And We're Back

Let's jump right back into it.

Big Diamond and Georgetown have both released their schedules. Expect a ton of schedule releases within the next week.

Grandview Speedway has announced the Freedom 76er will pay $25,000 in 2013, an increase of $5,000 from the winner's purse before the 50th anniversary special.

Norm Hansell and Jeff Strunk have officially parted ways. Both sides claim that they do not have anything lined up for 2013, but expect Hansell to hire a driver that is not currently racing modifieds, and don't be surprised to see Strunk run Bridgeport

Canadian sportsman stars Daniel Nadeau and Ryan Arbuthnot will be moving up to modifieds in 2013. Nadeau has purchased a big-block and a small block and will do some traveling alone with running weekly at Granby. Arbuthnot will run weekly at Cornwall.

Nadeau will kick his season off at Volusia. Mario Clair has also announced he'll once again head south in February.

Mike Mahaney has partnered up with Deek Decker's DEUCE ride for competition at Fulton in 2013. Decker has had a wide variety of drivers in his car over the past few seasons.

Mahaney will also run I-88 Speedway in 2013 as opposed to Brewerton.

Merry Christmas!

Just wanted to take a second to wish a very Merry Christmas to everyone! Have a wonderful holiday with your loved ones!

Minor Update

Rolling Wheels has released their 2012 schedule. The schedule can be viewed here, http://rollingwheelsraceway.com/roktabsedit/114-2013-rolling-wheels-schedule

Katelyn Kane will be moving up to the modified division full-time in 2013. Kane entered select 358 races towards the end of the 2012 season.

Wednesday Update

Bill Hewlett will return to car ownership in 2013 with Eric Kormann behind the wheel of the famous 901 big-block. Hewlett scaled back in recent years to a sponsor/engine provider, most recently providing engines for Ron John Koczon in 2012.

Kormann and Hewlett will run a specials-only schedule beginning at Volusia in February. As for weekly racing, Kormann will return to the seat of the D'Ambrosio Racing #16s for weekly competition at Bridgeport.

Tim Apgar will be making the jump to modified racing in 2013. The sportsman veteran will run weekly at New Egypt Speedway.

Dom Buffalino is the first New Egypt regular to officially announce he'll jump ship to Bridgeport in 2013 following the announcement that New Egypt will run small blocks weekly.

Big Diamond has announced they will host a $7,500 to win big-block race on April 5th.

Autodrome Drummond has released their 2013 schedule already, it can be viewed here, http://raceproweekly.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=613:autodrome-drummond-releases-2013-schedule&catid=2:news

Varin to Petruska

Bobby Varin has landed in the Petruska Motorsports #66 for 2013. Varin, who had a solid run going before mechanical problems sidelined him at the Eastern States 200 with the Petruska team, will compete with the team weekly at Orange County Fair Speedway. Expect the team to start the season at Accord Speedway as well, along with select specials.

Varin still remains in the running to take over the Tom Cullen seat for weekly racing at Utica Rome Speedway.

Weekly Tidbit Update; Hyneman, Can Am, Deyo, and More

Hey guys, just wanted to give you a little update. Expect a once-a-week update over the next few weeks. I'll get back into the swing of things a little better later in the off-season, but for now unless some major news breaks it'll mostly be a once-a-week thing.

We'll start off with Glenn Hyneman. I've gotten the go-ahead to release that Duane Howard is all-but-signed with the Hyneman 126 team. The defending Grandview Speedway track champion will continue to drive for Chad Sinon's BPG Racing in weekly competition, but travel with Hyneman. Again, this is not the official announcement, but the announcement shouldn't be too far away.

Can Am Motorsports Park will be going back to running on Friday nights in 2013. The track ran on Saturday nights in 2012.

Speaking of Can Am, there is talk that they may drop the modified division in 2013. The track struggled with car counts in recent years, and Christine Martin has already announced she will run Penn Can instead of Can Am in 2013. Zach Aubertine, the 2011 Can Am modified championship runner-up appears to be leaving the track as well regardless of what they do with the modified division. Look for Aubertine to focus on running the 358 DIRTcar Series while running weekly and Mohawk International Speedway and/or Brockville Ontario Speedway.

Kevin Smith, a former sportsman standout at Big Diamond Speedway who has significantly scaled back on his racing in 2012, will be moving up to the modified division for weekly competition at Big Diamond.

Look for sportsman Super DIRT Week winner Rocky Warner to go big-block racing on a part-time basis in 2013. Warner competed in some big-block events with his sportsman motor towards the end of the season at Glen Ridge.

Brett Deyo has announced 2 dates for races he will promote at Penn Can Speedway for 2013. The first will be the annual RoC Dirt Tour sanctioned "Clash at the Can" on June 11th, and the second will be the $5,000-to-win "King of the Can" on October 18th. Deyo announced a third promotion back in October for June 18th at New Egypt Speedway for the Super DIRTcar Series sanctioned "Dirty Jersey 60."

Also, just wanted to wish a congratulations to our good friend Billy Pauch Jr on his recent marriage!

Hyneman Update, Tidbits

Jeff Strunk will not be in the Hyneman 126 in 2013. However, multiple credible sources have informed me that another one of PA's top modified stars, and a former driver of the 126, will be taking over driving duties of the car. The deal is very close to being official.

Brett Tonkin will be switching his Friday night home to I-88 Speedway for 2013. Tonkin had a great year at Penn Can and Five Mile Point before being suspended from Penn Can for an altercation involving his pit crew. It should be noted that Brett Tonkin was still on the track when all that took place.

Look for the 358 modified division to return to Orange County Fair Speedway on a part-time basis in 2013. Over the last 2 seasons the track has only had 358s for an annual summer date, and also for Eastern States.

The dirt modified season officially ends today when the checkered flag falls at Wall Speedway.

I hope everyone had a very good Thanksgiving!

Tidbits; Winter Bash

Sorry again about the delay in updates over here, been dealing with all kinds of fun things as I'm buying my first house.

Area Auto Racing News has reported that Glenn Hyneman and Billy Pauch have parted ways, and Hyneman hopes to do more racing this year. Jeff Strunk could be a potential driver, but no word on who will take over yet.

Tyler Dippel, who had a fantastic rookie sportsman season, will move up to the modified division at Accord Speedway. Dippel will continue to run sportsman at Orange County.

Christine Martin will be changing her home track in 2013. The former Can Am regular will focus on weekly competition at Penn Can next season.

The season officially comes to an end this season as the dirt modifieds tackle the asphalt at Wall Speedway as part of the popular Turkey Derby weekend, and the big-blocks return to Georgetown Speedway as well. Both events will take place on Saturday, November 24th.

Ray Carroll, who planned on teaming up with Hyneman and Kevin Bilfulco for an assault on Super DIRT Week this past season, is already making plans to field a car by himself for Super DIRT Week 2013. Carroll would like to hire a PA or NJ driver to pilot his big-block.

We will be having a Wago Winter Bash party on January 26th in Beltzner Hall at the Kutztown Fairgrounds in Kutztown, PA. Ticket prices are still being determined, but we'll have plenty of Wago Juice, beer, door prizes, a DJ, and are looking at having some indoor big wheel races as well. I hope to see you all there!

Tim Buckwalter Going Modified Racing

ARDC midget top-runner Tim Buckwalter will be making the jump to modified racing in 2013. Former modified team owner Gary Spotts will be returning to the sport to field modifieds for Buckwalter in weekly competition at Grandview Speedway.

Been Away...

Sorry guys, real-life stuff has gotten in the way lately. May be a few weeks until everything gets settled, so don't expect a ton of updates until probably after Thanksgiving. I will be at Bridgeport both days this weekend and hope to see you guys there.

I've been out of the loop on the news-wire lately, but obviously there's some track news that's pretty old but I never posted on here about it.

New Egypt is dropping big blocks and running small blocks as the headliner, while Big Diamond Speedway and RPM Speedway were both sold. Both tracks will continue to run small blocks as their headline class next season.

Not much else to report right now, sorry!