hentschel/Pine Bush,NY Boria High- Tech Auto-RW Construction-Advance Concrete/TEO/Precision
1 Darwin Greene/Susquehanna,PA Greene Quality Bluestone-Big Diamond Tools-TJ's NAPA/Bicknell/Jensen Tech
1w Billy Pauch/Frenchtown,NJ Will Brown's Truck Repair-K&A Excavating/Bicknell/Chevrolet
5 Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ Lincoln Auto Body-Schmidt Racing/Troyer/Tischler
7j Jeff Isabell/Pennellville,NY JIR Motorsports/Troyer/Morrison
8 Rich Scagliotta/ Bound Brook , NJ Central Jersey Trailer & Hitch Depot-Adamsville Maintenance/Troyer/Feil
8 Rob Bellinger/Dexter,NY Mini-Storage of Watertown-Westward Paintng-Lake Ontario Rlty/Troyer/Finger Lakes
14 Rick Laubach/Quakertown,PA Jerry Simons Builder-Alpha Mills-Reiley & Sterner Auto Sales/TEO/Enders
14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY Tri-State Roofing-Dirt Works-Cedar Ridge RV/TEO/Terry Vince
18 Sean Beardsley/Central Square,NY Town Mechanical,Inc-Bradco Supply-Pipe Pros/Troyer/Moshier
20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ Madsen Motorsports-Wentworth Custom Homes-Kruger-WLR/TEO/Enders
20p Mike Perrotte/Plattsburgh,NY PB Performance-S.D. Performance/Bicknell/Tony Feil
20s Steve Haggan/Flemington, NJ Skechers Shoes-Haggan Construction-Modified Painting/Bicknell/Feil
t21 Roger Chrysler/Lewiston,NY Iroquois Water-Randy's Smoke Shop-Joey's Sneaks/Bicknell/JanCen
22 Mario Clair/St-Edmond,QUE Batiments JDL-Motel Drummond-Freightliner/Bicknell/Morrison
27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY JIR Motorsports/Troyer/Morrison
30 Jordan Watson/Milford,DE I.G.Burton Car Dealership-ReMax Realtor-L&W Ins./Bicknell/FingerLakes-DDE
32 Jim Rasey/Southington,OH Twin Oaks Services South-Alcon Mechanical/Dirt Wheels/Minors Performance
34 Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA Steve Hough Motors/PMC/JPM
39w Steve Downs/Georgetown,DE Wood's General Contracting-Christian Bros. Concrete/Bicknell/Precision
40 Mark Forte,Sr./Blue Anchor,NJ Wildside Custom Trucks and Trailers-BSR Products/TEO/Finger Lakes
m40 Mark Forte,Jr./Blue Anchor,NJ Wildside Custom Trucks and Trailers-BSR Products/TEO/Finger Lakes
42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY Gypsum Express,Ltd./Bicknell/Enders
43 Keith Flach/Ravena,NY Flach Crane & Rigging-Gould Erectors & Riggers/TEO/Enders
44s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY Adam Ross Cut Stone-Magee Transport-Seneca Auto Sales/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
48too Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY Magee Transportation Services-Monadnock Disposal Service/Bicknell/Morrison
55 Jamie Mills/Milford,DE Coulbourne Farms-Mills Market-Covey's Car Care/Bicknell/DDE(Dan Denny)
56 Vince Vitale/Phoenix,NY V & V Racing/Troyer/Enders
66w Wallace Stacey/Kahnawake,QUE Bully's Truck Stop-CFF,Inc./Bicknell/RL Performance-Morrison
71 David VanHorn/Phillipsburg,NJ Harmony Sand&Gravel-Diamond Hart Ent.-Art's Radiator/TEO/D.VanHorn,Sr.
77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY RezX Racing-Grow It Hydroseeding-Action Race Parts-Teo Fab./TEO/Kevlar
79 Jeremy Markle/Port Jervis , NY Len & Jo's Restaurant-Advance Recovery/Bicknell/Precision
85 Dan Vauter/Forest City,PA Vauter Racing/Bicknell/Enders
91w Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY Gypsum Wholesalers-Stadium Int'l-Gypsum Express,Ltd./Bicknell/Enders
98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY Mohawk Northeast-New England Race Fuels/Troyer/Bruneau-FingerLakes
117 Kevin Hirthler/Boyertown,PA Green Lane William Penn-4 Star Lettering/Bicknell/Doug Meyers
923 Colin Jackson/Peckville,PA Ashford Cottages Bed & Breakfast-Jackson Excavating/Bicknell/Griffin
DIRTVision.com Offers Alltel DIRTcar Nationals Special: In the midst of launching its fifth consecutive season, DIRTVision.com is set to offer a special price for the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals Trackpass. For the final two nights of the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals, Feb. 15-16, users can purchase a subscription for the reduced price of 14.99. Just log on and click subscription to sign up for LIVE VIDEO coverage.
Users will continue to view hours of live video coverage including the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series as well as UMP DIRTcar Super Late Models, UMP DIRTcar Modifieds and World of Outlaws Late Model Series action. (All events are live video starting at 8:00 pm EST) Subscribers will still have access to the popular live chat, as well as up to date race notes. Users can sign-up using a Visa or MasterCard on our secure payment server at DIRTVision.com.
If you are unfamiliar with our LIVE Cybercasts, click on the “FAQ” menu for tips and requirements for viewing the DIRTVision Cybercast. Make sure that you register well in advance of our next show to help troubleshoot any problems you may encounter. Your basic tools will be a DIRTVision.com account, Internet Explorer 6 or higher, and Windows Media Player 9; both of which are FREE. For technical support or questions, e-mail customerservice@DIRTVision.com. The Dirt Radio Network is presented by BUTLERbuilt professional seat systems. BUTLERbuilt is the leader in custom seating. Call 704/784-1027 and let BUTLERbuilt build you an advantage!!!
Andrews Anchors DIRT Radio Network Broadcasts: Nationally recognized SPEED commentator and popular track public address announcer Shane Andrews was back on the road as the official voice of the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series, opening up for a third consecutive year at Volusia. In addition to traveling the DIRTcar NorthEast circuit and carrying out his accustomed weekend announcing duties, Andrews will also be a regular host heard on the DIRT Radio Network. Fans will again be able to listen to each and every Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series event LIVE on the DIRT Radio Network in 2008. With microphone back in hand, Andrews helps kick off DIRTcar’s 33rd straight season on Wednesday, February 13 during opening night of the 37th annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals for Big-Block Modifieds at Volusia Speedway Park .
Get Out The Word First: RACEceiver is the Official Driver Communicator of DIRTcar Racing NorthEast. 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 DIRTcar Racing’s ongoing effort to assist every member track affiliate with presenting the best possible race programs, World Racing Group has teamed with AMB i.t. which continues to be recognized as the Official Timing System of DIRTcar NorthEast. AMB i.t. is the world’s leader in automatic race timing and scoring systems and WRG is proud to retain the company as a valued partner in the timing and scoring of all sanctioned events.
UPCOMING EVENT
The 2008 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series point race schedule for Big-Block Modifieds takes the green flag further north in the springtime. Hagerstown ( Md. ) Speedway is slated to host the tour opener on March 22 when the Advance Auto Parts Series Big-Block teams compete in the 100-lap North-South Shootout paying the winner $6,000 from the total purse in excess of $27,000.
2008 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Schedule
NP=Non-Point event.
*All events subject to change.
DAY-DATE LAPS TRACK WINNER/LOCATION
Wed-Feb 13 Volusia Speedway Park-NP Billy Pauch
Thr-Feb 14 Volusia Speedway Park-NP Brett Hearn
Fri-Feb 15 Volusia Speedway Park-NP Dale Planck
Sat-Feb 16 Volusia Speedway Park-NP Barberville , FL
Sat-Mar 22 Hagerstown Speedway Hagerstown , MD
Thr-May 1 Virginia Motor Speedway Jamaica ,VA
Sun-May 4 Rolling Wheels Raceway Elbridge,NY
Sun-May 25 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway Weedsport , NY
Sat-Jun 7 Fulton Speedway Fulton,NY
Thr-Jul 3 Ransomville Speedway Ransomville , NY
Thr-Jul 10 Brockville Ont Speedway Brockville ,ONT
Fri-Jul 11 Autodrome Granby Granby ,QUE
Sat-Jul 12 Autodrome Drummond Drummondville ,QUE
Sun-Jul 13 Cornwall Motor Speedway Cornwall ,ONT
Wed-Jul 16 Grandview Speedway Bechtelsville , PA
Mon-Aug 4 Merrittville Speedway Thorold ,ONT
Fri-Aug 8 Brewerton Speedway Brewerton , NY
Sat-Aug 9 Canandaigua Speedway Canandaigua , NY
Sat-Aug 16 Can-Am Motorsports Park LaFargeville , NY
Sun-Aug 31 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway Weedsport , NY
Mon-Sep 1 Rolling Wheels Raceway Elbridge,NY
Sat-Sep 6 Lebanon Valley Speedway West Lebanon , NY
Sat-Sep 20 Canandaigua Speedway Canandaigua , NY
Sat-Sep 27 Rolling Wheels Raceway Elbridge,NY
Sun-Oct 12 New York State Fairgrnds Syracuse , NY
Sun-Oct 19 Orange Co Fair Speedway Middletown , NY
-TBA- Orange Co Fair Speedway Middletown , NY
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., Rite Aid Corporation and the University of Northwestern Ohio and the contingency sponsors are Bert Transmission, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Crane Cams, Integra Shocks, MSD Ignitions, Motorsports Safety Systems, Penske Shocks and Wrisco Industries. |
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