National notebook
Notes: Five drivers gun for $70,000 sponsorship
Five drivers on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series have a shot at a $70,000 cash sponsorship for 2011 through a unique competition the rest of the season that includes online voting from fans.
The partnership between Appliancezone.com and the Lucas Oil tour will see a competition the rest of the season among five drivers: Steve Casebolt of Richmond, Ind.; Ray Cook of Brasstown, N.C.; Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind.; Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn.; and Chris Wall of Holden, La.
"We've been working on this program for some time now and we’re looking forward to kicking it off at Lucas Oil Speedway on July 17,” said series director Ritchie Lewis. “This will be a great program that will include the fans as well, and hopefully generate new customers for Appliance Zone through our series and the Dirt Late Model industry.”
The five-driver competition has three components: (1) Series points earned from July 17 through the season-ending race Oct. 10 at Rome (Ga.) Speedway; (2) Fan voting on a special website; (3) and voting by a panel of Lucas Oil and Appliancezone.com representatives, media members and racing celebrities. Fans can vote at this website.
The winner will be announced at the Lucas Oil Series postseason banquet in November.
"Dirt track racing is a great fit for our 'pick up a tool and make something good happen' brand that sells appliance parts to people fixing their own appliances," said Jim Allen, CEO for Corydon, Ind.-based Appliancezone.com. “The driver development contest underscores our feeling that getting ahead in the world requires hard work and perseverance.”
The five drivers will display Appliancezone.com decals the remainder of 2010. A link to the fan voting page will be on each driver’s website and the Lucas Oil Series website, which will have a points page so fans can track the sponsorship competition. — James Essex
VERMILION COUNTY SPEEDWAY CLOSES: Vermilion County Speedway in Danville, Ill., a track hosting weekly Crate Late Models and several Super Late Model specials, has closed, first-year promoters Bob and Angie Pierce announced Tuesday. “We are so sorry to make this announcement, but the economy in Vermilion County and lack of local support has left us with no choice,” the promoters said on the series website. “We have worked very hard and devoted our heart, our time, and our money to the racetrack. But it seems that no matter how hard we try, we have met failure time and time again, with each of our events being a substantial loss.” The promoters said they plan to settle accounts with sponsors and offer refunds for a rained out event that had been rescheduled for July 18. See the track website for refund details. — From track reports
UDLMCS BEGINS CHASE ON SATURDAY: Combining its North and South tours, the United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series starts its Sunoco Chase for the Cup on July 17 at North Florida Speedway in Lake City, Fla. The series has narrowed the field to 31 drivers, the top drivers in points plus another driver chosen by blind draw. Tyler Ivey of Tallahassee, Fla., Ivedent Lloyd Jr. of Ocala, Fla., and Mark Whitener of Middleburg, Fla., were named the top seeds and will earn $1,000 at the postseason banquet for that honor. The eight-race chase wraps up Nov. 20 at Screven Motor Speedway in Sylvania, Ga. — From series reports
ODDS AND ENDS: Advance discounted two-day tickets for the 28th annual Sunoco Race Fuels North-South 100 at Florence Speedway in Union, Ky., are on sale through July 31. For ticket information, call (859) 493-0034. The $50,000-to-win Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event is scheduled for Aug. 13-14. ... Red Buck Cigars has announced it will pay $1,000 to the North-South 100’s fast qualifier. ... Selinsgrove Speedway is mourning the loss of long-time track employee, supporter and racer Don Schick Sr., who died July 2. He was 71. Schick’s son, Donnie is a two-time Late Model champion at Selinsgrove (Pa.) Speedway. ... The July 30 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series event has been moved to Greenville (Miss.) Speedway from North Alabama Speedway.
