ULMS LATE MODELS KICK OFF 2008 MCR SEASON
McKean County Raceway will open their 2008 season on Saturday, April 26 with the first event for the ULMS super late models. The 30 lap Jim Duffy Memorial will pay $2000 to win plus lap money and the winner will also be a guaranteed starter for the May 16th IRS sanctioned Dave Lundgren Memorial for the super late models. These fine sponsors, Casey’s Truck Salvage, Olson Tenglend NAPA, D&D Stone and Duffy Incorporated, are bringing the opening night of racing to you.
Jim Duffy was a very intrigual part of McKean County Raceway in the early 1980s in helping bring the racetrack back to life for the fairboard. Jim returned to racing in the mid 1980s and was crowd favorite. It was opening night in 1989 while finishing up his qualifying heat event that he would suffer his fatal heart attack and MCR would lose one of the most important persons in MCR history. Jim Duffy is always remembered on opening night since 1990 and again this year he will not be forgotten.
The Northern Tier Inc., United Late Model Series will be making their first of four visits to MCR on opening night. Todd Andrews will be looking to three-peat in the Duffy Memorial. Eldred PA, driver, Bob Close will be looking to defend his back-to-back ULMS titles. Other notable entries expected on hand should be, David Scott, Boom Briggs, Jason Dupont, Rick Isadore, Al Brewer, Jeff Hoffman, Luke Hoffner, Ed Connor, Dave Hess Jr. and many more dirt late model stars from Pennsylvania, New York and Canada.
The Maynard’s Electric FASTRAK late model division will be on the program as well. For the common fan, there will be no difference in the appearance of the crate late models and the past open super late models that have graced the 1/3-mile oval. The big difference will be the horsepower being put out, as the crate motors are factory sealed motors from General Motors. Last year the FASTRAK late models started off with a car counts in the low teens but by the end of year nearly twenty cars were a common sight each week at MCR. Year number two should see the class grow more with more new names. John Lacki will be back looking to defend his title. Lacki of Sinclairsville, NY will have to look over his shoulder each night as Greg Oakes, John Haggerty, Bob Kish, Jon Law, Tim Schram and others will be looking to dethrone Lacki from repeating his 2007 title. The FASTRAK late models will be a weekly class at MCR in 2008.
Also competing on opening night will be the John’s Collision’s Emods, Yum Yum’s Super Stocks, NE Micro and Graphics Street Stocks, Joe Hallock Enterprises – AMSOIL Mini Stocks and the KZ102 Radio pure stocks have been added to the weekly program.
The John’s Collision’s Emod division should be a barnburner of a class in 2008. Rich Michael will be back defending his title. He should have his hands full as Randy Hall will be back racing weekly in the Emod division. Hall already has a pair of wins in 2008 in Florida and at Mercer Pennsylvania in the inaugural United Emods Series event. Other standouts in this division should be, John Woodward Jr., Travis Asel, Tim Peterson, Billy Peterson, Ryan Bright, sophomore Emod racers, Vic Vena, Kyle and Craig Bedell along with long time dirt late model veteran Al Brewer who has a Emod when he is not racing his ULMS super late model. Emod rookie drivers, Justin Tatlow and Steve Dixon should be top runners as well as the season progresses.
Smethport’s, Jeff Chesebro will be looking to defend his 2007 Yum Yum’s Super Stock championship. Chesebro won both the MCR and the BRP CanAm Series title in a banner year. He no doubt will be the top dog in the super stock division. Jon Lichy, Dan Cobb, Jr. Peters, Ron Baker and Dixon should all be in the front battling it out with Chesebro.
The NE Micro and Graphics Street Stocks will have their 2007 champion back to defend his title. Chris Austin won only two shows at MCR, but his consistency was what won him his championship and this year, he will be looking to defend his title. Rich Hemphill, Jeff Hellwig, Joe Layfield, Brad Bigley and Bruno Mowery will all be tough competitors. The street stocks only had two repeat winners last year.
Daniel Cunningham will be looking to defend his Joe Hallock Enterprises – AMSOIL Mini Stock championship. Dave Burdick, who had the point lead heading into the final event only to see a broken suspension part keep him from his championship, will be back as well.
In an effort to save some money for families attending the events in 2008, MCR has developed a "family pack admission deal’ For all non super Late Model or T-3 Modified Shows, 2 adults and up to 4 children (ages 1-16) will be admitted for $22.00 - a $32.00 savings off of 2007 admission prices! For Late Model and T-3 Modified Shows, the Family Pack will be $25.00 -a $36.00 savings price off of 2007 admission prices! . Regular adult grandstand admission for opening night will be $13 for adults (age 17-61), $11 for Sr. Citizen (62+), $6 for youth (age 11-16) and all children under age 10 are free. Pit passes will be $25.
Gates open at 4:30PM and Racing starts at 7PM sharp on April 26 for the Jim Duffy Memorial! For more information, check the website out at www.mckeancountyraceway.com.
Fans are reminded, MCR will be back in action on May 3rd for the first of eight Border Skirmish events for the NE Micro and Graphics Street Stocks. The annual 21 lap Bill Layfield Memorial will pay $500 to win. Crosby Mini Marts and Highlander Energy presents the action pack night of racing on May 3rd.