Dirt Teams & Fans Prepare for This Weekend's TRI-TRACK CHALLENGE
Media Contact: Michelle Petroff, (618) 406-6842 or michelle@michellepetroff.com DIRT TEAMS AND FANS PREPARE FOR THIS WEEKENDıS ³4th ANNUAL TRI-TRACK CHALLENGE² MACON, IL (May 31, 2006) - After weeks of anticipation, several of the best dirt late model teams in the nation are making final preparations for this weekendıs ³4th Annual Tri-Track Challenge². The upcoming U.M.P.-sanctioned trifecta consists of three independent $10,000-to-win shows plus an additional $10,000 bonus available to any competitor who can win two of the three events. National touring drivers, series champions and regional throttlestompers are ready for door-to-door, mud slinginı racing action in the three state showdown. Past and present champions and rookies from United Midwestern Promoters, Lucas Oil DirtCar Series/NARA, Xtreme DirtCar Series/Hav-A-Tampa, Northern Allstars Late Model Series, U.M.P. Challenge of Championsı Series and U.M.P. Summernationals will be on tap with hopes of winning the $10,000, 40-lap main events. The Tri-Track Challenge will debut this Friday night at the Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and Ken Schrader-owned Paducah International Raceway. The 3/8-mile, high-banked track conveniently located off of I-24 in McCracken County, KY, has recently undergone numerous upgrades to the track and facilities that both spectators and competitors will recognize and benefit from. The new PIR will host their first Tri-Track as a prelude to their U.M.P. Summernationalsı event slotted for June 29th. We would also like to remind fans and competitors to enter PIRıs hot new promotion the ³Chevrolet Silverado Sunset Giveaway² at the track for a chance to win a new 2007 Chevy Silverado Pickup and ride in style like Dale Jr.! Teams will then caravan to the Show Me State for another Ken Schrader-owned facility the 1/3-mile highbanks of I-55 Raceway. The Pevely, MO, track is located 30 miles south of St. Louis on I-55 and boasts an impressive pedigree of weekly racers and special event winners. I-55 Raceway has hosted all three previous installments of the Tri-Track Challenge and each event yielded a different winner. Shannon Babb, the winningest driver on the circuit and only driver to ever nab the $10,000 bonus, won the inaugural event but Indianaıs own Don OıNeal stole the show in 2004 and Jimmy Mars from Elk Mound, WI, took top honors last year. Back on the schedule for the third year, Vermilion Co. Speedway in Danville, IL, will host the 2006 Tri-Track Challenge finale. The 3/8-mile semi-banked facility is now promoted by a renowned duo in dirt late model racing Bill Nelson, Director of the Northern Allstars Late Model Series, and veteran track and special events promoter Bob Sargent of Track Enterprises. National touring veterans Billy Moyer and Don OıNeal both claimed Tri-Track victories at Vermilion County but the 2006 entry list boats impressive names looking to reign supreme. This yearıs ³Tri-Track Challenge² retains popular features including the Frisbee draw, free general admission for kids 12 and under at all tracks, no entry fees for competitors and the $10,000 bonus opportunity but the format has been slightly modified to accommodate the wishes of competitors and to make for the best possible show. Hereıs how it worksŠ Each competitor will participate in a pill draw for qualifying. Competitors will then be placed into groups based on the pill draw and you will hotlap, qualify and compete in the heat race with this same group of cars. The top two finishers from each heat race will draw a Frisbee marked with a secret number on the frontstretch during driver introductions to determine their starting spot in the feature event. Consolation races will be lined up according to your finish in the heat result and the remainder of the A-Main starting field will also be started according to heat race transfer order. Each main event will consist of 40 laps of wide-open dirt late model racing with the winner receiving a $10,000 payday. Each track has also selected 2-5 additional divisions that will provide great racing during the nightıs activities. The response to the ³4th Annual Tri-Track Challenge² has been very strong and we anticipate a stellar field of cars each night but a dozen names tentatively slotted to compete to the partial or full tour include: * Shannon Babb (Moweaqua, IL) Former Lucas Oil DirtCar Series Champion, reigning U.M.P. Summernationalsı champion and the only competitor to sweep a Tri-Track Challenge tour and earn the $10,000 bonus * Wendell Wallace (Batesville, AR) Recent 2006 ³Show Me 100² winner, former Dirt Track World Champion and ³Topless 100² winner * Brian Birkhofer (Muscatine, IA) 2002 ³World 100² winner, Master of the Mile with 3 Illinois U.M.P. Fall Nationalsı titles on the Springfield Mile, 2004 Knoxville Nationals winner, runner-up in 2003 XDCS National Championship points * Jimmy Mars (Elk Mound, WI) 2005 U.M.P. Summernationalsı Championship runner-up, 2005 Tri-Track Challenge Winner at I-55 Raceway, $100,000 Dream winner * Darren Miller (Milledgeville, IL) 2005 Knoxville Nationals winner, former NASCAR Busch All-Star Tour Rookie of the Year * Rodney Melvin (Logan, IL) Only 4x U.M.P. National Late Model Champion * Dennis Erb, Jr. (Carpentersville, IL) Former XDCS/HAT Rookie of the Year, 3rd in 2005 U.M.P. Summernationalsı Championship points * Randy Korte (Pierron, IL) Reigning U.M.P. Challenge of Championsı Champion, former U.M.P. National Late Model Champion * Brian Shirley (Chatham, IL) Former A.M.A. motorcycle champion, 2004 Northern Allstars Late Model Series Champion & Rookie of the Year, former U.M.P. Late Model Rookie of the Year, 2005 Summernationalsı finale winner * Terry English (Benton, KY) 3x U.M.P. National Late Model Champion, multiple track championships at Paducah Intıl Raceway, multi-time PIR ³World 50² winner * Kevin Cole (Christopher, IL) Former Paducah Intıl Raceway Champion, 2005 U.M.P. Late Model Rookie of the Year * Jimmy Owens (Newport, TN) 4x U.M.P. National Modified Champion 2006 U.M.P. Tri-Track Challenge Information Friday, June 2, 2006 Paducah International Raceway Location: Exit 11 on I-24, Paducah, KY Promoters: Dale Earnhardt, Jr, Ken Schrader and Bob Sargent Track Phone: (270) 898-7469 Track Website: http://www.paducahinternationalraceway.com Gates Open: Pits 4:00 p.m., Main Gate 5:00 p.m. Prices: Grandstands - $25, Kids 12 & Under - FREE, Pit Passes - $30, NO ENTRY FEE Race Times: Qualifying 6:45 p.m., Racing 7:30 p.m. Divisions Competing: U.M.P. Super Late Models, CARS Crate Late Models, U.M.P. Modifieds, U.M.P. Street Stocks, Outlaw Mini Sprints, 4-Cylinder Warriors Saturday, June 3, 2006 I-55 Raceway Location: Exit 178 on I-55, Pevely, MO Promoters: Ken Schrader and Ray Marler Track Phone: (636) 479-3219 Track Website: http://www.i55raceway.com Gates Open: Pits 4:00 p.m., Main Gate 5:00 p.m. Prices: Grandstands - $25, Kids 12 & Under - FREE, Pit Passes - $30, NO ENTRY FEE Race Times: Qualifying 6:15 p.m., Racing 7:00 p.m. Divisions Competing: U.M.P. Super Late Models, U.M.P. Modifieds, U.M.P. Sportsman Sunday, June 4, 2006 Vermilion County Speedway Location: Exit 210 on I-74, Danville, IL Promoters: Bill Nelson and Bob Sargent Track Phone: (217) 443-6588 Track Website: http://www.vermilioncountyspeedway.net Gates Open: Pits 3:00 p.m., Main Gate 4:00 p.m. Prices: Grandstands - $25, Kids 12 & Under - FREE, Pit Passes - $30, NO ENTRY FEE Race Times: Qualifying 6:30 p.m., Racing 7:00 p.m. Divisions Competing: U.M.P. Super Late Models, U.M.P. Modifieds, U.M.P. Street Stocks, Pure Stocks Past U.M.P. Tri-Track Challenge Highlights 2005 Segment #1 Vermilion Co. Speedway, Danville, IL Fast Qualifier: Dennis Erb, Jr. (IL) Dash Winner: Dennis Erb, Jr. (IL) Heat Winners: Roger Long (IL) and Michael Bradley (IL) Feature Top-5: Shannon Babb (IL), Darren Miller (IL), Kevin Weaver (IL), Brady Smith (WI) and Jimmy Mars (WI) Segment #2 - I-55 Raceway, Pevely, MO Fast Qualifier: John Vandenberg (IA) Dash Winner: Billy Drake (IL) Heat Winners: Shannon Babb (IL), Billy Faust (IL) and Jeep Van Wormer (MI) Consi Winner: Jim Shereck (MO) Feature Top-5: Jimmy Mars (WI), Darren Miller (IL), Shannon Babb (IL), Jeep Van Wormer (MI) and Billy Faust (IL) Segment #3 Tri-State Speedway, Haubstadt, IN Fast Qualifier: Don OıNeal (IN) Dash Winner: Don OıNeal (IN) Heat Winners: Randy Korte (IL) and Rodney Melvin (IL) Feature Top-5: Don OıNeal (IN), Dennis Erb, Jr. (IL), Darren Miller (IL), Jimmy Mars (WI) and Rodney Melvin (IL) 2003-2005 Tri-Track Challenge Feature Winners Shannon Babb = 5 (3 2003, 1 2004, 1 2005) Don OıNeal = 2 (1 2004, 1 2005) Billy Moyer = 1 (1 2004) Jimmy Mars = 1 (1 2005) $10,000 Bonus Winner(s) Shannon Babb (2003)