Dirt on Dirt -

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In his eleven starts at Fulton (N.Y.) Speedway this season, Crate Late Model driver Tim Sears Jr. has collected a total of seven victories — and has yet to finish outside of the top five, helping put him atop DirtonDirt.com’s Weekly Notebook presented by GRT Race Cars.

Sears, 22, of Clay, N.Y., grew up watching his father and uncle race in the big-block modified division. He got behind the wheel at age 15, racing in the sportsman class before moving up to the big blocks and Crate Late Models. Sears has raced a Crate Late Model for three years and is working on his third season in the big block.

“Growing up, my dad raced for a long time, as long as I can remember,” Sears said. “It’s just kind of been in the family. Every weekend, that’s what we do.”

At Fulton, a track just 10 minutes from home, Sears nearly swept the month of July, winning all but one event, when he was runner-up to hometown driver A.J. Kingsley. Sears has also notched three Crate Late Model victories at Brewerton Speedway in Central Square, N.Y.

“We’ve been struggling the past couple of years, but we’re actually starting to make some headway,” Sears said of his current season. “Cars are getting better and I’m starting to get a little bit better at driving them. Track time and seat time are huge.”

Sears did have to give back one checkered flag. Sears was the apparent winner of the Go Nuclear Late Model Challenge Series Gnome Cup at Utica-Rome Speedway in Vernon, N.Y., on May 18, but was later disqualified after an engine inspection found non-conforming engine seals. The original seals had been removed for repairs. Finding no additional discrepancies, Sears received no further penalties, but Charlie Sandercock of Belleville, Ontario, was declared the race winner.

“The night before at a race, we bent a valve, and we had to fix it so that we could race Saturday,” Sears said. “They took our motor and went through it, and everything was legal, so they just sealed it back up and gave it to us.”

Sears entered another Go Nuclear event at Cornwall (Ontario) Motor Speedway on June 8, but a heat race tangle knocked him out of contention.

Despite a few setbacks, Sears is well on his way to capturing a track championship. He currently has 644 points to lead Kingsley (592) in Fulton’s weekly points standings.

“When I first got in the Late Model, I wasn’t very good,” Sears said. “I did a lot of research and reading on the suspension and stuff, just learning how everything worked to get to where we are now.”

Along with his Crate wins, Sears also picked up a couple of big-block victories at Fulton earlier this year. He often finds himself racing against his uncle, Tom Sears Jr., when competing in the division. Sears pulls double-duty every Saturday night.

“It’s tough,” Sears said. “But racing … we just kind of do what we do. The big blocks are about two Crate motors. It’s tough, but we’re getting the hang of it.”

While his Fulton wins have come fairly easily, Brewerton has presented the driver with a bit more of challenge, especially in the big-block division, which can often be frustrating.

“We’ve been really been struggling there, just getting the hang of the track,” Sears said. “The track’s so much smaller and it’s just really tough to get ahold of.”

But Sears said this is the best overall season he’s had throughout his racing career, in both cars. The reason behind it is simple, he said: Experience.

“Seat time is huge,” Sears said. “The more comfortable you are in the car, the better you’re going to drive it.”

Weekly highlights

• In a pair of $2,000-to-win specials at Wayne Burns-promoted ovals July 25-26, Eric Cooley of Fulton, Miss., won at Moulton (Ala.) Speedway and Kyle Beard of Trumann, Ark., won at North Alabama Speedway.

• In Dubuque (Iowa) Speedway’s 61st Fair Race on July 27, hometown driver Luke Merfeld ended Justin Kay’s bid for an undefeated season. Kay had won the season’s previous seven IMCA-sanctioned events.

• Brandon Fouts of Kite, Ky., made a last-lap pass July 26 at 191 Speedway in Campton, Ky., for a $3,000 victory over Stephen Breeding and Derek Fisher.

• With a late-race pass, Chris Speiker of Massena, Iowa, overtook Jason O’Brien on July 26 at Adams County Speedway in Corning, Iowa, for a victory that moved him into a tie with O’Brien for the division points lead with six weeks remaining in the season.

• Chad Ruhlman of Bemus Point, N.Y., had a two-victory weekend July 25-26 at McKean County Raceway in East Smethport, Pa., and Stateline Speedway in Busti, N.Y.

• A week after an extensive practice session, Neil Welch of Mebane, N.C., made a return to 311 Motor Speedway in Pine Hall, N.C., to sweep a pair of July 26 Crate Late Model features.

• At Potomac Speedway in Budds Creek, Md., Stevie Long of Mechanicsville, Md., earned $2,700 on July 25 for his victory in the Bobby Allen Memorial.

• While Al Johnson of Story City, Iowa, won his second straight July 26 at Hamilton County Speedway in Webster City, Iowa, Todd Cooney of Des Moines, Iowa, clinched the track championship.

First things first

First-time occurrences at the dirt track:

• On July 26 at Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway, Tim Smith Jr. of McVeytown, Pa., notched his first Super Late Model feature victory at the half-mile oval.

• Trevor Sise of Knoxville, Tenn., won July 26 at Volunteer Speedway for his first-ever feature victory at the Bulls Gap, Tenn., track.

• Topping his older brother, Cory Merkel of Gilbertsville, Pa., notched his first Late Model feature victory July 26 at Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville, Pa.

• Inheriting the lead when Justin Rattliff had a lap-12 flat tire, Jason Barrett of Waco, Ky., led the rest of the way July 25 for his first-ever victory at Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, Ky.

Weekly news briefs

• Golden Isles Speedway near Brunswick, Ga., has new owners. Valdosta, Ga.-based Langdale Company bought the track from Frankie Lloyd, track manager Darryl Courson said. The track plans to conclude the 2014 season with a few additional dates and guaranteed payout with plans to continue the Super Bowl of Racing during Georgia-Florida Speedweeks.

• Tyler County Speedway’s 26th annual Earl Hill Memorial was rained out July 26. The $10,000-to-win unsanctioned event at the Middlebourne, W.Va., oval was rescheduled for Aug. 23.

• Ponderosa Speedway has amended its tire rule for the Crate Late Model division. Any tires legal in any sanctioned series can now be used in events at the Junction City, Ky., oval.

• After finishing second in the first of twin Crate Late Model features at 311 Motor Speedway, G.R. Smith of Mooresville, N.C., had a grinding turn-one crash in the second race that sent him to a Winston-Salem, N.C., hospital. He suffered a concussion, bruised ribs and other bumps and bruises, according to the team's Facebook page.

• Retired driver Brian Strand of Bemidji, Minn., a six-time Late Model champion at River Cities Speedway, was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the Grand Forks, N.D., track on July 25. Strand, founder of Fastline Racing Equipment and Millennium Nightmare Chassis, was inducted along with Mike Dobmeier, a former sprint car racer.

• Princeton (W.Va.) Speedway is offering bonuses for Aug. 2’s fourth annual Upper Big Branch Miners Memorial race for Fastrak-sanctioned Crate Late Models. The Aug. 2 event pays $2,900-to-win. The night’s fast qualifier will receive $229 while the winner of the dash, sponsored by Bluestone Machine, will receive $290. The driver making the longest tow receives $75 and the 29th fast qualifier receives $29 from Ohio Valley Dirt Track Racing.

• Merritt (Mich.) Speedway has rescheduled the $4,000-to-win Wood Tic 100 for Aug. 16. The race was rained out July 26 and again the following day. The event will resume with the second qualifying feature, consolation races and the 40-lap main event.

• Racing for Heroes Raceway has scheduled for the Mike Probst Memorial for Aug. 8, a $3,000-to-win race for Super Late Models. The double-points race will highlight Fair Week at the Mill Hall, Pa., oval.

• Because of dire weather forecasts, America’s Motorsports Park in Clearfield, Pa., rescheduled July 27’s fourth annual Connor Bobik Memorial for Aug. 10. The 35-lap unsanctioned event will pay $3,000-to-win.

Weekly points chases

AMRA (Super Late Models): Chris Garnes of Evans, W.Va. has 1,090 points to lead Andy Bond (1,071) and Tyler Carpenter (1,043).

IMCA (Limited Late Models): Through July 22, Justin Kay of Wheatland, Iowa, has 799 points to lead Todd Cooney (791) and Ryan Griffith (765).

ULMA (Limited Late Models): As of July 27, Dwight Niehoff of Lockwood, Mo., has 1,538 points to lead Chris Cox (1,526) and Payton Looney (1,508).

UMP DIRTcar (Super Late Models): Through July 20, Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., has 2,341 points to lead Ryan Unzicker (2,160) and Brandon Sheppard (2,112).

WDLMA (Limited Late Models): Mitch McGrath of Neosho, Wis., has 398 points to lead Tim Buhler (381) and Jim Schmidt (310).

WISSOTA (Limited Late Models): Zach Wohlers of Pengilly, Minn., has 1,260 points to lead Harry Hanson (1,212) and Ricky Weiss (1,205).

UMP DIRTcar (Crate Late Models): Jeff Walston of Paducah, Ky., tops the standings with 1,392 points over Aaron Heck (1,385) and Tait Davenport (1,373).

NeSmith Chevrolet (Crate Late Models): Adam Gauldin of Talladega, Ala., has 674 points to lead Daniel Bridgmon (669) and Shannon Lee (664).

Sweeney Chevrolet RUSH (Crate Late Models): Chad Ruhlman of Bemus Point N.Y., tops the standings with 1,664 points over Ryan Montgomery (1,638) and Michael Lake (1,634).

Southeastern Crate Association (Crate Late Models): Ross Bailes of Clover, S.C., tops the standings with 552 points to lead Ron Parker (542) and Trent Ivey (535).

Upcoming weekly specials

Among non-touring and independent special events coming up for Late Models at dirt tracks around the country:

Lucky 7 Speedway, Colson, Ky. (Aug. 1): The annual Coal Miners Classic will pay $5,000 to the winner of the 50-lap Super Late Model event.

Farley (Iowa) Speedway (Aug. 1): The 40-lap Tri-Track Challenge is $2,000-to-win. The Kids Racing Club will be distributing popsicles.

201 Speedway, Sitka, Ky. (Aug. 2): The racetrack will host the $5,000-to-win Coal Show 50. The event will also include a $1,500-to-win modified special.

Winchester (Va.) Speedway (Aug. 2): The 35-lap Super Late Model event is $3,000-to-win and $300-to-start with the fourth round of the Niningers Tire & Auto Victory In The Valley Shootout.

Princeton (W.Va.) Speedway (Aug. 2): The fourth annual Upper Big Branch Memorial will pay $2,900 to the winner of the Crate Late Model event. Several bonuses are available in the Fastrak-sanctioned event.

Eriez Speedway, Erie, Pa. (Aug. 3): The 50-lap unsanctioned Super Late Model event will pay $5,000 to the winner. Limited Late Models and Crate Late Models aren’t in action.

Midway Speedway, Crooksville, Ohio. (Aug. 3): The Jim Dunn Memorial is $5,000-to-win. The event also includes $800-to-win Steel Block Late Models and a $1,000-to-win modified show.

West Liberty (Iowa) Raceway (Aug. 5): The Coors Light Open Late Model Shootout will pay $10,000 to the winner.

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Tim Sears Jr. file

Age: 22

Hometown: Clay, N.Y.

Marital status: Single

Chassis: Rocket Chassis

Sponsors: Gypsum Express LTD, Stadium International Trucks, Tracey Road Equipment, NAPA Auto Parts

Crew members: Johnny Sacco and Albert Gladle

Late Model career: After getting his start in the sportsman division, Sears has raced Crate Late Models for three years. Collectively, he has 10 feature victories at Fulton and Brewerton Speedways so far this season.

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