Triple Crown’ Showcases Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series 200s

By Tom Skibinski, Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series PR Director

The Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series continues to be the premier traveling show for Big-Block Modifieds throughout the Northeast. The annual tour is highlighted by a trio of 200-lap events with the Eckerd 200 at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse on Oct. 7, Eastern States 200 at Orange County Fair Speedway on Oct. 21, and Coors National 200 at Lebanon Valley Speedway on Sept. 8 continuing to rank among the most prestigious races in the country.

In 2007, these three signature events on the Advance Auto Parts SDS formulate the first ‘Triple Crown’ in DIRTcar Racing for Big-Block Modifieds, with more monetary incentive and extra points on the line towards the overall Hoosier Tire-Sunoco Race Fuels Mr. DIRT Championship. In addition, the Eckerd 200 winner automatically earns seventh-place on the Eastern States 200 starting grid and the winner of the Coors National 200 at Lebanon Valley Speedway will start outside the fourth row.

“These three are among the most prominent races in the Northeast and certainly deserve to stand out on the Advance Auto Parts Series schedule,” said DIRTcar Racing Director of Competition & Track Sanctioning Cory Reed. “They hold the most tradition, offer the biggest payoffs and are what fans and racers plan their seasons around year after year. They are the only 200-lappers we run all season so it’s important to emphasize their significance and guarantee further success for many more.”

This unique ‘Triple Crown’ features the $50,000-to-win Eckerd 200 in the Salt City, $20,000-to-win Eastern States 200 in Middletown (NY) and $10,000-to-win Coors National 200 at the West Lebanon (NY) oval. These are the only Advance Auto Parts Series stops awarding fast timers with pole-position starts with the top-six locked into front three row starting positions while heats will be aligned in heads-up fashion. In these three races only the winners will receive 150 Series points with 50 points to start.

Beginning in 1962, the Eastern States 200 at Orange County remains the biggest and oldest consecutively-run championship race for dirt track Modifieds in the nation while the Valley’s National 200 was christened in 1965 and has run every year excluding 1976-79. New Jersey legend Frankie Schneider captured both first time events. The historic New York State Fairgrounds one-mile oval has played host to Super DIRT Week since 1972 and Floridian Emil “Buzzie” Reutimann captured the initial set of checkers in the Big-Block Modified main. Danny Johnson (Eckerd 200), Brett Hearn (Eastern States) and J.R. Heffner (LV 200) are the defending race winners.

For further questions about the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series ‘Triple Crown’ or the 2007 race schedule, please contact Cory Reed in the DIRTcar Northeast Office (315/834-6606) during normal business hours or log into the DIRT homepage at www.dirtmotorsports.com to find out more about the entire circuit. Throughout the upcoming season Advance Auto Part Super DIRT Series news and notes, race results and point standings, driver and track information will be posted on the brand new site at http://www.superdirtcarseries.com.