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RoC Dart Dirt Schedule Set; 2008 Mod Champion To Earn $7,000 |
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03/11/08 -
BINGHAMTON, NY - As the 2008 Race of Champions Dart Dirt Modified Series gets set to green this Saturday at the Selinsgrove Speedway the upcoming season is quickly taking shape. Nine races will dot the ’08 Modified schedule with some higher paying events along with an increased point fund at seasons end.
The nine race schedule will see only one region intact for this season with three season ending events to determine the overall title in ’08. Many of the teams indicated at the end of last season that they preferred a one region point race. This years schedule is suited perfectly to accomplish just that. Teams are not required to travel any further south than Selinsgrove and only as far north at Utica Rome Speedway.
With uncertain economical trends in the nation the tour will require teams to travel less while receiving some better paying events closer to home. The point fund will also be a better situation for teams with the overall champion earning a cool $7,000 for only nine races.
The series will feature six events during the summer month with the traditional point distribution structure in place from years past. Three fall combination events will pay a minimum of $5,000 to win at each and will award championship points. The championship points will be roughly a one and a half point distribution. The driver leading the points after the six summer events will receive a $1,000 bonus as well. Should that driver go on to win the overall title the championship cash would swell to $8,000.
Series Director Andrew Harpell commented, “This could be the best schedule we have had with the Race of Champions Dart Dirt Series.” He added, “Every race on the schedule is obtainable for teams in the northeast. The Pennsylvania and New Jersey weekly Saturday night teams now have no conflicts on any of the events scheduled.” “I feel our schedule gets us back to our original intention of providing manageable events for the weekly race teams.”
The ’08 schedule has either the races slated prior to their opening dates or they are on off days. Southern drivers like Jeff Strunk and Jimmy Horton once again have the opportunity to compete for the title without scheduling conflicts. The two have both had success on the tour in the past but scheduling date conflicts made it difficult to follow the entire tour in ’07.
This Saturday the Race of Champions Dart Dirt Modified Tour goes green at the Selinsgrove Speedway in Pennsylvania. The historic Sprint Car facility will play host to the Modified stars for the first time since 1982. A 50 lap $4,000 to win minimal payday will be up for grabs. Loads of bonus money and contingency awards will be on the line as well. A rain date is in place for this Sunday, March 16th if needed.
The tour will then head to the Utica Rome Speedway for the annual RoC Mother’s Day special. This event has been one of the best on the trail in the past years. This year’s race will pay $10,000 to the race winner and a cool $1,000 to take the green in what is being headlined as the “Victoria” event.
Five Mile Point Speedway will host two summer RoC Dart dirt events on Tuesday, July 8th and Wed. August 6th. Both events will be 75 lappers paying $4,000 to the winner. Once again neither event is a conflict on any of the northeast Modified schedules. Utica Rome Speedway will “up the ante” again on Wednesday, July 23rd with the Richie Evans Remembered 61 lap special. The 61 lap race will pay $6,100 to the winner. The popular Penn Can Speedway will return to the fold on Tuesday, July 29th with a 75 lap special paying $4,000 to the victor.
The fall combination races will settle the 2008 point championship with three – one hundred lap affairs paying $5,000 to the winner of each. All three events are on short tracks that will again level the playing field while requiring less wear and tear on the team’s motors. On Sunday, September 14th Penn Can Speedway will host its annual “King of the Can”. The 100 lap affair has been outstanding in each of the last two year’s with the locals posting big wins over the invaders.
Accord Speedway will crown yet another King on Friday, September 26th with the running of the “King of the Catskills” 100 lapper. The recently renovated and bigger facility will certainly lend itself to fantastic side by side action in this fall favorite.
The 38th running of the Southern Tier 100 will settle the score in the Race of Champions Dart Dirt Modified Tour on Saturday, October 25th. The historic National Quarter Mile Dirt Track Championship Weekend will also see the RoC Dart Sportsman title settled on Friday night in a 100 lap special. Stewart Friesen won last years 100 lap RoC finale at the quarter mile.
Series Director Andrew Harpell commented lastly, “We are calling the 2008 RoC Dart Series the “Less is More Tour” as we have less travel for the teams, with better paying races and a better point fund.” In this era of short track racing the 2008 concept is refreshing for everyone involved.
For information on the Race of Champions Dart Dirt Modified Tour information please call the tour offices at (607) 775-5555 or log on to www.rocdirt.com for more.
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