Bunch of Tidbits

Sorry guys for the lack of updates lately, things are still pretty busy over on my end. I'll try to do a better job of keeping up.

As I'm sure you guys know, Cayuga County Fair Speedway has tentatively ended their points season, naming Jimmy Phelps the 2011 Cayuga County Fair Speedway champion. The facility may reopen later in the season, and will for sure open for the Super DIRTcar Series race on September 4th, and also for the 358 DIRTcar Series race during Super DIRT Week on October 5th.

Jimmy Chester has been driving the Wescott Racing #71 big block modified formally driven by a bevy of drivers. Chester and the team will run a limited schedule the rest of the year. Jimmy's own #44 team will be debuting soon, running weekly at Delaware International Speedway. Chester's 16-year old son will run a second big block car as well.

I see a lot of people asking about Danny Johnson and the Mike Petruska team. Billy Pauch drove for Mike Petruska at Bridgeport Speedway for the twin-25s last Wednesday, but that was only because Danny Johnson was racing at Granby that night. It was a one-off deal for Pauch. The Petruska Race Team had previously planned to not run the Quebec races, which is why Johnson was driving for Mike Payne at those events. Johnson is still with the Petruska team, and he will continue to split his time the rest of the year between the Mike Payne team, and the Mike Petruska team.

Stewart Friesen will drive for Blewett Motorsports at the Friends of Mike event at New Egypt Speedway, teaming with Jimmy Blewett for the race. There are quite a few drivers expected to invade the Friends of Mike race, as Orange County will be running small blocks that night instead of big blocks, and Grandview will be running in a non-points event. Canandaigua also has off that night.

Bob McGannon, who picked up the feature win a few weeks ago at Orange County Fair Speedway, has announced he'll make another assault on Super DIRT Week with his big block modified in October.

Clinton Mills will no longer be an Orange County Fair Speedway regular. Mills and the Gary Edwards Racing #21 team will be running a specials-only schedule the rest of the year, starting at Fonda Speedway for their Thunder Series race coming up. Mills will continue to drive his own #43 at Accord on Friday nights.

Dickie Larkin returned to competition last night. He will compete in all the 358 events at Lebanon Valley Speedway this season, driving for Steve Daniels. Larkin was running in the top 5 when he dropped out of the event after starting deep in the field.

Doug Manmiller has parted ways with the Roger Updegrove Racing big block modified team he's been driving for over part-time over the last 7-seasons. Ray Swinehart has been announced as Manmiller's replacement. Manmiller still plans on entering select big block events with the Josh Biever Racing small block he runs weekly at Grandview Speedway.

Colt Harris will be on vacation next week, so veteran Danny Erb will drive the family-owned Colt Harris crown7 at Big Diamond Speedway in Tuesday's RoC Dirt Tour event.

Gary Balough's Super DIRT Week car is about $10,000 short on making it onto the track this tear. Balough worked over the winter on a home-built car to tackle the mile and hoped to land a big name driver for Super DIRT Week.

Zach Aubertine drove Mike Mandigo's small block modified on Friday night at Can Am. Engine problems on Aubertine's zero3 modified forced him to borrow the Mandigo car. Aubertine plans on running his own equipment this Friday night.