Weedsport, NY — January 28, 2010 – By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing Northeast PR Director*Alex Bruce Photo: Billy Decker (L) & Alan Johnson ready to rewrite DCN record book The 39th Florida DIRTcar Nationals By University of Northwestern Ohio is shaping up to be one of the most competitive ever at Volusia Speedway Park when the mighty Big-Block Modifieds from the Northeast invade gator country in less than two weeks. With more than 40 race teams towing south from six states and two Canadian provinces, bragging rights will be on the line as some of the most accomplished drivers ever to buckle into a Big-Block machine have only four nights to settle the score. Trackside intensity is guaranteed to reach a fever pitch in light of the traditional interstate rivalries intact, while most of the top point chasers from last season’s Super DIRTcar Series are already registered looking to retain their stronghold over the division’s all-time heavyweights. “This year we’ll be a lot more focused at Volusia, not even bringing the late model down,” commented Billy Decker, who placed 2nd and 4th running just two of the four shows last February after dabbling in the World of Outlaws’ top full-fender division. Third all-time up north with 53 series triumphs, the Unadilla, N.Y. invader hasn’t put the LJL Racing no. 91 Gypsum Wholesalers-Stadium Int'l-Quality Hardwoods/Bicknell into Volusia’s victory lane since 2005, although his Gypsum Express teammate Pat Ward cracked the winner’s circle twice last winter to claim his second DCN title. A two-time overall Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Champion, Decker is still in search of his first DIRTcar Nationals points crown. “The (entry) list definitely looks strong this year but that makes no difference to us. We still go out to win every race and if we do our job we’ll always be capable of that. Volusia is certainly a unique place, the things we try there don’t really apply at the tracks up north and we can’t go in using the same combination that worked closer to home. Just wish the shows could pay a little more with such a quality field, it’ll be a challenge even to finish in the top-5 when in reality that’s nothing to be ashamed of. If we can win, that’s what were supposed to do, and if not I’ll still be mad as hell all the way home,” remarked Decker, the sixth winningest Big-Block driver in DIRTcar history with 186. Decker ranks among the favorites on a preliminary roster that recently ballooned to 43 pilots heading to Florida for a week of high speed short track activity. Including Super DIRTcar Series career leaders Brett Hearn (103 wins) and Danny Johnson (66), the star-studded cast of performers signed up accounts for over 2,450 feature wins on the demanding DIRTcar Racing Northeast circuit. Ten of those 26 winners have reached Volusia’s hallowed victory lane, including Hearn, Ward and Jamie Mills from last year’s visit to the storied Barberville oval. Many more will be looking to rewrite the record book when the DIRTcar Nationals Big-Block lid-lifter hits the track Wed., February 10 with a 30-lap feature headlining the program. Ground-pounding action continues with 30-lap feature events on Thursday and Friday before a big $5,000-to-win 50-lapper brings the curtain down Sat., Feb. 13. An optional practice day is open for all Modified teams entered on Tue., Feb. 9. “Every year we go down the field seems to get a little tighter from top to bottom,” noted DIRTcar Northeast’s career Big-Block Modified win leader Alan Johnson from Middlesex, New York. Age certainly translates into more experience as 52 year-old ‘A.J. Slideways’ is the only driver to register at least one feature win every season since the DIRTcar organization was launched in 1976; yet only one came at Volusia in 1986 for the two-time Florida DCN high point man. “Can’t really pinpoint any particular reason why there haven’t been a few more wins. I like the track, its just not easy to win with a lot of good cars in the line-up every year. There’s not too many slouches that make this trip, everybody going down expects to win. I’ve had plenty of good finishes over the years, obviously just not good enough lately,” added Johnson, who owns a DIRTcar NE high total of 364 Big-Block wins and 114 more in Small-Block competition over the past 34 years. Since the legendary Lou “Monk” Lazzaro first reached victory lane at Volusia in 1978, 108 BB-Modified features have been chronicled in the Sunshine State with New Jersey veteran Hearn saluted in the winner’s circle for the 19th time following his 50-lap triumph last February. In just two more weeks Decker, Johnson and Hearn will be joined in gator country by past Florida tour winners Danny Johnson (11), Jimmy Horton (6), Billy Pauch (5), Jamie Mills (3), Andy Bachetti, Dale Planck and Ward. Since the return of Big-Block racing to Volusia in 1998, Hearn has won at least one feature every year except for 2007 to remain atop the all-time list. Tickets remain on sale for the 39th Annual DIRTcar Nationals, February 2-13, available for any individual night and also in blocks for each headline division at Volusia. Along with the Big-Block Modifieds, competition also features Sprint Car racing (Feb. 3-7), Late Model action (Feb. 8-13) and UMP/DIRTcar Modified activity (Feb. 2-9). A FREE Fan Pit Pass has been made available to every ticket buyer who comes through the main gates each night of the DIRTcar Nationals at VSP beginning on Feb. 2. All fans have to do once they arrive at the track is take their grandstand ticket and head toward the pits, where a table will be set up to sign-in for an up-close look at the cars and stars who will be racing that night. To purchase tickets call Volusia Speedway Park at 386/985-4402, for more information visit www.DIRTcarNationals.com. Big-Block Modified news is always available on-line at www.superdirtcarseries.com and www.dirtcar.com. Be sure to sign up as a Super DIRTcar Series follower on Twitter by visiting http://www.twitter.com/SuperDIRTcar and receive updates anywhere at anytime as the 2010 season gets underway. A direct connection to all the happenings at Volusia in February can also be made by registering on http://www.twitter.com/DIRTcarNats. All-Time Florida DIRTcar Nationals Big-Block Modified Winners: 1978-2009 (108 events / 5 tracks / 33 drivers) WINS DRIVER FIRST WIN LAST WIN 19 Brett Hearn Volusia County, 2/11/93 Volusia Park, 2/14/09 11 Danny Johnson Volusia County, 2/9/87 Volusia Park, 2/17/07 9 Kenny Brightbill Volusia County, 2/13/78 Volusia County, 2/13/87 8 Doug Hoffman Volusia County, 2/18/84 Volusia Park, 2/14/98 6 Jack Johnson Tampa Fairgrnds, 2/14/81 Volusia County, 2/14/89 6 Jimmy Horton Volusia County, 2/12/86 Volusia Park, 2/16/08 5 Tim Fuller Volusia Park, 2/15/01 Volusia Park, 2/16/07 5 Billy Pauch Volusia County, 2/11/85 Volusia Park, 2/13/08 3 Merv Treichler Volusia County, 2/13/82 Volusia County, 2/17/83 3 Doug Ingalls East Bay, 2/15/83 Volusia County, 2/16/84 3 Jamie Mills Volusia Park, 2/15/00 Volusia Park, 2/13/09 2 Will Cagle Volusia County, 2/17/78 Volusia County, 2/18/78 2 Tommy Hager Volusia County, 2/16/78 Tampa Fairgrnds, 2/8/80 2 Gary Iulg Volusia County, 2/12/78 East Bay, 2/8/82 2 Jeff Kappesser East Bay, 2/7/82 Volusia County, 2/10/82 2 Kenny Tremont Volusia County, 2/13/93 Volusia Park, 2/12/99 2 Bob McCreadie Volusia Park, 2/10/99 Volusia Park, 2/16/01 2 Billy Decker Volusia Park, 2/12/04 Volusia Park, 2/16/05 2 Pat Ward Volusia Park, 2/11/09 Volusia Park, 2/12/09 1 Lou Lazzaro Volusia County, 2/10/78 1 Walt Breeding Volusia County, 2/11/78 1 Kevin Collins Tampa Fairgrounds, 2/13/81 1 Ray Dalmata Volusia County, 2/15/84 1 C.D. Coville Volusia County, 2/16/85 1 Alan Johnson Volusia County, 2/11/86 1 Richie Tobias Jr. Volusia County, 2/13/89 1 Jeff Heotzler St. Augustine, 2/14/95 1 Steve Paine St. Augustine, 2/16/95 1 Tim McCreadie Volusia Park, 2/16/02 1 Craig VonDohren Volusia Park, 2/11/03 1 J.R. Heffner Volusia Park, 2/13/04 1 Andy Bachetti Volusia Park, 2/15/05 1 Dale Planck Volusia Park, 2/15/08 DIRTcar Racing Northeast main office is located in Weedsport, New York on the Cayuga County Fairgrounds, home of DIRTcar All-Star Weekend in July. DIRTcar Northeast’s crown jewel event ---Super DIRT Week at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse runs annually in October featuring Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Championship Series events for Big-Block Modified, 358-Modified, Sportsman and Pro Stock divisions. Ticket and schedule information is available by contacting the Weedsport office (315/834-6606) during the day or logging into www.superdirtweekonline.com anytime. The Big-Block Super DIRTcar Series is brought to fans across the Northeast by several sponsors and partners, including series sponsors Hoosier Racing Tire www.hoosiertire.com and VP Racing Fuels www.vpracingfuels.com. Promotional partners include Rite Aid Corporation www.riteaid.com, Dig Safely New York www.digsafelynewyork.com and the University of Northwestern Ohio www.unoh.com and the contingency sponsors are Bars Leaks www.barsproducts.com, Bert Transmission www.berttransmission.com, Bicknell Racing Products www.bicknellracingproducts.com, Bilstein Shocks www.bilstein.com, Brodix Cylinder Heads www.brodix.com, Ferris Industries www.ferrisindustries.com, Integra Shocks www.integrashocksandsprings.com, Intercomp www.intercomp-racing.com, KSE Racing Products www.kse-racing.com, Motorsports Safety Systems www.motorsportssafetysystems.com, Penske Shocks, www.penskeshocks.com, Racing Electronics www.racingelectronics.com, Rislone Oil Stabilizer www.barsproducts.com and Wrisco Industries www.wrisco.com.