Meitzler Teams with Stankiewicz

After a few trial-runs at the end of the 2010 season, rising star Addison Meitzler will take over driving duties of the Rich Stankiewicz Motorsports #2 358 modified for weekly competition at Grandview Speedway. The team released Keith Brightbill towards the end of the 2010 racing season and ran a few drivers in the final shows of the year on the Pennsylvania circuit.

Cow Patty Nation is reporting the Ryan Godown will return to the seat of the JR Motorsports R1 in 2011. We expect an announcement on Godown's plans soon.

I have updated the silly season chart and the driver chart for 2011.

Going Away Until After Christmas...

Just letting you guys know that there will be no posts here until after Christmas. As always, the chat box is open! I won't be around at all to answer e-mails or anything until then either. Have a great holiday season everyone!

Heotzler in with Grasso 19 Racing

Jeff Heotzler will take over the Grasso 19 Racing modified seat that was vacated by Ronnie Johnson for the 2011 season. Heotzler announced on his website that he will take over driving duties for weekly competition at Accord Speedway in 2011 with the team.

Higbie/Petruska Racing Part Ways

Jerry Higbie will not return to the seat of the Mike Petruska Racing #66 modified team in 2011 after all. Jerry Higbie posted on his Facebook page that he will not return to the seat of the Petruska Racing team after winning 4 track championships, and two 5-figure victories (Eastern States 200 in 2009, and the Hard Clay Challenge in 2010). We'll see what else we can dig up, but right now all we know is Jerry Higbie will not be back with the team next year.

EDIT: Look at T W's post in the chat box to the right for what Jerry posted on his Facebook.

Thursday Tidbits

All rumors are pointing towards Jeff Strunk taking over the Norm Hansell 357 in 2011. It was previously noted on here, posted a few times on South Jersey Dirt Racing, Area Auto Racing News mentioned it looking that way, and even it was mentioned in our chat box (thanks strunk fan). There's still no announcement, but don't be surprised when the announcement states Jeff Strunk as the new driver.

South Jersey Dirt Racing reported about a month ago that Jimmy Blewett was moving up to big block modifieds in 2011. I'm way behind but I can confirm that Blewett will be moving up to run big block modifieds at New Egypt Speedway. He'll continue to race asphalt, so he won't be at New Egypt every weekend. Expect to see him hit the road a little bit too with his dirt modifieds.

Cow Patty Nation reports that Beer City Racing is selling out, and Jason Hamilton is now without a ride due to a lack of help.

Danny Varin to Masagarus Racing

Danny Varin will take over driving duties of the Masagarus Racing #93 big block modified for weekly competition at Fonda Speedway in 2011. Varin was let go by Dover Brakes Racing at the conclusion of the 2010 season (which was the first official piece of silly season we received this off-season) as the team could no longer afford to run 2 cars every week. Varin and Masagarus teamed up in this year's Outlaw 200 at Fulton Speedway and had a solid run, and the duo ran together in the past as well. Brian Weaver, who took over for Mark Kislowski early in 2010 season with the Masagarus Racing big block modified for competition at Utica Rome Speedway, will remain with the Randy Decker Racing team for weekly competition at Five Mile Point Speedway and other specials with the team, and will also run for the Ron Dieffenbach/Chris Weaver owned team in specials as well. As previously reported, Danny Varin will start the season off driving a second Kenny Saya owned car at Volusia in February.

Volusia Update

There are just 2 month until the big block modifieds take to the speedway for the first time in 2011 at Volusia Speedway. Not much yet, but already there are a few drivers that have announced they're going to the Florida Dirt Car Nationals. Matt Sheppard, Jeff Brownell, Brett Hearn, Willy Decker, and running as teammates; Bobby and Danny Varin have all announced their plans to race at Volusia in February.

I'll be making my first trip down to Volusia as well, so I hope to see some of you guys there!

Driver Chart Updated

I added Scott Duell, Michael Weinert (thank you Brad Keitsock), and Zach Aubertine to the 2011 driver chart page. Also remember to keep checking out the silly-season chart to keep track of everything going on over the off-season.

Kormann Going Big Block Racing

Randy Kane reports and confirms that Eric Kormann will be moving up to go big block modified racing in 2011. Kormann was one of the top crate drivers at Bridgeport Speedway over the past few seasons. Frank DiAntino will be the owner of Kormann's car in the future. The team will run weekly at Delaware International Speedway with Bridgeport Speedway not running big blocks weekly next season. Kormann will also travel with the team to races at Grandview, Selinsgrove, Hagerstown, Georgetown and possibly other tracks next season. The team will also have a crate motor and a small block at their disposal to race throughout the season as well.

Godown/Hansell Part Ways

Off-season news continues to pile up as Area Auto Racing News reports that Ryan Godown and Norm Hansell Motorsports have parted ways. Godown still does not have any plans confirmed yet, but his name is being mentioned with the JR Motorsports ride, which is believed to be open (although not confirmed) after a below average season with Rick Laubach behind the wheel of the car. As for Norm Hansell Motorsports, it appears that Jeff Strunk may be the leading candidate for the ride. Hansell and Strunk partnered up in the past for a Thunder on the Hill Series race late in the season a few years ago. Stay tuned for updates on both Godown and Hansell for 2011.

Gular Signs with JSG Motorsports

Area Auto Racing News confirmed via Brett Deyo's article that the 2010 Penn Can Speedway big block modified track champion, Mike Gular, will take over driving duties for the JSG Motorsports #3g small block modified. Gular will pilot the car in special shows only throughout Pennsylvania and New York, starting with Selinsgrove Speedway in March. Gular will continue to drive his self-owned #53 weekly at Penn Can and Grandview Speedway. Kerry Kratz drove for JSG Motorsports the last time they ran a full season, which was 2009. The team ran a few races with Kratz this past season, and also had Gular run a race late in the season.

Keith Hoffman Staying Put

Keith Hoffman, despite losing his ride and thinking about sitting out in 2011, will be racing next season. Hoffman will run weekly at Big Diamond Raceway in his own equipment. Expect Hoffman to focus solely on Big Diamond Raceway and not do much traveling at all.

Herrington Staying in Mods; Varin Update

Despite what I posted yesterday, Bobby Herrington has confirmed that the young star will stay in 358 modifieds in 2011. There's still a chance he could do some open wheel stuff later in the year.

Danny Varin still doesn't have a ride for the 2011 season, but he does have a ride for Volusia Speedway in mid-February. Danny Varin will drive as a teammate to his dad in the Kenny Saya owned #10 big block modified.

Marburger Selling Out

Cow Patty Nation has reported and confirmed that Grandview Speedway regular, Todd Marburger, is selling all his equipment and getting out of racing. Marburger was a fan favorite at Grandview Speedway aboard his self owned #18 small block modified. We wish Todd the best in regards to his future, and hope to see him at the track as a fan throughout the season.

Tidbits

As I've had posted on the silly season chart for a little while now, it looks almost certain that Glenn Strunk will take over the Gagliardo Motorsports 41 in 2011. Jeff Strunk is currently a free agent. As you can see in the chat box, strunk fan posted that he's heard that Jeff will reunite with a former owner. Honestly, I haven't heard anything about that, but I'll see what I can try to dig up.

JSG Motorsports has announced it's 2011 driver. Look for the announcement in Brett Deyo's column in this week's issue of Area Auto Racing News.

South Jersey Dirt Racing and Cow Patty Nation have both had posts in some way claiming that it looks like Ryan Godown and Norm Hansell have parted ways. I haven't heard anything on this, but once again, I'll try to see what I can dig up.

Dan Hineline's plans are posted on the driver chart. He's currently the only driver on the driver chart. With all the question marks going on in the racing world, don't expect a whole lot of guys on the driver chart until some schedules start coming out.

It looks like young Canadian rising star Bobby Herrington will be moving to 360 sprint cars in 2011. He doesn't plan on doing any modified racing.

Finally, I know I haven't done the best job to this point this off-season at getting news for you guys. Finals are next week, after that, I'll be able to put a lot more effort into trying to gather news for you guys. Thanks for being patient with me!

Paul Klager to Modifieds

Mod-lite Merrittville Speedway champion Paul Klager will make the move from mod-lites to 358 modified in 2011. The announcement came from OntarioOval.com. Klager will drive for Brian Simms and the duo will run weekly at Merrittville Speedway, and hopes to run Humberstone Speedway, as long as the track continues to run 358 modifieds weekly. An interview with Klager is available on Ontario Oval's website.

Also, as I'm sure you all know, I forgot to mention the new stuff with the Glenn Donnelly track. In an interview with Area Auto Racing News's Lenny Sammons, the track will cost an estimated $25 million. The track's main focus will be the dirt track, but they'll have other forms of entertainment available as well. Ground will break on the track in June of this year. There's some more exciting news coming out about Glenn, hopefully fairly soon, that I'm not at liberty to tell yet. Stay tuned to DIRT's website, Gater Racing News, and Area Auto Racing News.

Race Track Tidbits

I try not to post a whole lot of race track stuff, just because it's easier for me to just to driver stuff, but it's been a slow off-season to this point, so, here's a rundown of stuff.

As I said in my last post, Devils Bowl Speedway and Albany-Saratoga Speedway have dropped modifieds from their headline class. Crate sportsman will be the new headline division at the track. No word on if the modifieds might run a special or two there at some point in the season.

Dirt Track Digest has reported a bunch of Humberstone Speedway rumors. It appears that they will not run 358 modifieds every other week like they did last year, but that's not confirmed. There's also a rumor that the track, which operates on Sunday nights, may run on Friday nights. Both of those are just rumors, but the second one seems very unlikely.

Brett Deyo has announced a 4-race series that will run 3 races at Penn Can Speedway and 1 race at Five Mile Point Speedway. It looks like some of his races will also be RoC Dirt Tour races. The season will be highlighted by an $8,000 to win race at Penn Can in June.

Look for the RoC Tour to add at least 1 more track to the schedule, a Pennsylvania track, but don't be surprised if that add another race or track to the schedule in New York as well to cancel out the travel for teams.

South Jersey Dirt Racing broke the news that Bridgeport Speedway will not run modifieds every week in 2011. It looks like they won't run any kind of set schedule (modifieds), and will have crate sportsman be the headline class every week. Modifieds will still run special shows during the year. There's also the possibility that they could run the modifieds on a once-a-month basis, or even every other week, but those scenarios seem unlikely.

Dirt Track Digest reported a while ago that Capital City Speedway is thinking about going switching from asphalt to dirt with 358 modified driver Eric Gauvreau being one of the people involved in the purchase. The track would run Thursday nights. This would give the Quebec drivers another place to run on a weekend, to make up for Autodrome Edelweiss closing (which was reported on here towards the end of the season).

Finally, since the majority of people wanted more races in the poll for the 2011 Club Wago Crown Jewel Fantasy League, all the races that pay $8,000 or more to win will now be on the schedule. Thanks for the support everyone!

Modifieds Gone from Albany and Devil's Bowl

Budget sportsman will take over as the new headline division at CVRA tracks Devils Bowl Speedway and Albany-Saratoga Speedway in 2011. The small-block modified divisions will be scrapped. 2010 was the first season in a long time that the tracks ran with an asphalt surface. Kenny Tremont won both track championships. Look for Airborne to gain a lot of cars from this announcement, and also look for a few of the teams to get out of modified racing.