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Challenger Raceway
INDIANA, Penn. (April 15) - The first ever Unified Force Race Championship presented by Comcast event will take place on Saturday and Sunday, April 19-20 as the Challenger Raceway presents the PA State Short Track Championships. Over $50,000 in prize money will be offered to race teams including $7,000 total to win for Super Late Models. The 2-day mega event will determine six PA State Champions with a bonus Super Late Model event on the program.
Interest in the UFo Race Championship Tour presented by Comcast is at an all-time high, and new tour is appearing to be one of the most exciting developments to take place in recent history of motor sports in the region. In an effort to revitalize regional racing for both the race teams and race fans, the UFo Race Championship Tour presented by Comcast will offer over $444,000 in awards in the Super Late Model portion of the events including $40,000 to $50,000 in posted available contingency awards. The UFo Race Championship has developed unified, cost-effective rules packages that will be used for the Super Late Models and other divisions at UFo events. Additionally, two 2008 tour events will be broadcast on Comcast CN-8 which further demonstrates the dedication of the UFo Race Championship Tour presented by Comcast to increase exposure of the sport in the region.
The new PA State Short Track Championships event replaces the former Springfest race that traditionally opened up the season at Challenger. The new event title reflects the increased total event payoff of $50,000 and the new format with 2 complete racing programs. The 2007 edition of the event produced a record car count of 99 late model-type cars including 64 Super Late Models. Previous winners of the spring event include 2-time winner Rick Eckert of York, PA, Steve Shaver of Vienna, WV, Tim McCreadie of Watertown, NY and Robbie Blair of Titusville, PA. Another huge field of cars is expected for the improved 2008 version.
The Challenger Raceway is renowned for great track preparation and excellent, multi-groove racing. Competitors are looking forward to returning to the 4/10 mile which was resurfaced last August with "top-secret" new clay. The first event on the new clay surface last October saw Billy Drake from Bloomington IL roar from his 15th place starting position to take "The Ultimate" feature win.
The Challenger Raceway 2008 Blastoff will take place on Saturday Night, April 19. Super Late Models will compete for 2,000 to win. This 33-lap championship race will not award UFo points, but will use UFo Super Late Model car and procedure rules and will give drivers an opportunity to tune up for Sunday's UFo event. Two other divisions will compete in their PA State Short Track Championship races. The B-Cadet (street/pro-stock) division will be in competition with a 25-lap championship race paying $600 to the winner, and the Sport Stock (hobby/charger/strictly stock) class will contest a 20-lap championship race paying $300 to win. Filling out the night's activities will be several practice sessions for the Semi-Lates, E-mod Sportsman, Roadrunners and any other classes of cars.
Pit gates are scheduled to open at 2:30, general admission gates at 4:30, drivers meeting at 5:45, warm-ups at 6:00 and the first racing event will start at 6:30. Adult grandstand admission is only $13 for this championship event with Juniors 11-15 $6, Children 5-10 $5 and Pit Admission $25.
Sunday Twilight, April 20 is the inaugural event for the UFo Race Championship Tour presented by Comcast. The region's superstars of Super Late Model racing will attack the 4/10 mile short track for their segment of the PA State Short Track Championships. Sunday's UFo PA State Short Track Championship will culminate with the "Area 51-lap" championship feature paying $5,000 to win and $400 for 24th for Super Late Models. Sunday will be a bonus for late model fans as it will feature a double-division late model program with the Semi-Lates (limited/crate/steel block late models) paying $1,000 to win for the 30-lap PA State Short Track Championship. E-mod Sportsman will return to the Challenger Raceway after a 1-year hiatus with an $800 to win, 25-lap championship and the 4-cylinder, front-wheel drive Roadrunners will compete in a 20-lap feature-only format paying $250 to win. If 30 Roadrunners are present, two 15-lap features will be run.
UFo Contingency Connection winners of this event will include the Pass-Maximum Award for the driver in that advances the most postions in the feature, plus the highest finisher from each consolation race that does not qualify for the feature. Each winner will receive product certificate awards depending on the number of products for which a driver is registered and eligible out of the 75+ product sponsors. A driver eligible for 20 products will recieve $500 in awards.
Pit gates are scheduled to open at 12:30, general admission gate at 2:30, drivers meeting at 3:45, and warm-ups will start at 4:00. The first session of racing will begin at 4:30 with the E-mod heats and consolation as well as the Roadrunner feature with the late model racing beginning approximately 5:45 after track prep. Adult grandstand admission is just $20, Juniors 11-15 $10 Children 5-10 $5 and Pit Admission is $31.
Super Late Model entry fee will be $50 on Sunday with no entry fee on Saturday. The other classes will have no entry fees. Reinforcing the philosophy of the UFo Race Championship Tour presented by Comcast to keep down cost for competitors, it should be noted that no hidden membership fees or temporary license fees exist for race teams competing in UFo events in 2008.
The rain date for the Sunday portion of the event will be Sunday, April 27. The Saturday portion of the event will carry no rain date. However, the Cadet and Sport Stock PA State Short Track Championships will have alternative dates during one of the upcoming UFo Race Championship events in the summer. Rules for all classes for the event are posted at both the Challenger Raceway and UFo Race Championship. Weight and spoiler variances according to motor types will allow virtually all area cars to be both legal and competitive. Complete rules & payoffs are posted at the Challenger Raceway website. The website features a new PA State Short Track Championships site with complete event information.
UFo Race Championship 2008 Sponsors include Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic, Lias Tire & American Racer, Comcast, Bryan Signs & Decals and the Contingency Connection. Event Sponsors include Lias Tire & American Racer, Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic and Simon Racing Supply.
The Challenger Raceway is located 6.4 miles southwest of US 422 on PA 286, then one mile north on McIntyre Road. For the most complete source of Challenger Raceway information, please visit the track's web site at http://www.challengerraceway.com Additional information on the UFo Race Championship may be obtained at http://www.uforacechampionship.com. Information may also be obtained by calling 724-726-9808 on race days or 724-726-5494 during weekdays.
April 20 / Challenger Raceway / PA State Short Track Championships / 51 laps / $5,000
May 18* / Pittsburgh's PA Motor Speedway / F-2 Shockwave / 2 x 30 laps / $5,100 Total
May 25 / Central PA Speedway / The Grizzly / 51 laps / $5,000
June 1 / Challenger Raceway / Mega-Blitz 2008 / 51 laps / $5,000
July 3 / Central PA Speedway / Yankee Doodle / 51 laps / $7,000
July 13 / Pittsburgh's PA Motor Speedway / Red Miley 53 / 53 laps / $5,300
July 20 / Challenger Raceway / Tri-Star Superthunder / 2 x 30 laps / $5,000 Total
Aug 3 / Tyler County / Earl Hill Championship / 51 laps / $4,000
Aug 17 / Pittsburgh's PA Motor Speedway / PENNational / 51 laps / $5,000
Sep 6 / Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex / King of the Knob / 51 laps / $5,500
Sep 18-19-20 / Pittsburgh's PA Motor Speedway / Pittsburgher 100 / 100 laps / $20,100
Oct 9-10-11* / Challenger Raceway / The Ultimate / 91 laps / $25,000
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