Afton Speedway Returns

Afton Speedway will return to weekly action for the first time since 2006 in 2009. Afton Speedway will reopen for weekly Friday night action with 358 modifieds highlighting the card. In 2007 Afton ran one race for the sportsman division, and sat idle in 2008. Stay tuned for updates. Dave and JoAnne Rocket will promote the track. This story came from last week's Area Auto Racing News.

Pauch Takes Final Feature of '09, Laubach Garden Champ; Parts Peddler Shots and Tidbits...

Billy Pauch ended his season on a high note by winning the season finale for modifieds in 2008, which was run at the Georgetown Speedway. Pauch picked up $3,000 for his win. Rick Laubach picked up a top 10 finish after having problems with the right front wheel on the car early in the feature, which was more than enough to be crowned the 2008 New Jersey Garden State Dual Track Series champion.

The Parts Peddler is going on in Syracuse this weekend, there are a few 2009 paint schemes. Michael Storms, Jimmy Phelps, Billy Decker, and Pete Bicknell have cars on display. Go to www.dougsdirtdiary.com and click on the photo bin to look through photos from the show.

Jason Rivers, who ran in the Crate Sportsman division at Bridgeport Speedway the past few seasons, is the latest driver to announce his intentions on moving up to the big block division in 2009. Rivers ran a big block show at Bridgeport, and raced at Georgetown earlier today in the big block division as well. He'll run Bridgeport weekly, and do some limited traveling in 2009.

Ransomville and 358 Super Dirt Series regular and up-and-comer Tommy Flannigan has a new ride for 2009. Flannigan will be driving for noted, long time car owner Mike Maroney, who fielded cars most notably for Alan Johnson and Stewart Friesen. Maroney helped Flannigan out with loaning him a motor for Eastern States Weekend, and liked what he saw. Flannigan will run almost the exact same schedule in 2009 as he did in 2008 with his new team.

Southern Modified Update; Modified Finale This Weekend

Georgetown Speedway will host the final race of the 2008 season for modifieds with the Turkey Chase being run tomorrow. This will be Georgetown's third race of the season, Richie Pratt and HJ Bunting won the first two.

The Southern Modified Series (information available at usmod.net) is currently looking for sponsorship. The deal will be run in 2009, but the more sponsors the more money that can be paid out to the drivers, and the more the series can bring to the table while looking for new venues. Currently, The Rock, Elkins Speedway, and Potomac Speedway are the first three tracks to jump on board. It looks as if Winchester could be the next to jump on board. Tentatively, the races will pay $1,500 to win and $100 to start, again, that's coming out of the promotors pockets, the more sponsors that come on board the more that increases.

Tim O'Brien News

Tim O'Brien, who had a solid season this past year at the Brockville Speedway, will be driving for Jim Primrose in 2008. Primrose owned the #95 driven by Mark Hitchcock over the past few years. Hitchcock retired after the season finale at Brockville this past season. 

Check This Out

Found this on the South Jersey Dirt Racing message board, check it out!

http://www.usmod.net/

Strunk with Gagliardo; Other tidbits...

As stated on here, and South Jersey Dirt Racing, it has been rumored that Jeff Strunk would take over the seat of the Gagliardo Racing #41, driven over the past 2 seasons by Shawn Reimert. Now, we've recieved reports that the deal is official, and that the team has bought at least one new Teo already for 2009. Not only will this allow Jeff Strunk to continue to run Big Diamond and Grandview weekly, but it will also allow him to run in big block shows with the same team, and even do more traveling than he has over the past few years.

Shawn Reimert currently is searching for a ride, and now throws his name into the free agent pool with Tim Fuller, Jimmy Horton, Jason Hamilton, Doug Hoffman, Keith Brightbill, and Danny Erb. Stay tuned for updates.

Looks as if 1999 Grandview Speedway modified champion, Terry Meitzler, will have another Meitzler racing against him on Saturday nights. Terry's son, Addison, is planning on running weekly at Grandview in the modified division in 2009.

Georgetown Postponed; Bridgeport Cancelled

Georgetown Speedway has postponed their racing for tonight, and isntead will run next Saturday. That race will now be called the Turkey Chase, because Bridgeport Speedway, which is owned by Jay James who is trying to buy Georgetown Speedway, has cancelled their event because of the Georgetown rain out.

I can understand where Mr. James is coming from by choosing to run Georgetown that weekend instead of Bridgeport. Georgetown's two races have been packed as fans attend the track in an attempt to revive the big 1/2 mile, however, it is very disappointing to the fans and Bridgeport's faithful drivers. We'll have to see how this one turns out. I, for one, was without a doubt going to Bridgeport and was going to be meeting up with quite a few friends from New York that were planning on attending Bridgeport for the first time, now, they will call 2008 a season, and I'm still uncertain if I'll go to Georgetown or not. We'll have to see how this one plays out.

Racing This Weekend; Tidbits

Well, we're coming down to the wire. Just two races left in the entire northeast for dirt modified racing. Georgetown Speedway runs this weekend. Their feature event will be highlighted by the big block modifieds racing for $2,500 to win on Saturday night.

It was recently announced that Tim Fuller won't return to the John Lazore Racing #19 big block modified, we've recently learned that Jessica Zemken will run the big block at Volusia in February. Zemken drove for Lazore in the second half of 2008 after she left the LaSalle Motorsports team.

We've recently recieved news of two drivers moving up to the modified ranks in 2009, from the sportsman division. Jason Rood will be racing big blocks weekly at Utica Rome in 2009, and will more than likely also do some select traveling, and Marc Herman will run weekly in the big block division at New Egypt next season. Herman will make his big block debut next weekend at Bridgeport Speedway. Brad Alger, the 2008 RoC Dirt Tour sportsman champion will also be moving up to the big block modified division at Utica Rome. Finally, teenager Mike Barone will be moving up from the crate sportsman class to the big block modified division full-time in 2009, Barone's cousin Don runs part-time at Bridgeport in the big block division, and Mike made one big block start this past season at Bridgeport.

Doug Flurer, owner of the Jason Hamilton #16 that won the Forrest Rogers Memorial in 2007, and won two features in 2008, has sold out of the sport. Flurer was one of the most underrated owners in the sport over the years, and had successful seasons with Rick Laubach in the past as well. That news was reported to us by Brett Deyo in this week's Area Auto Racing News.

Look for Shawn Reimert to not be back with the Gagliardo race team in 2009. Former driver of the #41, Keith Brightbill and Jeff Strunk are the front runners thus far. Vince Gagliardo will still wheel the #66 in 2009, and expect to see Brian Gagliardo, who ran the 358 race at Syracuse run a few shows as well next season.

Final Club Wago Crown Jewel Fantasy League Standings

Here are the final Fantasy League standings
http://jw4.proboards85.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=248&page=1

Special thanks goes Zach Aubertine, Jeremy Holt, Danny Varin, and Wayne Jelley for donating prizes for the league. Also I'd like to thank the 33 people that participated in the fantasy league, hope to see you guys play again! Thank you! Below is the list of the top 5 finishers and what they won.

Top 5-Prizes
1st Troy Berger- 2009 Season Pass to a track of his choice, Jeremy Holt t-shirt, ClubWago.com t-shirt, Danny Varin t-shirt
2nd Chris Moyer- Wayne Jelley hat & bumper sticker, Danny Varin t-shirt, Jeremy Holt t-shirt, ClubWago.com t-shirt.
3rd Jim Weaknecht- Jeremy Holt t-shirt, ClubWago.com t-shirt
4th Doug Keitsock- ClubWago.com t-shirt
5th Roy Sheeler- ClubWago.com t-shirt

Manmiller and Utica Rome Updates

Area Auto Racing News' Jeff Withey and Randy Kane have both informed me that it's a done deal, Doug Manmiller will be behind the wheel of the Dick Biever owned #14 small block modified at Big Diamond Raceway in 2009. Rick Laubach will continue to drive the car on Saturday nights and in specials throughout the year. Stay tuned for updates.

Also, Utica Rome announced that they will be running big blocks in 2009, with weight breaks for the small block modifieds. Also, they announced that the weekly winner's purse will increase to $2,000 to win.

Laubach and Hearn Have $10,000 Pay Days at Hagerstown

Rick Laubach took advantage of Brett Hearn's misfortune in the small block portion of Octoberfest at Hagerstown Speedway, as Hearn broke while leading late in the 100-lap feature which opened the door for Laubach to pick up the $10,000 win. Matt Sheppard started 20th on the field and finished second with break problems.

In big block action, it was all Brett Hearn, as he dominated the big block 100 lap feature and picked up the $10,000 grand prize.

This was the Club Wago Crown Jewel Fantasy League Finale, we're waiting on official results to post the final standings. Thanks to everyone for playing, and especially to Danny Varin, Jeremy Holt, Wayne Jelley, and Zach Aubertine for donating prizes. Remember, the winner of the Fantasy League will win a Wayne Jelley hat, a Jeremy Holt t-shirt, a Danny Varin t-shirt, and a season pass for 2009 to a track of their choice.

Mike Mahaney Finishes First, but Cartwright wins $3,000; Hagerstown Update

Black Rock's $3,000 to win small block feature looked like it was all Mike Mahaney, as he led the final 20 laps to pick up what looked like his first career win. However, he was DQed post-race, which handed the win and the $3,000 to the underrated Ron Cartwright Jr.

Hagerstown Speedway has had their qualifying. On their website, they have a lineup listed with just numbers (not names.) We do know that David Van Horn will be on the pole in the big block feature driving Rusty Smith's #2 big block. In the small block modifieds, Brett Hearn will be on the pole.

This Weekend In Racing; RIP Fran Purcell

It was recently reported that long-time car owner and fan favorite, Fran Purcell, passed away after a long battle with cancer. Purcell owned small block modifieds at the Big Diamond Raceway for as long as I can remember. This season Ryan Watt drove the famous #6 car, and picked up a win opening night at Big Diamond Raceway. We offer our condolences to the friends of family, he'll surely be missed. 

This weekend Hagerstown Speedway and Black Rock Raceway have their races which were rescheduled from two weeks ago. Black Rock will have small block modifieds highlighting their card with a $3,000 to win show, the special part of this race is that fact that all the divisions in attendance will be time trialing for the first time in track history. Hagerstown Speedway has the final race of the Club Wago Crown Jewel Fantasy League scheduled for this weekend, as big block and small block modifieds each have 100-lap features paying $10,000 to win (both races count for the fantasy league.) Black Rock runs tonight (Saturday), and Hagerstown will run heats and consis this afternoon, with the 100-lap small block modified feature, 100 lap late model feature, 100 lap big block modified feature, and 50 lap 410 sprint feature being run on Sunday, again, each will pay $10,000 to win. 

I'm at the University of Pitt right now visiting a friend for the weekend, which is why I've been behind on updating, look for the next update to be on Sunday night! 

Oley PA Residents Shine in Delaware State Championship Weekend

Two Oley Pennsylvania drivers shared victories at the Delaware International Speedway for the Delaware State Championships. Craig Von Dohren picked up $4,500 for his win in the small block 50 lap feature on Saturday afternoon, and Duane Howard won $6,500 after passing Wade Hendrickson early in the feature to go on and win the 50 lap big block feature.

Few notes on driver's in special rides for the show. Billy Pauch Jr drive the Will Brown owned #1w in the big block division to a strong 6th place finish, and Sammy Wescott drove the Richie Pratt owned #28 big block. In small block action, Shawn Reimert piloted the Chris James owned #ONE modified, and Ryan Godown drove the #19 Tom Umbenhauer car, the same car he'll race next weekend at Hagerstown Speedway due to the fact that Johnny Rea's #R1 lost a motor at New Egypt in early October.