Daily Press Releases

3/1/03

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Boland, Surrit, Plaisance and Kenny Merchant's Ford power plants stole the show.
Feb 28, 2003 Mardi Gras Nationals Pike County Speedway
Sue DuRoy
     The temperatures were cool the pits were full. The fans were ready after the off season. Curt Lipsey, Kenny Merchant, James Ward, Odie Green and Rodney(Lugnut) Wing all shared the heat wins for SUPR late models. Donald Watson and David Ashley took the last chance wins earning a spot in the feature. Kenny Merchant started on the pole for the 25 lap shoot out. On the first lap a major pile up on the back off turn three. Involving Dave Siegert, Jay Blair Robbie Starnes and several others including Rodney Wing who had to retire to the pits. On the restart Boland took the pole. Lipsey running second died and brought out the yellow. As the green rag waved again it was Boland up front with his Ford powered late model.10 laps in and a pile up in turn four brought another yellow only a lap after the last one. Merchant got caught in the middle of Randy Cook and David Ashley. Poor Merchant it just wasn't his night he always seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, but would always work his way back to the front. On the restart it was Boland again with the lead. Tommy Surret shadowed Boland lap after lap. Boland said after he knew someone was gonna get him on the high side, but they didn't Surret tried his hardest gave it all he had but finished second in his Ford powered ride. Ryan Plaisance made a good showing in his brand new Ford after switching from bow tie. Plaisance worked his way to third where he finished. Kennith Crowe took fourth. And Kenny Merchant worked his way all the way from the rear again in his Ford. To finish fifth. Jon Michel rook 6th, But Jenkins made a good showing finishing 7th in the only Mopar in the field .Randy Cook 8th, Jay Blair 9, and finishing 10th was Bill Gordon.
              Robert Petit took home all the candy last night. He took the heat win then came back to hold off hard charging Bo Garig and get the feature win. Petit was so smooth there was no catching him it was his night to take the checkered after a long rough season last year with no wins. Tracy Talbert spun when Keith Dean got into her causing her to spin in 2 and bring out the yellow. Bo Garig took second, Jason Traux the other heat winner took third, Dallas Grice finished fourth and Tracy Talbert made her way back to finish fifth after getting spun in 2 with Keith dean on the start. Talbert smoothly worked her way through the field to get back to fifth.
                 After one bad start for UMP with a caution the second one had Greg Freeman on the pole blasting into the lead.  No one ever caught Freeman he just put more distance between him and Richie Martello in each lap. Shane Hebert was running fifth when he nailed the guard rail in turn three bringing out the yellow. Next yellow flew when Doyle Bratton spun in 3 and was collected by Daniel Boyd and Kalif Sellier. On the restart Richie Martello had a nose under Freeman working for the lead. Freeman went on to score the win followed by Richie Martello, Terry Treeton, Jared Bailey and Mark Hebert. Doyle Bratton and Freeman took the heat wins.

Drivers Set for “Battle of Bardstown” in 2003 at Bluegrass Speedway

Bardstown, KY-March 1- As the time begins to draw closer for the April 19 Season Opener at Bluegrass Speedway in Bardstown, KY, many drivers are preparing themselves for the long chase and battles that will crown a track champion in the Late Model, Modified, Sportsman, and Street Stock divisions.

          The Late Model division has Brad Neat of Dunnville, KY as its defending champion and Brad will be in action at Bluegrass when not chasing big money events within a 200 mile distance of his home in the MasterSbilt Race Car that he debuted at the 2002 Dirt Track World Championship.  Ed Behn of Salvisa, KY comes into 2003 after finishing second in track points for the second straight year and will be behind the wheel of his familiar Rocket Chassis entry.  James Huff of Milton, KY finished third last year and will be campaigning a new 2003 C.J. Rayburn Race Car for Shawn Bryan.  Independence, KY native Rick Corbin indicated last fall he may challenge for the 2003 track title in a MasterSbilt Race Car after taking two wins at Bluegrass in 2003.  Larry Wicker of Elkhorn, KY scored his first ever Late Model feature win at Bluegrass in 2003 and finished 5^th in the track points and will also be in action in a MasterSbilt entry.  Billy Dever of Hodgenville, KY finished sixth in points in 2002 and will drive the ex-Bryan Barber driven Rocket Chassis entry in 2003.  1999 Late Model track champion Tim Tungate of Campbellsville, KY placed seventh in points and is set to drive for Mitchell, IN native Duke Mounce in 2003, splitting time between a MasterSbilt and a Rocket entry.  Joey Daniel finished 8^th in 2002 track points and the 2001 Late Model track champion also finished in the top ten in the STARS Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series will again wheel a Rayburn mount in 2003.  Billy Meredith of Hodgenville, KY placed ninth in track points and will campaign a Bandit Race Car again in 2003.  Whitney McQueary of Dunnville, KY completed the top ten in track points one year ago and will make his 2003 assault wheeling a MasterSbilt entry.  Other drivers that will contend for wins in 2003 should include Timmy Yeager, Bryan Barber, Jerry Gibson, Jr., Mike Jewell, Jeff Watson, Johnny Wheeler, Jeff Napper, Lee Devasier, Victor Lee, and Jay Mobley.

          In Modified action, Benji Lee of Raywick, KY is the 2002 track champion and will be back to defend his title aboard a brand new Bandit Race Car mount.  Class runner-up David Copley of Hodgenville, KY will contend again in 2003, also twisting a Bandit Race Car mount.  Two-time track champ Joe Mattingly of New Hope, KY finished third one year ago and will campaign a Bandit Race Car entry again in 2003.  1999 track champion Josh Lucas of New Haven, KY finished fourth and will again campaign his Lightning Chassis mount in 2003.  Dion Benningfield of Lebanon, KY scored a fifth place finish in track points in 2002 and will race his Bandit Race Car entry again in 2003.  Lawrenceburg, KY native Jerry Rutherford finished sixth in 2002 and will have his Lightning mount ready to roll again this season.  Former track champ Ricky Fields of Raywick, KY finished 7^th in 2002 and will ride his Lightning entry again in 2003.  A pair of Hoosier natives tied for 8^th in points, that pair being Joey Kramer of Hanover, IN and Earl Plessinger of Seymour, IN, both of whom may pursue some Late Model racing in 2003.  Marion County native Jason Wheatley and last year’s top rookie, Hardin County resident Joe Gray, finished tied for tenth in track points a year ago, with both drivers sporting Bandit Race Car mounts in 2003.  Another group of drivers nipping at the heels of this pack for feature wins will include Jason Underwood, Robert Pyles, Todd Mingey, Robbie Bennett, Justin Trinkle, Keith Currens, Robbie Gullion, and Billy Despain.

          Robert Cocanougher of Salvisa, KY was the Sportsman track champion in 2002 and will also be looking to repeat again in 2003.  Jimmy Bryan of New Haven, Barry Chesser of Chaplin, and Timmy Glazer from New Haven finished second through fourth last season and will be set to battle again for the track title in 2003.  Fifth place finisher Mark Filiatreau of Cox’s Creek will go Late Model racing in 2003 and vie for the Late Model rookie of the year title in an ex-Johnny Wheeler driven Rayburn.  Roger Cecil of Bardstown, Pat Hagan of New Haven, Homer Barger of New Albany, IN, Randy Gardner of Louisville, and Derrick Laswell of Bardstown finished sixth through tenth in 2002 and all will be back to challenge Cocanougher for the Sportsman track title in 2003.  Johnny Lee leads a group of drivers also looking for wins in 2003, along with Junior Riggs, Danny Nelson, Scott Cecil, Jason Zehnder, James Jones, Robbie Turner, Kelly Riggs, Billy Benningfield, and Joe Dunbar.

          St. Marys, KY native Bobby Mattingly was the 2002 Street Stock track champion, but will not defend his title as he will move up to the Sportsman division in 2003.  Brad Sapp of Lebanon and Dan Bryan of Bloomfield finished second and third a year ago and look to be the early season favorites for 2003.  A pair of Nelson County and Bardstown native completed the top five in 2002 with Cotton Mattingly taking fourth and former track champ Willie Edelen in fifth.  Todd Shepherd of Louisville, Clarence Belcher of Junction City, Jaime Downs of Lebanon, Darroyl Samples of Shepherdsville, and Chuck Freeman of Louisville completed the top ten in track points in 2002 and will all contend for the track championship.  Other drivers looking for the checkered flag should include John Magee, Adam Gootee, Morgan Ritchie, Craig Coslow, Matthew Wheatley, Brian McCubbins, Johnny Cecil, Terry Bartley, and Tim Leake.

2003 Racing Schedule

April 19- 2003 Season Opener:  Late Models, Modifieds, Sportsman, and Street Stocks

April 26- 6^th Annual Spring Sizzler:  STARS Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series:  Late Models-30 Laps/$3,000 to win; PLUS- Modifieds and Sportsman (No Street Stocks)

May 3- NO RACING (Closed for Kentucky Derby)

May 10- Regular Show:  Late Models, Modifieds; Sportsman-$300 to win; Street Stocks-$200 to win! (No Track Points for Sportsman and Street Stocks)

May 17- 1^st Annual My Old Kentucky Home Shootout:  Northern All-Star Late Model Series:  Late Models-50 Laps/$5,000 to win; PLUS- Sportsman, Street Stocks, and Pro Trucks (No Modifieds and No Track Points for Late Models)

May 24- Regular Show:  Late Models, Modifieds, Sportsman, Street Stocks

May 31- Regular Show:  Late Models, Modifieds, Street Stocks, Vintage Stock Cars (No Sportsman)

June 7- Regular Show:  Late Models, Sportsman, Street Stocks; Modifieds-$1,000 to win! (No Modified Track Points)

June 14- 2^nd Annual June Jam:  STARS Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series:  Late Models-30 Laps/$3,000 to win; PLUS- Modifieds and Street Stocks (No Sportsman)

June 21- Bluegrass Saturday Night Fever:  Midwest Sprint Cars Series (410 Non-Wing Sprints):  PLUS- Late Models, Sportsman, Street Stocks (No Modifieds)

June 28- Regular Show:  Late Models, Modifieds, Street Stocks; Sportsman-$400 to win! (No Sportsman Track Points)

July 5- Something Old, Something New: Vintage Stock Cars, Topless Late Models, Topless Modifieds, Street Stocks (No Sportsman)

July 12- 5^th Annual Kentuckiana Klash:  STARS Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series:  Late Models-30 Laps/$3,000 to win; PLUS- Modifieds and Sportsman (No Street Stocks)

July 19- NO RACING  (Closed for Nelson County Fair)

July 26- Regular Show:  Late Models, Modifieds, Sportsman; Street Stocks-$300 to win (No Street Stock Track Points)

August 2- Regular Show:  Late Models, Modifieds, Sportsman, Street Stocks

August 9- 3^rd Annual Bluegrass Classic:  Northern All-Star Late Model Series:  Late Models-60 Laps/$10,000 to win!; PLUS- Sportsman, Street Stocks (No Modifieds and No Late Model Track Points)

August 16- Regular Show:  Late Models, Modifieds, Sportsman, Vintage Stock Cars (No Street Stocks)

August 23- Open Wheel Blowout:  Midwest Sprint Cars Series (410 Non-Wing Sprints):  PLUS- Modifieds, Street Stocks, Pro Trucks (No Late Models and No Sportsman )

August 30- Regular Show:  Late Models, Sportsman, Street Stocks; Modifieds-$800 to win! (No Modified Track Points)

September 6- NO RACING (Closed for World 100)

September 13- Regular Show:  Late Models, Modifieds, Sportsman, Street Stocks

September 20- 5^th Annual Bluegrass 50:  STARS Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series:  Late Models-50 Laps/$5,000 to win!; PLUS- Modifieds and Sportsman (No Street Stocks)

September 27- 2003 Season Championship:  Late Models, Modifieds, Sportsman, Street Stocks

*****Schedule is Subject to Change/Additions/Deletions*****

*Pits Open- 4:00 *Main Gates Open- 5:00 *Drivers Meeting- 6:00 *Hot Laps- 6:30 *Time Trials- 7:00 *Racing- 8:00

*For More Information about Bluegrass Speedway, please contact the following resources:

-David and Anita Ferrell(Promotors): (859) 854-6922  -Michael Despain(Media Contact): (270) 465-3380 or by e-mail at dirttrackracing@hotmail.com  -Speedway (Raceday):  (502) 349-1241 -Online:  www.bluegrass-speedway.com 

HAGERSTOWN, MD WEATHER CHANGES SCHEDULE FOR HAGERSTOWN SPEEDWAY

MARCH 23: 1:00 P.M. - Sm Block Modified & Late Models 30 Laps Each Plus Modified Lites

HAGERSTOWN, MD - With over two feet of snow still on the ground from what has been called one of the worst winters in the past 50 years, Promoter Frank Plessinger has decided to change the schedule at the Hagerstown Speedway for the next two weeks. The double-header program scheduled for Sunday, March 9^th featuring the big block modifieds of the northeast and the late models has been push back a week to Sunday afternoon, March 16^th. In its place, the program scheduled for March 16^th, the triple header program featuring the ITSI late models, Hoosier Tires Mid-Atlantic late model sportsman and Ernie’s Salvage Yard Pure Stocks will be moved forward a week and is now scheduled for Sunday afternoon, March 9^th.

"We want to get a Big Block Modified race in before the 100-lap Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRT Series $6,000-to-win show on Saturday night, March 29^th," said Plessinger. "We believe that we will have a better chance of getting the modified show in if we move it back a week. That doesn’t mean we won’t try and open next Sunday. And if we can, we’ll have our regular three divisions. I just think we have a better chance of racing the 16^th the way the winter has been."

The rest of the schedule for the month of March remains the same with the small block modifieds, late models and Modified Lites scheduled March 23^rd and the Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRT Series and late models under the lights on Saturday night, March 29^th.

The Hagerstown Speedway is located on U.S. Route 40, adjacent to the Gateway Seafood Restaurant, six miles west of Hagerstown, MD. The Gateway Seafood Restaurant is the official restaurant of the Hagerstown Speedway where drivers and fans meet after the races. For addition information, contact the speedway office at (301) 582-0640 or checkout the Internet at www.hagerstownspeedway.com

XTREME DIRTCAR SERIES ADDS 10 EVENTS TO 2003 SCHEDULE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

 MOORESVILLE, NC - Xtreme DirtCar Series officials have announced an
additional ten events to their 2003 schedule.  The schedule additions will
take place at nine different tracks, with seven tracks returning to the XDCS
schedule after a year or more absence, and two new venues.

 North Georgia Speedway in Chatsworth, GA returns to the XDCS schedule for
the first time since 1996 with a $10,000-to-win event on April 26.  The XDCS
will make it's first ever stop at Superior Speedway in Superior, WI on May
12 for a $10,000-to-win event.

Paducah International Raceway in Paducah, KY is back after a three-year
absence, and will present a $10,000-to-win event on May 26.  Another new
track for the XDCS is Hartford Raceway Park in Hartford, MI, who will host a
pair of events, a $7,000-to-win show on May 30 and a $10,000-to-win main
event on May 31.

The St. Louis market area returns to the XDCS schedule when series visits
Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, IL for the first time since 1997 for a
$10,000-to-win event on June 28.  After a year's absence, LaSalle Speedway
in LaSalle, IL will be back with a Saturday night $10,000-to-win event on
August 2.

Joplin 66 Speedway in Joplin, MO returns to the XDCS schedule for the first
time since 2000 with a $10,000-to-win show on August 12.  Cherokee Speedway
in Gaffney, SC had added a second $10,000-to-win XDCS event to the 2003 on
September 14.  West Virginia Motor Speedway in Parkersburg, WV will pay
$25,000-to-win for a two-day show on October 3-4.

The latest additions bring the 2003 XDCS schedule up to 38 races at 31
different tracks in 18 states.  There are 15 tracks returning from the 2002
season, 12 tracks are returning after a year or more absence, and there are
four new tracks.  Xtreme DirtCar Series officials are still in negotiations
with promoters and track owners to fill the five remaining openings on the
2003 slate of events.

Only one event has been deleted from the first schedule announcement on
January 15.  Tazewell Speedway withdrew its March 29 date from the 2003 XDCS
schedule just a few days after giving series officials a verbal commitment.

"The response from promoters and fans has been overwhelming, and we've
really been working hard to accommodate everyone," XDCS President Doug Bland
said.  "We've had a few promoters waffle on us, but so far, there has always
been another promoter waiting in line to take the date.  We're very close to
filling the five remaining dates on the schedule, and we hope to make those
announcements in the near future."


2003 Xtreme DirtCar Series Schedule (Revised on February 28, 2003)

DATE TRACK PLACE  PURSE/WINNER
February 4 East Bay Raceway Park Tampa, FL  RICK ECKERT
February 6 East Bay Raceway Park Tampa, FL  JIMMY MARS
February 8 East Bay Raceway Park Tampa, FL  RICK ECKERT
March 15 Thunder Valley Speedway Glenmora, LA  $15,000-TO-WIN
April 11 Carolina Speedway Gastonia, NC  $10,000-TO-WIN
April 12 Cherokee Speedway Gaffney, SC  $10,000-TO-WIN
April 18-19 OFF EASTER WEEKEND
April 25 TBA   $10,000-TO-WIN
April 26 North Georgia Speedway Chatsworth, GA  $10,000-TO-WIN
May 2-3 Delta Bowl Speedway Tunica, MS  $20,000-TO-WIN
May 9 Kankakee Motor Speedway Kankakee, IL  $10,000-TO-WIN
May 10 Rain Date
May 12 Superior Speedway Superior, WI  $10,000-TO-WIN
May 14 Black Hills Motor Speedway Rapid City, SD  $10,000-TO-WIN
May 17 Dakota State Fairgrounds Speedway Huron, SD  $10,000-TO-WIN
May 20 West Liberty Raceway West Liberty, IA  $10,000-TO-WIN
May 26 Paducah International Raceway Paducah, KY  $10,000-TO-WIN
May 30 Hartford Raceway Park Hartford, MI  $7,000-TO-WIN
May 31 Hartford Raceway Park Hartford, MI  $10,000-TO-WIN
June 13-14 OFF WEEKEND
June 17 Davenport Speedway Davenport, IA  $10,000-TO-WIN
June 20-21* Cedar Lake Speedway New Richmond, WI  $20,000-TO-WIN
June 24 TBA   $10,000-TO-WIN
June 27  TBA - Missouri   $10,000-TO-WIN
June 28 Tri-City Speedway Granite City, IL  $10,000-TO-WIN

OHIO SPEEDWEEKS
July 3 Muskingum County Speedway   Zanesville, OH  $10,000-TO-WIN
July 4 Raceway 7 Conneaut, OH  $10,000-TO-WIN
July 5 Rain Date
July 8 Wayne County Speedway Orrville, OH  $10,000-TO-WIN
July 9 Sharon Speedway Hartford, OH  $10,000-TO-WIN
July 11 KC Raceway  Chillicothe, OH  $10,000-TO-WIN
July 12 Rain Date

July 18-19 OFF WEEKEND
July 23 TBA - New York   $10,000-TO-WIN
July 26 Hagerstown Speedway Hagerstown, MD  $10,000-TO-WIN
August 1  Rain Date
August 2  LaSalle Speedway LaSalle, IL  $10,000-TO-WIN
August 5 West Liberty Raceway West Liberty, IA  $10,000-TO-WIN
August 6 TBA   $10,000-TO-WIN
August 8-9 Cedar Lake Speedway New Richmond, WI  $40,000-TO-WIN
August 12 Joplin 66 Speedway Joplin, MO  $10,000-TO-WIN
August 22-23 311 Motor Speedway Madison, NC  $20,000-TO-WIN
August 30-31 Atomic Speedway Knoxville, TN  $20,000-TO-WIN
September 12 Fayetteville Motorsports Park Fayetteville, NC  $10,000-TO-WIN
September 14 Cherokee Speedway Gaffney, SC  $10,000-TO-WIN
September 19-20 Rome Speedway Rome, GA  $20,000-TO-WIN
September 26 Green Valley Speedway Glencoe, AL  $7,000-TO-WIN
September 27 Green Valley Speedway Glencoe, AL  $10,000-TO-WIN
October 3-4 West Virginia Motor Speedway Parkersburg, WV  $25,000-TO-WIN
October 10-11 Dixie Speedway Woodstock, GA  $55,000-TO-WIN
 14th Annual Xtreme Shootout

* - Non-Points Race

Officials of the Northern Allstars Late Model Series have released the
following dates for the 2003 Racing Season.

April 13-Scottsburg Fairgrounds-Scottsburg, IN
April 19-Florence Speedway-Union, KY

May 2-Crossville's Raceway USA-Crossville, TN
May 3-Atomic Motor Speedway-Knoxville, TN
May 10-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY
May 17-Bluegrass Speedway-Bardstown, KY
May 30-Legendary Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY
May 31-Richmond Raceway-Richmond, KY

July 3-Union County Speedway-Liberty, IN
July 4-Union County Speedway-Liberty, IN
July 5-Twin Cities Raceway Park-North Vernon, IN
July 25-TBA-Kentucky
July 26-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY

August 1-TBA
August 2-Lincoln Park Speedway-Putnamville, IN
August 8-Legendary Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY
August 9-Bluegrass Speedway-Bardstown, KY
August 29-TBA

September 11-Union County Speedway-Liberty, IN
September 12-Union County Speedway-Liberty, IN
September 13-Butler Motor Speedway-Quincy, MI
September 26-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY
September 27-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY

October 4-Lawrenceburg Speedway-Lawrenceburg, IN

NOTE:
This schedule is subject to change; additions, and deletions may be made at
anytime.

The track tire rule will be explained in detail ASAP!!!!!

Northern Allstars Late Model Series
(812) 663-6970
Gary Herbert-Race Director

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