News from the Short Track Supernationals "The Working Man's Race"

Accord & Orange County Fair Speedway Modified Champion Jerry Higbie Jr. Attempts First Dart Machinery Short Track SuperNationals This Weekend



KIRKWOOD, NY - Southeastern New York's hottest driver and team combination is set for the Short Track SuperNationals presented by Dart Machinery at Five Mile Point Speedway in Kirkwood, N.Y., this Saturday (Oct. 9).



Newburgh, N.Y's Jerry Higbie Jr., the champion in the Modified division at Accord (N.Y.) Speedway and Orange County (N.Y.) Fair Speedway for 2010, has indicated that he will make his first SuperNationals attempt driving the potent Mike Petruska-owned Atlas Paving No. 66.



Higbie, a past Five Mile Point Modified feature winner who has victories in the King of the Catskills 100 at Accord and Eastern States 200 at Orange County on his resume, will have plenty of incentive to run well at the SuperNationals. More than $8,000 in bonus money has been collected for racers at FMP this weekend.



Extra cash at the Brett Deyo-promoted "Working Man's Race" will be distributed in addition to a healthy posted purse. A cool $5,000 goes to the winner of the Modified 50-lap main event, if the $20 "Gambler's Fee" for the Alpine Building & Post Supply 'Roll The Dice Challenge' is posted, with $1,000 reserved for the fifth-place driver and $550 for 10th at the checkered flag.



Every lap of the Modified feature has been sold for a minimum of $20, including $700 to the halfway leader from Dale Smith Photography. Lap money alone for the SuperNationals is approaching $2,000.



A number of special awards have been sponsored along with unique events such as the Trackside Products of Endicott, N.Y., American Racer East Coast Modified Cup Champion's Challenge (open to all American Racer Cup champs), EZ Release Pro Shop Cash Dash (for heat winners) and Vogel Race Designs Ed Tauschman Memorial Money Run (last chance to make the feature). A complete, up-to-date list of special awards is on the event website at: http://www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com/.



By virtue of his pair of track championships this year, Higbie is eligible to compete in the Trackside Products American Racer East Coast Modified Cup Champion's Challenge, a series of one-on-one match races paying per round and $1,000 to the overall winner.



The headline big-block/small-block Modifieds headline the program with virtually open rules. Big-block and small-block engine combinations are permitted. Small-blocks, under 361 cubic inches, may run on methanol or gasoline (a fuel stop will be incorporated if needed). Big-blocks may run on gasoline only.



Sail panels, maximum 68 inches tall, are permitted but they must be even. Any 13- by 92-inch tire, American Racer or Hoosier, can be used as long as it is run weekly at a Modified track in the Northeast.



Interest has been high from across the dirt Modified landscape, with drivers from four states and one Canadian province on the early entry list that includes Billy Pauch Sr. and Jr. and Wade Hendrickson from the Garden State, Pennsy racers Jeff Strunk, Meme DeSantis, Mike Gular, Doug Manmiller, John Willman, Kevin Albert Jr. and Kyle Follweiler, New Yorkers Bobby Varin, Gary Tomkins and Jeff Heotzler, red-hot Canadian Stewart Friesen, short-track specialists Billy Van Pelt, Mike Ricci and Rich Ricci Jr., Southern Tier stars Brian Weaver, Kevin Bates and Mike Colsten, Delaware regular Scott Van Gorder and many more.



The previous two Short Track SuperNationals Modified winners - Kevin Hirthler (2009) and Mike Ricci (2006) - will be in competition. Hirthler, a Grandview (Pa.) Speedway regular, will drive his family-owned No. 117 while Ricci will be in the seat of the Jeff Mastrocola-owned No. 76R, which he drives weekly at Accord Speedway.



Modifieds will draw for heat races with a redraw of top finishers for the feature. Consolations and the Ed Tauschman Memorial last chance race will set the field of qualified cars. Guaranteed starters from SuperNationals qualifiers run during the season will only be added after the field is established through qualifying.



The Trackside Products RoC Street Stocks (25 laps), Four Cylinders (18 laps) and Vintage Modified (15 laps) complete the program. The RoC Street Stocks compete for a $400 winner's share, with the Four Cylinder winner earning $150. The Vintage Modified race is open to ALL groups or clubs and each car will receive two complimentary passes.



For the enjoyment of fans, a "split program" will be run on Saturday.



On Saturday afternoon, pit gates will open at 2 p.m., with grandstand gates opening at 3 p.m. At 4 p.m., hot laps for the Trackside Products RoC Dart Street Stocks, Vintage Modifieds and Four Cylinders will hit the track. Their qualifying events will begin at 4:45 p.m.



Modified hot laps have been set for 5:45 p.m. with the division's first heat expected to hit the quarter-mile oval at 6:30 p.m. Race fans wishing to see only a full Modified program with main events for the support divisions should plan to arrive for the 6:30 p.m. start time.



An open practice is set for Friday, Oct. 8 with gates opening at 5 p.m. and practice 6-9 p.m. A post-practice bonfire is set once practice is complete.



Grandstand admission for Adults is set at $18; Senior (62 & over) & Youth (13-17) tickets are $14; Kids 12 and under are FREE. To combat the tough economy, a 'Family Five Pack' has been established. For $40, a family will receive two Adult tickets, three Youth or Senior tickets, five hot dogs and five sodas.



Pit admission for Saturday is $30. Friday's pit admission is $20. No license is required for either day.



Camping is permitted, free of charge, off the backstretch and all parking is free.



Long-sleeve shirts and sweatshirts produced by Bob Hilbert Sportswear will on sale in the pit and spectator areas during the weekend. Steve Barrick of Program Dynamics has put together a souvenir SuperNationals program that will be available, as well.



For further information, visit the Frequently Asked Questions link on the event website www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com, contact Brett Deyo by phone at 845.728.2781 or e-mail Deyo99H@aol.com.



The Short Track SuperNationals is presented by Dart Machinery, Alpine Building & Post Supply, EZ Release Pro Shop, Trackside Products, Dale Smith Photography, Vogel Race Designs, Gold Rush Custom Trailers, PLC Plus, Selinsgrove Speedway/JGK Motorsports, Plant Food Company Inc., Reading Plastic Fabricators, S&W Awards & Photos, Subway of Castle Creek, N.Y., Jim Young Race Photos and BD Motorsports Media.