FRANKLIN, PA – Aug. 29, 2007 –
WHAT: * The World of Outlaws Late Model Series will visit western Pennsylvania’s Tri-City Speedway this weekend to contest the ‘Oil Region Labor Day Classic’ on Saturday (Sept. 1) and Sunday (Sept. 2).
Complete racing programs – time trials, heat races, B-Mains and a 50-lap feature paying $10,000 to win – will be run both nights.
The speedway’s UMP DIRTcar Racing-type ‘E-Mod’ and Pro Stock divisions will also compete in a complete program each night.
WHEN: * Tri-City Speedway’s gates are scheduled to open at 2 p.m. both days, with WoO LMS hot laps set to begin at 4 p.m. and time trials to follow. The track-prep crew will work on the surface after time trials before heat-race action begins at 6 p.m.
WHERE: * Tri-City Speedway is a half-mile oval located seven miles north of Franklin, Pa., off State Route 417.
TICKETS: * Adult grandstand admission will be $30 each night, or a two-day ticket can be purchased for $50. Pit admission will be $35 each night, with a two-day ticket available for $60.
EXCITING EXTRAS: * Fans will have an opportunity to meet WoO LMS drivers on Sunday during an autograph session in the track’s concession area, scheduled to be held between the end of time trials and the beginning of heat-race action.
Another fun event for fans and racers alike will be the ‘South Ghetto’ party sponsored by Engles Trucking and Ray’s Racing Specialties. The bash that’s slated to kick off in the parking lot after Saturday night’s racing program will feature a huge bonfire and the band ‘Intent’ performing live.
There is no admission charge to enjoy the camaraderie of the ‘South Ghetto’ party and band, and there will be free camping at the speedway all weekend for those attending the races.
MORE INFORMATION: * Call the track office at 814-473-4038 or visit
www.tricityspeedway.com.
PREVIOUS WoO LMS WINNERS: * This will be the third consecutive year that the Oil Region Labor Day Classic has featured the WoO LMS.
The first edition, on Sept. 4, 2005, was a one-day program won by Rick Eckert of York, Pa. Last year the ‘Classic’ expanded to two full days of action – and after the remnants of Tropical Storm Ernesto pushed the doubleheader back one day, to Sunday and Monday, Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., emerged victorious on Sept. 3 and Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga., captured the checkered flag on Sept. 4.
WHAT WoO LMS DRIVERS THINK ABOUT TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY: * Chub Frank, who enters the weekend sitting second in the WoO LMS points standings: “I always look forward to going to Tri-City because it’s usually a racy track and it’s only 40 minutes from home. We’ve also always run pretty well there, but that doesn’t really mean anything because all the guys we run with are good everywhere.”
* Rick Eckert, who is still searching for his first WoO LMS victory of the season: “That’s a nice racetrack. We’ve had some success there in the past – and with this new car (he debuted a new GRT car three weeks ago) I’m excited to go race
anywhere, so I’m looking forward to the weekend.”
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: * Bidding for his first career WoO LMS championship, Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., leads the WoO LMS standings entering the ‘Classic.’ He finished fourth (from the 18th starting spot) and ninth in last year’s WoO LMS events at Tri-City.
* Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., has held at least a share of the WoO LMS points lead after 17 events this season, but he’s fallen to third place in the standings, 56 points behind Francis. With only nine events remaining on the 2007 schedule after this weekend’s doubleheader, Smith needs to get back on track if he wants to win his first-ever tour title.
* Josh Richards, the 19-year-old sensation from Shinnston, W.Va., figures to be a pre-race favorite. He was strong in last year’s ‘Classic’ events, finishing second in the first A-Main and running fifth in the second race until suffering suspension problems on the final lap (he finished 17th).
* Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., doesn’t hide the fact that he likes big, fast tracks, so Tri-City fits his style perfectly. He appeared headed to victory in last year’s second ‘Classic’ A-Main until tangling with a lapped car on the final lap, which brought out a controversial caution flag and led to Lanigan limping his damaged car to an eighth-place following the green-white-checkered finish.
* Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., leads Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., in the battle for the WoO LMS Rookie of the Year title, 3,616-2,294. The crown is determined using a driver’s best 30 finishes; Fuller has reached that mark and is beginning to replace his worst outings, while Shirley is two races away from his 30th event entry.
* Robbie Blair of Titusville, Pa., has plans to enter the weekend’s ‘Classic’ doubleheader and improve on his very strong performance last year. He finished third in the first ’06 A-Main and moved up to a runner-up placing the second night, proving he’s capable of running wheel-to-wheel with the WoO LMS stars.
EXTRA CASH FOR THE LOCALS: * The influx of regional and local standouts who compete in the ‘Classic’ will chase a $500 WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ award in each night’s A-Main. The cash will go to the highest-finishing driver who is not ranked among the current top-12 in the WoO LMS point standings and has never won a WoO feature will.
LISTEN ON THE INTERNET: * Fans who can’t make it to the track can listen to the action live thanks to the DIRT Radio Network, which will broadcast the race over the internet.
To listen to the free audio broadcast, log on to www.dirtvision.com and click on the DIRT Radio Network logo.
Listeners will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to listen to the DIRT Radio Network. Those who sign up for a free membership can enjoy advanced features while listening to the races, such as text chat and live scoring via AMB.it.
WoO LMS ON TELEVISION: * The next show of WoO LMS racing on the SPEED cable network comes on Sun., Sept. 16, when the July 28 National Interstate Speedweek finale at Sharon Speedway in Hartford, Ohio, will be broadcast.
WoO LMS INFO: * Log on to the WoO LMS website at www.worldofoutlaws.com.
2007 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of Aug. 23 - 33 features completed (rank/driver/wins/top-5s/top-10s/earnings/points/deficit to leader): 1. Steve Francis 1-17-29-$79,550-4,526 (-0)
2. Chub Frank 5-14-26-$99,330-4,488 (-38)
3. Clint Smith 3-14-25-$97,350-4,470 (-56)
4. Josh Richards 3-9-20-$81,032-4,404 (-122)
5. Shane Clanton 2-11-22-$76,097-4,400 (-126)
6. Rick Eckert 0-10-19-$65,110-4,388 (-138)
7. Darrell Lanigan 2-7-21-$70,190-4,189 (-337)
8. Tim Fuller 1-7-11-$60,555-3,691 (-835)
9. Brian Shirley 1-3-9-$43,884-3,294 (-1232)
10. Shannon Babb 4-11-14-$75,035-3,190 (-1336)
11. Eddie Carrier Jr. 0-2-5-$23,720-2,571 (-1955)
12. Chris Madden 2-8-12-$89,215-2,379 (-2147)
13. Billy Moyer 1-9-11-$41,175-2,237 (-2289)
14. Brian Birkhofer 0-1-5-$20,910-1,738 (-2788)
15. John Blankenship 0-0-0-$10,720-1,663 (-2863)
16. Roy Mitchell 0-0-0-$6,630-1,586 (-2940)
17. Jimmy Mars 0-4-6-$22,830-1,397 (-3129)
18. Dennis Erb Jr. 2-4-6-$31,700-1,295 (-3231)
19. Billy Decker 0-0-1-$7,390-1,267 (-3259)
20. Dan Stone 0-0-1-$5,180-1,054 (-3472)
The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by several sponsors and partners, including National Interstate Insurance Company and contingency sponsors Wrisco Industries, Crane Cams, Ohlins Shocks, Quarter-Master, Hawk Brake, MSD Ignitions, Eibach Springs and Integra Shocks.
