Erie, PA (June 4, 2008) - Twelve of this area's top dirt Late Model drivers have agreed to compete in a special event to be held at Lake Erie Speedway in September of this year. The extravaganza, set to happen Wednesday, September 17, brings together the best dirt-track talent ever assembled on pavement for a race in locally-owned Lake Erie Speedway Sport-Mods, a new division competing on the oval at Northeast, PA. The Sport-Mods, very similar to dirt E-Mods, will be utilized by the twelve for a race to benefit the charities supported by "Racing for Kids", a local group of businessmen who have taken it upon themselves to help out local children in need.
Drivers who will appear at the FREE event include Dick Barton, Chub Frank, Dutch Davies, Ron Davies, Bob Close, Todd Andrews, David Scott, Rob Blair, Rich Gardner, Chad Ruhlman, Chris Hackett, and Dave Hess Jr. Many of these drivers have decided to bring their regular dirt mounts to the track for some exhibition driving. Remember, these drivers have very limited experience on paved race tracks, most with none at all! Hess and Ruhlman both brought their dirt E-Mods to Lake Erie Speedway and experienced limited success running against pavement E-Mods in a special event in 2006. Barton spent a night testing at the speedway with his FASTRAK Late Model, lifting the left front at every turn.
The drivers include many, many track championships as well as champions from ULMS and the STARS Renegade Tour, the 2007 winner of the Dirt Track World Championship and the 2004 World 100, both marquee events in the world of dirt track racing. The special event for the Dirt Late Model drivers is titled the "Rand Machine Products Down & Dirty", for event sponsor Rand Machine Products.
Along with the racing for the Dirt Track Late Model Drivers, a special Pavement Late Model feature will be held with 16 of the area's best pavement Late Models competing in the Plyler Overhead Door Late Model Invitational. A full list of the pavement Late Models will be released at a later date.
That's not all! Erie driver Scott Bonnell will have his Dirt Sprint car on hand as well as several other top area Sprinters. Several of the drivers will put on an exhibition race for the fans sponsored by Bonnell Collision of Erie.
All the racing action will follow an afternoon golf outing for the drivers and interested public at the Peek 'n' Peak "Upper Course at Findley Lake, NY, a profession-level course, used in the past by the PGA for tournaments. Registration is available online at www.racingforkidserie.com and was sold out last year. The event starts at 9:30 AM with the "Thunder on the Mountain" parade of race cars to the course. At 10:00 AM the "Shotgun" start will happen to the tune of 700-horsepower racecar engines being stared. After the rumbling has settled, the tournament will begin. At 4:00 PM the golfers will all start out for the VIP Dinner and Party, including a driver 'meet and greet' at the VIP Suite at Lake Erie Speedway.
All proceeds from the events of September 17th will go to the "Racing for Kids" Charities, including pre-event sales of posters, and raffle of a helmet worn and autographed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. Auctions will also be held to raise money.
Event sponsors include: Northwest Savings Bank, Plyler Overhead Door, WJET TV 24, WFXP FOX 66, Promo- Specialties, Lake Erie Speedway, Rand Machine Products Inc, Marquette Savings Bank, Erie Insurance, Serve Pro of West Erie County, Bonnell Collision, and Stewart Financial Services.