Short Track SuperNationals presented by Dart Machinery promoter Brett Deyo has forged an agreement with Trackside Products, the Endicott, N.Y.-based regional distributor of American Racer tires, to organize the first American Racer East Coast Modified Cup Champion's Challenge as part of the Oct. 8-9 third edition of the "Working Man's Race" at Five Mile Point Speedway in Kirkwood, N.Y.
The Trackside Products-sponsored Champion's Challenge will feature one-on-one match races open to 2010 American Racer East Coast Modified Cup track champions. Champions representing each of the 12 tracks participating in the inaugural season of the East Coast Modified Cup will be invited, in addition to the overall American Racer Cup champion.
Facilities to be included are Accord (N.Y.) Speedway, Big Diamond (Pa.) Raceway, Bridgeport (N.J.) Speedway, Delaware International Speedway, Five Mile Point Speedway, Fonda (N.Y.) Speedway, Grandview (Pa.) Speedway, New Egypt (N.J.) Speedway, Orange County (N.Y.) Fair Speedway, Penn Can (Pa.) Speedway, Utica-Rome (N.Y.) Speedway and Woodhull (N.Y.) Raceway.
One of the champions on hand will be selected via a random draw to start the one-on-one match races. The winner of the first round will choose the driver they will challenge and that process continues until an overall winner is decided. The match races will be approximately a lap-and-a-half each with starts taking place at the mid-point of the backstretch. Round winners will be paid individually with the overall winner collecting the most lucrative share of the $1,500 posted purse.
Businesses or individuals looking to increase the per-round take of the Champion's Challenge may participate as a round sponsor with extra cash or product. Contact Brett Deyo for further information.
The American Racer East Coast Modified Cup overall champion will be decided on Labor Day Weekend (Sept. 5). To follow the Cup online or for further details, visit the official website: www.dirtmodcup.com.
"We feel this is a perfect avenue to showcase what has been a successful first-year program for American Racer and the East Coast Modified Cup," said Al Wilcox of Trackside Products. "Fans and drivers have followed the performances of drivers across these 12 tracks all summer through our points ranking system.
"It will be a unique opportunity for fans to see many of the top drivers facing off in one-on-one match races."
Deyo said the partnership with the American Racer Cup was an ideal fit.
"We had drivers representing all 12 American Racer Cup tracks in the 70-car field at the SuperNationals last year," he said. "Many of the drivers in position to challenge for the track titles and overall championship are expected to race in this year's event, so it should be a fan-favorite."
Invited participants will be announced once the final American Racer Cup track points are tallied.
Momentum continues to build for the 2010 running of the Short Track SuperNationals presented by Dart Machinery.
A 50-lap big-block/small-block Modified feature will headline the program, with a possible $5,000-plus up for the winner. The Trackside Products Race of Champions Dart Street Stocks, Four Cylinders and Vintage Modifieds (open to all groups and clubs) will fill out the SuperNationals card.
Schedule
All racing activity will be held on the Saturday portion (Oct. 9) of the program, eliminating hotel costs for budget-minded race teams. Friday night (Oct. 8) will be reserved for an open practice session.
On Saturday afternoon (Oct. 9), pit gates will open at 2 p.m., with grandstand gates opening at 3 p.m.
At 4 p.m., hot laps for the Trackside Products RoC Dart Street Stocks, Vintage Modifieds and Four Cylinders will hit the track. Their qualifying events will begin at 4:45 p.m.
Modified hot laps have been set for 5:45 p.m. with the division's first heat expected to hit the quarter-mile oval at 6:30 p.m.
Race fans wishing to see only a full Modified program with main events for the support divisions should plan to arrive for the 6:30 p.m. start time.
An open practice session is scheduled for Friday night (Oct. 8) to provide invading teams with additional track time. Gates will open at 5 p.m. with practice beginning at 6 p.m. The three-hour session will run through 9 p.m. A post-practice bonfire and party is planned for the speedway grounds, commencing shortly after 9 p.m.
Admission Prices
Grandstand admission for adults is set at $18; Senior (62 & over) & Youth (13-17) tickets are $14; Kids 12 and under are FREE.
To combat the tough economy, a 'Family Five Pack' has been established. For $40, a family will receive two Adult tickets, three Youth or Senior tickets, five hot dogs and five sodas.
Pit admission for Saturday is $30. Friday's pit admission is $20. No license is required for either day.
Hotels & Camping
The Comfort Inn, located just miles from Five Mile Point Speedway at 1000 Upper Front Street, Binghamton, N.Y., has signed on to be the host hotel for the 2010 Short Track SuperNationals. A group rate of $99/night has been established for Friday night, Oct. 8 and Saturday night, Oct. 9.
Contact the Comfort Inn by phone at 607.724.3297 and mention "SuperNationals" to receive the discount (effective through Sept. 21).
Camping is permitted on the speedway grounds Friday (Oct. 8) and Saturday (Oct. 9) nights. Camping is free of charge. There are no hookups. All individuals planning to camp must use the grassy area off the backstretch. No one may stay overnight in the pit area or spectator parking lot with respect to the neighboring community.
Special Awards, Bonus Money & Contingency Programs
EZ Release Pro Shop will present a Cash Dash for Modified heat-race winners with a purse totaling $1,500 for just 6 1/2 laps of racing. Drivers will start the event on the backstretch, recording the extra half-lap in the sprint race. The event will pay the winner $650 with a minimum of $75 to take the green flag.
The memory of longtime speed shop owner Ed Tauschman, who passed away earlier this year suddenly, will be honored with the first-ever 'Ed Tauschman Memorial Money Run' which will provide a final shot at making the starting grid for the 50-lap feature. The drivers missing a transfer spot by one position in each of the consolations will hit the track for a three-lap battle. The winner earns the last starting position in the feature. The others collect $50 for their efforts. Vogel Race Designs sponsors the event.
Primary event sponsor Dart Machinery rewards the Modified winner of the Short Track SuperNationals with a $500 certificate toward the purchase of a Dart engine block, the second-place finisher with a $250 certificate toward the purchase of Dart heads and third-place with a $75 certificate toward the purchase of a Dart intake manifold.
A $1,000 bonus program will be in place between the Short Track SuperNationals and the season-end Southern Tier 100 Race of Champions Dart Dirt Modified Tour finale Oct. 30 at Five Mile Point. Should one driver win both events, that driver becomes eligible for $1,000.
The SuperNationals winner simply needs to attempt to qualify for the Southern Tier 100, a $500 cash bonus will be paid. A similar $500 cash bonus will be paid if the Southern Tier 100 winner previously attended the SuperNationals.
Alpine Building & Post Supply, located on Route 183 in Schuylkill Haven, Pa., has been secured as a contributing sponsor of the 2010 "Gambler's Challenge" at the SuperNationals. Drivers posting a $20 "gambler's fee" on race day increase their winner's share from $3,500 to $5,000.
Jason Bashore of BFP Specialty in Bethel, Pa., the parts supplier for Big Diamond and Grandview, will present the first PA 358-Mod regular across the line in the feature with a $75 gift certificate.
Reed Miller and Al Wilcox of Penn Can Speedway reward the Short Track SuperNationals victor with a guaranteed, REDRAW position in the 'King of the Can' Modified event to be run on Friday, Oct. 15. The SuperNationals winner automatically transfers into the feature-event redraw for the 'King of the Can' season finale at the Susquehanna County track.
The SuperNationals winner will also receive two FREE pit passes for 2011 Modified racing at Pa.'s Selinsgrove Speedway and a six-foot Subway sub courtesy of Mirabito Travel Center in Castle Creek, N.Y.
PLC Plus of Charlotte, N.C., has signed on to present the leader of lap three in the Modified 50-lap feature with $250 cash. Dale Smith Photography of Afton, N.Y., has posted a minimum of $700 to the leader of the halfway lap in the feature. The leader of lap 41 earns $50 in memory of Jane Kennerup. Lap sponsorships are on sale at $20 per lap.
Additional event, contingency, special-award and lap sponsorship opportunities are available by contacting Brett Deyo.
Entry Information & Rules
Modified entry forms for the SuperNationals have been posted on the web at www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com along with all general information. Lake Ariel, Pa., driver Dan Hineline, who competes regularly at Big Diamond Raceway on Friday nights in the 358-Modified division, was the first official entry. The first 10 entries will be eligible as part of a drawing for two FREE pit passes for the SuperNationals.
Car entry is $15 through Sept. 20 and $20 from Sept. 21 through race day. Teams are encouraged to enter early to expedite the registration process the day of the event.
SuperNationals Modified rules are relaxed to encourage participation from across the Northeast. Any 13- by 92-inch Modified tire will be allowed. Sail panels are permitted. Big- and small-block engine combinations running on gasoline or methanol will run with varying weight combinations.
Competitors will draw for heat-race starting positions with a feature redraw in place. In the interest of fan entertainment, there will be no time trials.
Complete rules are available on the BD Motorsports Media website: www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com.
History
Kevin Hirthler of Boyertown, Pa., won the '09 SuperNationals over Mike Ricci, Mike Gular, Sean Merkel and Joey Grammes. In the '06 edition at Afton (N.Y.) Speedway, Mike Ricci (Rosendale, N.Y.) defeated J.R. Hurlburt, Brian Weaver, Joey Grammes and Davie Franek.
Contact Information
For further information on the Short Track SuperNationals, contact Brett Deyo by phone at 845.728.2781 or via e-mail: Deyo99H@aol.com. SuperNationals info is on the web at http://www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com/.
2010 Short Track SuperNationals Qualifiers (Qualifier)
Friday, March 19 - Selinsgrove Speedway/Selinsgrove, PA - 358-Mod Icebreaker III (Pat Ward)
Saturday, May 29 - Five Mile Point Speedway/Kirkwood, NY (Mike Colsten)
Friday, July 2 - Big Diamond Raceway/Forestville, PA (Craig Von Dohren)
Tuesday, July 20 - Bridgeport Speedway/Bridgeport, NJ - Five-25s (Rick Laubach)
Tuesday, August 10 - Penn Can Speedway/Susquehanna, PA - Hot Summer Night (Stewart Friesen)
Tuesday, August 31 - New Egypt Speedway/New Egypt, NJ - Summer Sizzler
Friday, September 10 - Accord Speedway/Accord, NY - Championship Night
The Short Track SuperNationals is presented by Dart Machinery, Alpine Building & Post Supply, EZ Release Pro Shop, Trackside Products, Dale Smith Photography, Vogel Race Designs, Gold Rush Custom Trailers, PLC Plus, Selinsgrove Speedway/JGK Motorsports, Plant Food Company Inc., Reading Plastic Fabricators, S&W Awards & Photos, Subway of Castle Creek, N.Y., Jim Young Race Photos and BD Motorsports Media.
