Only weeks have passed since the 2002 race season officially concluded yet plans have already been finalized for DIRT Motorsports' return trip to Florida in two months.

Maybe more excited than most for their return to Florida in February are car owners Rick and Corkie Thum, and their talented driver, recently crowned USAC champion J.J. Yeley.

"During Super DIRT Week we talked about the possibility of running in Florida and J.J. had an opening in his schedule," said Corkie, who last hauled the no. 12T Microtel Inns-Lincoln Fabrication-State Line Camping/TEO machine down south in 1995 with Jeff Trombley behind the wheel during DIRT's stop at St. Augustine Speedway.

"The past couple years we've enjoyed all the events surrounding speed weeks at Daytona. This time we'll have some fun bringing the car back down. It's been a real pleasure working with J.J. and we'll learn a lot more about our set-ups whatever the results," Corkie added.

The Thum Racing trio will begin DIRT's Florida Tour competition at Volusia Speedway Park in Barbersville on Feb. 11 with a 30-lap modified feature headlining the program. Open-wheel action continues at Volusia with 30-lap feature events on Thursday and Friday before a big $5,000-to-win 50-lapper brings the curtain down on Sat., Feb. 15. Practice is slated for Mon., Feb. 10.

In his first-ever big-block DIRT Modified race run last September on the Syracuse Mile, Yeley ended his day 24th on the final scoresheet in the 53rd N.Y.S. Fair Labor Day Championship. Yeley chased eventual winner Danny Johnson for the first 32 laps before the no. 12T TEO mount suffered a broken valve and rocker arm to send him pitside for the remainder of the afternoon.

After capturing the USAC Weld Racing Silver Crown Little Trees Salt City 100 Championship in Syracuse on Saturday afternoon, Yeley closed out his Super DIRT Week debut in October with a 30th-place finish (broken rear end) in the headline Eckerd 200.

Yeley won the Weld Racing Silver Crown Series Championship steering the #9 Team ASE/Ford co-owned by 2002 Winston Cup champion Tony Stewart. The 26 year-old Phoenix, Ariz. native also finished second in both the Stoops Freightliner Sprint Car Series and USAC National Midget Car Series.

Joining Yeley on the early list of pre-season entries is defending Florida series points champion Brett Hearn. The Sussex, N.J. veteran has captured high point honors four times since 1998, amassing 11 of his DIRT Winter Tour record 12 feature wins during the past five seasons.

DIRT Tour '03 marks the 18th trip to Florida for Northeastern Modified teams since 1978. It will be DIRT's 12th visit to Volusia under current track owner/operator Dick Murphy since staging its inaugural event in 1982.

Fans and race teams already planning to attend Volusia Speedway Park (386/985-4402) are encouraged to contact the track public relations offices for area hotel/motel accomodations. Overnight camping at Volusia is available across the road adjacent to the track for self-contained units.

Volusia Speedway Park is located 15 miles west of Daytona Beach on State Road 40 in Barberville, Fla. Mail is received at: 1500 E. Highway 40, DeLeon Springs, FL 32130.

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