Written by:
SPEED Staff
SPEEDtv.com
Volusia is set to pack the infield and grandstands as the season gets underway. (WoO)
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With entries representing nine states and Canada, an admirable Advance Auto Parts Big-Block Modified preliminary pre-race roster for the 38th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park boasts over 35 drivers geared up to take the trip south in February.
The trek to Volusia kicks off with an optional practice day on Tuesday, Feb. 10, opens for racing on Wednesday and concludes Saturday, Feb. 14 with a big $5,000-to-win 50-lapper. Two more Big-Block shows are scheduled in between February 12-13.
“We’re excited about all the teams planning to make the haul to Florida next month,” beamed Cory Reed, DIRTcar Racing Northeast Director of Competition & Track Sanctioning. “The Big-Blocks have built up quite a reputation at Volusia and we’ve got a great turnout of veteran drivers and talented newcomers already signed up to carry on a tradition like no other during the winter.”
The current cast of stars and cars from the Northeastern Big-Block Modified ranks includes 20 drivers from last year, with seven of the Top-10 in final 2008 Florida Tour points once again slated to depart for the Sunshine State in the coming weeks.
Headlining the assault are defending overall Hoosier Tire Mr. DIRTcar Champion Billy Decker, reigning Alltel DIRTcar Nationals points king Brett Hearn and DIRTcar Northeast's all-time winningest Big-Block Modified driver Alan Johnson. That legendary trio is joined by Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series standouts Dale Planck, Matt Sheppard, Jeff Brownell Jr. and ’08 Motorsports Safety Systems/G-FORCE Presented By ButlerBuilt DIRTcar NE Big-Block & 358-Modified Rookie of the Year Larry Wight.
New York notables include Pat Ward, Dave Rauscher, Keith Flach, brothers Randy and Roger Chrysler, Sean Beardsley and Jeremy Markle plus Guy Sheldon, Carey Terrance and John Behron in their maiden voyages from the Empire State. James Michael Friesen and Tim Kerr from Ontario and Frenchman Michel Chicoine from Quebec pose a triple threat from north of the border.
Garden State chauffeurs Jimmy Horton, Rich Scagliotta and Steve Haggan are once signed up for the trip to gator country as are Pennsylvania pilots Ray Swinehart, Colin Jackson and Darwin Greene along with first-time traveler Brian Sadler. New Englanders Andy Bachetti (Mass.) and Dave Camara (Vt.), Ohioans Jim Rasey and Rex King Jr., Delaware drivers Jamie Mills and Matt Jester, brother in-laws Jeff Brown and Brad Trice from Maryland, and the father/son tandem of Doug and Jason Ingalls journey east from Texas to help fill out the formidable field in DIRTcar’s 21st Sunshine State showdown.
