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UMP/Kevin Kovac
CONCORD, N.C. (February 7) - UMP DIRTcar Racing will reintroduce two additional tire compounds into the Super Late Model division beginning next week with the 37th annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park, but the circuit-wide use of the four-compound option when the organization's regular season starts will be a track-to-track decision.
UMP DIRTcar Racing director Sam Driggers stresses that the expanded tire rule, which returns Hoosier LM-10 and LM-30 compounds to competition alongside the previously approved LM-20 and LM-40 compounds, was scheduled to be implemented this year and gives each promoter of a UMP DIRTcar Racing-sanctioned track or event in 2008 the option to select which compounds will be permitted for competition.
"We want all our weekly tracks and competitors to know that UMP DIRTcar Racing's decision to accelerate our plan for the reintroduction of the (LM) 10 and (LM) 30 compounds was never intended to immediately mandate a four-compound rule at all UMP tracks, but rather was made in response to a problem that developed at Golden Isles Speedway (in Brunswick, Ga.)," said Driggers. "We had to act quickly to make the additional tires available for the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals. As time goes on and we have more discussions, we will adjust our tire rule across the circuit to what best fits our weekly drivers and tracks.
"If a track has conditions that might require a (LM) 10 (tire), we now have a 10 (compound) in our arsenal that can be used. We have no intention of forcing the weekly drivers and tracks to a four-tire rule."
After discussions during the past four months with participants, car owners and track operators, UMP DIRTcar Racing had planned to return to a four-tire compound option at the start of the regular season in April 2008. However, concerns about aggressive attempts to manipulate compounds by a small number of professional teams during recent UMP DIRTcar-sanctioned events at Golden Isles Speedway accelerated the plan to begin in the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals events for both the UMP DIRTcar Super Late Models (Feb. 11, 12, 13 and 15) and World of Outlaws Late Model Series (Feb. 14 and 16).
Further details on the use of the four-tire rule on the UMP DIRTcar Racing circuit in 2008 will be announced in the near future.
The Alltel DIRTcar Nationals began Feb. 5 and features 12 consecutive nights of racing. In addition to the UMP DIRTcar Super Late Models and WoO LMS, also showcased are the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series (Feb. 8-10), All-Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car Series (Feb. 5-7), UMP DIRTcar Modifieds (Feb. 5-12) and DIRTcar big-block Modifieds (Feb. 13-16).
For tickets call 386-985-4402, or visit VolusiaSpeedwayPark.com for more information.
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