Friday, February 20, 2009

Tri-City Speedway Sold!!!‏


TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY SOLD!!!
by Brian Spaid

February 19, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FRANKLIN, PA …. After months of negotiation, Rimersburg, Pa., businessmen Mike Graham and Roger Crick completed the sale of Tri-City Speedway this week to H&H Motorsports, which is co-owned by Rich Hetrick of Oil City, Pa., and Roy Hill of Richmond, Va. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.
Hetrick, who owns Hetrick Racing, an ATV race shop located in Oil City, is excited about this new venture, and immediately announced that there will be no changes in the racing format at the half-mile Venango County dirt track in 2009. Tri-City will continue to run weekly on Sunday nights featuring the DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds, FASTRAK Late Models, E Mods, Pro Stocks and Thundercars.
“We are very excited about the 2009 racing season at Tri-City,” said Hetrick. “We will be running the same weekly classes as last year, but we will be adding some Super Sprint, Late Model and Mod Lite shows to our lineup. We have also received excellent responses from sponsors that have been with Tri-City in past years, and we are signing on new marketing partnerships. Roy and I want to take the area’s best race track to new heights.”
Hetrick stated that the track’s 2009 schedule will be released in the near future, but he indicated that H&H Motorsports would like to open Tri-City in early April and race through early October.
“We have a lot of different ideas and plans for this season, and we really want to give our fans and race teams more opportunities to compete and enjoy the racing at Tri-City. We will have a number of announcements about our plans in the coming weeks. The local support of this track is amazing. In fact, we cannot thank everyone enough for all of their support in our efforts so far.”
As H&H Motorsports continues to make plans for the upcoming season, Hetrick is pleased with the fact that many of the track’s officials and employees are returning in 2009.
“We look forward to working with a fine group of track officials and workers that have helped make Tri-City a success. All of them will help make this sale a smooth transition.”
Although Hill has no previous race track experience, Hetrick was a prior owner of Fox Raceway, a motocross track in Marienville, Pa. During negotiations for the sale of Tri-City, rumors circulated among the track’s faithful fans that the oval track would be closed and an ATV motocross track would be installed in its place. Hetrick quickly dismissed those rumors.
“Tri-City has a lot of history and a huge following. Roy and I do not want to destroy that. Mike and Roger made Tri-City into a fantastic race track, and we want to continue the oval track tradition. We will explore other avenues for racing opportunities in other areas on the facility in due time.”
Hetrick and Hill will make their first public appearance as Tri-City’s new owners at the upcoming Cranberry Mall Show in Cranberry, Pa., which is scheduled March 5-8.
“We hope to see everyone at the mall show,” said Hetrick. “Roy and I will be there to greet everyone and thank them for their continued support.”
With the sale, Graham and Crick ended their 13-year tenure as owners and promoters of the half-mile Venango County dirt track, which they reopened in 1996 after the track lay dormant since 1987.
“Roger and I believe that Rich and Roy will be excellent owners,” said Graham. “Their preliminary plans are impressive and we wanted to sell Tri-City Speedway to them because we believe it is in good hands.”
“We would also like to thank all of our neighbors, friends, employees, fans, sponsors, and competitors over the last 13 years,” added Crick. “Mike and I have met a lot of great people, and we will never forget them. One thing stands out. Despite any challenges or difficulties we faced, we knew we had a great group of people that would stand behind us and make every effort to make Tri-City the region’s top Sunday night race track.”
For more information, please contact the new track office at (814) 676-0477.

Tri-City Speedway is owned and operated by H&H Motorsports promoting Sunday night racing at the popular facility in 2009. The DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds, FASTRAK Late Models, E Mods, Pro Stocks and Thundercars race each week at the Venango County half-mile dirt oval. Tri-City is located seven miles north of Franklin, Pa., off State Route 417.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

O'Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions Reveal 2009 Roster of Drivers

Camargo, IL (2-18-09) by Kelly Brown - Public Relations Director – With the 2009 running of Winter Nationals in the record books, the stars of the O'Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions are aligning for the rest of the 2009 campaign. Included in the unique roster of talented drivers are former Champions, infamous veterans in the 410 Sprint Car World, and promising rookie talent, which are all ready to battle for the 2009 series title. It promises to be an action packed season with some of best sprint car drivers on the track, dueling each weekend for racing supremacy. The 2009 roster of All Stars includes:

Dale Blaney:
Dale Blaney had a dominant season in 2008 recording 23 top-ten finishes, 19 top-five finishes and 9 victories. Blaney’s season may have gotten off to a somewhat uncharacteristic rough start, but once he notched his first victory of the season during Ohio Speedweek, he became unstoppable. Blaney went on to record 9 of his 68 career victories at: Skyline Speedway, Eldora Speedway, Millstream Speedway, Eagle Raceway, Waynesfield Motorsports Park, Benton Motor Speedway, Attica Speedway and the final two events of the season at Fremont Speedway and Lawrenceberg Speedway. The last time Blaney won a championship in 1995, he followed it up with another in 1996. Now that he has one in 2008, he will definitely be ready back it up with a run for a title in 2009.

Ryan Bunton:
Throwing his hat into the battle for 2009 Rookie-of-the-Year title is Ryan Bunton in his 6r Ryan Bunton Racing mount. Bunton joined the Midwest All Stars in 2007 and has two wins with the series at Morgan County Speedway and West Tennessee Motor Speedway. The Bloomington, Illinois native finished second in the Midwest All Star points standings in 2008.

Daron Clayton:
“The Modern Day Cowboy” Daron Clayton of Sikeston, Mo. will be competing with the O'Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions this season with Deanthony Marketing Partners Race Team. Clayton who will be piloting the number 92 car will contend for the 2009 series championship, as well as Rookie-of-the-Year honors.

Randy Hannagan:
In 2009 Hannagan will return to All Star Series for a run at the championship, after finishing third in the points standings last year. Hannagan had a remarkable season in his THR Racing 1X finishing in the top ten in 80 percent of the races in 2008. When the season came to the end Hannagan finished in the top-ten 23 times, finished in the top-five 15 times, recorded two wins at Hilltop Speedway and Thunderhill Speedway, and won the Ohio Speedweek points standings.

Bret Mellenbrendt:
In 1992 Bret Mellenbrendt began racing quads on dirt, and living in the frozen tundra of South Dakota he also raced them on ice, which helped him hone his talents for driving on slick surfaces. In 2004 he made the move from quads to sprint cars and has competed in various USAC and unsanctioned sprint car events. In 2009 Mellenbrendt will put wing on and join the All Star Circuit of Champions, in the infamous 0 car Rick Ferkel made famous. He will also be competing for Rookie-of-the-Year honors.

Ryan Myers:
2008 All Star Circuit of Champions Rookie-of-the-Year title winner Ryan Myers ended his first year of competition in the seventh position in the points standings. The Eaton, Ohio native will be returning in his Garrett Racing 56r racing machine for the 2009 season.

Tim Shaffer:
Tim Shaffer “The Steel City Outlaw” joined the All Star series in June last season. In the twenty A-Main events Shaffer ran he finished in the top-ten 75% of the time. When the dust settled in September, Shaffer had collected 12 top-five finishes and 4 wins at the Terre Haute Action Track, Bellevue High Banks, Husets Speedway and at his “home track” Lernerville Speedway. Shaffer promises to be one of the top contenders in 2009 for the All Star Series crown as he returns to the Call Motorsports 83A for a full season of racing action.

Danny Smith:
In 1981 Danny Smith ran and won his first race with the All Star Series at Eldora Speedway. Since then Smith has run over 600 All Star Races, recording 28 wins, and 200 top-five finishes. Smith has feature wins on all of the major circuits including World of Outlaws, NCRA, All-Stars, GLOSS, IRA, USAC Sprint and USAC Silver Crown. This year Danny is looking forward to a promising season driving his own car racing with the All-Stars Circuit of Champions.

Greg Wilson:
Greg Wilson the 2006 and 2007 O'Reilly All Stars Series Champion will be joining the 2009 season roster in his Verl Warnimont Racing w20. In 2008 Wilson had a consistent season finishing in the top ten in over 75% percent of the events. At the end of the season Wilson had collected 20 top-ten finishes, 9 top-five finishes and a single victory. Wilson’s visit to Victory Lane occurred at Fremont Speedway where he recorded his 22 career All Star Victory.

Don’t miss out on a minute of the racing action. To view the full 2009 O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions schedule and the latest news regarding the series visit www.allstarsprint.com.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Sean Michael Joins Heffner Racing‏

SEAN MICHAEL JOINS HEFFNER RACING ENTERPRISES
Team Releases 2009 Schedule, Unveils New Website

Hellertown, PA—February 17, 2009…Veteran driver Sean Michael has signed on as lead 410 sprint car driver for the recently formed team of Heffner Racing Enterprises, based in Hellertown, PA. Michael will drive one of three new, blue and white #27 cars in the team's first race of the season, February 21 at Hagerstown Speedway.


Heffner Racing Enterprises was formed by Mike Heffner, president of team sponsor Lelands.com, who is fulfillling a lifelong dream to own and race a 410 sprint car. The team, rounded out by pit crew members Matt Anderson, crew chief, and head mechanic Jim Pasquariello, expects to compete in at least 50 races throughout central PA this season, including all Keystone Cup and Pennsylvania Speedweek shows. The team is also considering running select ASCS and URC 360 sprint car events.


"Being a new owner, I am thrilled to have a team of such caliber, experience, and enthusiasm" says Heffner. "Our team hasn't been together for very long, but already these guys are like family. I've never been so excited about anything."


Heffner has spared no expense for his first foray into sprint car racing--the three cars (reserved for short track, long track and a spare) are equipped with all new components, JEI chassis, and engines from Rider Racing Engines. Graphics are designed by Michael Graphics.

"I'm excited about this season. Mike has put together a great, experienced team and an absolutely top shelf car. He is putting his trust and faith into the team and willing to spend the money to give us 100% the best equipment that you can buy," says Michael. "I believe this could be the best equipment I've ever had."


Heffner Racing Enterprises has developed a new website (www.HeffnerRacing.com), complete with team bios, photos, and more. The team has also released a preliminary schedule for 2009, subject to change, as additional races are added:


Saturday, February 21, 1 p.m. Hagerstown Speedway, Hagerstown, MD

Saturday, February 28, 2 p.m. Lincoln Speedway, Abbottstown, PA

Saturday, March 7, 2 p.m. Lincoln Speedway, Abbotstown, PA

Saturday, March 14, 2 p.m. Lincoln Speedway, Abbottstown, PA

Sunday, March 15, 2 p.m. Port Royal Speedway, Port Royal, PA

Friday, March 20, 7:30 p.m. Williams Grove Speedway, Mechanicsburg, PA

Friday, March 27, 7:30 p.m. Williams Grove Speedway, Mechanicsburg, PA


For more information, visit www.HeffnerRacing.com or contact Suzan French, FlackShack, sfrench@FlackShack.com, 610-573-6989

Saturday, February 14, 2009

35TH ANNUAL TWIN STATE AUTO RACING CLUB SHOW MARCH 12-15TH

35TH ANNUAL TWIN STATE AUTO RACING CLUB SHOW MARCH 12-15TH

by Jim Balentine

The oldest regional car show for stock and drag cars only, the 35TH ANNUAL TWIN STATE AUTO RACING CLUB STOCK CAR SHOW will be held from THURS MARCH 12TH UNTIL SUNDAY MARCH 15TH at the Shenango Valley Mall, off of RT 18 and RT 62 in Hermitage, Pa. This will be the 3rd year in a row that the mall has held the event.

"it's amazing that this car show has been around this long," says Jim Balentine newsletter editor of the club. "My mother Sue and Sandy Cahalin began this in the winter of 1972-1973 by calling all the local drivers who raced at Canfield or Expo Speedways to enter their cars in a mall show. The Southern Park Mall in Boardman, Ohio was so filled with people that the local police had to barricade all the entrances to the mall to let people out and let more in and with over 70 cars inside the mall the support could not have been better from the local racers."

Brett McCall has been the show's coordinator for the past several years and has worked tirelessly to make the show happen. "In the old days there was a committee of 3 to 4 members to take care of various things that take place before, during and after the show" says Balentine, " but now Brett is a man standing by himself and has done a masterful job with every show he has put on."

The club based out of Youngstown Ohio has a membership base of around 750 members which covers Ohio and Pennsylvania tracks. They have a booth set up during the show for members to renew their memberships or to renew relationships after a long winter. The membership entitles a person to attend over 15 different tracks one time a year for free as well as attend club picnics and an annual christmas party.

The car show is the club biggest event of the year.The most populated nights are the weekends but alot of people come out for the traditional "pushing in of the cars". Balentine states "you will get a ton of people in the mall on the weekend, but the night that the cars go in is special as well as the parking lot looks like a tracks pit area with all the cars and people huddling around and the non race fans are curious about what is going on in the lot. We normally can get 40 cars into the mall in about 20 minutes and then in about and hour all the cars are in their spots and the show is on!"

If you are interested in a mall space please contact BRETT MCCALL at 330-759-9696 after 6 PM for more info. Any car that was in the show last year will get 1st option to apply. Applications are also available on the clubs website www.twinstateracing.org

Saturday, February 07, 2009

WRT SpeedWerx is born...‏

Every once in a while an opportunity comes along that you can’t resist. If you’re lucky, work hard, and treat people right, that one opportunity will grow and open doors well into the future. It is with this spirit that WRT SpeedWerx is born.

WRT SpeedWerx is an exciting compilation of some of Central Pa’s best photographers. By utilizing the talents of these fine photographers under a common banner, WRT SpeedWerx is able to provide the best and most comprehensive library of race images found anywhere in Central Pa. By working cooperatively, WRT SpeedWerx is able to capture more angles, more pit shots, and more amazing racing action than any other single photographer. In addition to increased coverage of joint events, there will also be the ability to cover more regional action by being able to shoot several different venues in a single night. Time is a valuable commodity for race teams and WRT SpeedWerx will allow teams and fans alike to find all of their favorite shots of the racing action at one central location – www.wrtspeedwerx.com.

As the exclusive photo provider for Williams Grove Speedway, WRT SpeedWerx will now allow fans to order photos from multiple photographers before the weekend is over. In addition, fans will also be able to purchase photos of their favorite drivers, right at the track. Look for several exciting promotions and special events throughout the season.

The entire team at WRT SpeedWerx is excited about the upcoming season, and looks forward to the challenge of meeting the needs of Race Teams and fans alike.

Sunday, February 01, 2009

THE SEARCH CONTINUES FOR MS. RACING FANS DIRECT‏

“THE SEARCH CONTINUES FOR MS RFD 2009



Westminster, MD February 1, 2009 :) THE SEARCH CONTINUES FOR A NEW MS. RACING FANS DIRECT for the 2009 season , conflicts , scheduling , or other commitments have forced RFD to find other candidates . RFD needs a representative that will travel, and put forth the time an effort we seek as MS RFD.







RFD seeks all ladies , models , contestants who ran in MS MOTORSPORTS 2009 - especially contestant #12 or those interested who have racing knowledge , personality , who love dealing directly with fans & public to send in a photo or photos of yourself , a brief bio , an your contact information to be considered for the title of “ MS Racing Fans Direct - 2009

In return you’ll receive compensation , constant press releases that is solely lacking for all you hard working ladies who put in so much time an effort in representing speedways , racing papers, or different annual events .

E-mail all information to racingfansdirect@bigplanet.com , our representative will travel to various local tracks in PA , NJ , DE, and possibly other states in her display of what Racing Fans Direct is all about & how we will make a difference in fans racing experiences . There is no organization like RFD ANYWHERE FOR FANS , IF YOU COME ALONG OR PARTICIPATE YOU WOULD SEE WHAT WE MEAN . Contact 443-974-7027 for more information or about anything regarding RFD.