by Tom Skibinski

BARBERVILLE, Fla. — Tuesday marked the eighth scheduled day of competition during the 39th Annual Florida DIRTcar Nationals By University of Northwestern Ohio at Volusia Speedway Park, featuring the first appearance of 2010 by Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modified teams from the Northeast.

Unfortunately, racing was not in the plans for Mother Nature as steady afternoon rain showers forced track officials to put an early end to the Big-Block debut with nearly 30 race teams ready to converge on the popular Barberville half-miler for practice.

“Our decision was made based on the hazardous conditions the persistent rain created and an 80% chance it would continue well into the night,” remarked VSP General Manager Tonya Moschell, following the decision to cancel all activity that was officially announced at 3 p.m. with rain still pounding down. “The forecast tomorrow calls for plenty of sunshine so the anticipation remains high by fans anxiously waiting to catch a glimpse of the Big-Blocks when they hit the track for the first time Wednesday.”

A big UMP doubleheader featuring full-fender Super Late Models and open-wheel Modifieds headlined Volusia’s scheduled Tuesday night card. Tickets purchased for the show may be presented for any of the remaining events during the DIRTcar Nationals. In the event that tickets cannot be used, tickets may be mailed to Volusia Speedway Park, 1500 E SR 40, DeLeon Springs, FL 32130 to obtain an refund.

Before the rain started falling at 1 o’clock, a growing number of race haulers waiting to unveil the newest mighty DIRTcar Modified creations had reached the speedway grounds. Over 40 race teams are expected back on Wednesday for the Big-Block Modified opener as the DIRTcar Nationals continues Race Weeks ’10 in the Sunshine State.

DIRTcar NE’s 35th season of short-track racing is now scheduled to kick off on Feb. 10 with a full set of qualifiers followed by a 30-lap feature race paying $2,000 to win. Two more Big-Block shows at VSP are scheduled for Feb. 11-12 before action concludes Saturday night with a big $5,000-to-win 50-lapper.

For additional Big-Block Modified information, log into www.superdirtcarseries.com or www.dirtcarnationals.com, where you can find complete race results for all divisions contesting in the DIRTcar Nationals. Be sure to sign up as a Super DIRTcar Series follower on Twitter by visiting http://www.twitter.com/SuperDIRTcar and receive updates anywhere at anytime as the 2010 season of Big-Block Modified racing gets underway.

A complete schedule of events can also be viewed by logging into Volusia Speedway Park on the internet at www.volusiaspeedwaypark.com, with more material about the entire circuit found on www.dirtcar.com.

2010 Super DIRTcar Series @ Volusia Speedway Park – Barberville, Fla.
39th DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH Big-Block Modified Roster (pre-race)
Car# Driver/Hometown Team (Sponsor / Chassis / Engine)
0 Richie Pratt Jr./Woodbury Heights,NJ South Jersey Overhead Door/TEO/DDE
01 Brett Ballard/Pennsville,NJ South Jersey Overhead Door/TEO/DDE
07 Tim Kerr/Picton,ONT Hubert Kerr Construction/Bicknell/Enders
1 Darwin Greene/Susquehanna,PA Greene Quality Bluestone-Big Diamond Tools/Bicknell/Jensen Tech
1f Stewart Friesen/Niagara-o-t-Lake,ONT Pizza Logs-Jeff Daley&Sons Oil-Westmoreland Golf Club/TEO/Enders
1p Billy Pauch/Frenchtown,NJ K&A Excavating Contractors-Pioneer Pole Buildings/Bicknell/Morrison
3d Dexter Stacey/Kahnawake,QUE Bully’s Truck Stop-CFF,Inc.-Unicast Crusher Parts/Bicknell/Morrison
6 John Stangle/Neshanic Station,NJ Active Disposal-Lightning Delivery-Metro Optics/TEO/VanHorn
7 Rick Laubach/Quakertown,PA Benton Electric & Elevator-Jones Racing Products/TEO/Enders
8 Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ Central Jersey Trailer & Hitch Depot-Adamsville Maintenance/Troyer/Feil
8r Rob Bellinger/Dexter,NY Westward Painting-Coffin Excavation-Lake Ontario Realty/Troyer/Finger Lakes
9s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY Xtreme Lubricants/Bicknell/C.C. Performance
10v Bobby Varin/Sharon Springs,NY Commercial Roofing & Sheetmetal-JWJ Container-Gypsum/Bicknell/Morrison
14 Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ Alpha Distribution Solutions-McKeansburg Hotel/TEO/Enders
14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY Sue Johnson Racing/Bicknell/Jimmy D’s Speed
19h Chris Higgins/Syracuse,NY Transportation Repair Service-JLRB Construction/Bicknell/Higgins Performance
20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ Madsen Mtrspt-Wentworth Custom Homes-Benjamin Moore Paints/TEO/Enders
21k Randy Chrysler/Lewiston,NY TIBchurch.org-Signal Cigarettes-Randy’s Smoke Shop/Bicknell/Mr. E
t21 Roger Chrysler/Lewiston,NY Frontenac Water-Randy’s Smoke Shop-Joey’s Sneaks-NECO/Bicknell/Nickel
22 Mario Clair/St-Edmond,QUE ResistO-Batiments JDL-Motel Drummond-Freightliner/Bicknell/Morrison
23 Billy VanInwegen/Sparrowbush,NY Len & Jo’s Restaurant/Bicknell/Precision
29 Jeff Brownell Jr./Waterloo,NY Xtreme Lubricants/Bicknell/C.C. Performance
30 Jamie Mills/Milford,DE I.G.Burton Car Dealership-ReMax Realtor-L&W Ins./Bicknell/H&G Associates
33 Ray Swinehart/Bechtelsville,PA J & L Speed Supplies/Bicknell/Malcuit
34 Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA Steve Hough Motors/PMC/JPM
m40 Mark Forte Jr./Blue Anchor,NJ Forte Motorsports/TEO/Finger Lakes
r40 Ryan Forte/Blue Anchor,NJ Forte Motorsports/TEO/Finger Lakes
42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY Gypsum Express,Ltd./Bicknell/Kevlar
43 Keith Flach/Ravena,NY Flach Crane & Rigging-Gould Erectors & Riggers/Bicknell/Enders
48too Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY Magee Transportation Services-Monadnock Disposal Service/Bicknell/Morrison
49er Danny Johnson/Rochester,NYNick Nero Motorsports/Bicknell/Hi-Performance Chevrolet
56 Vince Vitale/Phoenix,NY Affordable Landscaping-V & V Racing/Troyer/Enders
65 Rex King/Bristolville,OH Midway Garage Doors-RD Bank Chevrolet-GS Engine Poer/Bicknell/Jim Bailey
66w Wallace Stacey/Kahnawake,QUE Bully’s Truck Stop-CFF,Inc.-Unicast Crusher Parts/Bicknell/Morrison
77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY RezX Racing-Twin Leaf/Bicknell/Kevlar
79 Jeremy Markle/Port Jervis,NY Len & Jo’s Restaurant-Advance Recovery/Bicknell/Precision
85 Dan Vauter/Forest City,PA Vauter Racing/Bicknell/Enders
85j H.J. Bunting III/Milford,DE J&M Roofing & Builders-Art Collins Trucking/TEO/Medford Speed
91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY Gypsum Wholesalers-Stadium Int’l-Quality Hardwoods/Bicknell/Kevlar
97 Michel Chicoine/Ste-Cecile de Milton,QUE GMCI Express-E.Beaudry Enterprises/Bicknell/Enders
98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY HBR Motorsports-Wave Energy Drink-Mohawk Northeast/Troyer/Bruneau
99L Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY Gypsum Express,Ltd./Bicknell/Kevlar
165 Rex King Jr./Bristolville,OH Jim Brown Seed Sales-Reese Services-Cintas/Bicknell/Jim Bailey

39th Florida DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH Big-Block Modified Schedule
*All times and events subject to change.
Opening Night (Wed.-Feb. 10.)
26 Car Field Maximum
4 heats (8-laps) with 5 cars from each qualifying for 30-lap ‘A’ Feature
2 ‘B’-Features (10-laps) with 3 cars transferring
‘Heads Up’ Start for Feature from Qualifying events (No draw)
2nd & 3rd Nights (Thr.-Fri.)
26 Car Field Maximum
4 heats (8-laps) with 5 cars from each qualifying for ‘A’ Feature
2 ‘B’-Features (10-laps) with 2 cars transferring
2 Provisional Positions to highest finishing point earners not to qualify through the ‘B’-Features
(Top 8 – 1st and 2nd – from each heat Redraw)
Final Night (Sat.-Feb. 13)
28 Car Field Maximum
4 heats (8-laps) with 5 cars from each qualifying for ‘A’ Feature
2 ‘B’-Features (10-laps) with 3 cars transferring
2 Provisional Positions to highest finishing point earners not to qualify through the ‘B’-Features
(Top 8 – 1st and 2nd – from each heat Redraw)

General Daily Schedule:
10:00 am — Pit Gates Open, Transporter Parking, Team Entry
1:00 pm Pit Pass Sales Open
3:00 pm Pits Cleared, Pit Passes/Credentials required
4:40pm Grandstand, Midway areas cleared.
5:00pm Grandstand Gate opens
5:00pm Drivers meetings (All draws for starting position conclude at the end of the driver’s meeting)
6:00pm Hot Laps/ Qualifying
7:20 pm Opening Ceremonies
7:30 pm First Race

BARBERVILLE, FL – Feb. 9, 2010 – Wet weather continued to plague the 39th annual DIRTcar Nationals by University of Northwestern Ohio, forcing the cancelation of Tuesday night’s DIRTcar UMP Late Model/Modified doubleheader at Volusia Speedway Park.

Steady rain associated with a cold front that swept across the state of Florida began falling on the half-mile oval around 1 p.m. and continued for several hours, soaking the racing surface and grounds. Officials decided shortly after 3 p.m. to cancel the evening’s planned program.

It was the third rainout in eight nights of the 2010 DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH but marked the first lost show for the DIRTcar UMP Late Model division that invaded Volusia on Monday. The cancelation ended the week of competition for the UMP Modified class, which was a victim of all three rainouts.

With Tuesday’s program scheduled to end the UMP Modified portion of the mid-winter racing extravaganza outside Daytona Beach, Dave Hess Jr. of Waterford, Pa., was declared the division’s 2010 DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH champion.

Four nights of doubleheader action remain for the DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH, highlighted by UMP Late Model events on Wednesday (Feb. 10) and Friday (Feb. 12) and the season-opening World of Outlaws Late Model Series programs on Thursday (Feb. 11) and Saturday (Feb. 13). Each evening’s card will also include the Super DIRTcar Series for big-block Modifieds, which were slated to get in practice laps on Tuesday night.

Tickets purchased for Tuesday night’s rained-out event may be presented for any of the remaining programs during the DIRTcar Nationals. In the event that tickets cannot be used, tickets may be mailed for a refund to Volusia Speedway Park, 1500 E SR 40, DeLeon Springs, FL, 32130.

For more information visit www.dirtcar.com, www.volusiaspeedwaypark.com or www.dirtcarnationals.com.

Team Stays in Florida, Moves to Volusia Speedway Park Archdale, N.C. (February 8, 2010) – Coming off its first win of the season at East Bay Raceway in Tampa, Fla., Bobby Labonte Racing (BLR) is staying in the Sunshine State and is preparing for six nights of racing at the Volusia Speedway Park. The events are part of the annual DIRTCAR Nationals sanctioned by UMP and World of Outlaws.   The two-car operation is coming off four days of racing action that began the trek for the 2010 Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Series championship at East Bay.  The trip was a successful one after Earl Pearson Jr. parked the No. 44 Lucas Oil Dodge in victory lane for the first time this season. He also continued his streak of seven top-10 finishes to start the season.

Brad Neat and the No. 41 Red Buck Filtered Cigars team earned a season-best third finish at East Bay, helping push his tally to three top-five finishes on the young season.

Team Manager Jason Fitzgerald Comments on the Team’s First Win and Racing in Florida:

“It’s awesome to get a win so early in the season, especially when it’s a Lucas Oil event.  Earl and the guys did a great job last Thursday night, and for us to pass Scott (Bloomquist) on the last lap to do it, that makes it better because Scott is such a strong competitor.  Overall, Earl’s guys really had a great week in Tampa.  They keep putting together top-10 results and we can’t ask for much more.

“The fields have been 23-, 24-car strong and some of the best guys in the country are coming down here to start their seasons.  You’re seeing racers from the Lucas Oil, World of Outlaws, UMP series racing in one night.  It’s some of the toughest competition when you get all these guys together. The events in Florida are always some of the hardest to win all season.  It’s like an all-star event at both East Bay and Volusia and you’re racing four, five or six nights in a row.  You have to come ready each night.

“It’s why I can’t say enough about our start, but we still have some work to do.  Brad and the Red Buck team had a bit of struggles at East Bay and we need to get the car the way Brad likes it.  He had a bad wreck, one of his worst in his career, and we’re working really, really hard to get the car back the way Brad needs it.  He bounced back strong the night after the race to finish third, and he actually has more top-five finishes then most late model racers in the country right now.  That’s saying a lot.  We just need to find some more consistency.

“Volusia will be another round of tough races.  The top guys from the Lucas Series will be looking to do our best against the guys from the World of Outlaws.  We’re probably going to see some of the Sprint Cup drivers hop into a late model too.  It’s never easy trying to beat guys like Tony Stewart, Kenny Schrader or whoever shows up.  They know how to race, but it makes it fun for the fans and us, too.

“We’re hoping to continue our good start and grab another win. We’d like to have Brad get into victory lane, but getting him back in the top-10 and top-five will be our priority.”  
About Bobby Labonte Racing:
BLR is located in Archdale, N.C., and owned by 2000 NASCAR Champion Bobby Labonte.  The team was formed in 2007 and immediately won back-to-back Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series championships.  The team will become a two-car operation in 2010 with the addition of driver Brad Neat.  The organization is sponsored by Red Buck Filtered Cigars, Lucas Oil, Sunoco Race Fuels, Coca-Cola, ALLSTAR, Tiger Rear Ends, BERT, Butlerbuilt, Hyperco, SHY, Wilwood, Sweet, TWM, Dyers Top Rods, Weld Wheels, Bell, Hoosier Tire, PRC, Mechanix Wear, Braswell (new carb), , Larry Wallace Engines, Dunn-Benson Racing Supply, ASI Racewear, Xtreme Graphics, Hank Thomas Performance, Wiles Drive Shafts, MasterBilt Race Cars, Bazel Race Fuels, Mason Racin, Racing Optics, TNT Energy, Cornet Racing Engines and WD Enterprises