By JULIA FOY
WEEDSPORT, N.Y. – Wednesday, June 25 – The DIRTcar 358-Modified Series and DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Series are celebrating next week’s patriotic holidays with a pair of action-packed race nights. The small block tour invades Humberstone Speedway in Port Colborne, Ontario, for the first time on Canada Day, Tuesday, July 1, then heads straight to Ransomville Speedway, where it joins the DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Series for a highly-anticipated DIRTCAR doubleheader Wednesday, July 2.
Dale Planck, who is currently third in DIRTcar 358-Modified Series points after strong finishes earlier this season at Cornwall and Merrittville Speedways, said he is looking forward to racing at a couple of his strong tracks.
“We’ve had great success at Humberstone,” said Planck, whose first-ever run at the speedway last year took him to victory lane. “I’m looking forward to that race.”
Planck trails point leader Mario Clair, of Drummondville, Quebec, by just 10 points and is only behind defending DIRTcar 358-Modified Series Champion Erick Rudolph, of Ransomville, N.Y., by only 9 points. With margins so slim, races at Humberstone and Ransomville Speedways could make or break competitors as the points chase continues to heat up.
“We’re definitely excited to go back to those two places,” said Planck, who is also hoping to see success Wednesday at Ransomville Speedway after claiming second-place in last year’s Battle at the Border. “We had two great runs there last year. Mike (Payne, car owner) is super good with the setups at Ransomville and I look forward to getting back there. We had a couple of mechanical issues that kept us from the win a couple times.”
The DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Series race at Ransomville Speedway the same night in a 30-lap feature. Martin Pelletier currently leads the tour, followed by Joey Ladouceur in second and Brad Rouse in third.
Gates open at 4 p.m. and racing begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 1, at Humberstone Speedway. At Ransomville Speedway Wednesday, July, 2, pit gates open at 5 p.m. grandstand gates open at 6 p.m. and racing is scheduled to begin at 7:15 p.m. For more information about the DIRTcar 358-Modified Series and the DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Series, visit www.dirtcar.com.
AT A GLANCE
COSCO Haulage Ltd. presents: Canada Day DIRTcar 358-Modified Series, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks, plus fireworks
DATE: Tuesday, July 1
TIME: Racing begins at 6 p.m.; grandstand gates open at 4 p.m.
DIVISIONS:
LOCATION: The New Humberstone Speedway, 1716 HWY #3 East, Port Colborne, ON, L3K 5V4
ABOUT THE TRACK: 3/8-mile clay oval
MORE TRACK INFORMATION: www.humberstonespeedway.com
MORE SERIES INFORMATION: www.dirtcar.com
DIRTcar 358 Modified Series, DIRTcar Sportsman Series, 4 Banger Non-Winner plus Fireworks presented by Waste Management and FinditQuick.com
DATE: Wednesday, July 2
TIME: Racing begins at 7:15 p.m.; grandstand gates open at 6 p.m.
DIVISIONS: DIRTcar 358 Modified Series, DIRTcar Sportsman Series, 4 Banger Non-Winner
LOCATION: Ransomville Speedway, 2315 Braley Road, Ransomville, N.Y. 14131
ABOUT THE TRACK: Half-mile clay oval
MORE TRACK INFORMATION: www.ransomvillespeedway.com
MORE SERIES INFORMATION: www.dirtcar.com
The Super DIRTcar Series and DIRTcar Racing in the Northeast Region is brought to fans by several sponsors and partners including Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, Chevy Performance Parts, NAPA Auto Parts, Safety-Kleen, and Velocita USA. Contingency partners include the University of Northwestern Ohio, ASI, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix, ButlerBuilt, Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Edelbrock, Integra Shocks, Intercomp, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, KSE Racing Products, Mobil 1, Motorsports Safety Systems, MSD LLC, Fox Shocks, Pole Position Raceway, Racing Electronics, Superflow and Wrisco Industries.