Bristol Motor Speedway
Notebook: WoO reveals TV package on Speed
From series, staff and special reports
Six World of Outlaws Late Model Series events in 2008 will be televised on Speed, World Racing Group CEO Brian Carter announced to a live television audience during March 23’s edition of Wind Tunnel With Dave Despain on the cable network. As part of an exclusive telecast agreement with Speed that also features the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series, the WoO Late Model package will include five tape-delayed events and one live telecast.
Highlighting the WoO LMS’s television package is the season-ending Outlaws World Finals show at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Speed will carry a live telecast of both the Late Model and Sprint Car action from the 4/10-mile oval on Nov. 1 from 8-11 p.m.
The Outlaws World Finals and the Lernerville Speedway’s Firecracker 100 on June 28 will be two of five multihour World of Outlaws programs shown on Speed in 2008. The $40,000-to-win Firecracker 100 will be taped and then telecast in a two-hour format on July 13 from 5-7 p.m.
Other WoO Late Model events scheduled for telecast on Speed include the July 9 Gopher 50 at Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn. (televised on Aug. 16 from 4-5 p.m.); the July 25 event at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio (Aug. 23 from 4-5 p.m.); the July 26 event at Sharon Speedway in Hartford, Ohio (Aug. 31 from noon-1 p.m.); and the Aug. 31 Oil Region Labor Day Classic at Tri-City Speedway in Franklin, Pa. (Sept. 7 from 6-7 p.m.). — Kevin Kovac
Get a ride at Brownstown
Fans heading to the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Indiana Icebreaker on March 29 at Brownstown (Ind.) Speedway can bid on getting a ride in the track’s two-seat Late Model. Drivers taking fans on trips around the quarter-mile oval are Jeep Van Wormer of Pinconning, Mich., and Matt Miller of Waterville, Ohio.
Bidding on the rides begins at $100. Make bids by emailing promoter Tim Keithley at tkeithley@verizon.net or by calling (812) 569-1982. Bidding ends on Friday. — From staff reports
Frank joins Francis on American Racers
When defending WoO champion Steve Francis agreed to drive for car owner in Dale Beitler in 2008, he made the move to American Racer tires that the Beitler team has used in recent years. But Francis won’t be the only WoO regular on the tire brand. Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., has also made the switch from Hoosiers to American Racers
“It was just a business decision,” said Frank, who finished second to Francis in series points last year. “American Racer has really been working hard on their dirt Late Model tire program and right now I think they have a better product, so I’m looking forward to running their tires on my cars this year.”
Frank has agreed to run American Racers on all WoO events with an open-tire rule (some tour events mandate Hoosier tires).
“I don’t think it’ll take that long for us to figure out the American Racers,” Frank said. “Having Francis on them as well this year will help both of us when we’re on the road, and I’m sure (fellow Pennsylvania driver) Jeremy Miller will help us out if we have any questions about the tires.” — From team reports
WoO drivers plan for big-bucks races
World of Outlaws Late Model Series drivers have had six weeks to recharge and reload since last month’s season-opening events in Florida. Now, it’s time for the tour’s stars to really get down to business.
Beginning with the March 28-29 March Through Dixie 100 at Pike County Speedway in Magnolia, Miss., the series will embark full-bore on a 31-week, map-hopping odyssey to determine its 2008 champion. And no stretch of the campaign will be more lucrative than the ensuing four weeks. With three high-dollar 100-lappers highlighting the upcoming schedule, there’s a robust $110,000 in first-place cash on the line over the next five events.
“This is a great way for the World of Outlaws Late Model Series to dive into the busiest season we’ve ever had,” said tour director Tim Christman, alluding to the heart of a schedule that currently shows 47 confirmed events at 40 tracks in 22 states and three Canadian provinces. “In a four-week span we’ll run three of our biggest events of the year and also visit two of the top facilities in the country — and best of all, if someone gets hot, they can really build up their bank account.”
After Pike County’s $20,000-to-win event, Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway pays $20,000 for its April 4-5 winner. Then there’s the Circle K Colossal 100 on April 18-19 at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., which boasts a $50,000 winner’s purse. Thrown in for good measure are a pair of $10,000-to-win events at Virginia Motor Speedway (April 11) and Lernerville Speedway (April 15). — Kevin Kovac
Odds and ends
Brownstown’s Indiana Icebreaker is not only the first full points race on the Lucas Oil schedule but also part of the Jasper Engines Road to Wheatland bonus program. The program pays 20 drivers an extra $600 per race if they maintain perfect series attendance heading to the Super Clean Diamond Nationals at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo. ... WoO regular Josh Richards is a teenage sensation no more. The Shinnston, W.Va., driver turned 20 on March 22.
