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James Essex
CORONA, Calif. (February 25) - With another successful East Bay Winternationals under its belt the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series takes a lengthy break before gearing back up with its 2008 racing schedule on Saturday Night, March 29th at the Brownstown Speedway in Brownstown, IN for the $10,000 to win "Indiana Icebreaker."
With six great nights of racing during the 2008 edition of the DART Winternationals at East Bay over $230,000 in prize money, point fund cash and product were given out to the drivers. Billy Moyer of Batesville, AR came away from East Bay with three victories in the last four nights of racing to claim the DART Winternationals Points Fund Title.
Joining Moyer in victory lane during the week at East Bay were Don O'Neal of Martinsville, IN, Matt Miller of Waterville, OH and Terry Casey of New London, WI. For Moyer Saturday Night's win was his 18th at East Bay which leads all drivers in career wins at the Tampa area facility. O'Neal's win of the opening night (Monday) was his 12th career triumph on the 1/3rd mile oval as Miller's Tuesday Night victory was his second ever at East Bay and Casey's thrilling Thursday Night triumph was his first at East Bay, his first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win and the biggest win of his career (worth $10,000).
During the weeklong competition the weather was perfect every day as nearly 100 race teams took part in the 32nd Annual DART Winternationals. Out of those nearly 100 competitors only four drivers (Matt Miller, Donnie Moran, Steve Francis and Shannon Babb) made the starting grid all six nights. The average car count during the week was 78 with the highest tally on Friday Night with 88 entrants participating.
With outstanding crowds on hand each night of this year's edition of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series visit to East Bay there were nearly one million listeners during the week who tuned into www.racetalklive.com's internet coverage of the DART Winternationals with Dustin Jarrett handling the play by play action. During the week three drivers provided color commentary with Josh McGuire, Rick Combs and Jesse James Lay all stopping by to lend their racing expertise to the broadcast. Each race night's broadcast is archived and can be replayed by going to www.racetalklive.com.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Director Ritchie Lewis along with East Bay Raceway Park promoters Al Varnadore and Todd Hutto instituted a new format for this years DART Winternationals and it proved to be successful for the drivers and fans. With hot laps beginning at 5:00 PM each day followed by qualifications ripped off in a timely manner each night, the 7:00 PM advertised starting time was met with no problems as the fans saw a quick and efficient race program each night as Saturday Night's finale was taped before the cameras of SPEED Channel. The East Bay finale will be aired on a date and time to be announced in the future. It will also mark the first time that a Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event was taped in HD (High Definition).
The list of drivers competing at East Bay for the first time was quite large, those drivers that were successful in making their first East Bay A-main debuts were: Dave Tyrchniewicz, Jared Hawkins, Bryan Barber, Chris Wall and Chris Madden were all first time starters during the week with Wayne Chinn and Jason McBride finally making their first East Bay features in their second year of competing at the DART Winternationals.
Dr. Stephen Murray of the Apollo Beach Chiropractic Center of Apollo Beach, FL became a household name during the DART East Bay Winternationals as drivers Dan Schlieper and Randy Korte paid a visit to him during the week. Schlieper who has suffered with back problems for a few years had to be lifted out of his car one night at Golden Isles and at East Bay decided to make a visit to Dr. Murray. Not only did the good doctor help Schlieper with his pain he also got his name put on the veteran Wisconsin driver's race car. Korte suffered a vertebrae injury in Monday Night's feature which sidelined him for the rest of the week. Korte said he will be able to return to racing action in about six weeks after letting the injury heal.
A very short list of people had never heard of St. Andrews Manitoba Canada driver Dave Tyrchniewicz before his arrival at East Bay, but after the 41 year old driver won two heat races and made the starting lineup for two features they knew that "The Turk" would go down in East Bay racing lore. Tyrchniewicz was piloting a C.J. Rayburn Race Car from the Terry Casey race shop in New London, WI. Casey is a Rayburn North dealer for the veteran Whiteland, IN chassis builder.
Several drivers spoke of their intentions to run for the Quarter Master "Rookie of the Year" title which has a top prize of $10,000 cash to the winner and $2,500 for second place. Drivers must make their final decision by March 1st to be eligible for the 2008 season.
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series continues to send its thoughts and prayers to the families of David England and Kellen Chadwick. David England suffered a fatal heart attack on practice night for the DART Winternationals as his son Michael withdrew from competition to be with his family. Michael still has plans to run full-time with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series in '08 Kellen Chadwick was seriously injured in a Modified race in Arizona on February 22nd just two weeks after competing with the Lucas Oil Series for the first time in his career at East Bay.
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series race teams now have until March 29th to prepare for the "Indiana Icebreaker" at Brownstown Speedway. With the Jasper Engines "Road to Wheatland" taking shape heading to Brownstown look for another stout field of entrants at the South Central Indiana facility. The $10,000 to win event will feature a complete show for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series with Time Trials, Heat Races, B-Mains and the main event. For more information you can log onto the tracks website at www.brownstownspeedway.com.
For the latest news and information regarding the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series you can go to www.lucasdirt.com or call the series office at (951) 532-2503.
Current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points Standings (After February 9, 2008)
1) Billy Moyer (Batesville, AR) - 250
2) Terry Casey (New London, WI) - 230
3) Steve Francis (Ashland, KY) - 220
3) Josh Richards (Shinnston, WV) - 220
5) Donnie Moran (Dresden, OH) - 205
6) Matt Miller (Waterville, OH) - 200
6) Steve Casebolt (Richmond, IN) - 200
8) Mike Marlar (Winfield, TN) - 190
9) Earl Pearson, Jr. (Jacksonville, FL) - 185
10) Tim McCreadie (Watertown, NY) - 180
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