Minor Updates...

Jody Gable will not be returning to action, at least not on a weekly basis, in 2009. Gable made his return to modified racing at Super Dirt Week with Bobby Varin behind the wheel. Rumors were swirling that JR Heffner could possibly take over behind the seat. Expect Gable Motorsports to possibly run a handful of shows with a driver to be named later in 2009.

Also, Billy Pauch Jr. will remain in the seat of the Pioneer Pole Buildings #8 small block modified in 2009 at the Big Diamond Raceway. Look for the team to run some big block events together as well throughout the year.

This Weekend in Racing; LaSalle Motorsports News

Happy Halloween weekend everyone. The Delaware International Speedway has their season finale with the annual Delaware State Championships highlights by both the big block and small block modifieds. Saturday will feature the small block modifieds, and Sunday will be the date of the big block modified feature.

LaSalle Motorsports, who started the year off with Jessica Zemken behind the wheel of the car, but ended with Brian McDonald, appear to be going big block racing part time next year. The team was planning on entering this year's Rite-Aid 200 with a borrowed big block from former modified driver Tim Kerr, but a slew of torn up equipment forced the team to scratch their plans. Tentatively, the team is planning on going to Volusia in February to be part of the Florida Dirt Tour. Stay tuned for updates.

Hearn Takes RoC Finale at Five Mile Point; Sunday Winners

Brett Hearn picked up $5,000 for winning the RoC Dirt Tour season finale at Five Mile Point. The race was 100 laps. Pat Ward had already clinched his second RoC Tour Title, and capped off another fine season with a third place finish on Sunday.

Dom Roselli picked up his first win of the year at Bethel Motor Speedway. This was the first time in quite some time that they 358 modifieds were featured on Bethel's asphalt.

Rich Ricci picked up the modified feature win at Glen Ridge Motorsports Park.

Bridgeport Reschedules Turkey Chase

With the rescheduling of Hagerstown's Octoberfest to next weekend, Bridgeport has announced that they will reschedule their Turkey Chase that was originally secheduled for the 8th-9th (originally the date for the Turkey Chase), to November 22nd-23rd. Big block and small block modifieds will highlight the card, and it will be the points finale for the Garden State Dual Track Series. 

Pete Bicknell Crowned 358 Series Champion, Rain Strikes Again

Can-Am Motorsports Park canceled their season finale for the 358 Super Dirt Series championship that was supposed to be scheduled tonight. With the rainout, Pete Bicknell claimed yet another 358 Super Dirt Series championship to his incredible career. Congratulations to Mr. Small Block and the entire #42 crew.

Hagerstown and Black Rock Speedway both canceled their races for this weekend. Black Rock scheduled their race for November 8th, and Hagerstown rescheduled for November 8th-9th. Five Mile Point also postponed their RoC Dirt Tour finale, but that will be run tomorrow starting at 3:00.

Norm Hansell News

Brett Deyo reports in this week's Area Auto Racing News that Jeff Strunk and Doug Hoffman are the two major drivers in the hunt for the Norm Hansell #357 modified for next season. Hoffman is interesting in returning to racing, he only ran one race in 2008, the Freedom 76er, and finished second, for a top tier team. He's also only interested in racing once a week, with very limited travel, mainly including a return to Super Dirt Week. Strunk, the 2007 and 2008 Big Diamond and Grandview champion, ran the Thunder on the Hill finale at Grandview Speedway for Norm Hansell. Stewart Friesen, Jimmy Horton, Strunk, and Rick Schaffer drove the 357 car this year.

Specials This Wekend: Petruska, Gable, Horton, Van Horn tidbits...

We may be approaching the end of the racing year, but there's still plenty of action left, especially this week. On Saturday night, Black Rock Speedway will host it's season finale, as the 358 modifieds highlight the car with a $3,000 to win show. Five Mile Point Speedway will be hosting the RoC Dirt tour for their season finale on Saturday with the Southern Tier 100 for the big blocks that will pay $5,000 to win, Pat Ward has already clinched the RoC title for the second year in a row. Also on Saturday, the 358 Super Dirt Series champion will be crowned at CanAm Motorsports Park as they do battle for $3,000 to win the 75 lap feature, this event was rescheduled from Wednesday night of Super Dirt Week. On Sunday (qualifying will be Saturday) Hagerstown has their annual Octoberfest race weekend, as big block and small block modifieds will be part of the action, each racing in their own 100 laps features that pay $10,000 to the win.

Reports are saying that Mike Petruska will field a car for Danny Johnson on the entire Super Dirt Series in 2009, and will be Bobby Hearn's Teo house car. Petruska started the year with Jeff Heotzler and Jared Petruska driving the cars, but then gave Danny Johnson the ride late in the year. Johnson and Petruska teamed up and won the Eastern States 200 last weekend, worth $20,000

Long time car owner Jody Gable made his return at Super Dirt Week with Bobby Varin behind the wheel of his known #1 big block modified. Gable hopes to make a return to full-time owning next year at Lebanon Valley in 2009. Look for two-time Lebanon Valley champion J.R. Heffner to be the possible driver of that seat next year. If Heffner leaves, that leaves another qualify seat open in the Ronnie Dwyer owned #88.

Jimmy Horton may be done with Dieter Schmidt again at the conclusion of this year. Horton and Schmidt only ran a partial season this year, focusing on traveling, and collected a $5,000 win at Volusia, but the team struggled with motor issues all year long which upset Horton. Horton drove for an astounding 7 teams this year including, the Gene Stravinksy owned #7A used for some specials at New Egypt and Hagerstown, Rich Scagliotta's #8 used at Orange County and small block action at Syracuse, Norm Hansell's #357 used for a few shows at Big Diamond and Grandview, Gino Postarivo's #7 used for weekly competition at Bridgeport, Wescott Racing's #71 used for specials at Bridgeport and Georgetown, and the Randy Ross #7 (team effort with Gino) used for the Rite-Aid 200, and of course Dieter Schmidt's #5 used for specials. No word on any possible replacements if the two split ways.

Also, when listing oddities on the Hagerstown entry list, I missed the fact that David Van Horn is entered in Rusty Smith's second car. Van Horn ran a few specials for Smith a few years ago as well.

Pauch with Hyneman

Billy Pauch is now entered with the Glen Hyneman #126 for Hagerstown Speedway. The Hagerstown entry list is updated on Hagerstown's website.

Tom Hager Update; Other Tidbits

Area Auto Racing News reporter Randy Kane sent me an e-mail clearing up who owns the #55 Tom Hager is entered at Hagerstown with. It's owned by long-time crew member Harvey Gray, and Mike Mammana ran the car most of the time at Bridgeport Speedway, and Hager drove the car a few times too. Randy also said that Patrick Cozze may be making his big block debut this weekend. Thanks Randy!

Also worth noting, while Pete Reynolds' Crackers Motorsports team will no longer exist, Reynolds will continue to play a big role as Rick Mill continues his big block career in 2009 as a major sponsor.

Also, the DiNatale owned MAD Motorsports #11D has been offered to 2008 Big Diamond sportsman champion Brad Brightbill for full-time competition at Big Diamond and maybe
Grandview in 2009. It's a off-long season and things could change. MAD Motorsports had a slew of drivers in the car during the 2008 season that included Keith Hoffman, Dan Hineline, Brad Brightbill, Mark Forte Jr, and Richie Pratt. Bobby Varin, Stewart Friesen, Billy Pauch, Billy Pauch Jr, Brian Weaver, Doug Manmiller, and MeMe DeSantis have driven the car in past years.

Tidbits....

Well, this weekend is the last week of the Wago Fantasy League. Standing are available here...

http://jw4.proboards85.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=247

Octoberfest has their entry lists up on the Hagerstown Speedway website. A few things to note, Ben Hatt will be driving the Eastern Rigging #11 that was driven by Jason Hamilton and John Willman this year. Also, Tom Hager is listed in the big block ranks in a #55, I have no idea what team that is, and Ryan Godown is listed driving the Tom Umbenhauer owned #19.

Jeff Strunk is listed in the entry list as driver of the Glen Hyneman owned #126, but expect to see defending Octoberfest small block winner Kevin Hirthler in that car, however, that's not official. We've also recieved reports that Jimmy Horton is being strongly considered to drive that car in 2009, but again, nothing is official.

Doctor Wins $20,000 at Eastern States 200; Decker Champ

Danny Johnson proved that the Petruska Racing Team made the right decision as he collected $20,000 for winning the Eastern States 200. This was Danny Johnson's 3rd win of the year. His first win of the year came driving the JIR Motorsports #27J at Utica Rome for the Victoria 200 which was worth $10,000, he then won the Schneider Brothers 200 at Fulton Speedway which was worth $25,000 driving the Joe Beyea #121, and now has won the Eastern States 200 with the Mike Petruska #66 which was worth $20,000. Between the three wins he won more than $55,000. What a three-win year.

Billy Decker finished 9th, putting an exclaimation point on his amazing season with the Super Dirt Series championship.

Hearn Wins Eastern States 100 on Saturday

Brett Hearn backed up his 2007 Eastern States 100 win for the 358 Super Dirt Series with another one in 2008. Hearn picked up $7,500 for the win. The 358 Dirt Series will conclude at CanAm Motorsports Park on October 25th.

At Grandview Speedway, Doug Manmiller picked up his second Thunder on the Hill win in the 25 lap small block modified feature.

Eastern States Weekend

Today starts another big weekend in the modified racing world. Eastern States weekend starts today with big block time trials, along with small block time trials and heats. Tomorrow, at Orange County for Eastern States, the 358 Super Dirt Series highlights the card with a 100 lap $7,500 to win feature, and the big block modified have their heats. On Sunday the Super Dirt Series concludes with the Eastern States 200, which will be 200 laps and will pay $20,000 to win.

Also this weekend, Grandview Speedway has their final race of the year, which will include a 25
lap small block modified feature.

A couple of driver switches this weekend, Danny Erb will be driving for Sean Merkel at the Grandview Speedway event, and Jeff Strunk will be in Norm Hansell's #357 as well. At Orange County, it's been announced that Steve Paine will once again team up with Jeff Brownell's racing team as a teammate to Matt Sheppard, but this time it'll be for a full-out attempt at winning.

Also, as previously posted, Jeff Heotzler will be driving the Smith Bros. Racing #74, and Bobby Varin will be driving the Frank Tuit #673.

Chad Sinon and BPG Motorsports Announce '09 Line Up

Ernie Saxton released the news that BPG Motorsports has announced the driver of the teams third car in 2009. Craig Von Dohren will return to the Chad Sinon race team for a weekly assault. Von Dohren, the all-time Grandview Speedway race winner and defending Freedom 76er and Forrest Rogers winner, will continue to run Friday nights and big block specials with Mike Harvey, his current car owner. CVD will not do any traveling with the BPG team. Duane Howard will continue to drive for Sinon at Bridgeport Speedway weekly and run big and small block specials throughout the northeast, the team has yet to decide if they'll return to the Big Diamond Raceway full time. Sinon also will be Ryan Watt's major backer for his big block effort at the Bridgeport Speedway.

Wago Crown Jewel Fantasy League Standings Updated

Late in the year, and the Wago Crown Jewel Fantasy League is tight! The top 9 have a real good shot at winning, and the top 15 aren't out of it by any means. The Schneider Brothers 200, Salute to the Troops 150, and the Rite-Aid 200 are included in this update. Just the Eastern States 200, and Octoberfest remain! Here's the link...

http://jw4.proboards85.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=246

Heotzler ESW Plans

The original plans for the defending Eastern States 200 winner, Heff Heotzler, at this year's Eastern States was to pilot his son's #J17 big block. However, Jeff Heotzler Jr informs us on Dirt Track Digest that Heotzler Jr will be behind the wheel of his own #J17, and his father will drive the Smith Bros. #74 this weekend.

Goodbye to Two Long Time Modified Supporters

After the announcement that Canadian star Mark Hitchcock has retired following the 2008 season, two more long-time supporters have announced their retirements.

Randy Kane reports that Bill Gensler has announced his retirement after he failed to qualify for the Freedom 76er. Gensler started his career in the 70s at the Reading Fairgrounds, and after it closed supported the Pennsylvania tracks, mostly Grandview Speedway. Gensler hasn't raced full time in a handful of years, but he remained a fan favorite as he ran part-time schedules. His #57 small block modified will be missed.

Also, Pete Reynolds, owner of Cracker Motorsports and the Orange County Fair Speedway Director of Marketing will retire following Eastern States Weekend. Reynolds currently owns the #73 big block modified driven by Rick Mill at Orange County and Accord. Crackers Motorsports has always had good runs since their beginning in the big block division in the 1990s. Their most recent accomplishment was with Rick Mill in 2006 as they sat on the pole for the Eastern States 200. Frank Cozze, Rick Mill, Butch Tittle, Mark Smith, Mike Ricci (who gave the team their first career win), Larry Brolsma, Tim Hindley, Jeff Heotzler, Allen Shiffler, and Allan Kellogg have all driven the #73 big block modified over the years. Check out RaceProWeekly.com in their feature's section for a good article on Pete.

We wish both Pete and Bill best of luck in the future!

It's Finally Cozze! Plenty of Tidbits

Frank Cozze finally won the Rite-Aid 200 in exciting fashion as he stretched his fuel mileage to win th $50,000 grand prize. Congratulations on a well deserved win on the grandest stage in modified racing.

Billy Decker won the $20,000 Salute to the Troops 150. Other winners over the week included $4,000 big block heat wins which went to Brett Hearn, Matt Sheppard, and Jack Johnson. $2,000 small block heat wins went to Brett Hearn and Billy Decker. The Futures races on the mile were won by Dave Rauscher in the big block division, and Larry Lampman in the 358 class. Tim Fuller picked up $2,500 for winning big block time trials, and Vic Coffey won $1,500 for winning small block time trials.

Sattelite shows were won by Gary Tomkins at Brewerton, Brett Hearn at Rolling Wheels, and at Cayuga County the twin 25's were split by Chuck Bower and Chad Phelps.

Craig Von Dohren won the big and small block races at Bridgeport.

Troy Wink will not be running Grandview in 2009, and instead will be running New Egypt Speedway on Saturday nights it looks like. Ryan Godown may be the driver of the team's second car at both Big Diamond and New Egypt.

CanAm Motorsports Park has been sold. Stay tuned for Dirt Track Digest for an interview coming soon with the new owners.

Brett Deyo broke the story in the Reading Eagle that Jeff Strunk has been released from the Glen Hyneman #126 modified team after winning track championships at both Big Diamond and Grandview in both 2007 and 2008. Both left on good terms. Strunk will be ending his season at Five Mile Point Speedway and will drive for Joey Grammes in both of those races.

Also, Bobby Varin will be teaming with Frank Tuit in the Sparta Trucking #673 for Eastern States.

Super Dirt Week is Here!

Super Dirt Week is here! Club Wago will be heading up on for Dirt Week, so the blog won't be updated. So, I'd like to direct you guys to the best Super Dirt Week coverage out there, www.raceproweekly.com

Race Pro Weekly will have up to the minute tidbits throughout the week such as other years, and their Super Dirt Week coverage has already started, check it out! Everyone, enjoy Super Dirt Week! It doesn't get any better than this!

Ricci and Laubach Sunday Winners

Rich Ricci and Rick Laubach completed big weekends with wins on Sunday.

Rich Ricci picked up the win at Glen Ridge Motorsports Park for a post-points finale modified race. Ricci's first win of the weekend came at his home track, Accord Speedway, where he picked up $5,000 for winning the King of the Catskills.

Rick Laubach completed the Rocktoberfest sweep at New Egypt, as he backed up Yesterday's small block $4,000 triumph with a big block $5,000 triumph on Sunday. The race was part of the Garden State Dual Track Series tour, the points finale for the tour will be at Bridgeport Speedway for the Turkey Chase weekend.

Danny Johnson Wins $25,000 Victoria

Danny Johnson made his first ever start in the Joe Beyea #121 a good one. After starting 24th on the grid, "the Doctor" used the extreme outside to take the lead from Brett Hearn late in the race and go on to pick up his 3rd Schneider Brothers 200, which was worth $25,000. This was Johnson's second win of the year, the first coming in the (fake) Victoria 200 at the Utica Rome Speedway in May, which was worth $10,000.

Billy Van Pelt continued his dominating season at Woodhull Raceway by winning the Bully Hills Shootout. Rick Laubach won the 358 modified portion of New Egypt's Rocktoberfest weekend to claim the $4,000 to prize.

Ricci King of the Catskills

Rich Ricci, who just missed out on winning his 11th Accord Speedway championship, added yet another notch to his amazing list of accomplishments with another win in the King of the Catskills 100 at Accord. The win, which was part of the RoC Dirt Tour, was worth $5,000 to Ricci. Brett Hearn, Danny Tyler, Chuck McKee, and Billy Van Pelt rounded out the top 5. Pat Ward stretched his RoC points lead with a 6th place finish.

More SDW News and Tidbits

Here's a picture of Paul Gilardi's big block that he'll enter in the Rite-Aid 200 at Super Dirt Week.

Looks like this will more than likely be Steve Paine's last season running the entire Super Dirt Series, tentative plans right now are to do limited traveling while running Canandaigua and Black Rock weekly.

The Super Dirt Series has posted a press release highlights the Super Dirt Week Rite-Aid 200 entry list, here's the link. http://www.superdirtcarseries.com/News/2008/October/100208_SD_RiteAid200field.aspx

Including the news from the press release, here's my updated Rite-Aid 200 Pre-Entry list, obviously this is just from me talking to drivers, so plans could have changed, and drivers not on the list could end up going.

*= Eligible for Thursday's Futures Race

#02 Roy Bresnahan*

#1 Bobby Varin
#1H David Hebert

#FX1 Frankie Caprara

#1J Alan Johnson

#2 Ronnie Johnson

#3 Justin Haers

#4 Duane Howard

#7x Steve Paine

#9s Matt Sheppard

#12A Jack Johnson

#14 Rick Laubach

#19 Tim Fuller

#20 Brett Hearn
#21 Donnie Corellis

#21m Bob McGannon

#24 Patrick Dupree*
#24 Chris Shultz

#26 Ryan Godown

#29 Jeff Brownell

#32c Vic Coffey

#34 Andy Bachetti
#35 Jason Barney

#35 Mike Perrotte

#37 Jason Herrington*

#37x Tommy Scheetz*

#m40 Mark Forte Jr*

#41 Shawn Reimert

#42p Pat Ward

#43 Keith Flach

#44 Frank Cozze

#44 Stewart Friesen

#44s Matt Sheppard

#45 Wayne Jelley

#48too Dave Rauscher*

#49 Billy Dunn

#53 Ric Hill*

#55 Mitch Gibbs

#56 Vince Vitale

#62R Ron Smoker

#66 Vince Gagliaro*

#J66 Danny Johnson

#77x Dale Planck

#83 Brian Swartzlander*

#84 Gary Tomkins

#87 Hector Stratton*

#87x Paul Gilardi*

#88 Steve Hulsizer

#88 J.R. Heffner

#91 Billy Decker

#98 Eddie Marshall

#98H Jimmy Phelps

#99 Ryan Phelps

#99 Larry Wight*

#115 Kenny Tremont

Duane Howard's SDW Paint Job...

This is a picture of Duane Howard's big block that he'll be running in the Rite-Aid 200. Thanks to Chris Noble for sending it out.

Wago Crown Jewel Fantasy League Standings Updates, Coleates in lead

Here are the updated standings! http://jw4.proboards85.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=245&page=1