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OIL REGION LABOR DAY CLASSIC WEEKEND INCLUDES WORLD OF OUTLAWS LATE MODEL SERIES AT TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY
by Brian Spaid
August 21, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRANKLIN, PA .. The World of Outlaws Late Model Series returns to Tri-City Speedway for the exciting two-day Oil Region Labor Day Classic Weekend on Saturday and Sunday August 30th and 31st.
Each night features a complete show for the World of Outlaws Late Model Series culminating with a 50-lap main event paying $10,000-to-win. Also on the card will be the 4 Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Models, RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E Mods, and E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks.
The advertised purse exceeds $120,000 for both days combined, and the World of Outlaws Late Model Series features the top Late Model drivers in the nation, including such stars as current series point leader Darrell Lanigan, defending series champion Steve Francis, Josh Richards, Shane Clanton, Chub Frank, Shannon Babb, Rick Eckert, Clint Smith, Tim Fuller, John Blankenship, Jeremy Miller, and Tim McCreadie. Eckert won the Oil Region Labor Day Classic in 2005. Frank and Clanton each won during the two-day event held in 2006. Last year, Francis won Saturday's show before Pennsylvania low buck racer Dan Stone shocked the Outlaw faithful with an upset victory on Sunday.
Joining the World of Outlaws Late Model Series should be a number of local and regional hotshoes such as Stone, Robbie Blair, Dick Barton, Lynn Geisler, Jared Miley, Mike Knight, David Scott, Brent Rhebergen, Darrell Bossard, Dutch Davies, Rick Briggs, Mike Johnson, Alex Ferree, John Flinner, Gregg Satterlee, Dave Hess Jr., Matt Urban, Todd Andrews and Chad Ruhlman. There is also the chance that a New York contingent could travel to Tri-City including Danny Johnson, Vic Coffey, Sean Beardsley and Joe Isabell.
"The race teams and fans have supported this event immensely, and we expect another great weekend of dirt track racing at Tri-City Speedway," said Co-Promoter Mike Graham. "We hope that everyone comes out to support the World of Outlaws Late Model Series and the Oil Region Labor Day Classic Weekend."
The Late Models will invade Tri-City in full force on Saturday and Sunday night. Time trials and qualifying events will set the 24-car field for the 50-lap feature event each night. The winner of the each race will earn $10,000 with $700-to-start. Speed Channel will tape Saturday's show for rebroadcast on the national cable television network on September 7th.
This season, the FASTRAK Late Models will be part of the Oil Region Labor Day Classic Weekend with a FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series event. Led by FASTRAK National point leaders Max Blair and Bobby Powell, the FASTRAK Late Models are expected to thrill the fans along with their bigger cousins. Blair is the 2008 track champion at Tri-City. Other FASTRAK notables include Mike Pegher Jr., Dick Barton, John Lacki, Tom Snyder Jr., Carl McKinney, Bobby Whitling, Jay Watson, Dennis Lunger Jr., Rusty Moore, Steve Hollabaugh, Dave Lyon, Chad Myers, Butch Lambert, Chris Haines, Kyle Zimmerman, Justin Kann, and Roger French. Several drivers will do double duty in two divisions.
The FASTRAK Late Models will compete in heat races only on Saturday before running the final B Mains and the 30-lap FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series race on Sunday. That event pays $2,000-to-win and $200-to-start. There is a $100 entry fee per team.
The E Mods will be sanctioned by the United E Mod Series (UEMS) at the Oil Region Labor Day Classic Weekend, and both races will be the final events of 2008 for the Welding Technologies E Series. Mike Potosky won the first two E Series races of the season at Tri-City and currently leads the track-based series points. Shawn Shingledecker is second followed by teammates Al Cressley and 2007 and 2008 E Mod track champion Carl McKinney. Evan Taylor and Jim Frontz are tied for fifth. Other local contenders expected to race include Justin Carlson, Alan Dellinger, Bruce Powell, Gary Sullivan, Jonathan Taylor, Russ Dunn, Jeff Deeter, Chip Mahood, and Butch Lambert.
UEMS was founded by Chris Zuver of the United Late Model Series (ULMS) and Northern Tier, Inc. Late Models. The inaugural UEMS season has attracted a lot of attention from many New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio E Mod and IMCA Modified racers. Other top teams expected to race at Tri-City include UEMS point leader George Catanzano, John Woodward Jr., Randy Hall, Rich Michael Jr., Al Brewer, Kyle and Craig Bedell, Darren Tarabori, Vic Vena and Tim Peterson.
Each night, the E Mods will run a complete series of qualifying events followed by a feature race, a 20-lap event on Saturday and 30-lap event on Sunday. Both races will pay $1,000-to-win. Sunday's race will be the All Star 30 paying additional bonus money that increases the purse throughout the field, including $170-to-start.
Rounding out the show will be the Pro Stocks, which will run on both nights in races that count toward the title in the William R. Karns Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series. Newly-crowned track champion Jason Reagle will try to sweep the season with the Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series title as well. Young Jackson Humanic and Jason Johns won the first two series races this season. Other contenders in both events include Dave Ferringer, Rod Laskey, Chris Haines, Bobby Sutley, Bobby Whitling, Gerry Bruce, Matt Thomas and Russ Coyne.
The Pro Stocks will run a complete series of qualifying events followed by a 20-lap feature race on each night paying $500-to-win and $75-to-start. Both events will provide excellent track time for drivers and teams to prepare for the 12th Annual CSOnline Applefest 100, which is scheduled for Sunday, September 7th.
On Saturday night after the races, Engles Trucking and Ray's Racing Specialties have returned as sponsors of the 4th Annual South Ghetto Party, which features a huge bonfire and a live band.
In addition, there will be free camping at the speedway all weekend for those attending the races only. Campers may start to enter the grounds on Thursday August 28th at 5 p.m.
Gates open each night at 2:00 p.m. No fans will be allowed to reserve seats with blankets until Saturday at that time. Racing starts each night with hot laps for the World of Outlaws Late Model Series at 4 p.m. followed immediately by time trials. Once time trials are completed, the track crew intends to work on the track before hot laps are held for the FASTRAK Late Models, E Mods and Pro Stocks. The first heat races are scheduled to start at 6 p.m.
Adult grandstand admission will be $30 each night or a two-day ticket costs $50. Pit admission will be $35 each night or a two-day ticket costs $60.
For more information, please contact the track office at (814) 473-4038.
Tri-City Speedway is owned and operated by Roger and Susie Crick and Mike and Margaret Graham. They have promoted Sunday night racing at the popular facility since they reopened it in 1996. The DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds, FASTRAK Late Models, E Mods, Pro Stocks and Thundercars race each week at the Venango County half-mile dirt oval. Tri-City is located seven miles north of Franklin, Pa., off State Route 417.
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