NAPA Super DIRT Week/Pole Position Raceway Media Challenge Helps to Build Momentum for ‘Racing’s Biggest Party’
By Dean Reynolds
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Sept. 23, 2014 – The NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week Media Challenge returned on Tuesday for the second consecutive year at Pole Position Raceway in Destiny USA.
Some of the biggest Big-Block Modified stars of the Super DIRTcar Series went up against various local media celebrities as well as top regulars from the Pole Position Raceway in Buffalo, N.Y. In all, more than 30 participants raced in four qualifying heats and a feature. Then a special match race between the modified stars and the Buffalo gang was held shortly after.
Defending Super DIRTcar Series champion Brett Hearn was on hand for the second year in a row as was Matt Sheppard and Gary Tomkins. Joining them were defending Syracuse 200 winner Billy Dunn, Larry Wight and Australian star Peter Britten.
In the feature event that pitted the DIRTcar stars against media members that qualified through the heats, it was Larry Wight winning the event over Britten and Sheppard. Wight’s fastest time of 22.910 was actually the fifth fastest time record at the facility for the entire week.
“This was fun, I did drive road courses for three years in karts so It didn’t take too long to get back in the groove,” said the driver of the Gypsum Express #99L. “This is a nice way to get DIRT Week out to the fans and potential new fans. There’s a lot of media here and anytime you can help the sport it’s a plus.”
For the second year in a row, the highest finishing media member was J.J. Andrews of Area Auto Racing News. He took fifth in the feature event ahead of Hearn and Tomkins. Andrews does run a limited super modified weekly at the nearby Oswego Speedway so he does come with experience.
In the special match race, this time it was Sheppard taking the checkers over Britten and then a trio of the Buffalo stars. It was an unique event that saw all 10 competitors in a tight cluster for all 14 laps.
Many fans were on hand and took advantage of getting up close and personal to their favorite stars. Autographs and pictures were taken throughout the afternoon.
The 43rd running of NAPA Super DIRT Week at the New York State Fairgrounds kicks off October 8th and runs through to the 12th with the Syracuse 200 championship culminating the week of speed.
For all the information, please log on to www.SuperDIRTWeekOnline.com
Super DIRTcar Stars vs. Media Members Feature – Larry Wight, Peter Britten, Matt Sheppard, Billy Dunn, J.J. Andrews, Paul Szmal, Brett Hearn, Gary Tomkins, John Provo, Aaron Smith.
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