Moody Mile Newbie’s First Race Will Be the Big One After Locking In a VP 200 Position

ELBRIDGE, N. Y. – Oct. 7, 2012 – Although he has not driven the Moody Mile at the New York State Fairgrounds, Chad Homan has been trying for years to qualify for the VP Small Engine Fuels 200 Sunday during NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week. Instead of participating in time trials and heat races throughout the week, Homan has been working on conquering Rolling Wheels for the Big-Block Modified “Win and You’re In” race, and Saturday he finally made it.

“I’ve been trying to win this race for a few years now, but I’ve never won it,” Homan, of Macedon, N. Y., said. “It’s going to be pretty cool to start the 200.”

Homan started third in his heat at Rolling Wheels, beating out competitors to get the top spot and going on to start third in the 25-lap feature. Chad Brachmann, 2011 “Win and You’re In” winner, took the initial lead, but a caution just off the green flag gave Homan the chance to pass on the restart.

Brachmann and Homan duked it out through five yellow flags and two red flags, each using the restarts power ahead of the other. Homan took the lead back in lap 14, having lost it after a restart in lap 13, and maintained his position for the remaining 11 laps.

Sunday’s VP Small Engine Fuels 200 will be Homan’s first time racing the mile, as lack of time and resources have prevented him from spending the week at the Fairgrounds and qualifying through traditional means.

“We’ve never even tried to go there,” Homan said. “We’ve always tried to get in through this. Over the years I haven’t had the resources I’d need to do the full week there.”

For Homan, lack of time and resources keeps him from spending the week at the Farigrounds and qualifying through traditional means. The “Win and You’re In” event provides the opportunity for drivers in Homan’s position to participate in the biggest dirt modified race in the Northeast without breaking the bank.

“It’s really nice because it gives some of us guys that run weekly and don’t have the resources to build a long-track car like that to be part of the festivities and start the race and say that you’ve done it,” Homan said. “I’m looking forward to it tomorrow.”

Rounding out the top five are Mike Bowman, Brachmann, Josh Hohenfoster, and Todd Burley.

NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week XLI continues Sunday, Oct. 7, with championship races for Pro Stock and Sportsman divisions and the VP Small Engine Fuels 200 for the Big-Block Modifieds of the Super DIRTcar Series.