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Syracuse, NY - March 9, 2007 - By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing PR Director
It was the first victory lane appearance of sorts for newly crowned Ms. DIRT Angela
Galati, with the sparkling tiara fitted overhead and customary sash draped over her
shoulder as the cameras flashed on stage. Galati showed her mettle even before
climbing to the podium, proving she was a perfect fit to represent the leading
short-track sanctioning body in the land.
"I drove four hours with pneumonia and a broken toe, but there's nothing I wanted to
do more," beamed Galati, who traveled Friday from her home in the Buffalo suburb of
East Aurora to the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse on the way to claiming
first prize in the 10th annual contest sponsored by Leaf Racewear during Motorsports
Expo '07. Galati is the fifth Empire State entry to be crowned Ms. DIRT, joining '98
queen Mandy Ireland as the only other Western New Yorker. "I can't wait already for
the season to begin, I love to travel and representing the DIRT organization is a
great place to start."
Galati is already looking forward to her second trip to Syracuse when she will be at
the Moody Mile during Super DIRT Week XXXVI, Oct. 3-7, 2007. Throughout the summer
she will be frequenting many Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series shows headlined by
the Big-Block Modifieds, before closing out the season with award presentations
during the 32nd Annual DIRTcar NorthEast Banquet in November. Scheduled to graduate
from Erie Community College in May with a degree in Dental Laboratory Technology,
she confirmed she will now spend at least one more year in the Northeast before
relocating out west to start up her own business.
"I grew up with racing my whole life so as soon as I got here I felt my chances of
winning were pretty good," added Angela, a 5'5", brown-eyed blonde-haired beauty,
who only twice before competed in a beauty pageant and finished fourth at the Erie
County Fairgrounds. Employed at Industrial Tire in Buffalo, her father Robert Galati
worked alongside her on the cars driven by DIRT Modified pilots Ron Smoker and Todd
Burley with both the company and cars owned by Bob Burke. "Where I live Holland and
Lancaster were my regular tracks growing up and lately I've gone to Ransomville a
lot and the last few years Syracuse has become one of my favorites. (WoO Sprinter)
Brooke Tatnell is my favorite driver, win or lose he always points out that there's
no "I" in team and credits everyone that's helped him out. I feel the same way,
without the people that have stayed behind me I wouldn't be where I am now and I'm
very thankful to be involved in the racing community."
The Ms. DIRT contest was held for the eighth straight year during Gater Racing Photo
News' popular Motorsports Expo in the 'Salt City.' Reigning queen Chelsea Miller was
in attendance at the Cargill Exhibit Center on March 9 to crown Galati as the newest
winner of DIRT's prized pageant. The previous nine Ms. DIRT winners have represented
New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, with Angela joining Jackie Cecile ('05), Judy
Stroud ('04), Wendy Congleton ('01) and Ireland as winners from New York State.
With seven entries taking center stage for 'Clubwear' and 'Sportswear' competition
plus a question/answer session, Galati outscored runner-up Loralyn Brinster, 19,
from Sussex, N.J. and third-place finisher Tanya Curtis, 23, from Fulton, N.Y. to
earn the $500 top prize. The other contestants in alphabetical order were Kelly
Baldwin, Victorine Colonnese, Nicole Johnson and Christina Needle, with Ernie Teed,
Sales and Promotions rep. for Leaf Racewear, making the final awards presentation.
Anchoring the panel of seven judges were DIRTcar Northeast General Manager Jack
Deery, Lernerville (Pa.) Speedway General Manager Gary Risch, Jr., New Egypt (NJ)
Speedway Director of Operations Michael Sanchelli and veteran Public Address
Announcer at Cayuga County Fair Speedway, Rolling Wheels Raceway and the NYS
Fairgrounds Joe Marotta. Doug Elkins served as the evening's emcee.
Past Ms. DIRT Winners
2006-Chelsea Miller/Langhorne, PA (18 yrs.); 2005-Jackie Cecile/Brewerton, NY (21);
2004-Judy Stroud/Elbridge, NY; 2003-Dana Marie Hastings/Georgetown, DE (18);
2002-Cara Foss/Cherry Hill, NJ (21); 2001-Wendy Congleton/Bloomingburg, NY (24);
2000-Mandy Fenstermacher/Telford, PA (20); 1999-Undeclared; 1998-Mandy
Ireland/Sanborn, NY (22); 1997-Kim Whitehead/Sussex, NJ (25).
The DIRTcar Advance Auto Parts Modified Series is brought to fans across the
Northeast by several sponsors and partners, including series sponsors Advance Auto
Parts, Hoosier Racing Tire and Sunoco Race Fuels. Promotional partners include AMB
i.t., F.X. Caprara Car Companies and the University of Northwestern Ohio and the
contingency sponsors are Bert Transmission, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein
Shocks, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Holley HP Carburetors, MSD Ignitions, Miller Electric
Manufacturing Company and Wrisco Industries.