Contact: DIRT MotorSports™
Kevin Kovac, World of Outlaws Late Model Series P.R. Director
405-488-8234 • [email protected]
2006 archives
2007 archives

Earl Pearson Jr. Dominates Monday’s DIRTcar Nationals Opener For UMP DIRTcar Racing Late Models

BARBERVILLE, FL – Feb. 12, 2007 – There was no doubt about Earl Pearson Jr.’s superiority in Monday night’s UMP DIRTcar Racing Late Model action at Volusia Speedway Park.

With his new car owner Bobby Labonte looking on, the Jacksonville, Fla., star ran roughshod on the field, easily winning the 25-lap feature that opened the Late Model portion of the 36^th annual DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Mopar Speedshop.

Pearson, who turned 35 on Jan. 29, fought off an early challenge from Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., and raced away to beat the reigning 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series champion by nearly a half-lap margin.

Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., finished third, followed by 10^th-starter Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., and Steve Shaver of Vienna, W.Va.

“To get a win in front of my home fans is pretty exciting,” said Pearson, who won a 360 OTC WoO LMS event during last year’s DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia. “And Bobby Labonte is here watching tonight, so that makes it even more special.”

Pearson has quickly become acquainted with Labonte, the NASCAR Nextel Cup veteran who during the off-season purchased the assets of the Carlton Lamm-owned Dunn-Benson Motorsports team that Pearson starred with in recent years. He’s won twice in less than three weeks of competition behind the wheel of Labonte’s Lifelong Locks-sponsored No. 44.

Of course, it’s not like Pearson has had to make any significant adjustments since joining forces with Labonte.

“I tell everybody that I just changed colors, numbers and owners,” said Pearson, the defending champion of the prestigious UMP DIRTcar Racing-sanctioned World 100 at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. “We’re still using the same truck, trailer and cars that I used last year, and we kept the same crew. They all do their jobs and are good at them.”

Pearson started from the pole position in Monday’s main, but after leading laps 1-2 he was overtaken by the rim-riding McCreadie. On lap six, however, Pearson hugged the inside of the half-mile oval to move back in front for good.

With the race running caution-free from start to finish, Pearson pulled away from McCreadie with virtual ease. He lapped all but the top-eight finishers in the event.

“I was worried about McCreadie because he’s always good here on the top,” said Pearson, who drove a MasterSbilt car powered by a Larry Wallace-built engine. “But when you get that many guys running up there the cushion moves so far out, and that makes the inside the place to be if you can run down there.

“Fortunately I could stay right in the moisture (on the inside), but we set the car up to do that. That’s my power point.”

McCreadie, who started second in Carl Myers’s Sweeteners Plus Rocket No. 39, was no match for the fleet Pearson.

“I was too tight (handling) everywhere,” said McCreadie, who recorded the overall fastest time (16.395 seconds) of the night’s eight “group” qualifying sessions. “But Earl was just so good tonight. He was definitely tough to beat.

“If we can get a little bit better, though, we’ll have some fun out there with him the rest of the week.”

With 92 cars on hand, heat winners were Pearson, McCreadie, Babb, Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., Shaver, Patrick Sheltra of Indiantown, Fla., and Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill. The B-Mains were captured by Scott James of Bright, Ind., Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., Eddie Carrier Jr. of Salt Rock, W.Va., and Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark.

Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., crossed the finish line first in the second B-Main, but he was disqualified after his Gypsum Express No. 19 weighed in light post-race.

NASCAR Nextel Cup and Busch Series standout Clint Bowyer was on hand driving the Richard Childress Racing Late Model normally steered by Dale McDowell, who is now heading up the in-house RCR Driver Development Program. Bowyer started fifth in his fifth, but failed to qualify for the feature.

UMP Late Model action continues at Volusia on Feb. 13, 14 and 16. The 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series takes center stage on Feb. 15 and 17.

UMP DIRTcar Racing Late Model Feature Finish (30 laps):

1. Earl Pearson Jr.

2. Tim McCreadie

3. Shannon Babb

4. Chub Frank

5. Steve Shaver

6. Scott James

7. Josh Richards

8. Steve Francis

9. Rick Eckert

10. Justin Ratliff

11. Don O’Neal

12. Clint Smith

13. Michael England

14. Patrick Sheltra

15. Eddie Carrier Jr.

16. Mike Balzano

17. Darrell Lanigan

18. Dennis Erb Jr.

19. Jeep VanWormer

20. Wayne Chinn

21. Ricky Arms

22. Billy Moyer

23. Shane Clanton

24. Ronny Lee Hollingsworth

DNQ: Garrett Durrett, Terry English, Vic Coffey, Mark Anderson, Dan Stone, C.J. Rayburn, Jason McBride, Homer Leonard, Jimmy Mars, Chris Wall, Billy Decker, Chris Hackett, John Tindall, Jeff Alsip, Tory Erickson, Darren Miller, Tim Fuller, Clint Bowyer, Matt Miller, Brian Claudnic, Larry Perry Jr., James Echols, Joe Denby, Jonathan Davenport, John Blankenship, Mike Marler, Duke Whiseant, Johnny Johnson, Christian Rayburn, Roy Mitchell, Stacy Boles, Ivedent Lloyd, Bub McCool, Greg Johnson, Austin Dillon, Chuck Julien, Mike Hammerle, Terry Casey, Damon Eller, Ricky Elliott, Jackie Boggs, Adam Hensel, J.O. Nobles, Rodney Kiker, Don Mihelich, Brandon Kinzer, Steve Sheppard Jr., Freddy Smith, Jake Redetzke, Mike Mataragas, Tim Manville, Jerry Rice, Sherry Heckenast, Mike Amell, Kenny Pettyjohn, Wendell Wallace, Jordan Bland, Greg Oliver, Josh McGuire, Mike Williams, Jeff Smith, Kenny Adams

MEDIA ADVISORY

36^th ANNUAL FLORIDA DIRTcar NATIONALS PRESENTED BY MOPAR SPEEDSHOP

What: Members of the media are invited to attend a special ‘meet-and-greet’ session with drivers who will be chasing a championship this year on the 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series and the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series for big-block Modifieds

When: Wed., Feb. 14 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. – prior to the night’s UMP DIRTcar Racing Late Model/Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series big-block Modified doubleheader

Where: Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, FL…in the ‘Checkered Flag Club’ located in the upper pit area outside turn one

Refreshments will be served

For more information contact 360 OTC WoO LMS P.R. Director Kevin Kovac (405-488-8234) or DIRT NorthEast P.R. Director Tom Skibinski (585-350-8997)

New Friday-Night Super Late Model Program At New Egypt Speedway Launches With 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series Event On April 13 

CONCORD, NC – Feb. 11, 2007 – A new, exciting Friday-night attraction for New Egypt Speedway – and the New Jersey racing scene – will launch when the 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series visits the Garden State track for the first time ever on Fri., April 13. 

Long a hotbed of DIRT big-block Modified racing, New Jersey will become a home for Super Late Model action as well in 2007 with the announcement that New Egypt Speedway’s new owners will host bi-weekly programs for the nationally-popular full-fender division. 

Starting with the $10,000-to-win 360 OTC WoO LMS ‘Cabin Fever 50’ on April 13, Super Late Models will race at the half-mile, D-shaped oval every other Friday night through September. It will mark the first time that Super Late Models have served as the headliner of a regular racing program at a dirt track in New Jersey. 

Weekly Saturday-night cards featuring DIRT-sanctioned big-block Modifieds, Sportsman and Super Stocks will remain the hallmark of the spic-and-span facility, kicking off with the season-opening ‘Easter Bunny Hop’ on April 7. 

“We’re not going to replace the Modifieds with Late Models – nobody, in any way, should think that’s going to happen,” said Jerseyite Bill Miscoski, who joined with partner Fred Vahlsing to purchase New Egypt Speedway during the off-season. “We just want to give the fans in New Jersey and the immediate area a chance to watch a little different type of racing that’s really, really exciting. 

“A lot of people in this area have never seen full-blown Late Models, and I think they’re gonna be impressed. I think Late Models will take off real quick around here.” 

A former golf course owner who’s known as ‘The Mayor’ (he ran for the political office in Freehold Twp., N.J., and won), Miscoski can speak from experience about how easy it is to be seduced by dirt Late Model racing. 

“The first time I saw Late Models run, I was just blown away,” said Miscoski. “The speeds they turn, the torque they come off the corners with – the cars are just thrilling to watch.” 

Miscoski liked Super Late Models so much, he bought one of his own. This season will be his third fielding a Super Late Model for Maryland’s Mike Williams, who has driven Miscoski’s machine at tracks in Delaware, Maryland and North Carolina for the past two years. 

After Williams steers Miscoski’s Rocket Chassis/Pro Power engine combo in the 360 OTC WoO LMS and UMP DIRTcar Racing Late Model action that comprises this week’s 36^th annual DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Mopar Speedshop at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla., he’ll finally be able to race in Miscoski’s backyard thanks to the coming of Super Late Model competition at New Egypt Speedway. 

It appears that plenty of Super Late Model drivers will join Williams in the New Egypt pit area on Friday nights. With a cool $2,500 top prize on the line for a regular 25-lap feature and a combined points fund with Georgetown (Del.) Speedway (a half-mile oval that will host Super Late Models on the Friday nights that New Egypt doesn’t), interest is high among established and rising Late Model racers from Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and beyond. 

That group includes drivers hailing from New Jersey, competitors who have never truly considered Super Late Model racing as a viable option. A growing number of DIRT big-block Modified stalwarts, including former New Egypt champion Jimmy Horton, are considering accenting their Modified racing with a Super Late Model effort at NES. 

Momentum for New Egypt’s Super Late Model program is unquestionably building – and the whole deal will get the biggest jump-start possible on Fri., April 13, from the 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series, the nation’s premier traveling tour. New Jersey fans will have their appetites wet for regular Super Late Model racing by some of the division’s biggest stars, including well-known names from the Northeast like reigning 360 OTC WoO LMS champion Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., Rick Eckert of York, Pa., Chub Frank of Sugar Grove, Pa., and Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va. 

“We see starting the season with the Outlaw show as being a big selling point for our Friday Late Model shows,” said Michael Sanchelli, New Egypt Speedway’s Director of Race Operations. “We think a great World of Outlaws Late Model race will attract plenty of attention and show our fans just how exciting Super Late Model racing can be on Friday nights at New Egypt.” 

For more information on the 360 OTC WoO LMS and New Egypt Speedway, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com or www.newegyptspeedway.net.

360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series ‘At A Glance’: 36^th Annual DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Mopar Speedshop 

CONCORD, NC – Feb. 9, 2007 –
WHAT: 

* The 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series kicks off an ambitious 2007 season with events on Feb. 15 and 17 as part of the 36^th annual DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Mopar Speedshop, a 12-day extravaganza of speed at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla. 

Both events will feature 50-lap A-Mains that pay $10,000 to win from a total purse in excess of $40,000. 

Sharing the racing card each night will be the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series for big-block Modifieds, which will compete in a 30-lap feature on Feb. 15 and a 50-lap championship event on Feb. 17. 

WHEN: 

* On both Thurs., Feb. 15, and Sat., Feb. 17, pit gates are scheduled to swing open at 2 p.m. and spectator gates at 5 p.m. Practice is set to begin at 6 p.m., followed by time trials for the Late Models and racing.

 WHERE: 

* Volusia Speedway Park is located off I-95 exit 268, then 15 miles west on State Rt. 40 in Barberville. It sits 1.5 miles west of State Rt. 11. 

TICKETS/CAMPING: 

* Grandstand general admission is $35 and pit admission is $40 for each night of action featuring the 360 OTC WoO LMS. Reserved general admission tickets are available by calling the VSP office at 386-985-4402. 

‘Super’ reserved ticket packages for the DIRTcar Nationals are also available. Fans planning to attend the week’s four UMP DIRTcar Racing Late Model events (Feb. 12, 13, 14 and 16) as well as the two 360 OTC WoO LMS programs can purchase a six-night Late Model ‘Super’ ticket for $160, while a four-race DIRT big-block Modified ‘Super’ ticket (covering the Feb. 14-17 dates that include the Mods) is $120. 

Reserved motorhome camping (up to 40 feet) is available at Volusia during the DIRTcar Nationals for only $20 per night, while general camping for a unit less than 20 feet is $15 nightly. 

INFORMATION: 

* For more information on the DIRTcar Nationals and the 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series, visit www.volusiaspeedwaypark.com or www.worldofoutlaws.com or call the VSP office at 386-985-4402. 

ABOUT THE TRACK: 

* Volusia Speedway Park is a D-shaped, half-mile clay oval boasting turns that are 75 feet wide and banked nine degrees. The speedway, which was built in 1967, was acquired by DIRT MotorSports in June 2005. 

Harvey Fink, a veteran racing promoter who formerly owned the Brewerton and Fulton speedways in central New York, has served as the general manager of VSP since July 2006. He oversees weekly Saturday-night competition at the track from early spring through late autumn. 

ON THE INTERNET: 

* Fans who can’t get to the track for the DIRTcar Nationals have the opportunity to watch or listen to all the action over the internet at www.dirtvision.com. 

Both 360 OTC WoO LMS programs will be ‘cybercast’ over DIRTVision.com with live video and audio. Fans can purchase a DIRTcar Nationals ‘CyberPass’ to watch the racing on DIRTVision for $19.99; the ‘CyberPass’ includes live video coverage of the World of Outlaws Sprint Car events from Feb. 9-11 plus the Feb. 14-17 (Late Model and DIRT big-block Modifieds) programs. 

As always, free live audio coverage of the 360 OTC WoO LMS events is available through the DIRT Radio Network by logging onto www.dirtvision.com and clicking the DIRT Radio Network logo. Tour announcer Rick Eshelman calls the action on the DIRT Radio Network, and fans can interact with each other while listening with the chat-room feature. 

PREVIOUS 360 OTC WoO LMS WINNERS AT VOLUSIA: 

* Since hosting the inaugural 360 OTC WoO LMS event of the tour’s era under DIRT MotorSports in 2004, Volusia Speedway Park has held more events for the series than any other track – a total of 10 A-Mains. 

Only two drivers have won multiple 360 OTC WoO LMS events at Volusia: Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky. (the inaugural tour race on Feb. 3, 2004, and again on Feb. 18, 2006), and Scott Bloomsquist of Mooresburg, Tenn. (Feb. 8, 2004, and Oct. 29, 2005). 

Other tour winners at Volusia include Bart Hartman of Zanesville, Ohio (Fe. 4, 2004); Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill. (Feb. 6, 2004); Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark. (Feb. 17, 2005); Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y. (Feb. 19, 2005); Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla. (Feb. 16, 2006); and Chris Madden of Grey Court, S.C. (Oct. 14, 2006). 

NEWS & NOTES: 

They’ll Be There: The top 14 finishers in last year’s 360 OTC WoO LMS point standings will be in the Volusia pit area for the tour’s season-opening doubleheader. 

That group includes (in order of points finish) Tim McCreadie, Shane Clanton, Chub Frank, Billy Moyer, Darrell Lanigan, Steve Francis, Rick Eckert, Dale McDowell, Josh Richards, Clint Smith, Eddie Carrier Jr., John Blankenship, Eric Jacobsen and Garrett Durrett. 

Lots of Talent: Standout drivers from across the country have plans to enter the DIRTcar Nationals Late Model competition, including Donnie Moran of Dresden, Ohio; Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla.; Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa; Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn.; Mike Balzano of Parkersburg, W.Va.; Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis.; Jimmy Mars of Menominee, Wis.; Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill.; Steve Casebolt of Richmond, Ind.; Wendell Wallace of Batesville, Ark.; Chris Wall of Holden, La.; Ricky Elliott of Seaford, Del.; Billy Decker of Unadilla, N.Y.; Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y.; Steve Shaver of Vienna, W.Va.; Darren Miller of Millegeville, Ill.; and Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill. 

New Face: A first-time entrant in the DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia will be Maryland’s Mike Williams, who will drive a Rocket car fielded by New Jersey’s Bill Miscoski. Miscoski is the new owner of New Egypt (N.J.) Speedway, which will host the 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series for the first time ever on Fri., April 13, for the running of the ‘Cabin Fever 50.’

 Plenty of Racing: In addition to the pair of 360 OTC WoO LMS events, Late Model drivers will have four nights of UMP DIRTcar Racing-sanctioned competition during the DIRTcar Nationals to fill their winter racing appetites. 

The UMP Late Model events on Feb. 12, 13 and 14 will be highlighted by 30-lap features paying $5,000 to win, and the UMP finale on Fri., Feb. 16 will be run over the 50-lap distance and pay $10,000 to win. 

For the UMP Late Model-headlining nights, general admission is $30 and pit admission is $35 on Feb. 12, 13 and 14, and general admission is $35 and pit admission is $40 on Feb. 16. 

Dirt-Track Visitor: The UMP action on Mon., Feb. 12, and Tues., Feb. 13, will include Richard Childress Racing’s NASCAR Nextel Cup and Busch Series driver Clint Bowyer, who will get behind the wheel of 360 OTC WoO LMS veteran Dale McDowell’s car for two nights of Late Model combat. 

McDowell, who this year will enter selected 360 OTC WoO LMS events because he has taken a position heading Richard Childress Racing’s Driver Development program, will step out of his RCR Late Model for the two nights to let Bowyer test his dirt-racing skills. McDowell will also spend the week tutoring Childress’s teenage grandson, Austin Dillon, who will compete in the dirt Late Model events. 

Meet & Greet: Drivers set to follow the 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series in search of the 2007 championship will take part in a special meet-and-greet session with the media on Tues., Feb. 13, on the grounds of Volusia Speedway Park. They will be joined by several DIRT big-block Modified drivers from the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series. 

Members of the media are invited to meet and talk with the stars from two of DIRT MotorSports’ premier traveling series in a press suite situation outside turn one in the track’s upper pit area. The meet-and-greet will begin at a time to be announced. 

2007 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series Schedule (as of Feb. 9, 2007): 

Date – Day – Track/Location – Event - To Win - Laps

Feb. 15 – Thurs. – Volusia Speedway Park/Barberville, FL – DIRTcar Nationals - $10,000 – 50L

Feb. 17 – Sat. – Volusia Speedway Park/Barberville, FL – DIRTcar Nationals - $10,000 – 50L

March 23 – Fri. – Baton Rouge Raceway/Baker, LA - $10,000 – 50L

March 24 – Sat. – Columbus Speedway/Columbus, MS - $10,000 – 50L

March 25 – Sun. – North Alabama Speedway/Tuscumbia, AL - $7,000 – 40L

April 13 – Fri. – New Egypt Speedway/New Egypt, NJ - $10,000 – 50L

April 14 – Sat. – Virginia Motor Speedway/Saluda, VA - $10,000 – 50L

April 17 – Tues. – Lernerville Speedway/Sarver, PA - $10,000 – 50L

April 19,20,21 – Sat. – The Dirt Track at Lowe’s Motor Speedway/Concord, NC – CIRCLE K COLOSSAL 100 - $50,000 – 100L

April 27 – Fri. – Farmer City Raceway/Farmer City, IL - $10,000 – 50L

April 28 – Sat. – Kamp Motor Speedway/Boswell, IN - $10,000 – 50L

May 4 – Fri. – Brush Creek Motorsports Complex/Peebles, OH - $10,000 – 50L

May 5 – Sat. – Wayne County Speedway/Orrville, OH - $10,000 – 50L

May 9 – Wed. – Davenport Speedway Quarter-Mile/Davenport, IA – Monster Midwest Tour - $10,000 – 50L

May 11 - Fri. - TBA

May 12 – Sat. – The Raceway at Powercom Park/Beaver Dam, WI – Monster Midwest Tour - $10,000 – 50L

May 13 – Sun. – Lincoln Speedway/Lincoln, IL – Monster Midwest Tour - $7,000 – 40L

May 16 – Wed. – Brownstown Speedway/Brownstown, IN – Monster Midwest Tour - $10,000 – 50L

May 18 – Fri. – I-96 Speedway/Lake Odessa, MI – Monster Midwest Tour - $10,000 – 50L

May 31 – Thurs. – Delaware International Speedway/Delmar, DE - $10,000 – 50L

June 2 – Sat. – Hagerstown Speedway/Hagerstown, MD - $10,000 – 50L

June 12 – Tues. – River Cities Speedway/Grand Forks, ND - $10,000 – 50L

June 14 – Thurs. – Deer Creek Speedway/Spring Valley, MN – Gopher 50 - $10,000 – 50L

June 15 – Fri. – Knoxville Raceway/Knoxville, IA - $10,000 – 50L

June 16 – Sat. – Lakeside Speedway/Kansas City, KS - $10,000 – 50L

June 17 – Sun. – Belleville High Banks/Belleville, KS - $10,000 - 50L

June 20 – Wed. – Port Royal Speedway/Port Royal, PA – Great Northern Tour - $7,000 – 40L

June 23 – Sat. – Autodrome Drummond/Drummondville, QUE – Great Northern Tour - $10,000 – 50L

June 24 – Sun. – Cayuga County Fair Speedway/Weedsport, NY – Great Northern Tour - $10,000 – 50L

June 27 – Wed. – Stateline Speedway/Busti, NY – Great Northern Tour - $7,000 – 50L

June 29,30 – Sat. – Lernerville Speedway/Sarver, PA – FIRECRACKER 100 - $30,000 – 100L

July 3 - Tues. - Lebanon I-44 Speedway/Lebanon, MO - $10,000 - 50L

July 6,7 – Sat. – Pike County Speedway/Magnolia, MS – FREEDOM 100 - $20,000 – 100L

July 20 - Fri. - Virginia Motor Speedway/Saluda, VA - $10,000 - 50L

July 21 – Sat. – Hagerstown Speedway/Hagerstown, MD – 60^th Anniversary Race - $12,000 – 60L

July 22 – Sun. – Eriez Speedway/Hammett, PA - $10,000 – 50L

July 24 - Tues. - TBA

July 25 – Wed. – Attica Raceway Park/Attica, OH – WoO LM Speedweek - $7,000 – 40L

July 26 – Thurs. – Lawrenceburg Speedway/Lawrenceburg, IN – WoO LM Speedweek - $7,000 – 40L

July 27 – Fri. – Eldora Speedway/Rossburg, OH – WoO LM Speedweek - $10,000 – 50L

July 28 – Sat. – Sharon Speedway/Hartford, OH – WoO LM Speedweek - $10,000 – 50L

Aug. 21,22,23 – Thurs. – Volunteer Speedway/Bulls Gap, TN – SCORCHER 100 - $20,000 – 100L

Aug. 25 – Sat. – K-C Raceway/Alma, OH - $10,000 – 50L

Sept. 1 – Sat. – Tri-City Speedway/Franklin, PA – Oil Region Labor Day Classic - $10,000 – 50L

Sept. 2 – Sun. – Tri-City Speedway/Franklin, PA – Oil Region Labor Day Classic - $10,000 – 50L

Sept. 14 – Fri. – Paducah International Raceway/Paducah, KY - $10,000 – 50L

Sept. 15 – Sat. – I-55 Raceway/Pevely, MO - $10,000 – 50L

Sept. 16 – Sun. – La Salle Speedway/La Salle, IL - BEST WESTERN ILLINOIS FALL NATIONALS - $10,000 - 50L

Sept. 21 – Fri. – TBA

Sept. 22 – Sat. – TBA

Oct. 10 – Wed. – The Dirt Track at Lowe’s Motor Speedway/Concord, NC - Jani-King Showdown - $10,000 – 50L

Oct. 12,13 – Sat. – Volunteer Speedway/Bulls Gap, TN - $20,000 – 100L

Nov. 1 – Thurs. – The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway/Concord, NC - OUTLAW WORLD FINALS (Time Trials)

Nov. 2 – Fri. – The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway/Concord, NC - OUTLAW WORLD FINALS $10,000 – 50L

Nov. 3 – Sat. – The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway/Concord, NC - OUTLAW WORLD FINALS $10,000 – 50L

Schedule subject to change. Always visit www.worldofoutlaws.com for latest event information.

DIRTVision.com Cybercast Video Coverage Opens For 2007 With Live DIRTcar Nationals Action From Volusia Speedway Park

CONCORD, NC – Feb. 5, 2007 – DIRTVision.com will launch its fourth consecutive year of operation with live ‘Cybercast’ video coverage of the 36^th annual DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Mopar Speedshop at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla.

Fans unable to make the trip to sunny Florida for the DIRTcar Nationals at the half-mile Volusia oval can watch the action on their computers through DIRTVision.com, beginning with ‘FREE’ preview Cybercasts of the All-Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car events on Wed., Feb. 7, and Thurs., Feb. 8. Both events will be provided ‘FREE’ to registered users of DIRTVision.com.

To sign up for a ‘FREE’ account to view the two All-Star Sprint programs, simply visit www.dirtvision.com and click on ‘Register.’

Seven more nights of live DIRTVision.com Cybercast video coverage from Volusia will offered to purchasers of ‘2007 DIRTcar Nationals CyberPass’ subscriptions. The Cybercasts will feature the Sprint Car stars of the World of Outlaws on Fri., Feb. 9, Sat., Feb. 10, and Sun., Feb. 11; the UMP DIRTcar Racing Late Models and DIRT big-block Modifieds on Wed., Feb. 14, and Fri., Feb. 16; and the 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series and DIRT big-block Modifieds on Thurs., Feb. 15, and Sat., Feb. 17.

All DIRTcar Nationals Cybercasts will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET.

A ‘2007 DIRTcar Nationals CyberPass’ subscription, which costs $19.99, is required to view the Feb. 9-11 and Feb. 14-17 events on DIRTvision.com. To purchase a subscription, log onto www.dirtvision.com, click on the ‘DIRTcar Nationals CyberPass’ link and pay the $19.99 fee using Visa or Mastercard on a secure payment severe.

Monthly and season DIRTVision.com CyberPass subscriptions will be available for purchase beginning in March 2007.

Those unfamiliar with the live DIRTVision.com Cybercasts can visit www.dirtvision.com and click on the ‘Help/FAQ’ menu for tips and computer system requirements for viewing the coverage. All users are encouraged to register in advance to leave time for troubleshooting any problems that may arise before their first event viewing.

The basic tools required for viewing the live Cybercasts are a DIRTVision.com account, plus Internet Explorer 5 or higher and Windows Media Player 9 (both of which can be downloaded free of charge).

As part of a February DIRTVision.com special, ALL registered users will have 24/7 access to archived 2004, 2005 and 2006 ‘On-Demand’ and ‘Cybercast’ videos from the DIRT MotorSports racing world.

For DIRTVision.com technical support or questions, e-mail [email protected].

Internet users also can listen to audio broadcasts of all 12 nights (Feb. 6-17) of the 36^th annual DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia through the DIRT Radio Network, which can be accessed at www.dirtvision.com.

World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series announcer Johnny Gibson, 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series announcer Rick Eshelman and Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRT Series announcer Shane Andrews will call the DIRTcar Nationals action over the free streaming audio.

The DIRTcar Nationals audio broadcasts on the DIRT Radio Network will feature the All-Star Sprints (Feb. 6-8); the World of Outlaws Sprints (Feb. 9-11); the UMP DIRTcar Racing Late Models (Feb. 12, 13, 14 and 16); the 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series (Feb. 15 and 17); and the DIRT big-block Modifieds (Feb. 14-17).

All DIRTcar Nationals audio broadcasts on the DIRT Radio Network are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET.

Thousands of fans enjoyed the DIRT Radio Network’s free audio broadcasts of World of Outlaws and Super DIRT Series events in 2006. This season registered users will find enhanced features, including the popular text chat during the programs and AMB scoring/results.

New to the DIRT Radio Network in 2007 will be free audio broadcasts of all All-Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Series events, beginning with the tour’s first three shows Feb. 6-8 at Volusia. All-Star Series announcer Dana Blair will be behind the microphone to bring fans the lap-by-lap action of All-Star events throughout the 2007 season.

2007 DIRTVision.com™ FREE LIVE CYBERCAST Schedule For 36^th annual DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Mopar Speedshop At Volusia Speedway Park:

Wed-2/7 (7:30pm ET) - FREE LIVE CYBERCAST - All-Star Circuit of Champions

Thurs-2/8 (7:30pm ET) - FREE LIVE CYBERCAST - All-Star Circuit of Champions

2007 DIRTVision.com™ Live Cybercast Schedule For 36^th annual DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Mopar Speedshop At Volusia Speedway Park (DIRTcar Nationals CyberPass Subscription Required):

Fri-2/9 (7:30pm ET) - World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series
Sat-2/10 (7:30pm ET) - World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series
Sun-2/11 (7:30pm ET) - World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series
Wed-2/14 (7:30pm ET) - UMP Super Late Models & DIRT big-block Modifieds
Thurs-2/15 (7:30pm ET) – 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series & DIRT big-block Modifieds
Fri-2/16 (7:30pm ET) - UMP Super Late Models & DIRT big-block Modifieds
Sat-2/17 (7:30pm ET) - World of Outlaws Late Models & DIRT big-block Modifieds

Exciting Opportunity Leads 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series Stalwart Dale McDowell Down New Path In 2007 

Leader Of New RCR Driver Development Program Will Compete In Feb. 12-17 DIRTcar Nationals At Volusia, Also Oversee Late Model Efforts Of Austin Dillon & NASCAR’s Clint Bowyer 

CONCORD, NC – Feb. 3, 2007 – It was a great three years. 

How else can the perpetually upbeat Dale McDowell sum up his stint as a regular on the 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series?

 “Running with the Outlaws has really been good for me and everybody I’ve been associated with,” said McDowell, a 360 OTC WoO LMS stalwart since the national tour was launched in 2004 by DIRT MotorSports. “It’s given my brother (crew chief Shane) and I the opportunity to travel a lot of different places, learn an unbelievable amount about racing and meet some interesting people.

 “It’s a lot of work, but I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.” 

McDowell paused, and then added, “I’m going to miss it.”

 Indeed, McDowell, 40, has announced that he will not return as a fulltime 360 OTC WoO LMS traveler in 2007. With his focus now on overseeing a new driver development program for NASCAR titan Richard Childress Racing (RCR), his dirt Late Model driving schedule will be curtailed to selected WoO and special events, including the Feb. 12-17 DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Mopar Speedshop at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla.

 A consummate professional during his three seasons as a WoO star, McDowell’s absence won’t go unnoticed by everyone associated with the tour.

 “It’s difficult for us with the Series to lose somebody like Dale,” Ben Geisler, DIRT MotorSports Executive Vice President, Operations, said while hailing McDowell during the 2006 WoO LMS awards banquet in Daytona Beach, Fla. “But Dale has an incredible opportunity with Richard Childress. It’s not often you can say someone’s going off to something better, but he is. 

“He’s been the perfect gentleman, the perfect racer, and what we all look for in a representative of dirt Late Model racing across the country. We’re all going to miss Dale.”

 Since being one of the original 12 drivers to sign on as a regular when DIRT formed the WoO LMS in 2004, McDowell has been a cornerstone of the tour. His performance record shows nine victories – even after going winless during a frustrating, hard-luck ’06 season – and finishes of fourth (’04), seventh (’05) and eighth (’06) in the point standings. In addition, he is one of only three drivers (Rick Eckert of York, Pa., and Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., are the others) who has raced in all 110 WoO LMS feature events contested over the past three years.

 McDowell was already widely acknowledged as one of the sport’s top talents before joining the WoO LMS, but he feels that spending three seasons racing across the country alongside some of the division’s best competitors made him a more well-rounded driver.

 “The (WoO LMS) gave me the ability to travel, to evaluate the different driving styles and different drivers,” said McDowell. “I view everything a lot different now after traveling to all the different regions and racing all the different tracks. 

“It’s been a stepping-stone for my career. It’s probably gotten me to the level where I can get recognized by someone like Richard Childress.” 

McDowell’s deal with Childress, one of the best known team owners in the NASCAR ranks, developed innocently enough. Early last year two of Childress’s Nextel Cup Series drivers, Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer, visited McDowell’s dirt Late Model driving school at North Georgia Speedway in Chatsworth, Ga., to take some laps in preparation for the Nextel Prelude to the Dream event at Tony Stewart’s Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. Harvick, who had never previously driven on dirt, was impressed with the education he received from McDowell and later mentioned it to Childress, who happened to be contemplating starting an in-house driver development program that would include a dirt-track curriculum.

 The first students of RCR’s driver development program were to be Childress’s teenage grandsons, Austin and Ty Dillon. Their father, former Busch Series racer and current RCR executive Mike Dillon, had spoken to McDowell during the February ‘06 racing action at Volusia Speedway Park about enrolling his boys in McDowell’s dirt Late Model school, so it was a natural progression for RCR to offer McDowell a position as the youngsters’ tutor.

 McDowell received the offer at a perfect time. He turned 40 last May, and his future was uncertain because his five-year deal campaigning equipment fielded by Arkansas car builder Larry Shaw was set to expire at the end of the 2006 season.

 “I was already looking for something else to do at the end of the year,” said McDowell. “Either I was gonna have to buy my own equipment and continue on, or back up, do more driving schools, and pick-and-choose my races.” 

So early in the summer, McDowell, as well as his brother Shane, 32, accepted jobs in the RCR driver development department.

 “It’s a little bit more job security for us,” said McDowell, who has made his living as a race car driver for the past decade. “We’re part of a big organization, and I turned 40 so I’m looking down the road a little bit more about what Dale McDowell is gonna be doing. 

“I felt like it was time to do something a little bit different. This opportunity came along, and I’m gonna give it 110 percent.”

 McDowell began his dirt Late Model education of Austin Dillon, 16, late last season, traveling to several autumn events in the south with the up-and-comer. Austin provided a glimpse of his potential on Nov. 11 at North Georgia Speedway, winning his first career crate Late Model feature behind the wheel of his No Fear-sponsored No. 3. 

After the Thanksgiving holiday McDowell and his brother went full-throttle with RCR’s driver development program. They moved from Chickamauga, Ga., to new residences near RCR’s headquarters in Welcome, N.C., where they are working out of a specially-equipped shop in the sprawling motorsports complex. They tend to a garage filled with race cars, including more than a half-dozen dirt Late Models (some to be driven by the Dillon boys, some for McDowell’s use, some for McDowell’s driving school); a couple Busch East Series machines; some asphalt Late Models; a few Legends cars; and a UMP-type Modified.

 “Richard and Mike want to get the boys running on dirt, but they also want to get them some asphalt experience with Busch East and on some local Late Model tracks,” said McDowell, who enticed former Rick Eckert/Raye Vest Racing crewman Dustin Keath, 25, to relocate from Reading, Pa., and join the RCR team as a mechanic. “That means I’m gonna have to learn some asphalt stuff to do some testing – not as a driver, but in a coaching/crew chief/evaluation role.

 “It’s going to be a challenge for me, but also an opportunity for me to learn a lot and be a benefit to those boys and the (RCR driver development) program.”

 McDowell also sees his move in other terms: as a boost for dirt Late Model racing.

 “I think anything that gets (NASCAR) guys like Richard Childress involved is going to be a benefit to the industry,” said McDowell, who will continue to host driving school sessions at North Georgia Speedway as well as a North Carolina track. “It’s gonna bring more credibility and support to the sport, and that’s what dirt Late Model racing needs. 

“The industry is growing so much, and there’s more and more drivers, so somehow you have to compensate them. That’s putting a lot of pressure on (track) promoters, so maybe getting these (well-known) guys to be part of the sport will build it to where we’re putting more people in the stands and getting more sponsors involved, which will allow the promoters to pay higher purses.”

 McDowell said Childress isn’t the only NASCAR personality who is taking an interest in dirt Late Model racing. He’s taken note of an ever-growing list who are “discovering” the sport, including Bowyer, Tony Stewart, Bobby Labonte and David Stremme.

 “If we can get those guys involved it will help generate more attention for dirt Late Model racing and bring more people to the sport to acknowledge and recognize the up-and-coming talent,” said McDowell. “There’s so much young talent here and so much great racing that so many of those guys never see. If we can get them here, and get there buddies and sponsors here as well, it will build dirt Late Model racing into an even bigger deal and make people want to be part of it.

 “I know (dirt Late Model) race fans have a little problem understanding that. They’re like, ‘It’s gonna bring the sport to be like NASCAR,’ and, ‘They just want to take our guys away.’ 

“But I think it’ll be good for the sport and help us get a little spill-over sponsorship that we need.”

 In that vein, McDowell believes there are bright days ahead for the 360 OTC WoO LMS.

 “I see this continuing to grow,” he said of the nation’s premier dirt Late Model tour. “With our driving schools I see a lot more young talent coming up, and a lot of people who want to move through the ranks from the crate divisions on up. I see our industry in a very positive light.

 “I think the top series in dirt Late Model racing has actually given the people who are looking to move up positive goals. I think that’s what we need to keep improving the facilities where events are scheduled and to keep increasing the purses.  

“The series is growing, and it’s going to continue to grow.”

 McDowell will check in on the 360 OTC WoO LMS’s growth throughout the 2007 season, beginning with next week’s DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park. He plans to run his familiar No. 17M carrying its new RCR colors in the final four events of the week – UMP DIRTcar Racing shows on Feb. 14 and 16, and the 360 OTC WoO LMS cards on Feb. 15 and 17. McDowell will sit out the Feb. 12 and 13 UMP events so Bowyer, a rising Nextel Cup and Busch Series talent with a dirt-track background, can spend two nights behind the wheel of a dirt Late Model.

 The month of February will be extremely busy for McDowell, who will focus most of his energy on young Austin Dillon’s racing effort. He’ll tune three Legends cars, two dirt Late Models and a UMP-type Modified, all of which Austin will race at tracks in Florida over the coming days. 

After getting Austin Dillon experience in Florida and in some additional spring events, McDowell will likely bring the teen along to selected 360 OTC WoO LMS shows during the summer.

 “I’m going to still try to run as many of Outlaw races as I can,” said McDowell, who will also get 14-year-old Ty Dillon’s feet wet in dirt Late Model racing this year. “My schedule is going to be a little sporadic – hopefully I’ll be able to race 20 or 25 times – but I’m going to support the series.”

 McDowell is disappointed that his three-year run as a 360 OTC WoO LMS regular unfortunately ended with a winless ’06 season, but he’s handled the fact with his usual grace. 

“We experienced some learning curves with our engine program in the middle of the year,” he said of his ’06 struggles. “And at times I didn’t do a good job. We had other stuff going, so my focus was a little bit different.  

“I knew that my deal with Shaw was ending, so I was trying to make my plans for (’07) and probably got my eye off the ball a little bit and didn’t do as good a job driving as I should have. 

“But you’ll have years like that,” he added. “I just know I had good equipment and was involved with good people, so it doesn’t concern me a lot. I know we’re gonna be O.K.” 

For more information on the 360 OTC WoO LMS or the DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com and www.volusiaspeedwayypark.com. 

All Systems Go: Volusia Speedway Park Not Impacted By Friday-Morning Storms & Tornadoes In Central Florida

 BARBERVILLE, FL – Feb. 2, 2007 – Volusia Speedway Park was not impacted by the severe thunderstorms and apparent tornadoes that tore a deadly swath through central Florida early Friday morning.

 Track officials were hard at work Friday afternoon continuing preparations for the 36^th annual DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Mopar Speedshop, which lights up the half-mile oval from Feb. 6-17. 

“The storms missed us by about 10 miles to the south,” said Volusia Speedway Park General Manager Harvey Fink. “We got about five inches of rain and some wind at the track, but nothing was damaged. 

“We’re out here today putting up more billboards and signs, and we’re getting ready to mow the grass and cut some weeds as soon as the ground dries up. Our staff is also in the track office taking ticket orders and answering questions about the DIRTcar Nationals.” 

Volusia Speedway Park did not even lose power in the wake of the storms, which fired up in central Florida around 3:15 a.m. The worst of the storms hit about 50 miles southwest of VSP in Lake County’s Paisley and Lady Lake communities, where an apparent tornado leveled dozens of homes and caused at least 14 deaths. 

Parts of Volusia County also sustained heavy storm damage and at least 10 people were hospitalized for treatment of injuries. On Interstate 4 near Deland, about 15 miles south of the speedway, a semi tractor-trailer was lifted up and landed on another semi, but the driver pinned in his cab wasn’t seriously injured. 

Many of Volusia Speedway Park’s employees live near areas affected by the storms, but Fink confirmed that all staffers were fine. 

“We’re fortunate that all of our employees are O.K. and the racetrack was not damaged,” said Fink. “But there are many families in the area who were affected by the storms and our thoughts and prayers are with them.” 

The 36^th annual DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Mopar Speedshop kicks off on Tues., Feb. 6. The 12 nights of action includes the World of Outlaws Sprints (Feb. 9-11); the 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series (Feb. 15 and 17); the Advance Auto Parts DIRT big-block Modifieds (Feb. 14-17); UMP DIRTcar Racing Late Models (Feb. 12, 13, 14 and 16) and Modifieds (Feb. 6-13); and the All-Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Cars (Feb. 6-8). 

For more information on the 36^th annual DIRTcar Nationals, visit www.volusiaspeedwaypark.com or call the Volusia Speedway Park office at 386-985-4402.

360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series Standout Clint Smith Surprised By Georgia Automobile Racing Hall of Fame Association Driver of the Year Award 

CONCORD, NC – Jan. 31, 2007 – Clint Smith had no idea. 

The 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series standout attended the Georgia Automobile Racing Hall of Fame Association’s 18^th annual Peach Bowl Reunion on Jan. 28 in Riverdale, Ga., under the impression that he would present his father, former driver Roscoe Smith, a special award. 

Instead, Clint was the one who left the gathering with a piece of hardware.

 Smith, 41, of Senoia, Ga., was honored as the GARHOFA’s 2006 Driver of the Year.

 After being summoned to the front of the Peach Bowl Reunion crowd, Smith looked at the plaque he believed was for his father and quickly realized that it was actually engraved with his name. 

“It sure took me by surprise,” said Smith. “I like when my father gets remembered for what he did, so that’s why I was at the Reunion.” 

Smith graciously accepted the organization’s Driver of the Year Award, which it presents annually to a Georgia racer. Competitors from all divisions are considered for the award. 

“It’s a super-good feeling to win it,” pronounced Smith, who won four 360 OTC WoO LMS events in 2006 (second-most on the tough tour) and 11 features overall. “There’s a lot of drivers from the state of Georgia who had great years, so to be singled out means a lot.

 “Bill Elliott (NASCAR Nextel Cup star from Dawnsonville, Ga.) won this same award in the past, so that makes winning it a little more special.”

 Smith shared the day with his wife Kim, daughter Jenna, and crewmen Johnny Cloer Jr. and Jeff Strope – all of whom also thought they were attending the reunion of Georgia racing pioneers to see Smith’s father receive an award. 

Following the memorable afternoon, Smith returned to his shop to continue final preparations for a busy 2007 season. He will begin his campaign by competing in this Saturday night’s program at Golden Isles Speedway in Brunswick, Ga., and then return to action one week later in the 36^th annual DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Mopar Speed Shop at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla., which includes two 360 OTC WoO LMS events (Feb. 15 and 17) and four nights of UMP DIRTcar Racing competition (Feb. 12, 13, 14 and 16).

 Smith will chase the entire 360 OTC WoO LMS schedule this season, hoping to improve upon his 10^th-place finish in last year’s point standings.

 “We seem to always have that two-month lull in the center of the year and that costs us in the points,” analyzed Smith. “I’m not sure what causes it, but we have to avoid it this year. We have to find a way to be more consistent the whole way.”

 There will be a slight change in Smith’s program in ’07. He’s now listed as the sole owner of his race team; Jerry Passmore, who owned the truck and trailer that Smith used last year, will reduce his role with Smith’s effort to a sponsor only. 

“We have two (GRT) cars ready and two more we’re trying to get built,” said Smith. “We’re also trying to get our truck and trailer together and get more motors and sponsors.”

 Smith is taking a wait-and-see approach about fielding a second car on this year’s 360 OTC WoO LMS for his chief mechanic, Johnny Cloer Jr., who turned some heads in his limited starts on the tour last year.

 “If the finances work out we’d like to put together a Rookie (of the Year) program for Johnny,” said Smith. “I think what we’ll do is get the season started and get the (bank) account built up a little bit, and then we’ll look at how the (360 OTC WoO LMS) Rookie deal is going. Since this year (the WoO LMS) is taking the 30 best finishes for the rookies, we can still jump in on the program with Johnny after 14 or 15 races.” 

Coming off the most prolific checkered-flag season of his three years on the 360 OTC WoO LMS, Smith is confident that he can contend for the ’07 championship.

“We feel good about what our program is capable of this year,” said Smith. “It’s as strong as it’s ever been.”

 The daunting 360 OTC WoO LMS schedule, which currently boasts 50 races at 41 tracks in 23 states, doesn’t intimidate Smith.

 “We run about 70 to 90 shows a year anyway,” said Smith, “so most of them might as well be Outlaw shows.”

 For more information on the 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com

360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series Champ Tim McCreadie Accepts Eastern Motorsport Press Association National Driver of the Year Award

New York Star Looks Ahead To Busy ’07 Season That Includes 360 OTC WoO LMS Action & Driver Development Deal With Richard Childress Racing

CONCORD, NC – Jan. 29, 2007 – Validation for a spectacular season was delivered to Tim McCreadie on Saturday night.

The reigning 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series champion received the Eastern Motorsport Press Association’s 2006 Al Holbert Memorial National Driver of the Year Award – an honor he took very seriously.

“You look at all the big names that have won this award, and the feeling I get from it is no different than when I won the World of Outlaws championship,” an awed McCreadie said after accepting a trophy bestowed recently on such racing superstars as Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr., John Force and Martin Truex Jr. “You don’t get much better than being up there as a World of Outlaws champion with only Scott Bloomquist and Billy Moyer, but this is just as unbelievable.”

McCreadie, 32, of Watertown, N.Y., was honored during Saturday night’s annual EMPA Hall of Fame Dinner in Trevose, Pa., which highlighted a weekend-long convention that was attended by over 100 of the media organization’s members.

The significance of winning an award selected by media types was not lost on McCreadie.

“To have the press look at you and, at the end of the day, acknowledge what you’ve done is the ultimate sign of respect from them,” said McCreadie, whose 2006 campaign also included an attention-grabbing victory in January’s Chili Bowl Midget Nationals in Tulsa, Okla. “The press doesn’t vote on favorites. They vote on what they see, right there in black and white, so it’s just amazing to be picked by them.

“It’s hard to get on everybody’s good side no matter what you do, and sometimes I’m a little negative,” he continued. “But the press has always been great to me, and I thank them for that. I think they’ve judged me by what I’ve done on the track and not by my last name.”

Yes, Timmy Mac does have a famous last name in the dirt-track racing world. He’s the son of ‘Barefoot’ Bob McCreadie, a legendary DIRT Modified driver who won EMPA’s Al Holbert Memorial Driver of the Year Award in 1994 following a huge 47-victory season.

“The topper of this whole night is that my Dad won this same award a few years back,” said McCreadie, who refers to his father as his “racing hero.” “This might be the first big thing he’s done that I’ve also been able to do.”

EMPA also recognized the accomplishments of McCreadie’s father on Saturday night, inducting the veteran star into the organization’s Hall of Fame. Bob, who turned 56 on Jan. 19, was unable to attend the dinner because he’s still recovering from serious injuries he suffered in a motorcycle accident seven months ago, so Tim spoke on his behalf.

“This shows how much he’s done in his career and I’m proud to accept his induction into the Hall of Fame,” Tim said of his father, who recently underwent additional corrective surgery on the broken leg he suffered in the motorcycle crash. “He wishes he could’ve been here, but he’s just not real comfortable traveling a long distance right now.”

McCreadie did get to share a table at the EMPA dinner with his father’s longtime DIRT Modified friend and rival Alan Johnson, who was on hand to accept EMPA’s 2006 Richie Evans Memorial Northeast Driver of the Year Award. McCreadie grew up watching his father and Johnson battle for checkered flags, so he had a unique connection to his fellow award winner.

“I’ve been racing for more than 10 years now, and I’m still star-struck when I walk in here and see Alan Johnson sitting next to me,” said McCreadie, who joined J.J. Yeley (2003) as the only short-track drivers to win the Holbert Award since EMPA began handing out separate National and Northeast Driver of the Year trophies in 1997. “I feel just like I did when I was 10 or 12 years old, sitting in the stands and watching him race against my Dad.”

With the off-season banquet circuit complete, McCreadie is now focused on one of the biggest years of his career. He’ll take a shot at entering the pavement stock car racing world while continuing to chase glory on dirt with the 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series.

After getting a chance last year to test Busch Series-type cars for NASCAR titan Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and as part of the General Motors Driver Development Program, McCreadie has signed a contract as a development driver with RCR. The official announcement from RCR came on Jan. 23 when the annual NASCAR Nextel Cup Media Tour stopped at RCR headquarters in Welcome, N.C., for a press luncheon.

McCreadie, who was on hand at the RCR shop for the media event, has plans to gain asphalt experience by entering at least four NASCAR Grand National West Series races this season in a car that RCR will supply to Jim Offenbach’s San Francisco-based Golden Gate Racing Team. McCreadie’s tentative West schedule includes events at Phoenix International Raceway (April 19), Iowa Speedway (May 20) and Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway (July 4).

In addition, sometime during the season McCreadie will likely have an opportunity to try his hand in a few NASCAR Busch Series events driving one of the three cars – No. 2 (Clint Bowyer), No. 21 (Kevin Harvick/Timothy Peters) and No. 29 (Jeff Burton/Scott Wimmer) – that RCR fields on the tour.

“This is a very exciting time for me,” said McCreadie. “I can’t ask for a better shot than this. Jim (Offenbach) is a great guy and has my best interests at heart, and Richard (Childress) wants to give me a shot to run some Busch races.

“I’m thankful to get the opportunity.

“It all goes back to winning races and being with organizations that promote you,” McCreadie added when asked what he thought gained him notice from a well-known car owner like Childress. “DIRT (MotorSports) has promoted me from the day I started racing 358s (Modifieds) to now with the Late Models, and I appreciate everything that everyone has done for me.”

As McCreadie makes his initial moves to break into stock car racing’s major leagues in 2007, he’ll remain a big part of the 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series. He can’t commit to following the entire tour, which currently boasts 50 events at 41 tracks in 23 states, but he expects to enter a vast majority of the shows with his familiar championship Sweeteners Plus Racing team.

“In a perfect world, we could run 50 of ‘em and go for the title,” McCreadie said of this year’s 360 OTC WoO LMS sked. “The last thing we wanted to do is not come back and defend our title, but we’ll have to see how things fall.”

Make no mistake: McCreadie is confident about the 360 OTC WoO LMS effort he’ll put forth in 2007.

“I believe that this winter, with (chief mechanic) Tommy Grecco and (crewmen) Johnny Coco working hard and some of the things we’ve done with cars and other stuff, we’ve actually made our team stronger,” said McCreadie. “I think we’re gonna come out and be loaded for bear in Florida.”

McCreadie will make his ’07 dirt Late Model debut this weekend (Feb. 2-3), running the final two events of a meet at Golden Isles Speedway in Brunswick, Ga. He’ll move to East Bay Raceway in Gibsonton, Fla., for the Winternationals from Feb. 5-10 before entering the 36^th annual DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Mopar Speed Shop at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla., which will include two 360 OTC WoO LMS events (Feb. 15 and 17) and four UMP DIRTcar Racing shows (Feb. 12, 13, 14 and 16).

For more information on the 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

Illinois Fall Nationals At La Salle Speedway On Sept. 16 Added To 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series Schedule

 CONCORD, NC – Jan. 25, 2007 – A visit to La Salle (Ill.) Speedway on Sun., Sept. 16, has been added to the 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series schedule, setting up an attractive three-race weekend in the Midwest that will commence the tour’s autumn rush for the championship.

 Bob Sargent’s Track Enterprises, Inc. is moving its prestigious Best Western Illinois Fall Nationals event, which has been run since 1992 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds one-mile oval in Springfield, Ill., to the quarter-mile, high-banked La Salle track.

 With the announcement, La Salle becomes the anchor leg of a huge racing weekend for the 360 OTC WoO LMS. The nation’s premier dirt Late Model tour will visit the Sargent co-owned Paducah (Ky.) International Raceway on Fri., Sept. 14, and Kenny Schrader’s I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo., on Sat., Sept. 15.

 “Grouping a weekend of World of Outlaws Late Model Series shows together is something we’ve been trying to do for a few years,” said Sargent, the Chief Operating Officer of Macon, Ill.-based Track Enterprises, Inc. and one of the country’s most well-known short-track promoters. “Now we’re giving teams three nights in a row to run in the same geographic area, and fans will have the opportunity to see three premier events in a short time period.

 “It should be a great weekend for everyone.”

 A fixture at the historic Springfield Mile for 15 years, Track Enterprises, Inc.’s Best Western Illinois Fall Nationals will obviously have a new look with its move to La Salle Speedway in 2007. Sargent expects to invigorate the event by running it at a true short track.

 “Being a mile in length,” Sargent said of the Springfield facility, “the track came under some scrutiny (from dirt Late Model teams) for its wear-and-tear on equipment and the safety of the drivers. So we felt it was time to try running the Illinois Fall Nationals somewhere else. Maybe we’ll even look to rotate it to different tracks every few years.”

 While noting that “dirt Late Model racing is not gone from Springfield forever,” Sargent said La Salle will serve as a great home for the Illinois Fall Nationals in ’07.

 “It’s located in a good geographic area,” he said of La Salle, which sits in north-central Illinois, just under 100 miles southwest of Chicago. “It has grandstands that can hold a lot of people. And the track is conducive to good racing.”

 The Sun., Sept. 16, date will mark the first-ever 360 OTC WoO LMS event at La Salle, which has hosted the WoO Sprint Car tour in the past. Paducah International Raceway, which Sargent co-owns with NASCAR stars Schrader, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart, will also be holding its first-ever 360 OTC WoO LMS program that same weekend.

 I-55 Raceway, meanwhile, will return its Pepsi Nationals event to the 360 OTC WoO LMS for the first time since Sept. 17, 2005, when Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., was victorious. 

The 360 OTC WoO LMS has sanctioned Track Enterprises, Inc.’s Illinois Fall Nationals once before, on Sept. 18, 2005, when it was held at the Springfield Mile. Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn., won that event.

 Sargent, who co-owns Paducah and Macon (Ill.) Speedway and promotes special events at several tracks in the Midwest, will announce more details of the Best Western Illinois Fall Nationals at La Salle Speedway in the near future. He is planning a twilight start time for the event.

 Sargent is also promoting a UMP DIRTcar Summernationals event at La Salle this season, on Thurs., July 12.

 For more information on the Illinois Fall Nationals, visit www.trackenterprises.com or call the Track Enterprises, Inc. office at 217-764-3200. Additional info on La Salle Speedway is available by visiting the track’s website at www.lasallespeedway.com.

 The La Salle event brings this season’s 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series schedule to an even 50 confirmed dates. The tour is set to visit 41 tracks in 23 states and one Canadian province, beginning on Feb. 15 and 17 with the 36^th annual DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Mopar Speed Shop at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla. 

Several events paying $20,000 or more to win highlight the 360 OTC WoO LMS slate, including the Circle K Colossal 100 at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. (April 20-21); the Firecracker 100 at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa. (June 29-30); the Freedom 100 at Pike County Speedway in Magnolia, Miss. (July 6-7); and the Scorcher 100 (Aug. 21-23) and Fall 100 (Oct. 12-13) at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tenn.

 The tour culminates Nov. 1-3 with the ‘Outlaw World Finals’ at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway, featuring a historic doubleheader with the WoO Sprints. 

For more information on the 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series, visit www.dirtmotorsports.com/LMS.

360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series Star Rick Eckert Enjoys Weekend Spent Racing Indoors In Atlantic City

 CONCORD, NC – Jan. 15, 2007 – Rick Eckert already has his first taste of victory in 2007.

But the checkered flag didn’t come in one of the full-fendered cars the 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series star is best known for driving. He earned it behind the wheel of a small, open-wheel machine – the 600cc Micro-Sprint he steered in the weekend’s fifth annual ‘Gambler’s Classic’ indoor racing spectacular at the famed Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.

Eckert, 41, of York, Pa., captured one of Friday night’s three ‘Roaring 20s’ qualifiers, locking himself into Saturday evening’s 40-lap ‘Gambler’s Classic’ finale. He blasted off the outside pole on the initial start to seize the lead from former World of Outlaws Sprint regular Stevie Smith of New Oxford, Pa., and never looked back in the 20-lap event.

Though Eckert wasn’t able to pull off a sweep of the weekend’s program, which pitted 600cc Micro-Sprints and TQ Midgets on a one-eighth-mile, concrete-surface oval, a fifth-place finish in Saturday night’s A-Main sent him home happy.

“It was a fun weekend,” said Eckert, who won more features (eight) than any other driver on last year’s 360 OTC WoO LMS. “I would’ve liked to have run a little better, but we won a qualifier and finished higher in the feature than we did last year, so I can’t complain.”

Eckert, who scored a seventh-place A-Main finish in his first career Atlantic City Indoor Race appearance one year ago, entered this year’s event in the same 600cc Micro-Sprint that’s fielded by his brother-in-law Joe Darrah. The mount, which was painted orange and carried the No. 24 to resemble Eckert’s familiar Raye Vest-owned dirt Late Model, earned special recognition as the best appearing car out of the nearly 100 machines in action.

Racing a 600cc Micro-Sprint built for dirt competition against many TQ Midgets designed for pavement tracks, Eckert knew he would need some good fortune to win the Saturday-night ‘Gambler’s Classic’ feature. His chances were clearly hurt when he drew the 15th starting spot – the worst number possible – for the 40-lapper.

After avoiding some early scrambles in the rough-and-tumble event, Eckert found himself sitting a solid sixth for a lap-seven restart. But then Eckert ran into trouble, spinning in turn three thanks to contact from New Jersey dirt Modified regular Mike Iles.

“His left-front wheel almost hit my right shoulder,” said Eckert, describing the incident with Iles. “When he landed on me it bent my right-front shock, so for the rest of the race I couldn’t get in there and battle. Every time I tried to take the car in deeper I’d get loose.”

Nevertheless, Eckert calmly avoided problems for the remainder of the distance and reached fourth place when race-long contender Stewart Friesen, a dirt Modified racer from Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., blew an engine on lap 38. Eckert was passed by Canadian Supermodified driver Mike Lichty on the restart, but he hung on to finish a solid fifth.

“I knew I was in trouble on the last restart because I had a pavement car (Lichty’s TQ Midget) on the inside in fifth (place),” said Eckert. “Those things can just stick down low so much better than a dirt car.”

The feature was won by Joey Payne of Fair Lawn, N.J., an accomplished Midget and Supermodified driver who previously captured the A.C. indoor event in 2004. Supermodified standout Lou Cicconi Jr. of Aston, Pa., finished just feet behind Payne in second, followed by NASCAR Modified star John Blewett III of Howell Twp, N.J., Lichty and Eckert.

Eckert certainly got a good mid-winter workout in the 40-lapper. Not only did he need to manhandle the snappy-fast car around the tight oval and have his reflexes at an optimum level, he also fought some pretty warm temperatures inside his cockpit.

“These cars are hot!” said Eckert, wiping sweat from his brow while sipping a cold drink following the race. “The radiator is alongside your legs and there are two fans above it, and that really overheats you.”

Eckert’s weekend of indoor racing was made all the more enjoyable by the fact that he spent it with myriad family members. He competed as a teammate to his 17-year-old nephew Cody Darrah, an aspiring central Pennsylvania Sprint Car driver, and the large Eckert clan that traveled from Pennsylvania to watch the event included Eckert’s father Junior, a former dirt Late Model racer, and his mother.

Eckert also earned bragging rights over his nephew, who finished 24th in the A-Main after being knocked out early.

Between the activities at Boardwalk Hall, Eckert took time to visit the Motorsports 2007 Expo and Trade Show a few blocks away at the Atlantic City Convention Center. He signed autographs on Saturday afternoon in the New Egypt (N.J.) Speedway booth, helping to promote the South Jersey track’s first-ever 360 OTC WoO LMS event scheduled for Fri., April 13.

The ’07 cars of 360 OTC WoO LMS standouts Tim McCreadie and Chub Frank were also on display at the Motorsports show.

For more information on the 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series, visit www.dirtmotorsports.com/LMS.

The WoO tour’s ambitious 2007 season kicks off on Feb. 15 and 17 as part of the 36th annual DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Mopar Speed Shop at Volusia Speedway Park.

UMP Hoosier 20/40 Tire Rule Set For February 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series Events At Volusia Speedway Park

Hoosier 20/40 Tire Mandate Will Also Be In Effect For All 360 OTC WoO LMS Races Held At UMP-Sanctioned Tracks In 2007

CONCORD, NC – Jan. 9, 2007 – The United Midwestern Promoters (UMP) circuit’s Hoosier 20/40 tire rule will be in effect for next month’s 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series events at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla., DIRT MotorSports officials have announced.

The 360 OTC WoO LMS is scheduled to open its 2007 season with complete programs on Feb. 15 and 17 as part of the 36th annual DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Mopar Speed Shop at the half-mile Volusia oval.

This year’s DIRTcar Nationals also includes four nights (Feb. 12, 13, 14 and 16) of UMP-sanctioned Late Model competition that will require teams to use Hoosier 20- or 40-compound tires.

“With UMP Late Model racing scheduled for four of the six nights of the DIRTcar Nationals, it was a logical decision to adopt the UMP tire rule for the two 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series events as well,” said WoO LMS director Tim Christman, who also noted that Volusia Speedway Park will sanction several weekly divisions under the UMP banner in 2007. “This will definitely make life much easier for all the teams that tow down to Florida for the week of racing.

“Now teams can run six nights using the same tire rule rather than worry about loading up their trailer with a bunch of different compound tires to use in the two World of Outlaws shows.”

The Hoosier 20/40 tire rule will also be in place this season for all 360 OTC WoO LMS events held at UMP-sanctioned tracks. Both the 360 OTC WoO LMS and the UMP organization are owned by DIRT MotorSports.

“It’s plainly evident how important the 20/40 tire rule is for total car count when we have World of Outlaws events at UMP-sanctioned tracks,” commented Christman. “I think this became clear last year by the turnouts we had for races at UMP tracks where we used the 20/40 rule and those where we did not.

“We want to encourage local and regional racers to come out and challenge the 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series stars when we visit UMP tracks, and a great way to do that is to adopt the UMP 20/40 tire rule that already works so well.”

Indeed, the Hoosier 20/40 tire rule is utilized at dozens of UMP tracks. It’s also the mandate for two of the biggest UMP-sanctioned dirt Late Model extravaganzas run each season: the $100,000 Dream and the World 100, both held at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.

Unless otherwise specified, all 360 OTC WoO LMS events that are held at non-UMP tracks will be contested under the tour’s usual open tire rule. A total of 49 events at 40 tracks in 23 states and one Canadian province currently make up the ambitious 2007 series schedule.

Both 360 OTC WoO LMS events at Volusia Speedway Park, on Feb. 15 and 17, will feature 50-lap A-Mains paying $10,000 to win.

The UMP Late Model action during Volusia’s DIRTcar Nationals, meanwhile, will include 30-lap/$5,000-to-win features on Feb. 12, 13 and 14 and a 50-lap finale with a $10,000 top prize on Feb. 16.

Entry forms for dirt Late Model teams planning to compete in the DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park are available at www.umpracing.com; www.volusiaspeedwaypark.com; or by calling the Volusia Speedway Park office at 386-985-4402.

Teams that enter prior to the Feb. 3 early-entry deadline will receive one free camping spot for the six nights of action at VSP – a spot that normally sells for $20 per night.

In addition, trackside camping spots will be available for the first time during the DIRTcar Nationals at $200 for the six nights of dirt Late Model racing. Interested parties should call the Volusia Speedway Park office for more information on the parking specifics.

Indoor Racing On Tap This Weekend For 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series Stars McCreadie, Eckert & Richards

CONCORD, NC – Jan. 8, 2007 – Three 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series driving stars will quench their thirsts for competition this weekend by entering high-profile racing events held indoors.

Reigning 360 OTC WoO LMS champion Tim McCreadie and 2005 tour Rookie of the Year Josh Richards are headed to Tulsa, Okla., for the wildly popular Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, while the trail’s winningest driver in ’06, Rick Eckert, will travel to the Jersey Shore to run a 600cc Micro-Sprint in the ‘Gambler’s Classic’ Atlantic City Indoor Race.

Considering his status as defending race winner, McCreadie will be in the spotlight when he arrives in the Sooner State for the 21st annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, a unique event contested Jan. 9-13 on a quarter-mile clay oval erected inside the sprawling Tulsa Exposition Center.

McCreadie, 32, of Watertown, N.Y., shocked the open-wheel establishment one year ago, becoming the first dirt Late Model regular to capture the ‘Golden Driller’ trophy that goes to the victor of the 50-lap Chili Bowl A-Main. He emerged triumphant in just his second appearance in the event.

Can McCreadie do it again? He doesn’t see why not.

“I’m running the same exact car I did last year, so I already know it can get the job done,” said McCreadie, who is reuniting with Midget team owner Steve Smith, a native of Australia, to shoot for a repeat. “But you never know what can happen. With so much talent in one place, it’s one of the toughest races of the year.”

Indeed, McCreadie will be among a field of 281 drivers from 28 states, Australia and Canada. He will compete in Thursday night’s preliminary action in hopes of positioning himself well for the Saturday-night finals.

Richards, 18, of Shinnston, W.Va., will buckle up in a Midget for his second consecutive Chili Bowl appearance, but he’s changed teams for ’07. Last year the son of Rocket Chassis co-owner Mark Richards ran a Venture Racing Midget as a teammate to NASCAR Nextel Cup champion Tony Stewart and open-wheel stars Jason Leffler, Sammy Swindell and Kevin Swindell; this time he’ll drive a machine straight from the Tony Stewart Racing stable and count Stewart and USAC stars Levi Jones and Tracy Hines as teammates.

“I feel pretty good about it,” said Richards, who collaborated with Stewart in 2006 when the motorsports superstar entered selected dirt Late Model events in a Rocket Chassis car. “I already know what to expect after going out there last year. We’ll be in some good equipment and we hope to put it to good use.”

Richards, who will compete in Friday night’s preliminary program, missed transferring to last year’s Chili Bowl feature event by just one position in a B-Main. He placed 11th in preliminary A-Main earlier in the week.

Eckert, 41, of York, Pa., is a past participant in the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, but this year he’ll stay closer to home and enter the Atlantic City Indoor Race. Set for Jan. 12-13 on a one-eighth-mile, concrete-surface oval inside the seaside resort’s famed Boardwalk Hall, the event pits 600cc Micro-Sprints and Three-Quarter Midgets in a battle for ‘Gambler’s Classic’ honors.

Eckert, who since 2004 has won more 360 OTC WoO LMS features than any other driver, will drive a 600cc Micro-Sprint that’s painted orange and carries a No. 24 to mirror his familiar Raye Vest-owned dirt Late Model. The machine is owned by his brother-in-law Joe Darrah, whose 17-year-old son, Cody, a budding central Pennsylvania Sprint Car racer, will also steer a 600cc Micro-Sprint in Atlantic City.

Last year Eckert made his first A.C. Indoor Race start with his teenage nephew Cody Darrah as a teammate. Eckert won a B-Main and finished seventh in the 40-lap ‘Gambler’s Classic,’ while Darrah impressed with a victory in one of the Triple 20-lap qualifiers and a 13th-place finish in the A-Main.

The opportunity to race with his nephew is one reason Eckert is looking forward to the big show in Atlantic City.

“I don’t get many chances to see him race because of my schedule,” Eckert said of Darrah. “It’s fun to spend a weekend with him.”

Eckert is confident that he’ll be able to improve his ’06 results in the event, which will attract a field of more than 85 combined 600 Micro-Sprints/TQ Midgets. Many well-known short-track racers will join Eckert as competitors in the event, including DIRT Modified star/360 OTC WoO LMS racer Billy Decker of Unadilla, N.Y.; New York DIRT Modified standout Jeff Heotzler, who captured the 2005 ‘Gambler’s Classic’; and Sprint star Doug Esh of Lancaster, Pa., who won the 2006 WoO National Open at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa.

“We learned a lot running the race last year,” said Eckert. “We’re still running a dirt car on a concrete surface, but we’ve made some changes that will hopefully make us better this year.”

Eckert’s racing weekend will begin with time trials and the Triple 20-lap qualifying events on Fri., Jan. 12. The finals are scheduled for Saturday night.

Eckert will also spend a few afternoon hours during the weekend attending the Motorsports 2007 Presented by VP Racing Fuels show that runs from Jan. 12-14 at the nearby Atlantic City Convention Center. He is scheduled to sign autographs at the show on Sat., Jan. 13, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in the New Egypt (N.J.) Speedway booth to help promote the track’s first-ever 360 OTC WoO LMS event on Fri., April 13.

For more information on the indoor events, visit www.chilibowl.com or www.aarn.com to learn more about the Atlantic City ‘Gambler’s Classic.’

Following their weekend exploits, McCreadie, Eckert and Richards will continue preparing for the 2007 season opener for the 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series that’s set for Feb. 15 and 17 at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla.

More information on the 360 OTC WoO LMS is available at www.dirtmotorsports.com/LMS.

Looking Back: In Just Third Full Year As Dirt Late Model Racer, Tim McCreadie Joined Elite Group Of World of Outlaws Late Model Series Champions

 CONCORD, NC – Jan. 6, 2007 – Tim McCreadie is obviously a quick learner.

In just his third full season as a dirt Late Model racer, McCreadie made an incredible ascension to the top of the division, winning the 2006 World of Outlaws Late Model Series points championship.

Capturing the $120,000 title was an awe-inspiring achievement for McCreadie, a 32-year-old talent from Watertown, N.Y., who spent the first eight years of his racing career focused on DIRT Modified action in the Northeast. He could not get over the fact that he had joined acknowledged dirt Late Model superstars Billy Moyer (1988, 1989, 2005) and Scott Bloomquist (2004) as the only champions the WoO LMS has ever known.

“Now my name’s up there with Scott (Bloomquist) and Billy (Moyer), which is pretty amazing,” said McCreadie, shaking his head. “I haven’t accomplished half of what they have, so to be mentioned in the same sentence as them means so much to me.”

Regularly a winner but never a champion during his years running a DIRT Modified on the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series, McCreadie came to the WoO LMS in 2004 with a clear understanding of how difficult it is to capture a major points title. He never would have predicted that he could pull off in three years as a WoO LMS regular what he had been unable to do in eight seasons on the DIRT Modified tour.

But that’s what makes his WoO LMS points crown even sweeter.

“Considering the limited experience I have with this stuff at this point in my career,” said McCreadie, “to come in here and win this championship against all these guys is the greatest accomplishment I’ve ever had in racing.”

The son of Northeast DIRT Modified legend ‘Barefoot’ Bob McCreadie, T-Mac was following in his Dad’s Modified tire tracks until joining Carl and Ann Myers’s Avon, N.Y.-based Sweeteners Plus Racing team in 2003. There were a couple Rocket Chassis dirt Late Models in the operation’s ample arsenal, so McCreadie, who had seen then Sweeteners teammates Vic Coffey and Danny Johnson race Late Models in Florida, made it clear that he’d love to give one a whirl.

“As a fan, I remember watching Vic run a Late Model in Florida, and there seemed to be so much more attention on it,” said McCreadie, who annually participated in February DIRT Modified events at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla. “It amazed me to see all the manufacturers that were there for the Late Models, all the Late Model fans that were there from across the country.

“I guess it was just a natural thought, ‘If I could ever try one of those, it would be great.’ I was just fortunate that when I came to Sweeteners Plus, Carl and Ann had the cars, so I tried it.”

McCreadie actually made his dirt Late Model debut in the September 2002 Johnny Appleseed event at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, which was run in conjunction with a big-block Modified Super DIRT Series 100. He accepted an offer to drive a Sweeteners Plus dirt Late Model that evening, setting the stage for his fulltime hiring by Carl Myers a couple months later.

In 2003, McCreadie threw himself into dirt Late Model action during the busy Florida Speed Weeks. He made only a handful of starts for the remainder of the season, but his dirt Late Model fire had been lit.

“We didn’t really succeed right off the bat,” McCreadie said of his dirt Late Model foray, “but that just makes you want to do it more and more.”

As a result, in 2004, McCreadie went big-time dirt Late Model racing, chasing the WoO LMS, which had been launched that season by DIRT MotorSports. He failed to win a tour feature in ’04 – in fact, he missed a few events to try winning the Modified Super DIRT title – but a 12th-place finish in the point standings earned him WoO LMS Rookie of the Year honors.

McCreadie turned the corner in 2005, registering a WoO LMS-best eight wins and finishing third in the point standings. He roared into ’06 secure in the knowledge that he had arrived as a dirt Late Model driver.

“We had some success (in ’05),” commented McCreadie, “and now we’re one of the teams across the country that when we do show up, they put a stopwatch on us because we’re usually in the ballpark everywhere we go. It’s a great feeling to get that kind of attention after three years (racing a dirt Late Model).”

The wavy-haired, bleached-blond charger also quickly became a fan favorite across the dirt Late Model landscape. Being the namesake of a famed short-track driver certainly helped gain him attention, but his sterling performances put him squarely in the spotlight.

“It didn’t hurt following my Dad. He’s pretty well known everywhere,” said McCreadie. “It seemed like it didn’t matter if we went to Missouri or Wisconsin – wherever we raced, people there had seen him on TV (racing a DIRT Mod) and knew him, so they knew I was his son.

“But of course, a lot of the attention we’ve gotten is built on success. If we were running 15th everywhere we went, we’d still be wondering if anyone knew who we were. Winning races, and having some good races with some of the top guys, definitely helped out.”

The approachable McCreadie relishes the warm reception he receives from dirt Late Model aficionados.

“These fans are passionate,” he said. “If they like a guy, they stay with him. We’ve had some great races the last few years, and that’s why they probably come around and support us.”

McCreadie has been equally accepted by his fellow dirt Late Model drivers. And he believes the Late Model fraternity’s willingness to trade tech tips with him and his chief mechanic, Tommy Grecco, is a big reason for his success.

“It took me a while to figure out exactly what adjustments to make, so it’s good to be accepted by these guys,” he said. “I can go to guys like Dale McDowell and Rick Eckert and Steve Francis – anyone, really – and ask questions. I can go to Billy Moyer and pick his brain a little bit.

“I’ve been fortunate that people accept me enough that they don’t mind helping me a little bit. The might not give you everything, but they’ll help you, and that’s really accelerated our learning curve.

“I’ve always felt that if you’re not overly full of yourself, and come to people as a person, then a guy feels compelled to help you a little bit,” he added. “If you come at people with an attitude, then they’re never gonna help you.”

McCreadie did learn that trying to outfox his superstar competition on the WoO LMS – especially with tire choice – is extremely difficult.

“At first, I always thought you could go outside the box with tires, snooker them and beat them,” said McCreadie. “But these guys have been doing it for years, and when you look through the pits and see 20 guys on the same compound out of the 25 there, you gotta do what they’re doing.”

But McCreadie does admit that he might have gotten a little edge on the competition at times in ’05 thanks largely to his inexperience with dirt Late Models.

“Like with a lot of teams,” he described, “when you’re new, you’re not afraid to try new things, or go off the wall with setups, because you don’t know any better. We probably benefited from that a little last year.”

That philosophy didn’t work quite as well in ’06, however, so McCreadie and Co. had to dig in and find another way.

“Sometimes it hurts you if you get into that rut saying, ‘This always works, so let’s keep doing it,’” said McCreadie. “(In 2006) we got into that a little bit, and (during the summer) we kinda changed things around and improved.”

McCreadie’s WoO LMS win total fell in ’06 – he won just twice, at K-C Raceway in Alma, Ohio, on July 22 and Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa., on Aug. 4 – but he was a far steadier racer. Despite being struck by more engine problems than in 2005, he rolled up 12 top-five and 24 top-10 finishes in 30 events, never finishing worse than 17th.

The Lernerville victory, in the season’s 22nd event, moved McCreadie by Moyer and into the points lead for good. But holding on to win the title was anything but easy for McCreadie, who entered the season-finale ‘Gator 100,’ on Oct. 14 at Volusia Speedway Park, leading Shane Clanton by a mere eight points. Three other drivers – Moyer, Chub Frank and Darrell Lanigan – were within 46 points of McCreadie and remained mathematically alive.

McCreadie managed only a quiet ninth-place finish in the ‘Gator 100,’ but that was good enough to give him the championship by 16 points over Clanton, who finished 13th.

Looking back on ’06, McCreadie, whose earnings totaled $216,500 (including purse and points fund cash), will concede that his season wasn’t as enjoyable from start-to-finish as ’05. The competitive streak in him wasn’t satisfied with just two victories.

“I wouldn’t be honest if I said, ‘Well, this is the best year I’ve ever had in racing and I’m loving life,’ because I’m not,” he said as the season wound down. “I’m not really excited about winning just (two WoO LMS) races.”

As McCreadie pointed out, “When we were winning races like we were last year, I was a lot happier all through the year.”

But McCreadie can’t deny that the championship celebration that topped off his campaign put him on a high he’ll never forget.

“And we’ll be happy most of the winter,” quipped McCreadie, flashing a champion’s smile.

360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series Champ Tim McCreadie Voted Eastern Motorsport Press Association National Driver of the Year 

CONCORD, NC – Jan. 6, 2007 – The accolades for a memorable 2006 season keep rolling in for reigning 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series champion Tim McCreadie.

McCreadie’s latest honor came just after the first of the year, when he was announced as the winner of the Eastern Motorsport Press Association’s prestigious Al Holbert Memorial National Driver of the Year Award following a vote of the organization’s membership.

Bringing additional luster to McCreadie’s accomplishment is the fact that he’s just the second short-track driver to win the Holbert trophy since the Pennsylvania-based EMPA began handing out separate National and Northeast Driver of the Year awards in 1997. The 32-year-old from Watertown, N.Y., joins J.J. Yeley, who won the Holbert award in 2003 when he captured the USAC ‘Triple Crown’ (championships in the Silver Crown, Sprint and Midget divisions).

Recent winners of the EMPA’s National Driver of the Year Award include such motorsports titans as Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr., John Force and Martin Truex Jr.

“It’s a pretty amazing honor,” McCreadie said of being selected the EMPA’s National Driver of the Year. “I’m kinda taken aback by it. I’ve won different awards in my career, but this one might mean the most because it’s the media that voted on it and the list of drivers who have previously won it is so impressive.”

One of the EMPA’s former Driver of the Year Award winners happens to be McCreadie’s father, ‘Barefoot’ Bob McCreadie, a legendary DIRT Modified competitor who earned the nod in 1994 on the strength of a huge 47-victory season. Tim was a member of his Dad’s crew at the time, still two years away from making his debut behind the wheel of a DIRT Modified.

“Winning this award is probably one of the few things I’ve been able to do that my Dad has done,” said an awed McCreadie.

Timmy Mac will accept his Holbert trophy on Jan. 27 during the annual EMPA Hall of Fame Dinner that highlights the organization’s three-day convention at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center in Trevose, Pa.

McCreadie’s father will also be honored during the EMPA dinner. Bob, who turns 56 on Jan. 19, will be inducted into the EMPA Hall of Fame as part of a 2007 class that also includes late World of Outlaws founder Ted Johnson.

“That makes the night even better,” McCreadie said of the attention that will be bestowed upon his father, whose 2006 DIRT Modified racing season was cut short by injuries he suffered in a late-May motorcycle accident. “It’ll be great to have a chance to go down and celebrate with my Dad.”

Adding a bit more familiarity to McCreadie’s evening with EMPA, the recipient of the organization’s Richie Evans Memorial Northeast Driver of the Year Award will be DIRT Modified superstar Alan Johnson of Phelps, N.Y., whose exploits on the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series in 2006 earned him the Mr. DIRT Modified title. Johnson is one of Bob McCreadie’s best racing friends, and Tim ran many DIRT Modified laps with Johnson before moving to the WoO LMS fulltime in 2004.

McCreadie won over the EMPA voters in 2006 not with a lofty win total, but by capturing two of the most highly-regarded prizes in short-track racing. He began the season with a storybook victory in January’s Chili Bowl Midget Nationals in Tulsa, Okla., upsetting a bevy of open-wheel stars with a unforgettable drive. His rise to the top of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series – in just his third full season as a dirt Late Model driver – put him in the company of division legends Scott Bloomquist and Billy Moyer as the only champions the nation’s premier dirt Late Model tour has ever known.

McCreadie’s performances in ’06 brought him national attention, as evidenced by his invitation to participate in the three-segment General Motors Driver Development Program and an opportunity to test a Busch Series car for famed NASCAR team owner Richard Childress.

Now McCreadie is in discussions with Childress to try his talents in the world of paved stock-car racing in 2007, competing in select NASCAR West Series or Busch East Series events while continuing to chase checkered flags on dirt tracks with the 360 OTC WoO LMS.

Restructured Rookie of the Year Program For 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series Sure To Draw Interest From Rising Drivers 

CONCORD, NC – Jan. 3, 2007 – Up-and-coming drivers will have plenty of incentive to test their skills on the 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series in 2007 thanks to a restructured Rookie of the Year program announced by DIRT MotorSports officials.

Highlighting the program is the $15,000 year-end bonus that will go to the rookie contender who accumulates the most points for their 30 best finishes in tour competition.

In addition, a $250 bonus will be presented to the highest-finishing Rookie of the Year contender in each 360 OTC WoO LMS A-Main contested in 2007.

A total of 49 events at 40 tracks in 23 states and one Canadian province are currently listed on the DIRT MotorSports-owned tour’s most ambitious schedule ever.

“We’re confident that the Rookie of the Year program we’ve put in place for 2007 will attract some exciting, rising talent to the series,” said Tim Christman, who is set to begin his first season as director of the 360 OTC WoO LMS. “With a driver’s top 30 finishes being used to determine the Rookie of the Year, we expect to see increased interest from up-and-coming racers in every region that the 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series will visit.

“It’s a tall order for a rookie driver to follow our entire 2007 schedule, so setting a best-30-finishes standard to determine the Rookie of the Year will open the door for more racers to make a run at the award and get a taste of traveling with the World of Outlaws.”

Since DIRT MotorSports began operating the tour in 2004, the 360 OTC WoO LMS Rookie of the Year Award has been presented to the driver ranked highest in the final overall point standings. Previous winners were Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y. (2004), Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va. (2005) and Eddie Carrier Jr. of Salt Rock, W.Va. (2006).

While rookie contenders are not required to run all of this season’s 360 OTC WoO LMS events, they will have the opportunity to race their way into the tour’s ‘Winner’s Circle’ incentive program. Earning a coveted ‘Winner’s Circle’ spot after several early-season shows could help a rookie chase the complete tour and potentially finish high enough in the final standings to collect cash from the lucrative points fund.

The 2007 season for the 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series kicks off with events on Feb. 15 and 17 as part of the 36th annual DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Mopar Speed Shop at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla.

Prospective WoO LMS rookie contenders can obtain more information on the Rookie of the Year program from series director Tim Christman by calling 405-623-1452 or e-mailing [email protected].

360 OTC TO SPONSOR OF WORLD OF OUTLAWS LATE MODEL SERIES

Title Sponsorship Launches in 2007


CONCORD, N.C. — Dec. 14, 2006 — The World of Outlaws Late Model  Series, the premiere dirt late model racing series in the U.S., has  announced a multi-year partnership with Rockford-Montgomery Labs and  its 360 OTC pain reliever brand, it was announced today.  The World  of Outlaws Late Model Series is now the 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late  Model Series through 2009.

In addition to titling the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, 360  OTC will become the Official Pain reliever of the World of Outlaws  Sprint Car and Late Model series.

As part of its 2007 product roll-out to consumers, 360 OTC will  include World of Outlaws contents in its in-store presence in such  retail channels as Wal-Mart, Target, K-Mart and CVS.

"We see a great fit between 360 OTC and the World of Outlaws," said  Michelle Shearer, CEO of Rockford-Montgomery Labs, Inc. "There isn't  a motorsports series as legitimately grassroots as the World of  Outlaws, and 360 OTC is a product of value to everyday consumers  everywhere."

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series sponsorship rounds out a new  and robust series of high-profile property relationships for 360  OTC.  Previously announced is the 2007 title sponsor of the No. 36  360 OTC Toyota to be driven by Jeremy Mayfield in the NASCAR NEXTEL  Cup Series.  In addition, 360 OTC will be an Official Partner with  the enormously popular WWE wrestling series.

In support of its sponsorship properties, 360 OTC will employ a  unique airship featuring a theater-like "SKYSCREEN" capable of  displaying full-color high-resolution video content. "The 360 OTC  blimp will fly over World of Outlaws events and provide viewing  entertainment value to the fans," added Shearer.
"With this announcement and introduction of 360 OTC to dirt racing,  the World of Outlaws continues to make great progress," said Tom  Deery, President and CEO of DIRT MotorSports.  "The World of Outlaws  in total will have more than 140 events in 2007, providing current  and new fans an opportunity to take in the sport through ESPN, SPEED  and DIRTVision.com."

"We were seeking a consumer product as title sponsor of the World of  Outlaws," said Rob Butcher, Chief Marketing Officer for DIRT  Motorsports.  "Both World of Outlaws series will benefit immeasurably  with the 360 OTC partnership.  The World of Outlaws brand will be in  the pain reliever aisle of select national mass retailers while  having the opportunity to cross promote the World of Outlaws with the  WWE and the #36 360 OTC NASCAR NEXTEL Cup car."

In addition to the FDA-approved 360 OTC over-the-counter pain  reliever, Athens, Ga., headquartered Rockford-Montgomery Labs markets  360 OTC Ignite Maximum Strength, a fast-acting alertness aid; 360 OTC  Hangover Extra Strength Relief, a hangover reliever and fatigue  reducer; 360 OTC Hangover Relief Lite, a hangover reliever; and 360  OTC Heartburn Maximum Strength, a heartburn relief medicine.

Details of the partnership between the World of Outlaws and 360 OTC  includes:
• 360 OTC will be title sponsor of the World of Outlaws Late Model  Series for three-years
• 360 OTC will commit millions of dollars each year in activation and  promotional support of the World of Outlaws
• 360 OTC will be the exclusive pain reliever product of both World  of Outlaws series
• With this partnership, the World of Outlaws is introducing new  series logos

World Finals At Lowe’s Motor Speedway Ultimate Finish To 2007 Season

CONCORD, NC – Dec. 7, 2006 – By Chris Dolack, DIRT VP Public Relations

Dirt racing history will be made in 2007 at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway. For the first time, the World of Outlaws and the World of Outlaws Late Models will share the bill for the inaugural Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

The unprecedented Nov. 1-3 Outlaws World Finals will crown the champion for both the greatest sprint car drivers and the best collection of late model racers in the world. It will feature qualifying on Thursday followed by two full nights of racing on Friday and Saturday, including $10,000-to-win A-main races on each night for the World of Outlaws and for the World of Outlaws Late Models.

“The World Finals is the event that all dirt racing fans have been dreaming of for years. This is a spectacular way to wrap up the 2007 season for not only the World of Outlaws and the World of Outlaws Late Models, but for dirt track fans everywhere,” said DIRT MotorSports President and CEO Tom Deery. “With qualifying on the first night, including unprecedented access to competitors, and two solid nights of pure dirt racing, we are excited to be working with such a world class facility as The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway.”

“Bringing the world’s two premier dirt track series together is a tremendous way to conclude the 2007 season,” said H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler, president and general manager of Lowe’s Motor Speedway. “There are only a few marquee dirt track events that attract fans from across the country and the Outlaws World Finals will join that prestigious list.

“We look forward to working with World of Outlaws officials and competitors to make this a destination event for all dirt racing fans.”

In each of the past three years, the World of Outlaws Late Model title was decided on the final night of the season, with Tim McCreadie wrapping up the championship in 2006 a year after Billy Moyer claimed the 2005 title after a tiebreaker.

The superstars of sprint car racing are competing with the World of Outlaws in 2007 as Donny Schatz takes aim at his second consecutive championship while Steve Kinser seeks his record 21st crown and Danny Lasoski tries for his second title and first since 2001. With the unparalleled competition, the championship race is expected to be one of the most hotly contested titles in the near 30-year history of the series.

The Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway will be the culmination of an entire season of about 90 World of Outlaws events and 50 World of Outlaws Late Model races — all seen or heard on ESPN2, SPEED or DIRTVision.com.

Tickets for the Nov. 1-3 Outlaws World Finals are now on sale. Reserved seats are $59 and include all three nights. They can be purchased by calling the Lowe’s Motor Speedway ticket office at 1-800- 455-FANS or visiting www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.

DIRT MotorSports Announces 'Colossal' 2007 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Schedule

CONCORD, NC - Dec. 4, 2006 - The 2007 World of Outlaws Late Models season will be, in a word, "colossal."
 
Highlighted by the addition of the $50,000-to-win 'Colossal 100' at The Dirt Track at Lowe's Motor Speedway, DIRT MotorSports officials on Monday released an '07 schedule that promises to be the most ambitious in the history of the nation's premier dirt Late Model tour.
 
Forty-eight confirmed events make up the busy '07 World of Outlaws Late Models schedule, which commences with $10,000-to-win 50-lap A-Mains on Feb. 15 and 17 during the DIRTcar Nationals Presented By Mopar Speed Shop at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla.
 
The attractive schedule features inaugural WoO LM visits to The Dirt Track and two more of the country's most famous dirt ovals; five 'crown-jewel' 100-lap races paying $20,000 or more to win; three regional 'mini-tours'; and a major season-ending event to be announced within the next week.
 
"We promised the drivers that we'd bring them the best series schedule ever in 2007," said Tim Christman, who was named the director of the World of Outlaws Late Models in October. "I believe we've delivered that to them thanks to the help of so many racetrack promoters and owners across the country."
 
The second annual 'Colossal 100,' set for April 19-21, will serve as the first World of Outlaws Late Model event at The Dirt Track at Lowe's Motor Speedway, a world-class, four-tenths-mile oval located just miles from DIRT MotorSports' new corporate headquarters in Concord, N.C. It will offer the richest first-place prize in the tour's history.
 
The 'Colossal' will be the first of five big-money 100-lappers dotting the calendar, giving WoO LM drivers an opportunity to pad their bank accounts even further.

The well-known, historic Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tenn., will earn recognition as the only track to host two $20,000-to-win extra-distance specials: the high-banked track's traditional 'Scorcher 100' (Aug. 21-23) and a new two-day weekend in the fall (Oct. 12-13). The high-banked, three-eighths-mile oval returns to the WoO LM schedule for the first time since March 27, 2004.

Meanwhile, Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa., will hold the inaugural 'Firecracker 100' on June 29-30 - boasting a $30,000 top prize and $140,000 total purse, it will be the biggest dirt Late Model event ever run in the Keystone State - and Pike County Speedway in Magnolia, Miss., will appear on the WoO LM trail for the first time as the site of the $20,000-to-win 'Freedom 100' extravaganza on July 6-7.

With only a handful of events still to be announced by DIRT officials, the WoO LM tour is set to compete at 39 different tracks in 23 states and one Canadian province. Only seven tracks, including The Dirt Track at Lowe's Motor Speedway, will host more than one event in '07, making the championship chase a true test of drivers' versatility.
 
The Dirt Track at Lowe's Motor Speedway and Pike County are among 18 tracks that the WoO LM tour is scheduled to visit for the first time in 2007 - a sure sign of its growing popularity.
 
Two hallowed dirt tracks, Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, and Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway, head the list of '07 newcomers. Eldora's 50-lap event on Fri., July 27, will mark a rare show for a national dirt Late Model tour at the half-mile oval owned by NASCAR star Tony Stewart, while the Knoxville half-mile will play host to the World of Outlaws Late Models on Fri., June 15 - the night before the World of Outlaws Sprint Car drivers take to the fairgrounds track.
 
The WoO LM will also chart new territory at North Alabama Speedway (March 25); New Egypt (N.J.) Speedway (April 13); Indiana's Kamp Motor Speedway in Boswell (April 28), Brownstown Speedway (May 16) and Lawrenceburg Speedway (July 26); The Raceway at Powercom Park in Cedar Rapids, Wis. (May 12); Lincoln (Ill.) Speedway (May 13); I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, Mich. (May 18); Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kans. (June 16); Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway (June 20); Quebec's Autodrome Drummond (June 23); Eriez Speedway in Hammett, Pa. (July 22); Attica (Ohio) Raceway Park (July 25); and Paducah (Ky.) International Raceway (Sept. 14).
 
The 50-lap event on Sat., June 23, at Autodrome Drummond in the French-speaking province of Quebec will usher in a new 'international' era for the World of Outaws Late Models, which will contest a race outside the U.S.A.'s borders for the first time. Drummond, which has run big-block and 358-Modifieds under a DIRT MotorSports-sanction for more than two decades, is located less than an hour's drive from Montreal.
 
The new additions to the '07 WoO LM tour immediately caught the eye of 2006 champion Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y.
 
"When the series starts racing at famous tracks like Charlotte (Lowe's), Eldora and Knoxville, things are obviously going in the right direction," said McCreadie, who was the WoO LM Rookie of the Year in 2004 and finished third in the '05 point standings. "And when so many tracks are interested in the series that you can have in the neighborhood of 50 races, it definitely shows things are going in the right direction.
 
"I've always believed in the series, and I'm excited to see it continue to grow bigger and better."
 
Bringing more intrigue to the '07 WoO LM series, three 'mini-tours' will barnstorm across different regions of the country in May, June and July.
 
The first, dubbed the 'Monster Midwest Tour,' is scheduled to race through five states from May 9-18. It will start on Wed., May 9, on the Davenport (Iowa) Speedway Quarter-Mile (the WoO LMS ran on Davenport's half-mile oval in 2005), then travel to Wisconsin's The Raceway at Powercom Park on Sat., May 12; Lincoln (Ill.) Speedway on Sat., May 13; Brownstown (Ind.) Speedway on Wed., May 16; and Michigan's I-96 Speedway on Fri., May 18.
 
The 'Great Northern Tour' will get the green flag on Wed., June 20, at Pennsylvania's Port Royal Speedway. Drummond will be up next on Sat., June 23, followed by DIRT MotorSports NorthEast flagship track Cayuga County Fair Speedway in Weedsport, N.Y., on Sun., June 24; Stateline Speedway in Busti, N.Y., on Wed., June 27; and the two-day 'Firecracker 100' at Lernerville on June 29-30.
 
July will be closed out by the inaugural World of Outlaws Late Models Speedweek, set to visit Attica Raceway Park on Wed., July 25; Lawrenceburg Speedway on Thurs., July 26; Eldora on Fri., July 27; and Sharon Speedway in Hartford, Ohio, on Sat., July 28. Sharon is the only 'Speedweek' participant that is not new to the World of Outlaws Late Models, having hosted the tour once per season in 2004, '05 and '06.

"The 'mini-tours' will be great additions to the schedule for both our fulltime drivers and the many talented regional racers whom we welcome at events across the country," explained Christman. "For the fulltime teams, linking races together in specific regions makes sense from a traveling standpoint and provides them more money-making opportunities. As for the regional racers, they'll be enticed to participate with the World of Outlaws Late Models on a part-time basis when the tour visits their areas."
 
Returning tracks to the WoO LM that will host single events in '07 include Baton Rouge Speedway in Baker, La. (March 23); Columbus (Miss.) Speedway (March 24); Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway (April 27); Ohio's Brushcreek Motorsports Complex in Peebles (May 4), Wayne County Speedway in Orrville (May 5) and K-C Raceway in Alma (Aug. 25); Delaware International Speedway in Delmar (May 31); River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, N.Dak. (June 12); Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn. (June 14); and Missouri's Lebanon I-44 Speedway (July 10) and I-55 Raceway in Pevely (Sept. 15).
 
Lernerville, Virginia Motor Speedway in Saluda, Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway and Tri-City Speedway in Franklin, Pa., are among the select group of tracks that will host multiple events. Lernerville will have a mid-week show on Tues., April 17, two months prior to the 'Firecracker 100; Virginia Motor, which has enjoyed visits from the WoO LM in 2005 and '06, will promote 50-lap tour events on Sat., April 14, and Fri., July 20; Hagerstown, which has had five WoO LMS races since 2004, has booked a $10,000-to-win 50-lap feature for Sat., June 2, and a $12,000-to-win 60-lap A-Main on Sat., July 21, to celebrate the track's 60th anniversary; and Tri-City will once again run separate 50-lap races paying $10,000 to win as the headliner of its two-day 'Coal Region Labor Day Classic' on Sept. 1-2.
 
"We're proud of the schedule we've been able to put together for our World of Outlaws Late Model drivers," said Christman. "We believe it's the biggest, most exciting schedule that any dirt Late Model sanctioning body has ever announced.
 
"Everyone associated with the series has worked hard to get us to the point where a great 2007 season is ahead of us. We just have to keep it up so the series continues to grow."
 
For more information on the World of Outlaws Late Models, visit www.dirtmotorsports.com/LMS.
 
2007 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Schedule (as of Dec. 4, 2006)
 
Date - Day - Track/Location - Event - To Win - Laps
 
Feb. 15 - Thurs. - Volusia Speedway Park/Barberville, FL - DIRTcar Nationals - $10,000 - 50L
Feb. 17 - Sat. - Volusia Speedway Park/Barberville, FL - DIRTcar Nationals - $10,000 - 50L
 
March 23 - Fri. - Baton Rouge Raceway/Baker, LA - $10,000 - 50L
March 24 - Sat. - Columbus Speedway/Columbus, MS - $10,000 - 50L
March 25 - Sun. - North Alabama Speedway/Tuscumbia, AL - $7,000 - 40L
 
April 13 - Fri. - New Egypt Speedway/New Egypt, NJ - $10,000 - 50L
April 14 - Sat. - Virginia Motor Speedway/Saluda, VA - $10,000 - 50L
April 17 - Tues. - Lernerville Speedway/Sarver, PA - $10,000 - 50L
April 19,20,21 - Sat. - The Dirt Track at Lowe's Motor Speedway/Concord, NC - COLOSSAL 100 - $50,000 - 100L
April 27 - Fri. - Farmer City Raceway/Farmer City, IL - $10,000 - 50L
April 28 - Sat. - Kamp Motor Speedway/Boswell, IN - $10,000 - 50L
 
May 4 - Fri. - Brush Creek Motorsports Complex/Peebles, OH - $10,000 - 50L
May 5 - Sat. - Wayne County Speedway/Orrville, OH - $10,000 - 50L
May 9 - Wed. - Davenport Speedway Quarter-Mile/Davenport, IA - Monster Midwest Tour - $10,000 - 50L
May 12 - Sat. - The Raceway at Powercom Park/Beaver Dam, WI - Monster Midwest Tour - $10,000 - 50L
May 13 - Sun. - Lincoln Speedway/Lincoln, IL - Monster Midwest Tour - $7,000 - 40L
May 16 - Wed. - Brownstown Speedway/Brownstown, IN - Monster Midwest Tour - $10,000 - 50L
May 18 - Fri. - I-96 Speedway/Lake Odessa, MI - Monster Midwest Tour - $10,000 - 50L
May 31 - Thurs. - Delaware International Speedway/Delmar, DE - $10,000 - 50L
 
June 2 - Sat. - Hagerstown Speedway/Hagerstown, MD - $10,000 - 50L
June 12 - Tues. - River Cities Speedway/Grand Forks, ND - $10,000 - 50L
June 14 - Thurs. - Deer Creek Speedway/Spring Valley, MN - Gopher 50 - $10,000 - 50L
June 15 - Fri. - Knoxville Raceway/Knoxville, IA - $10,000 - 50L
June 16 - Sat. - Lakeside Speedway/Kansas City, KS - $10,000 - 50L
June 17 - Sun. - TBA
June 20 - Wed. - Port Royal Speedway/Port Royal, PA - Great Northern Tour - $7,000 - 40L
June 23 - Sat. - Autodrome Drummond/Drummondville, QUE - Great Northern Tour - $10,000 - 50L
June 24 - Sun. - Cayuga County Fair Speedway/Weedsport, NY - Great Northern Tour - $10,000 - 50L
June 27 - Wed. - Stateline Speedway/Busti, NY - Great Northern Tour - $7,000 - 50L
June 29,30 - Sat. - Lernerville Speedway/Sarver, PA - FIRECRACKER 100 - $30,000 - 100L
 
July 6,7 - Sat. - Pike County Speedway/Magnolia, MS - FREEDOM 100 - $20,000 - 100L
July 10 - Tues. - Lebanon I-44 Speedway/Lebanon, MO - $10,000 - 50L
July 20 - Fri. - Virginia Motor Speedway/Saluda, VA - $10,000 - 50L
July 21 - Sat. - Hagerstown Speedway/Hagerstown, MD - 60th Anniversary Race - $12,000 - 60L
July 22 - Sun. - Eriez Speedway/Hammett, PA - $10,000 - 50L
July 25 - Wed. - Attica Raceway Park/Attica, OH - WoO LM Speedweek - $7,000 - 40L
July 26 - Thurs. - Lawrenceburg Speedway/Lawrenceburg, IN - WoO LM Speedweek - $7,000 - 40L
July 27 - Fri. - Eldora Speedway/Rossburg, OH - WoO LM Speedweek - $10,000 - 50L
July 28 - Sat. - Sharon Speedway/Hartford, OH - WoO LM Speedweek - $10,000 - 50L
 
Aug. 21,22,23 - Thurs. - Volunteer Speedway/Bulls Gap, TN - SCORCHER 100 - $20,000 - 100L
Aug. 25 - Sat. - K-C Raceway/Alma, OH - $10,000 - 50L
 
Sept. 1 - Sat. - Tri-City Speedway/Franklin, PA - Oil Region Labor Day Classic - $10,000 - 50L
Sept. 2 - Sun. - Tri-City Speedway/Franklin, PA - Oil Region Labor Day Classic - $10,000 - 50L
Sept. 14 - Fri. - Paducah International Raceway/Paducah, KY - $10,000 - 50L
Sept. 15 - Sat. - I-55 Raceway/Pevely, MO - $10,000 - 50L
Sept. 16 - Sun. - TBA
Sept. 21 - Fri. - TBA
Sept. 22 - Sat. - TBA
 
Oct. 10 - Wed. - The Dirt Track at Lowe's Motor Speedway/Concord, NC - Jani-King Showdown - $10,000 - 50L
Oct. 12,13 - Sat. - Volunteer Speedway/Bulls Gap, TN - $20,000 - 100L
 
Nov. 1 - Thurs. - Season Championship - TBA
Nov. 2 - Fri. - Season Championship - TBA - $10,000 - 50L
Nov. 3 - Sat. - Season Championship - TBA - $10,000 - 50L