By Michael Despain
-The 24th edition of Carl Short's Dirt Track World Championship is being held at for the third consecutive season at Bluegrass Speedway in Bardstown, KY on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, October 14, 15, and 16. The ½ mile race track, which is owned by Charles Hamilton, is in its tenth year of operation and is currently in its fifth season under the promotional reigns of David and Anita Ferrell of Junction City, KY, who have been in the track promoting business for over 19 years. They have formerly promoted Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, KY and Lake Cumberland Speedway in Burnside, KY.
-For the first time in the history of this prestigious event, all racing activities are scheduled to take place "under the lights" at night. Also, the three-day format to accommodate all the racing scheduled for the weekend is first for the DTWC event as well.
-Previous editions of the Dirt Track World Championship have taken place at Pennsboro Speedway in Pennsboro, WV, West Virginia Motor Speedway in Mineral Wells, WV, and at Thunder Ridge Entertainment Complex in Prestonsburg, KY.
-The DTWC is the second highest paying to win Dirt Late Model event in the United States in 2004, playing second fiddle only to the Dream 100 that pays $100,000 to win and is contested at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, OH.
-When Bluegrass Speedway first opened in 1995, it was a 3/8 mile facility that saw Johnny Wheeler of Campbellsville, KY win the first ever Late Model feature at the Nelson County track. The track was expanded to its current ½ mile status in 1996.
-The Nelson County and Bardstown area is blessed with a cornucopia of sites and attractions such as My Old Kentucky Home, The Stephen Foster Story, Makers Mark Distillery, The Kentucky Railway Museum in New Haven, Jim Beam's American Outpost, My Old Kentucky Dinner Train, Old Bardstown Village, Old Talbott Tavern, Heaven Hill Distillery, and the Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest in Clermont.
-There were seven driver that made their first DTWC start in 2003. That group of drivers included Scott James, Mike Marlar, Bryan Barber, Matt Miller, Denny Eckrich, Joey Kramer, and Shane Clanton.
-There have been a total of 203 different drivers make the Dirt Track World Championship feature event.
-The late Jim Dunn of Zanesville, OH will forever be remembered for his miracle "come from behind" win in the inaugural DTWC event in 1981. He tried to leave the track that afternoon and his tow vehicle would not start, keeping Dunn there and not allowing him to drive away from a dream. Dunn started 23rd in the event, coming out of the last chance consy event. Dunn would pass Rodney Combs late in the event to take a record paying $30,000 to win payday. Combs would later go on to race in the NASCAR Busch and Winston Cup Series.
-Also in 1981, the late Neil Bonnett of Hueytown, AL, who raced and who in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, competed in the DTWC and finished 18th on the day.
-Ashland, KY driver Charlie Swartz won the 2nd DTWC in 1982 with his radically designed "Wedge" Bullitt Chassis Late Model, setting off the "wedge craze" that would dominate Dirt Late Model racing in 1983.
-Then Kings Mountain, NC native Freddy Smith won the first of his record five DTWC events in 1983, would become the first repeat winner in 1985, the first three-time champion in 1991, the first four-time winner in 1993, and became the only five-time winner in 1998 at Thunder Ridge in Prestonsburg. Now residing in Seymour, TN, the driver known as "The Southern Gentleman" has also finished second in the DTWC event on three other occasions and has made 22 of the previous 23 DTWC events, missing out for the first time one year ago in 2003 when he suffered a flat tire in a B-Main.
-The late "Black Jack" Boggs won the first of his three DTWC events in 1984. The Grayson, KY native would win again in 1990, and picked up his third DTWC during his domination of Dirt Late Model racing in the second half of the 1995 season. Boggs would make a total of 17 DTWC events.
-The 1984 event would see another Winston Cup driver try his hand on the dirt as three-time Winston Cup Series National Champion Cale Yarborough of Spartenburg, SC would race in the event and garner a 12th place finish.
-Batesville, AK resident Billy Moyer, Jr. would pick up the first of his two DTWC wins in 1986. "Mr. Smooth" would return to victory lane in the DTWC again ten years later in 1996.
-In 1986, another person with Winston Cup and ARCA Series ties would race in the DTWC as Midwest native Dale Fischlein would finish 22nd in the event. Fischlein would go on to do some ARCA racing as well as serving as crew chief for Dave Marcis at Marcis Racing in the Winston Cup Series.
-Dirt Late Model Hall-of-Famer Larry Moore picked up the 1987 victory in what was the 7th edition of the DTWC. Georgia's Jack Pennington, who would race some NASCAR Busch and Winston Cup events, would finish 10th in that event, and would also make the race again in 1996 and 1997.
-Dresden, OH racer Donnie Moran would score his first DTWC win at a cold and blustery 1988 edition of the DTWC. The "Million Dollar Man" has made a total of 17 DTWC events, tying for second on the all-time list with the late Jack Boggs.
-Former STARS national champion "Racin" John Mason of Millersburg, OH would take his only win so far in the DTWC in 1989 by defeating the likes of Charlie Swartz, Donnie Moran, Billy Moyer, Jr., and Larry Moore. The quartet that Mason beat on that day have amassed a total of 13 World 100 victories.
-The 1989 event would also mark one of the last regular appearances on dirt for Dirt Late Model Hall of Famer Jeff Purvis of Clarksville, TN. The "Blue Eyed Wonder" would make the race in 1983, 1986, 1987, and 1988, but was never able to record a win in the event. Purvis has went to a successful career of racing in both the NASCAR Winston Cup and Busch Series divisions.
-It would be a "Flash" in victory lane in 1992 as the "Chattanooga Flash" Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN would score the first of two DTWC wins. The son of 1960 World 600 at Charlotte winner and former Cleveland (TN) Speedway track promoter Joe Lee Johnson would win the event again in the 1994 edition of the race.
-Dalton, GA driver Marshall Green would nurse home a smoking mount in 1997 to take his first-ever DTWC win and what is still the biggest win in the career of the driver known as "The Lawman", who is also a former Southern All-Stars national champion.
-The Kentucky Colonel, Steve Francis of Ashland, KY, picked up his first-ever DTWC victory in the 1999 event, that was held for the very first time at West Virginia Motor Speedway in Mineral Wells, WV.
-Better known in the racing circles as "The Little Man", Wendell Wallace of Batesville, AK was the Y2K winner of the DTWC, the first DTWC of the 21st century. Wallace's win in the race also came at West Virginia Motor Speedway.
-The DTWC would return to Pennsboro Speedway in Pennsboro, WV in 2001 and second generation star Bart Hartman of Zanesville, OH would pick up the biggest win of his racing career with the win in the event and is also the defending DTWC champion. Hartman's win came aboard a Tim Logan-owned Rocket Chassis, under the watchful eye of "The People's Crew Chief", Jimmy Frey.
-The 2K2 edition of the DTWC rolled into Bluegrass Speedway in Bardstown, KY for the very first time and after events were rained out on Saturday, everything was done on Sunday and when all was said and done, Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Illinois earned the biggest win of his career to date by leading all 100 laps and holding off hard-charging "Petroff Posse" teammate Billy Moyer to take the win. The event was historic as it was one of the largest single-day paying events in the history of United States short track racing and it was also the first time the DTWC 100 lap main event has been contested at night under the lights.
-The 2003 DTWC saw Union, KY driver Darrell Lanigan become the first driver to win the Dream and DTWC in the same seasons, claiming the two highest paying to win Late Model dirt track event in America in 2003. Lanigan would scoot by Rick Eckert with around 30 laps remaining and stave off the hard-charging Dan Schlieper to grab his fourth win of the season at Bluegrass Speedway in 2003. As a sidenote to the 2003 DTWC, 14 year-old Chase Austin of Eudora, KS won the first ever fDTWC (Future Dirt Track World Championship) event for racers under the age of 19 years of age. Austin was recently signed up by Hendrick Motorsports of NASCAR fame to its driver development program and will be looking to go ASA (American Speed Association) racing in 2005.
Drivers That Have Made 8 or More DTWC Events
1. Freddy Smith- 22 (1981-2002)
2. Jack Boggs- 17 (1981-1993, 1995-1998)
3. Donnie Moran- 17 (1981-1983, 1986-1996, 1999-2001)
4. Scott Bloomquist- 16 (1987-1990, 1992-2003)
5. Billy Moyer, Jr.- 16 (1986-1996, 1998-2002)
6. Mike Balzano- 15 (1985-1986, 1988-1997, 1999-2001)
7. Larry Moore- 15 (1981-1995)
8. Charlie Swartz- 15 (1981-1983, 1985-1993, 1995-1996, 1998)
9. Davey Johnson- 13 (1987-1989, 1991-1997, 1999-2001)
10. John Mason- 12 (1982-1991, 1993, 2000)
11. Gary Stuhler- 12 (1984, 1986, 1988, 1990-1991, 1993-1997, 1999-2000)
12. Rick Eckert- 11 (1991-1997, 1999-2001, 2003)
13. Steve Francis- 11 (1987, 1989, 1992, 1994-1997, 1999-2001, 2003)
14. Lynn Geisler- 10 (1981-1985, 1989-1990, 1993-1994, 2001)
15. Rodney Combs- 10 (1981-1983, 1985-1986, 1988-1989, 1991-1992, 2003)
16. Wendell Wallace- 10 (1991, 1995-2003)
17. Ronnie Johnson- 9 (1990-1995, 1997- 1998, 2000)
18. Denny Chamberlain- 8 (1985, 1988, 1990, 1992-1993, 1995-1996, 1998)
19. Bob Pierce- 9 (1984, 1987, 1990, 1992-1993, 1996, 1999-2000, 2002)
The Previous Dirt Track World Championship Feature Finishes
1981- Jim Dunn, Rodney Combs, Doug Kenimer, Donnie Moran, Charlie Swartz, Jack Boggs, Steve Kosiski, Pat Patrick, Buck Simmons, Bob Wearing Sr., Mike Duvall, Gene McNeely, Kevin Gundaker, Frank Wilson, Danny Dean, Freddy Smith, Wally Heminger, Neil Bonnett, Craig Spetman, Ray Godsey, Lynn Geisler, Larry Moore, Leon Archer, Ken Walton, David Speer, Don Seaborn, Gary Henry, R.D. Jones
1982- Charlie Swartz, Jerry Inmon, John Mason, Steve Kosiski, Mike Duvall, Russ Petro, Lynn Geisler, Freddy Smith, Don Hobbs, Pat Patrick, Eddie Carrier Sr., Jack Boggs, Rodney Combs, Chuck McWilliams, Jim Dunn, Jim Curry, Jim Hunt, Rick Ren, Donnie Moran, Mike Chisholm, Blackie Watt, Fred Stube, Doug Kenimer, Bob Wearing Sr., Larry Phillips, Tom Harshman, Doug Hauserman, Larry Moore
1983- Freddy Smith, Pat Patrick, Rodney Combs, Russ Petro, Donnie Moran, John Mason, Fulmer Lance, Jim Hunt, Lynn Geisler, Gary Balough, Dave Hess, Chuck McWilliams, Jimmie Roan, Gerald Dixon, Joe Kosiski, Jeff Purvis, Gene Ferrell, Charlie Swartz, Larry Phillips, Jack Boggs, David Speer, Buck Simmons, Delmas Conley, Larry Moore, Dusty Chapman, Johnny Johnson, Kenny Brightbill, Jerry Inmon
1984- Jack Boggs, Larry Moore, Rodney Franklin, Larry Phillips, Gary Stuhler, Buck Simmons, Leon Sells, Bob Wearing Sr., John Mason, Tommy Joe Pauschert, Freddy Smith, Cale Yarborough, Bubby James, David Speer, Bob Pierce, Jesse Meadows, Jim Vandenburg, Kenny Brightbill, Mike Smith, Glenn Taylor, Tom Helfrich, Paul Shafer, Norm Benning Jr., Fulmer Lance, Lynn Geisler, Kenny Simpson, Doug Osteen, James Powell III, Pat Patrick, Jimmie Roan, C.L. Pritchett
1985- Freddy Smith, Dick Potts, Rodney Combs, Lynn Geisler, Jack Hewitt, Denny Chamberlain, Tom Peck, Willy Kraft, Stan Lasley, John Mason, Larry Moore, Joel Wood, Pat Patrick, Joe Kosiski, Jimmy Allen, Tom Clise, Charlie Swartz, Jack Boggs, Mike Duvall, Russ Petro, Buck Simmons, Noel Witcher, Ray Godsey, Larry Phillips, Mike Balzano, Steve Barnett, Jimmie Roan, Mark Banal
1986- Billy Moyer Jr., Willy Kraft, Jeff Purvis, Gary Stuhler, Freddy Smith, Mike Duvall, Buck Simmons, Larry Moore, Donnie Moran, Randy Boggs, Bob Wearing Sr., Steve Baker, Roy Miller, Ray Guss Jr., Mark Banal, John Mason, Tom Hearst, Paul Davis, Rodney Franklin, Bob Adams Jr., Mike Balzano, Dale Fischlein, Tye Long, Harold Redman, Ben Hess, Mike Smith, Rick Egersdorf, Charlie Swartz, Rodney Combs, Jack Boggs
1987- Larry Moore, Freddy Smith, Charlie Swartz, Donnie Moran, Billy Moyer Jr., Davey Johnson, John Mason, Randy Boggs, Delmas Conley, Jack Pennington, Tom Helfrich, B.A. Malcuit, Jerry Inmon, Dick Potts, Wade Knowles, Bob Pierce, Jack Boggs, Steve Kosiski, Steve Francis, Ed Gibbons, Jeff Purvis, Earl Smith, John Holt, Jack Hewitt, Tom Ursy, Scott Bloomquist
1988- Donnie Moran, Gary Stuhler, Davey Johnson, Mike Balzano, Ed Gibbons, Billy Moyer Jr., Steve Baker, Steve Kososki, Jack Boggs, Rodney Combs, Ed Ferree, John Mason, C.J. Rayburn, Denny Chamberlain, Rick Aukland, Rick Egersdorf, Willy Kraft, Larry Moore, Wade Knowles, Freddy Smith, Bob Wearing Sr., Jeff Purvis, Charlie Swartz, Scott Bloomquist, Randy Boggs, Brad Malcuit
1989- John Mason, Charlie Swartz, Donnie Moran, Billy Moyer Jr., Larry Moore, Dick Barton, Larry Phillips, Mike Balzano, Rodney Combs, Bob Hershman, Don Gross, Todd Andrews, Nathan Durburaw, Steve Baker, Joe Meadows, Davey Johnson, Ron Davies, Scott Bloomquist, Mike Smith, Freddy Smith, Rodney Franklin, Steve Francis, Tim Newman, Booper Bare, John Gill, Lynn Geisler, Jack Boggs
1990- Jack Boggs, Buck Simmons, Freddy Smith, Charlie Swartz, Lynn Geisler, Eddie Carrier Sr., Brad Malcuit, Ron Davies, Gary Stuhler, Paul Davis, Donnie Moran, Larry Moore, Mike Balzano, Mark Banal, Dick Barton, Denny Chamberlain, Bob Pierce, Billy Moyer Jr., Steve Smith, Bruce Hordusky, Scott Bloomquist, John Mason, Harold Redman, Ronnie Johnson, Nathan Durburaw, John Gill, Bob Wearing, Sr.
1991- Freddy Smith, Billy Moyer Jr., Rex Richey, Rodney Combs, Donnie Moran, John Mason, Larry Moore, Ed Basey, Bob Wearing Sr, Charlie Swartz, Nathan Durboraw, Wade Knowles, Tom Helfrich, Gary Stuhler, Ed Gibbons, Mike Duvall, Davey Johnson, Wendell Wallace, Bill Frye, Steve Kosiski, Delmas Conley, Jack Boggs, Bob Wearing Jr, Craig Briggs, Rick Eckert, Mike Balzano, Darrell Lanigan, Ronnie Johnson
1992- Ronnie Johnson, Freddy Smith, Donnie Moran, Chub Frank, Billy Moyer Jr., Larry Moore, Paul Harris, Steve Francis, Rodney Franklin, Denny Chamberlain, Rodney Combs, Mike Duvall, Mike Balzano, Booper Bare, Johnny Johnson, Darrell Lanigan, Rick Eckert, Mike Smith, Scott Bloomquist, Jack Boggs, Charlie Swartz, Bob Pierce, Rex Richey, Mike Johnson, Davey Johnson, Ed Gibbons
1993- Freddy Smith, Chub Frank, Jack Boggs, Davey Johnson, Lynn Geisler, Gary Stuhler, Nathan Durburaw, Rick Eckert, Bill Frye, John Mason, Booper Bare, Mark Banal, Donnie Moran, Larry Moore, Steve Barnett, Steve Shaver, John Gill, Kevin Claycomb, Scott Bloomquist, Charlie Swartz, Bob Pierce, Kevin Weaver, Aaron Scott, Billy Moyer Jr., Ronnie Johnson, Denny Chamberlain, Mike Balzano, Don O'Neal
1994- Ronnie Johnson, Davey Johnson, Freddy Smith, Donnie Moran, Nathan Durboraw, Tim Hitt, Gary Stuhler, Don O'Neal, Steve Francis, Randle Chupp, Bob Salathe, Chub Frank, Billy Moyer Jr., Booper Bare, Larry Moore, Doug Hall, Bill Frye, Scott Bloomquist, Bart Hartman, Lynn Geisler, Mike Balzano, Steve Baker, John Gill, Rick Eckert, Johnny Stokes, Rodney Franklin
1995- Jack Boggs, Donnie Moran, Larry Moore, Gary Stuhler, Billy Moyer Jr., Tim Hitt, Rick Aukland, Mike Balzano, Todd Andrews, Rick Eckert, Denny Chamberlain, Ronnie Johnson, Steve Baker, Mike Smith, Bill Frye, Steve Francis, Bart Hartman, Freddy Smith, John Gill, Nathan Durboraw, Don O'Neal, Dave Groves, Scott Bloomquist, Mike Johnson, Davey Johnson, Charlie Swartz, Wendell Wallace
1996- Billy Moyer Jr., Rick Eckert, Davey Johnson, Freddy Smith, Wendell Wallace, Gary Stuhler, Denny Chamberlain, Scott Bloomquist, Tim Hitt, Rick Aukland, Mike Balzano, Jack Pennington, Rex Richey, Bob Salathe, Mike Johnson, Donnie Moran, C.S. Fitzgerald, Todd Andrews, Steve Shaver, Jack Boggs, Steve Francis, Charlie Swartz, C.J. Rayburn, Billy Hicks, Bob Pierce, Steve Lucas, Jackie Boggs, Doug Dodd
1997- Marshall Green, Freddy Smith, Todd Andrews, Wendell Wallace, Skip Arp, Scott Bloomquist, Jeff Smith, Mike Duvall, Jack Boggs, Rick Eckert, Tim Hitt, Paul Harris, Jackie Boggs, Mike Johnson, Bill Frye, R.J. Conley, Bart Hartman, Davey Johnson, Harold Redman, Steve Baker, Jack Pennington, Ronnie Johnson, Wade Knowles, Steve Francis, Johnny Virden, C.S. Fitzgerald, Mike Balzano, Gary Stuhler
1998- Freddy Smith, Dan Schlieper, Billy Moyer Jr., Tony Izzo Jr., Marshall Green, Dale McDowell, Eddie Carrier Sr., Paul Davis, Mike Boland, Eddie Carrier Jr., Al Atkinson, Charlie Swartz, Chub Frank, Paul Harris, Jim Curry, Jackie Boggs, Brandon Kinzer, Denny Chamberlain, Jeff Smith, Ronnie Johnson, Scott Bloomquist, David Dixon, Frank Heckenast, Delmas Conley, Jack Boggs, Skip Arp, Steve Barnett, Wendell Wallace, Dennis Erb, Eddie Rickman
1999- Steve Francis, Wendell Wallace, Donnie Moran, Rick Eckert, Freddy Smith, Billy Moyer, Scott Bloomquist, Skip Arp, R.J. Conley, Bob Pierce, Todd Andrews, Rick Aukland, Clint Smith, Mike Balzano, Ed Ferree, Jackie Boggs, Gary Webb, Al Atkinson, Steve Shaver, Tim Hitt, Chub Frank, C.S. Fitzgerald, Marshall Green, Rob House, Davey Johnson, Shannon Babb, Bart Hartman, Bill Frye, Darrell Lanigan, Mark Banal, Dale McDowell, Don O'Neal, Jackie Boggs, Brian Birkhofer, Booper Bare, Gary Stuhler
2000- Wendell Wallace, Brian Birkhofer, Davey Johnson, Scott Bloomquist, Jackie Boggs, Rick Aukland, Jeep Van Wormer, John Mason, Darrell Lanigan, Billy Hicks, Mike Smith, Freddy Smith, R.J. Conley, Mark Banal, Gary Stuhler, Steve Lucas, Steve Francis, Duayne Hommel, Ray Cook, Steve Shaver, Dan Schlieper, John Gill, Rick Eckert, Ronnie Johnson, Thomas Ware, Billy Moyer Jr., Bob Pierce, C.S. Fitzgerald, Tim Hitt, Bart Hartman, Jeremy Miller, Donnie Moran, Mike Balzano
2001- Bart Hartman, Scott Bloomquist, Chub Frank, Wendell Wallace, Steve Lucas, Brian Birkhofer, Shannon Babb, Rick Eckert, Mike Balzano, Steve Francis, Dan Schlieper, Booper Bare, Jackie Boggs, Scott Cross, Clint Coffman, Rod Conley, Mark Banal, Johnny Johnson, Freddy Smith, Ray Cook, Skip Arp, Donnie Moran, Steve Russell, Ryan Markham, Davey Johnson, Billy Moyer Jr., Rob House, Marshall Green, Lynn Geisler, Jimmy Mars
2002- Shannon Babb, Billy Moyer, Dale McDowell, Freddy Smith, Scott Bloomquist, Don O'Neal, Darrell Lanigan, Ray Cook, Rick Corbin, Wendell Wallace, Steve Barnett, Bob Pierce, Whitney McQueary, Terry English, Steve Smith, Dan Schlieper, Mike Jewell, Jerry Rice, Brad Neat, Justin Fegers, Shawn Negangard, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Kevin Weaver, Mark Barber, Steve Landrum, Randle Chupp
2003- Darrell Lanigan, Dan Schlieper, Steve Francis, Scott Bloomquist, Rod Conley, Brian Birkhofer, Mike Jewell, Jeff Smith, Jimmy Mars, Scott James, Ray Cook, Mike Marlar, Wendell Wallace, Steve Shaver, Rick Eckert, Rick Corbin, R.J. Conley, Rodney Combs, Jerry Rice, Rick Aukland, Bryan Barber, Matt Miller, Denny Eckrich, Joey Kramer, Shannon Babb, Shane Clanton, Tim Hitt (2003 fDTWC- Chase Austin, Justin Allgaier, Chad Smith, Zach Carney, Michael Chilton, Kevin Waddell, Todd Hunt, Will Vaught, Matt Henderson, Sara Maloney, Josh Richards, Cody Mahoney, Harry Cadmus, Christian Rayburn)
-The 24th edition of Carl Short's Dirt Track World Championship is being held at for the third consecutive season at Bluegrass Speedway in Bardstown, KY on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, October 14, 15, and 16. The ½ mile race track, which is owned by Charles Hamilton, is in its tenth year of operation and is currently in its fifth season under the promotional reigns of David and Anita Ferrell of Junction City, KY, who have been in the track promoting business for over 19 years. They have formerly promoted Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, KY and Lake Cumberland Speedway in Burnside, KY.
-For the first time in the history of this prestigious event, all racing activities are scheduled to take place "under the lights" at night. Also, the three-day format to accommodate all the racing scheduled for the weekend is first for the DTWC event as well.
-Previous editions of the Dirt Track World Championship have taken place at Pennsboro Speedway in Pennsboro, WV, West Virginia Motor Speedway in Mineral Wells, WV, and at Thunder Ridge Entertainment Complex in Prestonsburg, KY.
-The DTWC is the second highest paying to win Dirt Late Model event in the United States in 2004, playing second fiddle only to the Dream 100 that pays $100,000 to win and is contested at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, OH.
-When Bluegrass Speedway first opened in 1995, it was a 3/8 mile facility that saw Johnny Wheeler of Campbellsville, KY win the first ever Late Model feature at the Nelson County track. The track was expanded to its current ½ mile status in 1996.
-The Nelson County and Bardstown area is blessed with a cornucopia of sites and attractions such as My Old Kentucky Home, The Stephen Foster Story, Makers Mark Distillery, The Kentucky Railway Museum in New Haven, Jim Beam's American Outpost, My Old Kentucky Dinner Train, Old Bardstown Village, Old Talbott Tavern, Heaven Hill Distillery, and the Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest in Clermont.
-There were seven driver that made their first DTWC start in 2003. That group of drivers included Scott James, Mike Marlar, Bryan Barber, Matt Miller, Denny Eckrich, Joey Kramer, and Shane Clanton.
-There have been a total of 203 different drivers make the Dirt Track World Championship feature event.
-The late Jim Dunn of Zanesville, OH will forever be remembered for his miracle "come from behind" win in the inaugural DTWC event in 1981. He tried to leave the track that afternoon and his tow vehicle would not start, keeping Dunn there and not allowing him to drive away from a dream. Dunn started 23rd in the event, coming out of the last chance consy event. Dunn would pass Rodney Combs late in the event to take a record paying $30,000 to win payday. Combs would later go on to race in the NASCAR Busch and Winston Cup Series.
-Also in 1981, the late Neil Bonnett of Hueytown, AL, who raced and who in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, competed in the DTWC and finished 18th on the day.
-Ashland, KY driver Charlie Swartz won the 2nd DTWC in 1982 with his radically designed "Wedge" Bullitt Chassis Late Model, setting off the "wedge craze" that would dominate Dirt Late Model racing in 1983.
-Then Kings Mountain, NC native Freddy Smith won the first of his record five DTWC events in 1983, would become the first repeat winner in 1985, the first three-time champion in 1991, the first four-time winner in 1993, and became the only five-time winner in 1998 at Thunder Ridge in Prestonsburg. Now residing in Seymour, TN, the driver known as "The Southern Gentleman" has also finished second in the DTWC event on three other occasions and has made 22 of the previous 23 DTWC events, missing out for the first time one year ago in 2003 when he suffered a flat tire in a B-Main.
-The late "Black Jack" Boggs won the first of his three DTWC events in 1984. The Grayson, KY native would win again in 1990, and picked up his third DTWC during his domination of Dirt Late Model racing in the second half of the 1995 season. Boggs would make a total of 17 DTWC events.
-The 1984 event would see another Winston Cup driver try his hand on the dirt as three-time Winston Cup Series National Champion Cale Yarborough of Spartenburg, SC would race in the event and garner a 12th place finish.
-Batesville, AK resident Billy Moyer, Jr. would pick up the first of his two DTWC wins in 1986. "Mr. Smooth" would return to victory lane in the DTWC again ten years later in 1996.
-In 1986, another person with Winston Cup and ARCA Series ties would race in the DTWC as Midwest native Dale Fischlein would finish 22nd in the event. Fischlein would go on to do some ARCA racing as well as serving as crew chief for Dave Marcis at Marcis Racing in the Winston Cup Series.
-Dirt Late Model Hall-of-Famer Larry Moore picked up the 1987 victory in what was the 7th edition of the DTWC. Georgia's Jack Pennington, who would race some NASCAR Busch and Winston Cup events, would finish 10th in that event, and would also make the race again in 1996 and 1997.
-Dresden, OH racer Donnie Moran would score his first DTWC win at a cold and blustery 1988 edition of the DTWC. The "Million Dollar Man" has made a total of 17 DTWC events, tying for second on the all-time list with the late Jack Boggs.
-Former STARS national champion "Racin" John Mason of Millersburg, OH would take his only win so far in the DTWC in 1989 by defeating the likes of Charlie Swartz, Donnie Moran, Billy Moyer, Jr., and Larry Moore. The quartet that Mason beat on that day have amassed a total of 13 World 100 victories.
-The 1989 event would also mark one of the last regular appearances on dirt for Dirt Late Model Hall of Famer Jeff Purvis of Clarksville, TN. The "Blue Eyed Wonder" would make the race in 1983, 1986, 1987, and 1988, but was never able to record a win in the event. Purvis has went to a successful career of racing in both the NASCAR Winston Cup and Busch Series divisions.
-It would be a "Flash" in victory lane in 1992 as the "Chattanooga Flash" Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN would score the first of two DTWC wins. The son of 1960 World 600 at Charlotte winner and former Cleveland (TN) Speedway track promoter Joe Lee Johnson would win the event again in the 1994 edition of the race.
-Dalton, GA driver Marshall Green would nurse home a smoking mount in 1997 to take his first-ever DTWC win and what is still the biggest win in the career of the driver known as "The Lawman", who is also a former Southern All-Stars national champion.
-The Kentucky Colonel, Steve Francis of Ashland, KY, picked up his first-ever DTWC victory in the 1999 event, that was held for the very first time at West Virginia Motor Speedway in Mineral Wells, WV.
-Better known in the racing circles as "The Little Man", Wendell Wallace of Batesville, AK was the Y2K winner of the DTWC, the first DTWC of the 21st century. Wallace's win in the race also came at West Virginia Motor Speedway.
-The DTWC would return to Pennsboro Speedway in Pennsboro, WV in 2001 and second generation star Bart Hartman of Zanesville, OH would pick up the biggest win of his racing career with the win in the event and is also the defending DTWC champion. Hartman's win came aboard a Tim Logan-owned Rocket Chassis, under the watchful eye of "The People's Crew Chief", Jimmy Frey.
-The 2K2 edition of the DTWC rolled into Bluegrass Speedway in Bardstown, KY for the very first time and after events were rained out on Saturday, everything was done on Sunday and when all was said and done, Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Illinois earned the biggest win of his career to date by leading all 100 laps and holding off hard-charging "Petroff Posse" teammate Billy Moyer to take the win. The event was historic as it was one of the largest single-day paying events in the history of United States short track racing and it was also the first time the DTWC 100 lap main event has been contested at night under the lights.
-The 2003 DTWC saw Union, KY driver Darrell Lanigan become the first driver to win the Dream and DTWC in the same seasons, claiming the two highest paying to win Late Model dirt track event in America in 2003. Lanigan would scoot by Rick Eckert with around 30 laps remaining and stave off the hard-charging Dan Schlieper to grab his fourth win of the season at Bluegrass Speedway in 2003. As a sidenote to the 2003 DTWC, 14 year-old Chase Austin of Eudora, KS won the first ever fDTWC (Future Dirt Track World Championship) event for racers under the age of 19 years of age. Austin was recently signed up by Hendrick Motorsports of NASCAR fame to its driver development program and will be looking to go ASA (American Speed Association) racing in 2005.
Drivers That Have Made 8 or More DTWC Events
1. Freddy Smith- 22 (1981-2002)
2. Jack Boggs- 17 (1981-1993, 1995-1998)
3. Donnie Moran- 17 (1981-1983, 1986-1996, 1999-2001)
4. Scott Bloomquist- 16 (1987-1990, 1992-2003)
5. Billy Moyer, Jr.- 16 (1986-1996, 1998-2002)
6. Mike Balzano- 15 (1985-1986, 1988-1997, 1999-2001)
7. Larry Moore- 15 (1981-1995)
8. Charlie Swartz- 15 (1981-1983, 1985-1993, 1995-1996, 1998)
9. Davey Johnson- 13 (1987-1989, 1991-1997, 1999-2001)
10. John Mason- 12 (1982-1991, 1993, 2000)
11. Gary Stuhler- 12 (1984, 1986, 1988, 1990-1991, 1993-1997, 1999-2000)
12. Rick Eckert- 11 (1991-1997, 1999-2001, 2003)
13. Steve Francis- 11 (1987, 1989, 1992, 1994-1997, 1999-2001, 2003)
14. Lynn Geisler- 10 (1981-1985, 1989-1990, 1993-1994, 2001)
15. Rodney Combs- 10 (1981-1983, 1985-1986, 1988-1989, 1991-1992, 2003)
16. Wendell Wallace- 10 (1991, 1995-2003)
17. Ronnie Johnson- 9 (1990-1995, 1997- 1998, 2000)
18. Denny Chamberlain- 8 (1985, 1988, 1990, 1992-1993, 1995-1996, 1998)
19. Bob Pierce- 9 (1984, 1987, 1990, 1992-1993, 1996, 1999-2000, 2002)
The Previous Dirt Track World Championship Feature Finishes
1981- Jim Dunn, Rodney Combs, Doug Kenimer, Donnie Moran, Charlie Swartz, Jack Boggs, Steve Kosiski, Pat Patrick, Buck Simmons, Bob Wearing Sr., Mike Duvall, Gene McNeely, Kevin Gundaker, Frank Wilson, Danny Dean, Freddy Smith, Wally Heminger, Neil Bonnett, Craig Spetman, Ray Godsey, Lynn Geisler, Larry Moore, Leon Archer, Ken Walton, David Speer, Don Seaborn, Gary Henry, R.D. Jones
1982- Charlie Swartz, Jerry Inmon, John Mason, Steve Kosiski, Mike Duvall, Russ Petro, Lynn Geisler, Freddy Smith, Don Hobbs, Pat Patrick, Eddie Carrier Sr., Jack Boggs, Rodney Combs, Chuck McWilliams, Jim Dunn, Jim Curry, Jim Hunt, Rick Ren, Donnie Moran, Mike Chisholm, Blackie Watt, Fred Stube, Doug Kenimer, Bob Wearing Sr., Larry Phillips, Tom Harshman, Doug Hauserman, Larry Moore
1983- Freddy Smith, Pat Patrick, Rodney Combs, Russ Petro, Donnie Moran, John Mason, Fulmer Lance, Jim Hunt, Lynn Geisler, Gary Balough, Dave Hess, Chuck McWilliams, Jimmie Roan, Gerald Dixon, Joe Kosiski, Jeff Purvis, Gene Ferrell, Charlie Swartz, Larry Phillips, Jack Boggs, David Speer, Buck Simmons, Delmas Conley, Larry Moore, Dusty Chapman, Johnny Johnson, Kenny Brightbill, Jerry Inmon
1984- Jack Boggs, Larry Moore, Rodney Franklin, Larry Phillips, Gary Stuhler, Buck Simmons, Leon Sells, Bob Wearing Sr., John Mason, Tommy Joe Pauschert, Freddy Smith, Cale Yarborough, Bubby James, David Speer, Bob Pierce, Jesse Meadows, Jim Vandenburg, Kenny Brightbill, Mike Smith, Glenn Taylor, Tom Helfrich, Paul Shafer, Norm Benning Jr., Fulmer Lance, Lynn Geisler, Kenny Simpson, Doug Osteen, James Powell III, Pat Patrick, Jimmie Roan, C.L. Pritchett
1985- Freddy Smith, Dick Potts, Rodney Combs, Lynn Geisler, Jack Hewitt, Denny Chamberlain, Tom Peck, Willy Kraft, Stan Lasley, John Mason, Larry Moore, Joel Wood, Pat Patrick, Joe Kosiski, Jimmy Allen, Tom Clise, Charlie Swartz, Jack Boggs, Mike Duvall, Russ Petro, Buck Simmons, Noel Witcher, Ray Godsey, Larry Phillips, Mike Balzano, Steve Barnett, Jimmie Roan, Mark Banal
1986- Billy Moyer Jr., Willy Kraft, Jeff Purvis, Gary Stuhler, Freddy Smith, Mike Duvall, Buck Simmons, Larry Moore, Donnie Moran, Randy Boggs, Bob Wearing Sr., Steve Baker, Roy Miller, Ray Guss Jr., Mark Banal, John Mason, Tom Hearst, Paul Davis, Rodney Franklin, Bob Adams Jr., Mike Balzano, Dale Fischlein, Tye Long, Harold Redman, Ben Hess, Mike Smith, Rick Egersdorf, Charlie Swartz, Rodney Combs, Jack Boggs
1987- Larry Moore, Freddy Smith, Charlie Swartz, Donnie Moran, Billy Moyer Jr., Davey Johnson, John Mason, Randy Boggs, Delmas Conley, Jack Pennington, Tom Helfrich, B.A. Malcuit, Jerry Inmon, Dick Potts, Wade Knowles, Bob Pierce, Jack Boggs, Steve Kosiski, Steve Francis, Ed Gibbons, Jeff Purvis, Earl Smith, John Holt, Jack Hewitt, Tom Ursy, Scott Bloomquist
1988- Donnie Moran, Gary Stuhler, Davey Johnson, Mike Balzano, Ed Gibbons, Billy Moyer Jr., Steve Baker, Steve Kososki, Jack Boggs, Rodney Combs, Ed Ferree, John Mason, C.J. Rayburn, Denny Chamberlain, Rick Aukland, Rick Egersdorf, Willy Kraft, Larry Moore, Wade Knowles, Freddy Smith, Bob Wearing Sr., Jeff Purvis, Charlie Swartz, Scott Bloomquist, Randy Boggs, Brad Malcuit
1989- John Mason, Charlie Swartz, Donnie Moran, Billy Moyer Jr., Larry Moore, Dick Barton, Larry Phillips, Mike Balzano, Rodney Combs, Bob Hershman, Don Gross, Todd Andrews, Nathan Durburaw, Steve Baker, Joe Meadows, Davey Johnson, Ron Davies, Scott Bloomquist, Mike Smith, Freddy Smith, Rodney Franklin, Steve Francis, Tim Newman, Booper Bare, John Gill, Lynn Geisler, Jack Boggs
1990- Jack Boggs, Buck Simmons, Freddy Smith, Charlie Swartz, Lynn Geisler, Eddie Carrier Sr., Brad Malcuit, Ron Davies, Gary Stuhler, Paul Davis, Donnie Moran, Larry Moore, Mike Balzano, Mark Banal, Dick Barton, Denny Chamberlain, Bob Pierce, Billy Moyer Jr., Steve Smith, Bruce Hordusky, Scott Bloomquist, John Mason, Harold Redman, Ronnie Johnson, Nathan Durburaw, John Gill, Bob Wearing, Sr.
1991- Freddy Smith, Billy Moyer Jr., Rex Richey, Rodney Combs, Donnie Moran, John Mason, Larry Moore, Ed Basey, Bob Wearing Sr, Charlie Swartz, Nathan Durboraw, Wade Knowles, Tom Helfrich, Gary Stuhler, Ed Gibbons, Mike Duvall, Davey Johnson, Wendell Wallace, Bill Frye, Steve Kosiski, Delmas Conley, Jack Boggs, Bob Wearing Jr, Craig Briggs, Rick Eckert, Mike Balzano, Darrell Lanigan, Ronnie Johnson
1992- Ronnie Johnson, Freddy Smith, Donnie Moran, Chub Frank, Billy Moyer Jr., Larry Moore, Paul Harris, Steve Francis, Rodney Franklin, Denny Chamberlain, Rodney Combs, Mike Duvall, Mike Balzano, Booper Bare, Johnny Johnson, Darrell Lanigan, Rick Eckert, Mike Smith, Scott Bloomquist, Jack Boggs, Charlie Swartz, Bob Pierce, Rex Richey, Mike Johnson, Davey Johnson, Ed Gibbons
1993- Freddy Smith, Chub Frank, Jack Boggs, Davey Johnson, Lynn Geisler, Gary Stuhler, Nathan Durburaw, Rick Eckert, Bill Frye, John Mason, Booper Bare, Mark Banal, Donnie Moran, Larry Moore, Steve Barnett, Steve Shaver, John Gill, Kevin Claycomb, Scott Bloomquist, Charlie Swartz, Bob Pierce, Kevin Weaver, Aaron Scott, Billy Moyer Jr., Ronnie Johnson, Denny Chamberlain, Mike Balzano, Don O'Neal
1994- Ronnie Johnson, Davey Johnson, Freddy Smith, Donnie Moran, Nathan Durboraw, Tim Hitt, Gary Stuhler, Don O'Neal, Steve Francis, Randle Chupp, Bob Salathe, Chub Frank, Billy Moyer Jr., Booper Bare, Larry Moore, Doug Hall, Bill Frye, Scott Bloomquist, Bart Hartman, Lynn Geisler, Mike Balzano, Steve Baker, John Gill, Rick Eckert, Johnny Stokes, Rodney Franklin
1995- Jack Boggs, Donnie Moran, Larry Moore, Gary Stuhler, Billy Moyer Jr., Tim Hitt, Rick Aukland, Mike Balzano, Todd Andrews, Rick Eckert, Denny Chamberlain, Ronnie Johnson, Steve Baker, Mike Smith, Bill Frye, Steve Francis, Bart Hartman, Freddy Smith, John Gill, Nathan Durboraw, Don O'Neal, Dave Groves, Scott Bloomquist, Mike Johnson, Davey Johnson, Charlie Swartz, Wendell Wallace
1996- Billy Moyer Jr., Rick Eckert, Davey Johnson, Freddy Smith, Wendell Wallace, Gary Stuhler, Denny Chamberlain, Scott Bloomquist, Tim Hitt, Rick Aukland, Mike Balzano, Jack Pennington, Rex Richey, Bob Salathe, Mike Johnson, Donnie Moran, C.S. Fitzgerald, Todd Andrews, Steve Shaver, Jack Boggs, Steve Francis, Charlie Swartz, C.J. Rayburn, Billy Hicks, Bob Pierce, Steve Lucas, Jackie Boggs, Doug Dodd
1997- Marshall Green, Freddy Smith, Todd Andrews, Wendell Wallace, Skip Arp, Scott Bloomquist, Jeff Smith, Mike Duvall, Jack Boggs, Rick Eckert, Tim Hitt, Paul Harris, Jackie Boggs, Mike Johnson, Bill Frye, R.J. Conley, Bart Hartman, Davey Johnson, Harold Redman, Steve Baker, Jack Pennington, Ronnie Johnson, Wade Knowles, Steve Francis, Johnny Virden, C.S. Fitzgerald, Mike Balzano, Gary Stuhler
1998- Freddy Smith, Dan Schlieper, Billy Moyer Jr., Tony Izzo Jr., Marshall Green, Dale McDowell, Eddie Carrier Sr., Paul Davis, Mike Boland, Eddie Carrier Jr., Al Atkinson, Charlie Swartz, Chub Frank, Paul Harris, Jim Curry, Jackie Boggs, Brandon Kinzer, Denny Chamberlain, Jeff Smith, Ronnie Johnson, Scott Bloomquist, David Dixon, Frank Heckenast, Delmas Conley, Jack Boggs, Skip Arp, Steve Barnett, Wendell Wallace, Dennis Erb, Eddie Rickman
1999- Steve Francis, Wendell Wallace, Donnie Moran, Rick Eckert, Freddy Smith, Billy Moyer, Scott Bloomquist, Skip Arp, R.J. Conley, Bob Pierce, Todd Andrews, Rick Aukland, Clint Smith, Mike Balzano, Ed Ferree, Jackie Boggs, Gary Webb, Al Atkinson, Steve Shaver, Tim Hitt, Chub Frank, C.S. Fitzgerald, Marshall Green, Rob House, Davey Johnson, Shannon Babb, Bart Hartman, Bill Frye, Darrell Lanigan, Mark Banal, Dale McDowell, Don O'Neal, Jackie Boggs, Brian Birkhofer, Booper Bare, Gary Stuhler
2000- Wendell Wallace, Brian Birkhofer, Davey Johnson, Scott Bloomquist, Jackie Boggs, Rick Aukland, Jeep Van Wormer, John Mason, Darrell Lanigan, Billy Hicks, Mike Smith, Freddy Smith, R.J. Conley, Mark Banal, Gary Stuhler, Steve Lucas, Steve Francis, Duayne Hommel, Ray Cook, Steve Shaver, Dan Schlieper, John Gill, Rick Eckert, Ronnie Johnson, Thomas Ware, Billy Moyer Jr., Bob Pierce, C.S. Fitzgerald, Tim Hitt, Bart Hartman, Jeremy Miller, Donnie Moran, Mike Balzano
2001- Bart Hartman, Scott Bloomquist, Chub Frank, Wendell Wallace, Steve Lucas, Brian Birkhofer, Shannon Babb, Rick Eckert, Mike Balzano, Steve Francis, Dan Schlieper, Booper Bare, Jackie Boggs, Scott Cross, Clint Coffman, Rod Conley, Mark Banal, Johnny Johnson, Freddy Smith, Ray Cook, Skip Arp, Donnie Moran, Steve Russell, Ryan Markham, Davey Johnson, Billy Moyer Jr., Rob House, Marshall Green, Lynn Geisler, Jimmy Mars
2002- Shannon Babb, Billy Moyer, Dale McDowell, Freddy Smith, Scott Bloomquist, Don O'Neal, Darrell Lanigan, Ray Cook, Rick Corbin, Wendell Wallace, Steve Barnett, Bob Pierce, Whitney McQueary, Terry English, Steve Smith, Dan Schlieper, Mike Jewell, Jerry Rice, Brad Neat, Justin Fegers, Shawn Negangard, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Kevin Weaver, Mark Barber, Steve Landrum, Randle Chupp
2003- Darrell Lanigan, Dan Schlieper, Steve Francis, Scott Bloomquist, Rod Conley, Brian Birkhofer, Mike Jewell, Jeff Smith, Jimmy Mars, Scott James, Ray Cook, Mike Marlar, Wendell Wallace, Steve Shaver, Rick Eckert, Rick Corbin, R.J. Conley, Rodney Combs, Jerry Rice, Rick Aukland, Bryan Barber, Matt Miller, Denny Eckrich, Joey Kramer, Shannon Babb, Shane Clanton, Tim Hitt (2003 fDTWC- Chase Austin, Justin Allgaier, Chad Smith, Zach Carney, Michael Chilton, Kevin Waddell, Todd Hunt, Will Vaught, Matt Henderson, Sara Maloney, Josh Richards, Cody Mahoney, Harry Cadmus, Christian Rayburn)
