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Bill Roth
PADUCAH, Ky. (June 24) - Dirt track race fans and competitors are gearing up for the ultimate PIR Double Header this Thursday and Friday. Four divisions of stock cars and four divisions of open-wheel machines will be featured over the two nights.
The Double Header begins Thursday, June 26 when the UMP Summer Nationals tour visits PIR with the best Super Late Model stars and cars in the Midwest. Dozens of drivers are following the summer tour and $6000 to win guarantees a full field of Super Late Models.
Virtually every one of the PIR regular Friday night Late Model competitors will attempt to qualify for the 40-lap feature starting field, including the current top five in points…Paducah's Dylan Thompson and Jeff Walston, Mayfield's John Tindal and Randy Sellars, and Jason McBride of Carbondale, IL. Qualifying time trials will get underway at approximately 6:45 PM.
In addition to the UMP Summer Nationals, local Modifieds (racing for $600 to win), Street Stocks (racing for $200 to win), and Warriors are scheduled.
Then, Friday, June 27, the open-wheelers will be highlighted. The Midwest Sprint Cars, the POWRi full-size Midgets, and the POWRi Mini Sprints will be in the spotlight. These Sprint Cars and Midgets are nationally famous for their non-use of wings, which produces close side-by-side competition.
The Midwest Sprint Car Series boasts large fields of cars. This will be the first appearance of full-size Midgets under the PIR's current ownership. And the POWRi Mini Sprints are the same machines that compete in the Super Cell Mini Sprint division at PIR on a bi-weekly basis.
In addition to the three visiting open-wheel divisions, Friday's program will include local Crate Late Models (racing for $500 to win) and Modifieds (racing for $600 to win) with their second appearance in two nights.
Pits will open each day at 4 PM, the grandstand ticket office and gates will open at 5 PM. Racing begins at 7:30 each evening.
NASCAR Stars Dale Earnhardt, Jr, Ken Schrader, and Promoter Bob Sargent purchased Paducah International Raceway in November of 2005. Two-time NASCAR Champion Tony Stewart joined the trio of co-owners as a partner in September of 2006. In 2008 the 3/8th mile high-banked oval will host several high profile events including three NASCAR Nights of Stars, the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars, the USA World 50, and the Tri-Track Challenge. PIR races every Friday night and is located off Interstate 24 at exit 11 in Paducah, Kentucky. For more information call the PIR hotline at (270) 448-4PIR or the track at (270) 898-SHOW (7469). Check out the PIR Website at www.paducahinternationalraceway.com or www.paducahracing.com.
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