Advance Auto Parts Stars Meet & Greet At Rolling Wheels DIRT Challenge Cup

Elbridge, NY ... By Tom Skibinski, DIRT NorthEast PR Director

All circuits are green as final preparations are being made for the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series showdown that headlines the 38th season-opener at Rolling Wheels Raceway. The 26th annual DIRT Challenge Cup program goes to the starting line at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 7 at the ultra-fast 5/8-mile Elbridge oval.

Joining the DIRT big-block Modifieds on the afternoon card will be the DIRT Sportsman in a 20-lap main event plus a 15-lap feature for Street Stocks. Adult general admission tickets are $20 each, Senior Citizens (60 yrs. + over) $18, Students (11-18 yrs) $10 and Children (10 yrs. + under) Free.

Fans and race teams can get a sneak preview of the fabled ‘Fast Track’ when Rolling Wheels opens for warm-ups for all divisions on Wed., May 3. Pit gates will open at 4 p.m. with practice slated to start at 5 o’clock. General admission is free to the public and the cost for pit entry is $10.

Kicking off the May 7 activities is a special Meet & Greet autograph session that has been scheduled for 12noon on Sunday behind the main grandstand. Fans are encouraged to arrive early as the customary driver’s meeting is slated for 12:45 p.m. with hot lapping following immediately at 1 o’clock. Among the headliners expected to participate are those 12 drivers signed up to follow the entire Advance Auto Parts SDS --- past Eckerd 200 champion Vic Coffey, four-time and defending Eckerd 200 titlist Billy Decker, third-generation big-block upstart Stewart Friesen, reigning overall Hoosier Tire-Sunoco Race Fuels Mr. DIRT champion Tim Fuller, '04 Rookie of the Year Justin Hears, all-time Advance Auto Parts SDS and round one (Hagerstown) race winner Brett Hearn, DIRT's winningest big-block Modified driver Alan Johnson, Canandaigua (NY) Speedway record-setter Steve Paine, second-year tour mainstay Jimmy Phelps, rising star Matt Sheppard, former Mr. DIRT champion Gary Tomkins and 30-year open-wheel veteran Pat Ward.

Past winners of the coveted DIRT Challenge Cup include many of the biggest names in the 31-year history of DIRT MotorSports. Hearn (2005, ’04, 02, 1998, '84) is the two-time defending titlist tied with eight-time Rolling Wheels big-block track champion Alan Johnson (2003, 1997, '96, '82, '81). Bob McCreadie (1993, '92, '90, '88), Paine (2001, 1995, '91) and Decker (2000, 1989) are the only multi-time winners of this event, accounting for 19 of the 26 races run to date. Active drivers Tomkins (2002), Danny Johnson (1999), Jack Johnson (1994), Kenny Brightbill (1987) and Kenny Tremont (1985) have posted single victories while retired veterans Charlie Rudolph (1986) and Merv Treichler (1983) own one each.

The 2006 edition will mirror the twin 50-lap feature format utilized in 2002, with two-time defending RWR points king Tomkins and Hearn splitting the $3,000-to-win main events. However, a twist has been added this year as the winner of the first 50 will roll a large pair of dice on the front straightaway to determine how many cars are inverted for the nightcap. To add further intrigue he may then still elect to start in the rear to earn additional money should he win, with the exact amount announced on race day. Points for each feature will be awarded based on DIRT’s weekly home track point scale that starts at 60 for the winner (See DIRT Modified rule book p. 55).

Warm-ups are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. followed by Integra Shocks Modified time trials, with qualifying heats starting at 2 o'clock. Pit gates will unlock at 10am and the main grandstands open at 11 o'clock.

Rolling Wheels Raceway is located between Auburn and Elbridge, New York, on Route 5. The track can easily be accessed using Exit 40 of the New York State Thruway. For more information contact DIRT NorthEast Headquarters at 315/834-6606 during the week, on raceday call the track 315/689-7809 or anytime on the internet log into www.rollingwheelsraceway.com.

The DIRT MotorSports™ Advance Auto Parts Modified Series is brought to fans across the Northeast by several sponsors and partners, including series sponsors Advance Auto Parts, Hoosier Racing Tire and Sunoco Race Fuels. Promotional partners include AMB i.t., F.X. Caprara Car Companies and the University of Northwestern Ohio and the contingency sponsors are Bert Transmission, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix Cylinder Heads, DART Machinery, Holley HP Carburetors, Integra Shocks, MSD Ignitions, Miller Electric Manufacturing Company, Penske Shocks and Wrisco Industries.