BARBERVILLE, FL – Feb. 1, 2013 – The time has come for engines to fire, wheels to turn and clay to fly at Volusia Speedway Park.
This Saturday (Feb. 2) the famed D-shaped, half-mile oval outside Daytona Beach springs to life for the first time in 2013, hosting a four-hour practice session (3-7 p.m.) open to racers from all divisions that will set the stage for the 42nd UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit Racing Equipment. The track’s blockbuster meet featuring Sprint Cars, dirt Late Models, Big-Block Modifieds and UMP Modifieds runs from Feb. 12-23.
“We can’t wait to get rolling,” said DIRTcar Northeast marketing director Jeff Hachmann, who migrated south to Florida in December to oversee marketing efforts and other details of the UNOH DIRTcar Nationals by Summit. “A lot of people have been working hard for a couple months to get the facility ready for one of the country’s biggest dirt-track events of the season, so it’s going to be exciting for all of us to finally see cars get back out there on the track this Saturday.”
A group of World Racing Group staffers – led by Lernerville Speedway general manager Gary Risch Jr. and also including track-prep specialists Larry Fink and Chad Alchier, World of Outlaws Late Model Series pit steward Tyler Bachman, DIRTcar Northeast electrician Dave Dixon, Lernerville employee Jeremy Timko and Volusia office manager Shelly Minchew – have joined together to spearhead preparation of Volusia’s track surface, grounds and infrastructure for February’s racing spectacular. Among the improvements that visitors to the UNOH DIRTcar Nationals by Summit will notice are improved lighting in the lower ‘Gator Pond’ pit area and newly-erected bleachers in the upper pit area.
Saturday’s test-and-tune will serve as a low-key prelude to 12 consecutive nights of racing at Volusia. The UNOH DIRTcar Nationals by Summit schedule includes Sprint Cars (UNOH All-Star Circuit of Champions Feb. 13-14, World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series Feb. 15-17); dirt Late Models (DIRTcar UMP-sanctioned events Feb. 18-20, World of Outlaws Late Model Series Feb. 21-23); the Super DIRTcar Series for Big-Block Modifieds (Feb. 20-23); and UMP Modifieds (Feb. 12-19).
Somewhere in the neighborhood of 300 different race teams are expected to participate in the festival of speed, which boasts nightly doubleheaders that will be witnessed by thousands of race fans from across the country. Gates will open each evening at 5 o’clock with racing scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.
For the open practice session on Feb. 2, gates are scheduled to open at 12 noon. Pit entry will cost $30, while fans can watch from the grandstands free of charge. Sunday (Feb. 3) has been established as a raindate and the same schedule would be in effect.
Other news and notes concering the UNOH DIRTcar Nationals by Summit include:
GET YOUR TICKETS: Fans can take advantage of multi-day advance-sale packages for each division by ordering on-line through www.DIRTcarNationals.com or calling the event ticket hotline at 877-395-8606.
In addition, EVERY ticket purchased in advance or on each race night includes a FREE FAN PIT PASS, allowing fans to sign into the pits for an up-close-and-personal view of the race teams in action.
“The FREE Fan Pit Pass with every ticket has become hugely popular at the UNOH DIRTcar Nationals by Summit,” said Hachmann. “It’s a perk that essentially gives fans a backstage pass, an opportunity to be right in the middle of the action and rub shoulders with some of the biggest names in motorsports.”
GOTTA GET A BUD: With Budweiser serving as the Official Beer of the UNOH DIRTcar Nationals by Summit, a ‘Bud Beer Garden’ will be set up for the first time in the midway area behind the grandstands.
“It will be a fun place for fans to hang out every night,” said Hachmann. “We’re putting up several tents and will have a portable bar, tables, stools and even televisions that will be showing a closed-circuit broadcast of the action on the racetrack.”
GO SHOPPING: The midway area will once again be jam-packed with a wide variety of merchandise and food vendors. Fans can check out apparel trailers from the World of Outlaws, DIRTcar Racing and dozens of drivers and find plenty of tasty treats to fulfill their appetites, including the popular ‘Steak-on-a-Stick’ stand and – new this year – Buck & Ruthie’s Ice Cream and Oxie’s Pig Roast.
WORKING THE CLAY: The track-prep team will have plenty of machinery at their disposal thanks to Ring Power CAT of St. Augustine and Daytona Beach, the Official Heavy Equipment Provider of the UNOH DIRTcar Nationals by Summit.
“We’re thrilled to have Ring Power CAT as a partner for the UNOH DIRTcar Nationals by Summit,” said Hachmann. “It takes a lot of equipment to keep a big half-mile track in racy condition – and with 12 straight nights of action, that equipment better be in good condition too. Thanks to Ring Power CAT, our track-prep guys have quality graders, water trucks, rollers and sweepers to do their job and provide the teams and fans great track conditions.”
VROOM, VROOM: Well known as the World’s Largest Dealer of New and Used Harley-Davidsons, Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona Harley-Davidson in Ormond Beach, Fla., holds the status of Official Motorcycle of the UNOH DIRTcar Nationals by Summit.
As part of the business’s sponsorship, Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona Harley-Davidson is providing Volusia Speedway Park a tram that will transport fans from the far campgrounds and parking areas to the front gate.
A PLACE TO BE: Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona Harley-Davidson is located at Destination Daytona, a massive complex that also features a luxury hotel and resort, retail shops and restaurants and bars.
The Howard Johnson Inn & Suites at Destination Daytona is the Official Hotel of the UNOH DIRTcar Nationals by Summit and offers a 15 percent discount on room rates to fans who mention the DIRTcar Nationals. In addition, Saints & Sinners Pub at Destination Daytona is the home of the Official After-Party of the UNOH DIRTcar Nationals by Summit.
Destination Daytona is located in Ormond Beach, Fla., at the Interstate 95 and U.S. 1 interchange. It is just a 20-minute drive from Volusia Speedway Park.
NIGHT FOR THE PROMOTERS: Sport Insurance Specialists, National Speedway Directory and Complete Motorsports Graphics are hosting a Promoters Night at Volusia during the UNOH DIRTcar Nationals by Summit program on Tues., Feb. 19. Track operators from across the country are invited to show their badges from the annual Racing Promotion Monthly Promoters’ Meetings for admittance to the speedway that evening and to join the event’s sponsors for food and drink.
BROUGHT TO YOU BY: Other sponsors of the UNOH DIRTcar Nationals by Summit noted by Hachmann include Safety-Kleen, Daytona Beach’s World Famous Iron Horse Saloon and the Hampton Inn Palm Coast (Preferred Hotel of Volusia Speedway Park).
LAST CHANCE: Time is running out for fans to visit www.DIRTcarNationals.com and vote for their favorite driver to take on five others in a six-lap, winner-takes-all ‘Six Pack Challenge’ at the UNOH DIRTcar Nationals by Summit. The top six Sprint Car, Late Model, Big-Block Modified and UMP Modified vote-getters in the polling, which ends at 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 2, will be eligible to compete in the $500-to-win dashes.
The Sprint Car Six Pack will be Sat., Feb. 16; the UMP Modified Six Pack will be Tues., Feb. 19; the Late Model Six Pack will be Thurs., Feb. 21; and the Big-Block Modified Six Pack will be Fri., Feb. 22.
WATCH THE RACES FROM HOME: Anyone who can’t make it to Volusia Speedway Park for the UNOH DIRTcar Nationals by Summit can still enjoy all the action from the comfort of their home thanks to live video coverage on DIRTVision.com, which is offering daily and 12-day subscription packages.
With improved multi-camera shoots, fans will see the DIRTcar Nationals competition on their computer screens like never before. The Feb. 18-23 dirt Late Model portion of the extravaganza will even include in-depth lap-by-lap announcing and pit reporting thanks to a collaborative effort with DirtonDirt.com.
Fans can go to DIRTVision.com and order coverage of single racing nights for $17.99 each or get a full 12-day subscription for $54.95.
INFO: Fans can learn anything they need to know about the UNOH DIRTcar Nationals by Summit by visiting www.DIRTcarNationals.com and clicking on the ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ tab.