(YORK, PENNSYLVANIA) The Rick Eckert Racing team returned home this week following a strong start to their 2012 season during “Speedweeks.” In all, Rick Eckert competed in ten Dirt Late Model events in Georgia and Florida from February 10-25, with six of those races sanctioned by the World of Outlaws Late Model Series. Rick was consistently fast throughout “Speedweeks” and accumulated one victory, four Top Five finishes, and seven Top Ten performances.

His big win came in WOOLMS action on Saturday, February 18 at the Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, Florida. Following a heat race victory, the York, Pennsylvania standout grabbed the top spot on lap 44 and survived a wild 60-lap race to claim the hefty $12,000 winner’s check over Josh Richards, Darrell Lanigan, Shane Clanton, and Pat Doar. Rick also claimed a podium finish in World of Outlaws competition during his season opener at the Screven Motor Speedway in Sylvania, Georgia when he finished a strong third in the $20,000 to win ‘Winter Freeze.’

Other strong runs for “Scrub” came early last week in the ‘UNOH DIRTcar Nationals’ at the Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Florida. Rick notched a third place effort in the $7,000 to win UMP opener at VSP, while he finished a solid fourth the next night at the Daytona Beach area speedplant. All of Rick’s results are posted below, but you can read a detailed race-by-race recap from Georgia and Florida by logging onto www.RickEckertRacing.com.

February 10-11 | Screven (GA) Motor Speedway, WoO | $20,000 to win (3rd)
February 16 | Bubba (FL) Raceway Park, WoO | $8,000 to win (10th)
February 17 | Bubba (FL) Raceway Park, WoO | $10,000 to win (11th)
February 18 | Bubba (FL) Raceway Park, WoO | $12,000 to win (1ST)
February 20 | Volusia (FL) Speedway Park, UMP | $7,000 to win (3rd)
February 21 | Volusia (FL) Speedway Park, UMP | $7,000 to win (4th)
February 22 | Volusia (FL) Speedway Park, UMP | $7,000 to win (Rain)
February 23 | Volusia (FL) Speedway Park, WoO | $10,000 to win (7th)
February 24 | Volusia (FL) Speedway Park, UMP | $7,000 to win (19th)
February 24 | Volusia (FL) Speedway Park, UMP | $10,000 to win (10th)
February 25 | Volusia (FL) Speedway Park, WoO | $10,000 to win (12th)

“It was a good trip for us and a nice way to start out our season,” exclaimed Eckert from his race shop this week. “That ($12,000) win at Ocala was definitely the highlight of our Speedweeks, but we had some other strong runs down there as well at Screven and Volusia. As far as World of Outlaws points go, you can’t win the championship down there, but you can come pretty close to losing it. Especially with six point races this year, it was critical to stay out of trouble and post some solid finishes. Fortunately, we were able to come out of Speedweeks fourth in points and that at least keeps us in contention to compete for another title.”

The #24 team is scheduled to take the better part of a month off from Dirt Late Model competition before entering the next World of Outlaws Late Model Series showdown on March 30-31 in the Land of Lincoln. The Farmer City Raceway in Farmer City, Illinois will play host to the annual ‘Illini 100’ at the end of the month and a whopping $20,000 payday is on the line. Rick will come into the 1/4-mile fairgrounds oval fourth in the WOOLMS point standings. Additional information on the ‘Illini 100’ can be viewed by clicking on www.WorldofOutlaws.com.

Rick would like to thank the following sponsors for their commitment to his race team: In Loving Memory of Raye Vest, J&K Salvage, Ritchey Sandblasting, Bloomquist Race Cars, Jay Dickens Racing Engines, Eckert Trucking, S&S Mobile Power Wash, Allstar Performance, Arizona Sport Shirts, Awesome Racewear, Bell Helmets, Beyea Headers, Callies, Comp Cams, Delph Communications, Dyer’s Top Rods, FK Rod Ends, Heintz Bros. Automotive, Hoosier Tire, Hypercoils, ISC Racers Tape, JC Dubil Race Parts, Next Level Racing Graphics, Ohlins Shocks, Performance Bodies, Petersen Aluminum, Peterson Fluid Systems, Quarter Master, Ringers Gloves, Schaeffer’s Racing Oil, Scott Performance Wire, Sunoco Race Fuels, Sweet Mfg., The Bolt Patrol, Tim Fitez Painting, Van Alstine Tire Groovers, Weld Racing Wheels, Wiles Driveshafts, and Winters Performance.

The latest dirt on “Scrub” Rick Eckert can be found online at his official website, located at www.RickEckertRacing.com.

Media Contact: Ryan Delph – Delph Communications
www.DelphCommunications.com