Sunday, March 23, 2008

Excitement Builds for the Inaugural UFo Race Championship Event at Challenger!


Indiana, PA (March 12, 2008) – The most anticipated event of the 2008 season is just one month away, as the UFo PA State Short Track Championships will take place on Saturday and Sunday, April 12-13 at the Challenger Raceway. Over $50,000 in prize money will be offered to race teams including $7,000 total to win for Super Late Models. The 2-day mega-event will feature the first-ever race of the brand-new Unified Force Race Championship Tour presented by Comcast.


Interest in the UFo Race Championship Tour presented by Comcast is at an all-time high, and new tour is appearing to be one of the most exciting developments to take place in recent history of motor sports in the region. In an effort to revitalize regional racing for both the race teams and race fans, the UFo Race Championship Tour presented by Comcast will offer over $334,000 in prize money in the Super Late Model portion of the events plus an additional $40,000 to $50,000 in posted available contingency awards. The UFo Race Championship has developed unified, cost-effective rules packages that will be used for the Super Late Models and other divisions at UFo events. Additionally, two 2008 tour events will be broadcast on Comcast CN-8 which further demonstrates the dedication of the UFo Race Championship Tour presented by Comcast to increase exposure of the sport in the region.


The new PA State Short Track Championships event replaces the former Springfest race that traditionally opened up the season at Challenger. The new event title reflects the increased total event payoff of $50,000 and the new format with 2 complete racing programs. The 2007 edition of the event produced a record car count of 99 late model-type cars including 64 Super Late Models. Previous winners of the spring event include 2-time winner Rick Eckert of York, PA, Steve Shaver of Vienna, WV, Tim McCreadie of Watertown, NY and Robbie Blair of Titusville, PA. Another huge field of cars is expected for the improved 2008 version.
As an added attraction for the weekend, RaceTalkRadio.Com/Clamped Up personalities DMIC & CJ will be joining their friends at Challenger for the PA Short Track Championships. Race Talk Radio will bring the action of Challenger to their listeners throughout the weekend, as well as giving fans and racers a chance to win fantastic prizes during this two day, dirt track extravaganza. Additional information on their radio programs may be found at http://www.racetalkradio.com/.


The Challenger Raceway is renowned for great track preparation and excellent, multi-groove racing. Competitors are looking forward to returning to the 4/10 mile which was resurfaced last August with “top-secret” new clay. The first event on the new clay surface last October saw Billy Drake from Bloomington IL roar from his 15th place starting position to take “The Ultimate” feature win.


The Challenger Raceway 2008 Blastoff will take place on Saturday Night, April 12. Super Late Models will compete for $2,000 to win. This 33-lap championship race will not award UFo points, but will use UFo Super Late Model car and procedure rules and will give drivers an opportunity to tune up for Sunday’s UFo event. Two other divisions will compete in their PA State Short Track Championship races. The B-Cadet (street/pro-stock) division will be in competition with a 25-lap championship race paying $600 to the winner, and the Sport Stock (hobby/charger/strictly stock) class will contest a 20-lap championship race paying $300 to win. Filling out the night’s activities will be several practice sessions for the Semi-Lates, E-mod Sportsman, Roadrunners and any other classes of cars.


Pit gates are scheduled to open at 2:30, general admission gates at 4:30, drivers meeting at 5:45, warm-ups at 6:00 and the first racing event will start at 6:30. Adult grandstand admission is only $13 for this championship event with Juniors 11-15 $6, Children 5-10 $5 and Pit Admission $25.


Sunday Twilight, April 13 is the inaugural event for the UFo Race Championship Tour presented by Comcast. The region’s superstars of Super Late Model racing will attack the 4/10 mile short track for their segment of the PA State Short Track Championships. Sunday’s UFo PA State Short Track Championship will culminate with the “Area 51-lap” championship feature paying $5,000 to win and $400 for 24th for Super Late Models. Sunday will be a bonus for late model fans as it will feature a double-division late model program with the Semi-Lates (limited/crate/steel block late models) paying $1,000 to win for the 30-lap PA State Short Track Championship. E-mod Sportsman will return to the Challenger Raceway after a 1-year hiatus with an $800 to win, 25-lap championship and the 4-cylinder, front-wheel drive Roadrunners will compete in a 20-lap feature-only format paying $250 to win. If 30 Roadrunners are present, two 15-lap features will be run.


Pit gates are scheduled to open at 12:30, general admission gate at 2:30, drivers meeting at 3:45, and warm-ups will start at 4:00. The first session of racing will begin at 4:30 with the E-mod heats and consolation as well as the Roadrunner feature with the late model racing beginning approximately 5:45 after track prep. Adult grandstand admission is just $20, Juniors 11-15 $10 Children 5-10 $5 and Pit Admission is $31.


Super Late Model entry fee will be $50 with no entry fees for other classes. Reinforcing the philosophy of the UFo Race Championship Tour presented by Comcast to keep down cost for competitors, it should be noted that no hidden membership fees or temporary license fees exist for race teams competing in UFo events in 2008.


The rain date for the event will be Saturday & Sunday, April 19-20. Rules for all classes for the event are posted at both the Challenger Raceway and UFo Race Championship. Weight and spoiler variances according to motor types will allow virtually all area cars to be both legal and competitive. Complete payoffs are posted at the Challenger Raceway website rules page.

The Challenger Raceway is located 6.4 miles southwest of US 422 on PA 286, then one mile north on McIntyre Road. For the most complete source of Challenger Raceway information, please visit the track's web site at http://www.challengerraceway.com/. Additional information on the UFo Race Championship may be obtained at http://www.uforacechampionship.com/. Information may also be obtained by calling 724-726-9808 on race days or 724-726-5494 during weekdays.

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