PEVELY, Mo. – March 3, 2011 – The 2011 racing season in St. Louis comes to life March 24-26 with the DIRTcar Roundup – better known as the “Party in Pevely” – at storied I-55 Raceway.

One of the largest events in short track racing features eight divisions of DIRTcar UMP Racing with drivers from the Midwest and beyond. The high-banked 1/3-mile track, owned by Ray Marler and NASCAR star Ken Schrader, will welcome the special event that is expected to draw hundreds of racecars during the three-day motorsports extravaganza at the facility just 20 miles south of St. Louis on Interstate 55.

Schrader is just one of the headliners scheduled to compete in the huge grassroots racing weekend.

Hundreds of laps of feature racing will be completed on both Friday and Saturday nights. In addition to DIRTcar Late Models, fans will see DIRTcar UMP Modifieds, Pro Late Models, Sportsman, Limited Modifieds, Stock Cars, Factory Stocks and Sport Compacts all scheduled to compete it will be a huge festival of speed.

“The Party in Pevely is a special event for us, and we want to make sure that everything about it is done right for the racers and fans alike,” said World Racing Group President Tom Deery. “This event is all about the competitors who are coming from all over to be a part of this mega-weekend. With an event like this, it’s important that it is held at such a top-notch facility as I-55 Raceway. The phenomenal job that Ray Marler and his staff at I-55 Raceway do makes it possible for us to conduct such a huge schedule of events in one weekend. Every division of cars will race side-by-side throughout the entire event, and the competitors are some of the most approachable racers in the business.”

Competitors and fans from across the region will not only witness a slate of racing that offers tremendous value, but will also have added entertainment and nightly race parties following the on-track activities to highlight the weekend. Schrader and numerous other special guests from throughout the world of motorsports are scheduled to compete for the prized Belt Buckle Trophy and Silver Roundup Platter that have become synonymous with the DIRTcar Roundup.

Make sure to keep up-to-date on the DIRTcar Roundup by visiting http://www.PartyInPevely.com or http://www.I55Raceway.com for schedule, ticket and camping information. DIRTcar Roundup can also be found on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/DIRTcarRoundup.

The excitement of racing in St. Louis returns with the special three-day “Party in Pevely” followed April 2 and April 9 with Super Fast Saturday racing. On Saturday, April 16, “The Greatest Show on Dirt” returns to Pevely when legendary King of the Outlaws Steve Kinser leads the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars into I-55 Raceway for the Spring Classic. Reserved tickets for the April 16 special event are on sale now by calling I-55 Raceway for additional info at (636) 479-3219 or (573) 756-2593.

DIRTcar Roundup ‘Party in Pevely’ Schedule of Events (subject to change)

Thursday, March 24th

9:00 a.m.     Campground Opens

3:00 p.m.     Competitor Registration Opens

Competitor Technical Inspection Begins

5:00 p.m.     Open Practice Begins for All Competitor Divisions

10:00 p.m.   Pits Close

Round Up Tent Opens for Party

Friday, March 25th

10:00 a.m.   Round Up Tent Opens for Breakfast

2:00  p.m.    Competitor Registration Opens

3:00  p.m.    Competitor Technical Inspection Begins

7:00  p.m.    Racing Begins

Late Model Heat Races

UMP Modified Heat Races & D-Main / E-Main Qualifiers

Pro Late Model Heat Races

Sportsman Heat Races & D-Main Qualifier

Limited Modified Heat Races

4-Cylinder Heat Races

Stock Car Heat Races

Factory Stocks Heat Races

10:00 p.m.   Round Up Party Tent Opens with LIVE MUSIC

Saturday, March 26th

10:00 a.m.   Round Up Tent Opens for Breakfast

Noon           Competitor Registration Opens

1:00 p.m.    Competitor Technical Inspection Begins

3:00 p.m.    Charity Weenie Roast

6:00 p.m.    Racing Begins

Late Model C-Main / B-Main Qualifiers

30 Lap Championship Feature

UMP Modified C-Main / B-Main Qualifiers

25 Lap Championship Feature

Pro Late Model C-Main / B-Main Qualifiers

20 Lap Championship Feature

Sportsman C-Main / B-Main Qualifiers

20 Lap Championship Feature

Limited Modified C-Main / B-Main Qualifiers

15 Lap Championship Feature

Stock Car C-Main / B-Main Qualifiers

20 Lap Championship Feature

Factory Stocks C-Main / B-Main Qualifiers

15 Lap Championship Feature

4-Cylinders C-Main / B-Main Qualifiers

15 Lap Championship Feature

10:00 p.m.   Round Up Tent Opens with LIVE MUSIC

Trophy Party & Payoff

Heat 1: Jacob Gallardo, Johnny Scott, Grant Junghans, Royal Jones, Fito Gallardo, Jason Krohn, Garrett Higgins, Eddie Martin, Dusty Riggs, Morgan Bagley

Heat 2: Rodney Sanders, Bumper Jones, Peyton Taylor, Travis Tipton, Holly Jones, Mike Hansen, Lance Mari, Patrick Carney, Josh Cain, Joe Lackey

Heat 3: Jake Boles, Christy Georges, Terry Tipton, Tim Culp, RC Whitwell, Corky Thomas, Jared Landers, Roy Don Mason, Brian Poppa, Dennis Gates

Heat 4: Steve Holzkamper, Paul Banghart, Terry Phillips, Robbie Chiles, Curt Barnett, Greg Jenkins, Sherman Barnett, Jimmy Ray, Martin Robinson, Chris Sims

Heat 5: Steve Miller, Darrell Nelson, Stormy Scott, Dickie Gorham, Tommy Weder Jr., Richie Davis, Nick O’Neal, Steve Sutton, Derek Ramirez, Richie Tosh

Heat 6: Jason Hughes, Alan Sharpensteen, Blake Jegtvig, Jeremy Payne, Bryan Rowland, Philip Houston, Kellen Chadwick, Levi DeMartino, Wesley Summers

Heat 7: Nathan Bischel, Jon Tesch, Kelly Shryock, Mark Dotson, Bob Sikes, Tom Georges, Tristan Sikes, Josh Majek, Bobby Sikes, Ronnie Salas

C-Main1: Whitwell, Hansen, Gorham, Bob Sikes, H. Jones, Chiles, Ray, T. Tipton, T. Sikes, Mari, S. Barnett, T. Georges, Jenkins, Ramirez, Poppa, DeMartino, Carney, Higgins, Bobby Sikes, Lackey, Cain, Sutton

C-Main 2: F. Gallardo, C. Barnett, Payne, Landers, Thomas, Houston, Culp, Krohn, Rowland, O’Neal, Martin, Mason, Bagley, Tosh, Majek, Robinson, Riggs, Summers, Salas, Gates, Davis, Chadwick

B-Main 1: B. Jones, Taylor, T. Tipton, Dotson, S. Scott, Weder Jr., Sharpensteen, Shryock, Banghart, F. Gallardo, C. Barnett, Payne, Junghans, Whitwell, Jegtvig, Landers, Hansen, Thomas, Gorham, H. Jones, Bob Sikes, Houston, Rowland, R. Jones

A-Main: (Top 5 to Sunday’s A-main): Hughes, Phillips, Sanders, J. Scott, Nelson, B. Jones, Tesch, Dotson, Weder Jr., Taylor, S. Scott, Holzkamper, Shryock, Payne, Sharpensteen, Bischel, Banghart, C. Barnett, Tipton, Boles, Georges, J. Gallardo, (NF) F. Gallardo, (NF) Miller (NF)

**69 Modifieds**

15 States Represented (AZ, NM, IA, ND, OK, TX, LA, MO, CA, AR, KS, OR, MN, SD, CO)

Steady rain associated with a cold front that swept across the state of Florida began falling on the half-mile oval around 1 p.m. and continued for several hours, soaking the racing surface and grounds. Officials decided shortly after 3 p.m. to cancel the evening’s planned program.

It was the third rainout in eight nights of the 2010 DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH but marked the first lost show for the DIRTcar UMP Late Model division that invaded Volusia on Monday. The cancellation ended the week of competition for the UMP Modified class, which was a victim of all three rainouts.

With Tuesday’s program scheduled to end the UMP Modified portion of the mid-winter racing extravaganza outside Daytona Beach, Dave Hess Jr. of Waterford, Pa., was declared the division’s 2010 DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH champion.

Four nights of doubleheader action remain for the DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH, highlighted by UMP Late Model events on Wednesday (Feb. 10) and Friday (Feb. 12) and the season-opening World of Outlaws Late Model Series programs on Thursday (Feb. 11) and Saturday (Feb. 13). Each evening’s card will also include the Super DIRTcar Series for big-block Modifieds, which were slated to get in practice laps on Tuesday night.

Tickets purchased for Tuesday night’s rained-out event may be presented for any of the remaining programs during the DIRTcar Nationals. In the event that tickets cannot be used, tickets may be mailed for a refund to Volusia Speedway Park, 1500 E SR 40, DeLeon Springs, FL, 32130.

Following meetings with team owners last November during the World Finals, and comments from fans over the past several years, a new race format and procedures have been adopted to pump even more excitement into The Greatest Show on Dirt. These changes will be under close watch by series officials, who will determine if any adjustments are needed.

The rivalry developing between Donny Schatz and Jason Meyers, the threat that Joey Saldana poses on the heels of his 20-win season and the news that Steve Kinser will be driving for Tony Stewart has anticipation at an all-time high for the 2010 season. And now, the World of Outlaws will become the only major venue in all of open-wheel racing where fans can see double-file restarts from the beginning of the night until the final checkered flag, with the leader being given lane choice. The familiar front-stretch cone will be left in the trailer as the leader will dictate each restart coming out of Turn 4.

In addition to double-file restarts which the series pioneered in the 70s and the elimination of the non-qualifiers race in favor of expanding the number of heat races should the car count dictate, the Dash will also get a facelift. The top two finishers from each heat race, in addition to the two fastest qualifiers who transfer through their heat, will advance to the Dash, which could see as many as 12 starters in a 5-heat format. A qualifying time based inversion of 4, 6 or 8 will determine the Dash lineup, and all drivers in the inversion will be interviewed in front of the crowd. The Dash finish will then set the lineup for the A-main.

Every year we listen to the fans and consider ways to make World of Outlaws events even more exciting, said World Racing Group CEO Brian Carter. There s nothing more breathtaking than the start of a World of Outlaws race. Now, in adopting double-file restarts, every wave of the green flag throughout every race will be an incredible sight as a full field thunders out of Turn 4 and into the first corners side-by-side. World of Outlaws drivers are some of the most skilled racers in motorsports, and this will no doubt showcase their talent.

In an effort to further enhance fans experience, the allotted time in the work area has been reduced to one minute after a damaged car arrives, and under an open red flag only two crew members will be permitted to attend to the car. In time trials, all cars will take two laps no matter how many cars have signed in to race, unless weather is a factor.

One thing that has not changed from the first World of Outlaws race in 1978 is the post-race open pits. Even though at every fan at Volusia can sign in for a complimentary pit pass after purchasing a reserved or general admission ticket, the pits are remain open to everyone at the end of every World of Outlaws race to meet drivers for pictures and autographs.

A full week of Sprint Car action at the DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH kicks off on Feb. 2 with a test session, followed by two nights of racing under the All Star Circuit Champions banner (Feb. 3-4) before the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series takes center stage Friday through Sunday (Feb. 5-7).

Fans can now purchase tickets online by going to http://www.DIRTcarNationals.com, or by calling Volusia Speedway Park at 386-985-4402.

Race fans unable to make the annual trek south to Volusia need not worry. All 12 nights (Feb. 2nd-13th) will air LIVE on www.dirtvision.com beginning approximately at 7 p.m. each night.

The World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Goodyear Tires (Official Tire), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel); in addition to contingency sponsors, Jake s Custom Golf Carts, KSE Race Products, Penske Shocks, Racing Electronics, S&S Volvo; Engine Builder’s Challenge participants Don Ott Racing Engines, Kistler Engines, Shaver Specialties and Speedway Engines; and Chassis Builder s Challenge participants J&J Auto Racing, Maxim Racing and XXX Race Company.

For Mars it was his fourth career Wild West Shootout win, equaling him with Billy Moyer and Steve Francis for second on the all-time list. The series all-time winningest driver remains Terry Phillips, who extended his total to nine earlier in the week.

Mars would lead at the drop of the green as he got the jump on fellow front row starter Rob Mayea as Jeremy Payne, AJ Kirkpatrick and Randy Korte freight trained Frank Heckenast, Jr and raced three wide down the backstretch for third. Payne grabbed the spot on the high side as Kirkpatrick went fourth and Korte rounded out the top five. Heckenast, Jr was now sixth followed by Dean Moore, Steve Drake, Mike Balcaen and Mike Kirby.

The races only caution would appear on lap two for a ten car mêlée in turn two which included Clay Daly, Chris Shannon, Jack Sullivan, Billy Moyer, Will Vaught, Lance Matthees, Pat Doar, Billy Moyer, Jr, Eddie Kirchoff and Rylan Long. All drivers were able to continue, however, under the yellow second place runner Rob Mayea would retire from the event.

When the green reappeared for the Delaware double file restart, Mars again grabbed the lead as Payne slotted second and the scramble was on throughout the top ten. Korte would take third from Kirkpatrick, Heckenast, Jr would get past Moore for fifth and Steve Drake jumped past Balcaen for sixth as the field clicked under the flagstand to complete lap five.

Mars was in firm command as he put a comfortable distance between himself and Payne, while the later also had opened a significant margin on the rest of the field. Balcaen and John Anderson would jump to the high side and begin charging to the front as Balcaen moved from seventh to fourth and Anderson from ninth to fifth. Two other drivers on the move, 16th starting Darrell Nelson and 22nd starter Billy Moyer, Jr would run ninth and tenth respectively with ten in the books.

Mars would begin to experience the back of the field on lap 11 as the shuffling within the top ten remained fluid lap after lap. Mars continued to stretch his lead by lap 15 as Payne remained a comfortable second. Korte would race third, Kirkpatrick fourth and Anderson would round out the top five. Sixth through tenth was occupied by Balcaen, Drake, Moyer Jr, Heckenast, Jr and Moore.

Anderson and take fourth on lap 16 from Kirkpatrick, but Moyer, Jr found the bottom grove to his liking and jumped from eighth to fifth, while the elder Moyer rallied from the tail of the field to run eighth at the half-way point of the 40 lapper.

Moyer, Jr was not done as he cruised past Anderson on lap 21 and Korte just one circuit later to now run a distant third to Mars and Payne. Trouble would begin to set in for Kirkpatrick as he would backslide out of the top ten by lap 25. With 15 to go Mars advantage was half a straightaway plus multiple lap cars over Payne, Moyer, Jr Korte and Anderson, who were followed by Drake, Moyer, Heckenast, Jr, Kirchoff and Balcaen.

Korte and Anderson would resume their high-low battle for fourth with Anderson taking the spot for good on lap 27. The best fight on the speedway as another high-low affair between Drake and Moyer. The two would trade sixth multiple times per lap over the course of ten trips around the 3/8th mile with Drake finally winning out on lap 35. With just five to go, Mars had lapped well into the top fifteen and was quickly approaching tenth running Balcaen.

On this night, no one had anything for Mars as he would lap up to ninth place in a dominating performance to capture the $10,000 Bill Cheesbourg Memorial winners check. Payne settled for second in his best run of the week, while Moyer, Jr. also came home with his best finish of the week in third.

Calvin Catlin raced from the outside of the third row to the lead early in the Factory Stock feature and outran Sherman Barnett for his second consecutive feature win in his #6c car tonight. However, in post race inspection, illegal suspension parts were discovered, stripping Catlin of the win and handing the win to second finishing Sherman Barnett.

Hermitage, Missouri racer Eric Turner climbed into Jeff Sires’ #02 Modified tonight and raced from the pole to lead every lap of the 25-lap UMP DirtCar feature event to become the sixth different winner in the six nights of the 2010 Wild West Shootout. Darrell Nelson, Corky Thomas and Pat Doar raced in a tight three-car pack for second with Paul Banghart and Bumper Jones also in a tremendous battle for fifth. As Turner cruised to the win, Thomas stole second from Nelson with Doar and Bumper Jones rounding out the top five.

A-Main Finish:
Jimmy Mars, Jeremy Payne, Billy Moyer, Jr., John Anderson, Randy Korte, Steve Drake, Billy Moyer, Frank Heckenast, Jr., Eddie Kirchoff, Mike Balcaen, Dean Moore, Chris Shannon, Rylan Long, Brad Williams, AJ Kirkpatrick, Clay Daly, Will Vaught, Lance Matthees, Darrell Nelson, Pat Doar, Mike Kirby, Jack Sullivan, Paul Mueller, Rob Mayea

B-Main 1 Finish:
Jack Sullivan, Will Vaught, Pat Doar, Eddie Kirchoff, Lonnie Parker, Jr., Andrew McKay, Brad Seng, Bill Bartells, Dave Dietz, Ron Bartells, Matt Aukland, John Lowry, Bucky Andrews

B-Main 2 Finish:
Billy Moyer, Lance Matthees, Billy Moyer, Jr., Rylan Long, Rob Sanders, Brant Kehrer, Tyler Reddick, Dan Henrickson, Greg Walters, Joey Moriarty, Shane Simper, Kelly Boen, Terry Phillips

Heat 1:
Balcaen, Williams, Moore, Drake, Mueller, Walters, Henrickson, Simper, Phillips

Heat 2:
Heckenast, Jr., Daly, Kirby, Moyer, Jr., Sanders, Aukland, Kehrer, Moriarty, Seng

Heat 3:
Kirkpatrick, Mayea, Nelson, Long, B. Bartells, R. Bartells, Deitz, Andrews

Heat 4:
Mars, Shannon, Sullivan, Vaught, Parker, Jr., Kirchoff, McKay, Boen

Heat 5:
Korte, Payne, Moyer, Anderson, Matthees, Reddick, Doar, Lowry

Modified Event Results:

A-Main: Turner, C. Thomas, Nelson, Doar, B. Jones, Gallardo, N. O’Neal, Banghart, Ray, Stanford, Ramirez, G. Junghans, Ward, Williamson, Wallace, Karst, A. Turnbull, Georges, Harpole, T. Thomas, R. Jones, C. Junghans, Edginton, Whitwell

Heat 1: Corky Thomas, David Karst, Tim Thomas, Tim Ward, Jimmy Ray, Ryan Engalls, Nick O’Neal, Lance Mari, Brian Graf

Heat 2: Darrell Nelson, Nick O’Neal, Shane Edginton, Anthony Madrid, John Stinson, Dennis Gates, Dennis Haven, Ronnie Salas

Heat 3: Pat Doar, Royal Jones, Fito Gallardo, Jesse Williamson, Christy Georges, RC Whitwell, Shayne Laske, Terry Haven, Derek Ramirez

Heat 4: Paul Banghart, Bumper Jones, Chase Junghans, Greg Jenkins, Grant Junghans, Kenny Wallace, Tyson Turnbull, Cody Skytland

Heat 5: Alex Stanford, Eric Turner, JJ Harpole, Max Sadler, Dickie Gorham, Aaron Turnbull, Dana Fite, Blake Jegtvig

B-Main 1: G. Junghans, A. Turnbull, Ray, Williamson, Jegtvig, T. Turnbull, Jenkins, Laske, Stinson, Mari, T. Haven, Engalls, Graf, J, O’Neal

B-Main 2: Whitwell, Ramirez, Wallace, Georges, Seidler, Sadler, Gorham, Skytland, Fite, Madrid, D. Haven, Gates, Salas

Factory Stock Results

A-Main: Barnett, B. Walton, Romeor, Dingus Morrow, Morehart, Churchwell, Hidalgo, Jurado, Burdick, McEuen, McCarty Jr., L. Walton, Bauman, Leech, Hanes, Dingus Morrow, Catlin

Heat 1: Sherman Barnett, Bill Walton, Brad Moyer, Heath McEuen, Harland Morehart, Derek Morrow, Lance Walton, Manny Romero, Trevor Hidalgo, Dingus Morrow

Heat 2: Calvin Catlin, Terry Churchwell, Bill Wall, Rod Jurado, Josh Burdick, Larry Leech, Steven Hanes, Johnny McCarty Jr., Bryan Bauman

Wallace, a 22 year NASCAR veteran, has not only made a name for himself in the racing world as a successful driver, but has also used his boisterous behavior to catapult himself into a successful television career. His energy and enthusiasm earned him the nickname “Herman” and also landed him as one of the most notable NASCAR TV Personalities.

His career started as a mechanic for brother Rusty Wallace but he soon landed a seat of his own winning his first race in 1982. September 1988 would mark the first NASCAR start for Wallace driving for the legendary Dale Earnhardt, in which he finished eleventh in the Busch Series race at Martinsville Speedway. After surpassing a career milestone of 400 Nationwide Series starts, Wallace will head west to Tucson’s USA Raceway to take part in the esteemed 4th Annual Wild West Shootout.

Wallace, driving for the potent Barnett Harley Davidson Modified team for the final weekend of the Wild West Shootout, will join a long list of the best Late Model and Modified drivers from across the country all looking for shootout fame.

“This is such a great event and I am really looking forward to coming to USA Raceway to be a part of it,” commented Wallace. “It will be a lot of fun and I am really looking forward to be teamed up with Barnett Harley Davidson.”

The Wild West Shootout which takes place on the second weekend of January and commences the following weekend enters it 4th year and is anticipated to be one of the largest racing events of 2010. The best of the best in Super Late Models and Modifieds will tackle USA Raceway’s 3/8-mile clay oval for six days on January 9, 10, 13, 15, 16 and 17, with more than $150,000 in prize money to be distributed over the course of the blockbuster event. A $10,000 top prize awaits the shootout event finale, The Bill Cheesebourg Memorial, on January 17.

Ticket pricing and purchasing information can be found online at http://www.usaraceway.net/Uploads/Wi…TicketForm.pdf or by calling the USA Raceway office at 520-574-8515

Hotel Information can be found at www.usaraceway.net/lodging.php or by calling the Tucson Airport Courtyard by Marriott at 520-573-0000

Terry Phillips leads the Wild West Shootout win list capturing 8 out of 33 total events with Steve Francis in second with 4 total feature wins. John Anderson sits third for all time WWS victories with 3 wins.

Multiple winners have graced victory circle at the Wild West Shootout including Ken Schrader, Wendell Wallace, Billy Moyer, Jimmy Mars and Jack Sullivan.

More than 100 of the top cars and drivers will take to the track over the nine day event that begins on Saturday January 9th with the $3k to win Wild West Shootout opener and will conclude with the $10k to win Wild West Shootout “Bill Cheesebourg Memorial”.

USA Raceway is located east of Tucson off I-10 exit 268, then 1.6 miles south on Craycroft Road, which turns into Los Reales. For more information please, contact the track at 520-574-8515 or additional information regarding USA Raceway can be found at www.usaraceway.net

SAN ANTONIO, TX (October 20, 2009) VP Racing Fuels, recognized around the world for innovation in fuel technology and top quality products, today announced the introduction of SEF94TM Small Engine FuelTM. “SEF94 is a 94 octane unleaded fuel that will provide easier, quicker starts for chain saws, generators, leaf and snow blowers, and other gasoline-powered small engines used for work or play,” said Jim Kelly, VP’s Eastern Regional Manager.

Street gasoline containing ethanol often makes such equipment difficult, if not impossible, to start, because ethanol can absorb moisture and form deposits in carburetors and fuel systems. SEF94 contains no ethanol, making it a much more dependable and cost effective solution. The unique properties of SEF94 also make it an excellent long-term storage fuel, allowing quick starts even after equipment sits idle for many months.

“SEF94 is the most dependable fuel on the market to help ensure equipment will start when it’s needed at work, play or in an emergency,” Kelly added. “Outdoorsmen, farmers, loggers, landscapers, emergency workers, rural homeowners and many others know what it’s like to deal with a tool that won’t work when needed and the inconvenience of costly rebuilds, but with SEF94 that frustration will be a thing of the past.”

SEF94 is for use in portable power equipment only. It is not a street legal fuel, therefore should not be used in a motor vehicle of any kind.

To purchase SEF94 direct, to find the nearest dealer or distributor, or inquire about becoming one, contact VP at 210.635.7744 or SEF94@vpracingfuels.com.

VP Racing Fuels is best known as the world leader in race fuel technology, fueling winners in virtually every category of motorsports on land, sea and air. VP is the Official Fuel of National Hot Rod Association Championship Drag Racing, American LeMans, IHRA, ADRL, Super DIRTcar, World of Outlaws Sprint Cars and World of Outlaws Late Models among more than 50 VP-sponsored racing series and sanctioning bodies.
Contacts
Jim Kelly – 302-368-1500; jimkelly@vpracingfuels.com
Steve Scheidker – 210-635-7744; steves@vpracingfuels.com
Steve Scheidker
Executive Director-Marketing & Communications
VP Racing Fuels
PO Box 47878
San Antonio, TX 78265
T) 210.635.7744
F) 210.635.8314

Las Cruces driver Eric McNutt led the field to the green flag in the Vista Serena Homes Limited Late Models with Troy Miller along side. As the field made it’s way down the front straight, McNutt jumped out the early race lead with Miller dropping back on the start and Curt Barnet charging from the 3rd starting position in pursuit of McNutt’s number 5 Limited Late Model. With in a matter of laps, the 82 of Barnett had run down McNutt and taken the lead and from there would never look back as the El Paso native ran away leaving only Eric McNutt left on the lead lap.

Up next the Xtreme Modifieds made their way to the El Paso Speedway Park with Las Cruces driver Jonathan Burton with Paddy Rush along side. Burton jumped out front with Rush having trouble on the start but an early race caution would again bunch the field back together. The green flew and racing resumed as Burton again began to pull way with Rush getting a much better start running in second with Austin Adams, Levi Roberts, and Curt Barnett in two in the opening laps. While Barnett and Roberts battled for position both drivers ran the mid to upper lines through turns 3 and 4 leaving the low side wide open for Decatur, Illinois driver Jason Suhl as he was able to sneak by on bottom and take over the 4th running position. With less than 10 laps remaining, it was still Burton leading with Rush in second and now Suhl running third and on the move. With only 5 laps to go, Suhl was running in second as Rush made his way to the pit area with mechanical problems on his 52 Xtreme Modified. Two laps to go and Burton showing the way would take his 18 off the high side of turns one and two, giving the lead to Jason Suhl as the Decatur, Illinois drivers took the win but it was only for the sake of gaining experience as Suhl was allowed to run his DIRTcar West Modified in the Xtreme Modifieds thus handing the win to Curt Barnett giving him 2 wins on the afternoon with one more class for him to run.

Mercedes Harris led the field to the green as the baby blue number 29 showed the way down the front straight with Jerry Cline running right on her back bumper. Side by side, it was Harris on the high side and Cline on the low side as Jerry Cline made the pass coming off of turn 4. The caution waved with 13 laps remaining with Cline showing the way, Harris in second, and Kenny Medina rounding out the top 3. As the green came out, Cline would now begin to pull away as the battle for second was between Medina and Harris with Medina making the pass on the low side after battling for nearly half the race. With the laps exhausted, it would be Jerry Cline with the win with Kenny Medina taking second and Mercedes Harris holding for third. Nicky Rivera and David Fountain would round out the top 5.

With the sun beginning to set in the west Texas sky, the clouds finally parted as the Renegade Sprint Car Series came around turns three and four in their traditional 3-Wide salute to the race fans. With the rock and roll blaring over the El Paso Speedway Park public address system, the field of 17 Renegade Sprint Cars made their way down the front straight, breaking off into their respected side by side starting positions as they entered turn one.

Joe Alvarado and Kyle McCutcheon in row number one, John Carney II and J.T. Imperial in row number two, JR Patton and Royal Jones in row three all lined up by virtue of pill draw at intermission after finishing first or second in their heat races. As the field marched down the back straight, the caution lights were down and 30 laps of racing were set to get underway.

As the green flag dropped, Kyle McCutcheon took off into the early race lead with Joe Alvarado and John Carney II in tow as the field raced down the back straight and into turns 3 and 4 on the opening lap of the Renegade Sprint Car A-Main event. Within 5 laps, McCutcheon had already built a nearly a half a straight a way lead and was already running down the back of the field with Carney up to second and Joe Alvarado running in third.

With just over 20 laps left to run, the 5 of McCutcheon raced into heavy lapped traffic with Carney on the hunt. Through turns 3 and 4, McCutcheon ran the low side; Carney ran the high side with lapped traffic blocking McCutcheon as Carney made the pass for the lead. Into turns one and two, McCutcheon raced back to the lead with Carney still on the high line as the two drivers battled side by side down the back straight, swapping the lead into turns three and four with McCutcheon still on the low side. Into turns one and two, Carney dove up the middle with McCutcheon on the inside and two lapped vehicles racing nose to tail on the high side and in one move shot into the lead.

With Carney leading the field, McCutcheon took his car back the high line and began to run down the 3s but lapped traffic would stop McCutcheon’s run allowing Carney to run away. It was Carney, McCutcheon and now Jones making the pass on Alvarado for third and as the laps began to wind down no one was able to run down the 3s as Carney shot through lapped traffic on his way to his second A-Main win of the weekend; leaving only Kyle McCutcheon and Royal Jones on the lead lap as Carney lapped all the way up to 4th place.

Everything is big in Texas.

So it’s no surprise that the World of Outlaws Late Model Series will return to the state for the first time since 2004 as the headliner of a blockbuster program – the $20,000-to-win ‘Lone Star 100’ on March 20-21 at Battleground Speedway.

The two-day spectacular will serve as a grand coming-out party for the track, a high-banked, three-eighths-mile oval located 12 miles east of Houston that is reopening under new ownership in 2009 after sitting dormant for most of the last three seasons.

“My goal is to make Battleground Speedway the premier facility for dirt-track racing in Southeast Texas,” said Mike Walling, who took over as promoter and general manager after purchasing the complex in September 2008. “A big show for the World of Outlaws Late Model Series will definitely generate plenty of excitement and put the track back on the map.”

Originally listed on the WoO LMS schedule as a one-day event, the Battleground visit was enlarged to a two-day, extra-distance special to make the long haul to Texas more attractive for dirt Late Model racing’s stars. A talent-laden field filled with the WoO LMS regulars and a host of regional hotshoes is expected for the historic program.

“We were planning to make the Texas trip part of a doubleheader weekend with a race at another track, but Battleground’s management decided to keep everyone in one place for a huge weekend of World of Outlaws Late Model Series racing,” said WoO LMS director Tim Christman. “We’re excited to help usher in a new era of racing at Battleground Speedway with one of the biggest dirt Late Model events ever run in the state of Texas.”

The announcement of the Lone Star 100 has dirt Late Model fans across Texas buzzing as well. The WoO LMS has not competed in Texas since contesting a two-day program at Lone Star Speedway in Kilgore on April 16-17, 2004, and Battleground Speedway, which prior to Walling’s arrival was in operation from 1984-2001 and 2004-2006, last hosted a major touring series event in 1993, for the defunct Hav-A-Tampa/UDTRA Series.

“There hasn’t been anything approaching a World of Outlaws race for dirt Late Models in Texas for a long time, so a lot of people are really excited about the Lone Star 100,” said Walling. “We’ve already been getting calls from people all over Texas asking about how to get here and how to buy tickets in advance.”

A detailed schedule of events for the Lone Star 100 weekend will be released in the near future, but Battleground and WoO LMS officials are working together to produce an entertaining experience for fans. The WoO LMS itinerary will feature time trials and heat races on Friday night, March 20, with B-Mains and the 100-lap A-Main highlighting the show on Saturday night, March 21. The track’s support divisions will see action during the weekend and several fan-friendly activities are planned, including a giant driver autograph session prior to Saturday night’s competition and a unique Texas-themed Victory Lane ceremony following the Lone Star 100.

Lone Star 100 attendees will see a Battleground Speedway that has been virtually rebuilt since its last green flag waved during the 2006 campaign.

“We’re renovating the place 100 percent before we reopen,” said the 34-year-old Walling, whose uncle, Red Walling, was involved in the past with the former Big H Speedway dirt track in Houston and is assisting in the marketing of the new-look Battleground Speedway. “A lot of things will be brand-new, and what’s not new will be rebuilt.”

The facility boasts a 4,000-seat grandstand, which will be topped by a new press/sponsor tower when the track’s gates fly open again. The former press box was blown off the stands and landed in the nearby woods when Hurricane Ike rocked the area last September – just four days after Walling assumed ownership of the track.

Walling has scheduled a grand reopening date of Feb. 28 for Battleground Speedway. Open-wheel Modifieds will headline the multi-division Saturday-night shows at the track, which already has over 100 cars registered for competition in 2009.

The Lone Star 100 won’t mark the first time that a series running under the World Racing Group banner has raced at Battleground Speedway. The company’s World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series made 15 appearances at the track from 1986-1999, and the WRG’s Northeast-based DIRTcar big-block Modifieds ran an event there on March 8, 1989, during the last of the division’s three Texas/Louisiana tours from 1987-1989.

For ticket information on the Lone Star 100, call the track at 832-421-RACE or visit www.battlegroundspeedway.net.

The Lone Star 100 will be part of a lucrative early-season ‘Month of Money’ for the WoO LMS. A total of $109,000 in first-place cash will be on the line in five tour races over a four-week period, beginning with a doubleheader on March 13-14 at Deep South Speedway in Loxley, Ala. ($7,000 to win on Friday, $12,000 to win on Saturday) and continuing with the Lone Star 100 on March 20-21; the Circle K Colossal 100 on March 27-28 at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. ($50,000 to win); and the Illini 100 on April 3-4 at Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway ($20,000 to win).