RoC Dirt Modifieds Ready to Open Season at Selinsgrove

RoC Dirt Modifieds Ready to Open Season at Selinsgrove

By Dino Oberto …. “Keeping Track”

Dirt modified racing holds its biggest show each October at the New York State Fairgrounds mile track at Syracuse, an event that brings in all of the top stars of northeast dirt modified racing for a big end of the season showdown.



For the past two years Selinsgrove Speedway has been the host to many of those same marquee drivers and then some with the season kickoff for both big block and 358 mods. Run under the sanction of the Race of Champions (RoC) Dirt Modified Tour, the third edition of the Insinger Performance Products RoC Icebreaker III is set for March 19-20. In case of inclement weather Sunday March 21st has been reserved as a rain date.



“Being called a small Syracuse, that’s a compliment. We have guys coming in from New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania and we’ve been working on getting some of the western Pa., guys to come out too,” said Joe Kaminski, Jr., speedway Race Director.



“It’s more than a happening already. It’s a good feeling when I go to other areas and I have people asking me about hotels and where to stay and it just seems to be getting bigger. It’s become a mark on the calendar for a lot of people and that’s a great feeling for me.



“The track, the facility is all ready to go and we’re very excited about our third annual Icebreaker.”



In just two years this event has grown more than twofold. 50 cars registered the first year with Quakertown’s Rick Laubach taking the inaugural victory for the big block modifieds.



Last year the 358 mods were added with a special Friday night show and along with big blocks the pits swelled with 120 cars. 2008 RoC champ Pat Ward of King Ferry, NY won the 25-lap 358 race while veteran Danny Johnson of Rochester, NY took Saturday’s 50-lap big block verdict by default after top finisher Ryan Godown of Ringoes, NJ was disqualified at the scales.



Despite some very crisp temperatures, a huge crowd came out both days and much of the same is expected for this year’s lid-lifter.



Kaminski continues to be the front man in the success of the Icebreaker. He has again secured numerous monetary and contingency sponsors which are evenly distributed throughout both races. All drivers have responded nicely with the way things are run and how enticing the payoff and incentives are.



“RoC is a great group to work with and they do an excellent job of helping promote,” said Kaminski.



“I appreciate every sponsor we have. The economy is still not the greatest. With the exception of maybe one or two, every sponsor jumped back on board. One in particular, Middleswarth Potato Chips and General Manager Jeff Goff, came up with even more money for the non qualifiers race on Saturday night. We have a great marketing and sponsor partnership.”



“The excitement is starting to build as my phone, Joe’s phone, and the track phone have all been ringing off the hook,” added RoC Administrative Director Andrew Harpell. “There are many people really looking forward to this weekend of racing and the best news of all is there is absolutely no snow on the ground at the Selinsgrove Speedway, so we’re ready to go racing.”



The 358 modifieds will run a complete show of heats, consi’s and a 25 lap feature on Friday with a 7:30 start time. In preparation for the Saturday event, the big block modifieds will run hot lap sessions.



Saturday’s season opening RoC Dirt Modified Tour show will see all gates remaining open following the Friday night program. This will allow all teams the opportunity to arrive early on Saturday and be able to unload their respective racing machines without being rushed. The grounds will be cleared at 1:30 in the afternoon and all gates will then officially open at two.



A drivers’ meeting is scheduled to begin at 3:10 with hot laps taking place at 3:30 and the first heat receiving the green flag at 4:00 p.m. sharp. A Cash Dash, consi’s, non qualifiers feature will precede the 50 lap main. The 358 Sprint Cars will also be receiving hot laps during the program.



Weekly action at Selinsgrove begins March 27 and runs through the end of September. Selinsgrove Raceway Park, the inner 1/5-mile track for micro sprints and go-karts, begins its regular season on April 2.