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Posts Tagged ‘Modified Racing’

LUCAS OIL MODIFIEDS TO DEBUT DOUBLE FILE RESTARTS AT LAS VEGAS

Wednesday, May 9th, 2012
LUCAS OIL MODIFIEDS TO DEBUT DOUBLE FILE RESTARTS AT LAS VEGAS
BY DAVE GRAYSON
 
The Lucas Oil Modified Racing Series, presented by 1 800 Loan Mart, will be bringing their high energy open wheel brand of racing to the always challenging Las Vegas Bullring this Saturday night, May 12th. When the green flag falls on the E3 Spark Plugs/GEICO 75, there will be a lot of noteworthy story lines to keep track of. Chief among them is the series’ debut of the double file restart concept.
 
Double file restarts is a concept that series officials have been discussing since last year according to series promoter Greg Scheidecker. “This is the very first time our series will be employing the double file restarts,” he said adding “I’m working very close with Tim Richter, the Race Director at the Las Vegas Bullring, to put a program together that we are very comfortable with for our modified guys. We wanted to debut the double file restarts at the Las Vegas Bullring because the three eighths of a mile track size is a perfect fit for the concept. We just didn’t feel like it would have been a good idea to launch this project on one of the smaller tracks the series races on until our guys are geared up for it.”
 
Series Race Director Bill Rozhon said “we spent a lot of time talking about the double file restarts. Greg, Brownie, (Head Tech Inspector Alan Brown), and myself are like a bunch of old hens who worry about our kids out there. The double file restart is something I don’t fully understand myself, but I think it will be good. I think our guys are more than up to speed on it regarding the concept and I think it will add more excitement to our racing.”
 
While the new restart procedure is certainly going to be a high profile story line to Saturday night at the Bullring, there will be plenty of other aspects to the E3 Spark Plugs/GEICO 75 that will also bear attention. Because the Bullring is the largest speedway on the series’ schedule, some of the teams will opt to install larger engines in their cars. Some of the teams will even exercise the option of using alcohol based fuel. That could lead to a fuel mileage issue. The series’ promotes it races as being 75 full green flag laps, with yellow caution laps not counted. It would not be the first time that the outcome of a modified race at this track was altered due to a car running out of fuel. A higher than usual amount of caution flags in this race could become a crew chief’s worst nightmare. 
 
The numbers associated with the E3 Spark Plugs/GEICO 75 are also quite good. This race comes with a $10,000 purse with $1,500 of that going to the winner. 24 cars will start the race with a guaranteed $300 for just taking the green flag. The car count for the series’ first two events of the season has been rock solid. Bill Rozhon believes that the numbers associated with the Las Vegas event are going to attract even more teams and predicted that well over 30 cars will be there. 
 
But the apex of this regional touring series is the winner’s share of the season ending Hoosier Tire West championship points fund. Going into Saturday night Austin Barnes leads the championship standings with 106 points based on a feature win and a second place finish.
 
Commenting on preparing for the upcoming Las Vegas Bullring event, Barnes said “we’re going to tape up every hole we can find and then use all of the brake duct and cooling pads we can find because at that track you will be doing everything from 160 MPH on the straights down to about 70 MPH on the turns. It’s almost like stopping. You really have to have the brakes at this track. It’s really going to be an endurance race and there’s the possibility that some teams running alcohol might run out of gas.”
 
Commenting on his first look at double file restarts, Barnes said “I imagine there’s going to be some big wreck somewhere during this race so we’re going to have to try and make sure we’re somewhere near the front because I’m sure there’s the possibility that a lot of cars could get collected.”
 
Chris Gerchman will be making his usual airline flight from his Texas residence to race his family owned modified at Las Vegas Saturday night. Gerchman, who won the series’ second race of the season, is currently ranked second in the points and only six markers out of first. Commenting on preparing for the Bullring, he said “we’re going to take the car to the shop and change out rear end gears. Then we’ll try to do a few other things to help the cooling and the aero. That’s what it takes to get things going for that track.”
 
The one driver that’s really looking forward to the series’ return to the Bullring is Las Vegas native Doug “Hound Dog” Hamm. This driver knows every square inch of his home track like he knows his name and address. He’s had a significant measure of success there. With a pair of top five finishes from the first two races of the year, Hamm is currently third in the standings only 14 points from the top. Commenting of the upcoming Las Vegas event, Hamm said “we’re going to have to work on the car a little bit and plan to change to the bigger motor. The double file restarts are going to be brand new to everybody. Let’s just hope that, with whatever they decide to do with it, we learn it quickly and then go back to the serious business of putting on a show for our fans.” 
 
The Lucas Oil Modified Racing Series, presented by 1 800 Loan Mart, has always been a fan favorite because of the high quality, wheel to wheel racing, action. More of the same is expected this Saturday night when the green flag falls on the E3 Spark Plugs/GEICO 75. For more information, including the procedure for the double file restarts, dial up their official website at www.lucasoilmodifieds.com
 
The Lucas Oil Modified Racing Series, presented by 1800 Loan Mart, is powered by a highly potent marketing concept known as “Team Lucas.” Team members include Lucas Oil Products Inc, E3 Spark Plugs, General Tire, GEICO, CANIDAE All Natural Pet Food, MAV TV, Speedco Truck Lube and Tire/Firestone and Optima Batteries.
 
The series is also strongly supported by a group of associate sponsors featuring Eibach Springs, Hoosier Tire West, Budweiser, Blue Water Resort and Casino, Sunoco Race Fuels, Frank’s Radio, Racing Plus, Dart Machinery LTD, Go Pro Cameras and 1 800 Loan Mart.

USA Raceway July 23rd Results

Tuesday, July 26th, 2011

Dana Boatwright begins a pass on Daniel Stricker

Racing action was delayed as Mother Nature waved the yellow flag in the form of a brief shower at USA Raceway.  Additional track prep was necessary and the show began about 90 minutes later than scheduled.

Everyone pitched in to roll in the track and adjustments were made to finish before the 11pm curfew.  Heat races for each division went smoothly followed by the main event for the Factory Stocks.  The Unifirst Super Stock  main was halted with a lap 9 yellow.  Enter Mother Nature again but this time she ended the night as the rain on a seared racing surface makes it imposible to continue racing.

The Factory Stock Results are official.  The promoter has reviewed his decision he made Saturday when the night was cut short by rain.   At this writing, it appears the Super Stock main will be declared official based upon the lap 8 scoring.  More than 50% of the race was complete when the red flag came out following the 9th lap yellow. There may also be adjustments for the cars involved on the lap 9 yellow.  Tapes will be reviewed and the official finish will be forthcoming.    

To show his appreciation for the inconvenience on Saturday, the promoter, Benji Lyons, has an announcement to make to the drivers who did not complete their mains and to the loyal fans who stuck it out.  First of all, he will pay for a pit pass at the next Super Stock Race for each Super Stock driver who raced on Saturday. 

The Hornets will race two events at their next outing and USA Raceway will also pay for the Hornet Drivers pit passes who raced on the 23rd.  There will be two main events and two payouts at the August 6th event for the Hornets.      

USRA Modifieds will run two Main Events on August 6th.  The first main will be the posted lineup for August 23rd rainout and will pay as advertised, $ 1000 to win and $ 100 to start.  The USA Promoter, Lyons, will also pay a second Jackpot modified purse of $ 1000 to win and $ 100 to start on August 6th!

The raincheck policy was followed for the fans but Lyons said: ” Our Fans are the best and have been all season!  To show my appreciation I am announcing that the Inaugural USA Raceway Fan Appreciation Night will be on September 24th.   All Fans will be honored as they enter the grandstands absolutely FREE!  Our fans deserve the best customer service we can give them.”

General admission tickets will go on sale for only $15 for Adults, $12 for Seniors, Students and Military and racing will begin promptly at 6:45pm. Race fans for an additional $5 you my upgrade your ticket to the great indoors and enjoy the races from USA Raceway’s VIP Suite. First come, first serve basis to the first 80 customers.

To keep up on all the latest news and happenings please sign up for USA Raceway E-News.  The track update registration can be found at the top of the home page www.usaraceway.net

The 2011 USA Raceway Schedule can be previewed online at http://www.usaraceway.net/schedule

USA Raceway is located east of Tucson off I-10 exit 265, then 1.6 miles south on Craycroft Road, which turns into Los Reales.  For more information please, contact the track at 520-574-8515 or additional information regarding USA Raceway can be found at www.usaraceway.net

Modified Madness Returns To USA Raceway This Saturday Night!

Friday, July 22nd, 2011

 

TUCSON, Ariz. (July 21st, 2011) – Cash, pride, and a few egos might not be the biggest things at stake this coming Saturday night as we welcome the return of the stars of USRA Modified Series back to USA Raceway, known as the Southwest Center of Speed. Over the previous few months, a clear divide in direction and leadership has become more evident amongst car owners, crew members, and drivers of the division that most consider to be the backbone of the Saturday night racing life. This Saturday, USA Raceway will be collecting a questionnaire from teams in the modified division in an effort to begin looking at sanctioning bodies and rules for the 2012 season. With all the suspense and ongoing rivalry, USA announces a jackpot of a payout with a $1,000 share going to the winner and a $100 bill to start Saturday’s main event. With an overall increase of nearly $2k more than the norm, officials will reward each non-qualifying driver with a voucher good for a free pit pass upon their return to USA Raceway.

If that wasn’t enough, we’ve got more Modified news. All drivers competing in all of the remaining regular season USRA scheduled events of 2011 have a shot at a guaranteed spot in this year’s Wes Hurst Memorial main event in late October against some of the biggest names in the sport held at USA Raceway. The two USA provisional positions, that will start 25th and 26th in the biggest Modified show to be held in Arizona, will be made up of the top performer in the remaining USRA races and a drawing from those remaining drivers with perfect attendance in the same remaining events. That drawing will be held on the front stretch during intermission at the Modified season finale at USA on October 8th.

The racers aren’t the only ones with some extra cash being thrown around though! The first one hundred fans to USA Raceway this weekend will receive a ticket upon entering the main concourse that will give them a shot at a cool $100 bill for just showing up and cheering on their favorite driver. Those 100 early birds will be narrowed by a random drawing at the conclusion of the USRA heat races to just 20 lucky contestants. Those 20 race fans will then be paired with one of the 20 Modified racers that will also be on the hunt for some cold hard cash of their own.

The USRA Western Modified Championship battle will be in full swing this Saturday night as points leader Chad Ayers will lead a cast of Modified racers looking for USA gold. The nail biting Super Stocks continue the struggle for supremacy with a tied points battle between Daniel Stricker and Terry Hill. Coolidge wheel man Terry Churchwell comes into Saturday’s events not only on a winning streak but as the current points leader in the ultra-competitive Factory Stock division. Last but not least is the crowd favorite division of the USA Raceway Hornets. From the yellow tape wearing rookies to the rice rocket racing veterans, this group never seems to leave the fans without an energy filled night of thrill and spills to remember.

General admission tickets will go on sale when the gates open at 4pm for only $12 for Adults, $10 for Seniors, Students and Military, and all kids 11 and under are FREE. The VIP Suite will also be available by a first come, first serve basis at an unbelievable upgrade price of just $5 this weekend only!

Racing action will begin promptly at 6:45pm.

Halfway Home Season Passes will allow race fans to get all the action of the remaining 2011 scheduled events at an unheard of low price. Season Passes are on sale for only just $99 for a limited time Suite Access Passes will allow race fans the opportunity to enjoy the races from USA Raceway’s VIP Suite. Enjoy the races in luxury! Suite Access Passes are now on sale for only $149. Get em while you can!! These limited season passes are also available by calling the USA Raceway office at 520-574-8515.

The entire 2011 USA Raceway Schedule can be previewed online at http://www.usaraceway.net/schedule

USA Raceway is located east of Tucson off I-10 exit 265, then 1.6 miles south on Craycroft Road, which turns into Los Reales. For more information please, contact the track at 520-574-8515 or additional information regarding USA Raceway can be found at www.usaraceway.net