For more info, please visit DIRT . This is an update to a previous release...
Weedsport, NY - April 3, 2007 - By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing PR Director
DIRTcar Racing continues to maintain a strong presence in the Canadian Province of
Quebec, with weekly events sanctioned at autodromes Drummond and Granby during the
2007 race season. The upcoming short-track campaign marks the 20th consecutive
season that Drummond has flown the DIRTcar banner with Granby becoming the first
French-speaking facility to gain membership in 1987.
"Drummond and Granby are recognized around the circuit as solid fixtures within the
DIRT organization," said DIRTcar Director of Competition & Track Sanctioning Cory
Reed. "I've worked personally with promoters and race directors at both tracks for a
number of years and am anticipating many more seasons to come. We fully support
their drivers just like they have supported DIRT for the past two decades."
In preparation of the upcoming race season, many teams exhibited their latest
four-wheel machines at the Hotel des Seigneurs in Ste-Hyacinthe, Que. the weekend of
March 30-April 1. Area DIRTcar track promoters were also in attendance and are
scheduled to return for a major meeting with the local racers on Tuesday, April 10
to discuss the rules in place for 2007.
Throughout the year Granby and Drummond will have a claimer rule put into effect
with 358 rev limiter boxes allowed to be claimed at any time by a competitor for
$400 (Canadian). In addition, the GM crate engine utilized in the Sportsman division
can be claimed for the price of such an engine at any regional GM dealer.
"Both tracks started out with Big-Blocks as the main attraction and today the
358-Modifieds headline each show," said DIRTcar Racing Canadian representative
Gaston Salvas, a veteran Super DIRTcar Series official with long-standing ties to
both Quebec tracks. "The common thread remains following a basic set of rules
provided by DIRT and sharing many of the stars when they cross the border for
championship events. There's been great comradery established over the years between
race teams, promoters and officials, and both tracks are looking forward to
continued success in the future."
Autodrome Drummond's Alain Poirier and Jacques Constant have owned the facility
since 2002. When the 2004 race season concluded the two agreed to lease the speedway
for five years to still active DIRTcar Modified racer and current promoter Yan
Bussiere, who today shares operational duties with Assistant Promoter Francis
Potvin, General Manager Karl Labonte and Race Director Steve Salvas. Granby remains
under the promotion of DIRT Hall of Fame inductee Bob Gatien while Ludger Lahaie
serves as Race Director.
DIRTcar 358-Modifieds will be showcased in the traditional Friday night race card at
Granby, accompanied weekly by Sportsman and Semi-Pro classes along with 4-Cylinder
and 6-Cylinder Stock action. On Saturday nights at Drummond the 358-Mods will also
be joined by traditional open-wheel Sportsman and full-fender Semi-Pro and
4-Cylinder cars.
The green flag on the 2007 season will wave for practice at both tracks the first
weekend in May, with the official season-openers at Granby (May 12) and Drummond
(May 13) set for the following week. Drummond will play host to the annual Advance
Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series for Big-Block Modifieds on Monday, July 9 while
Drummond and Granby combine to lead off the 14-race Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Series
with a big DIRT doubleheader running north of the border on Aug. 20-21.
For more information about DIRTcar Racing, visit www.superdirtcarseries.com and for
specific track information check out the individual websites at
www.autodrome-drummond.com and www.autodrome-granby.qc.ca.
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.