Colorado Springs, CO — February 8, 2005 — By WoO Late Model Series PR
WHAT: The Stacker 2® World of Outlaws Late Model Series launches its second season at the site of its inaugural event last year, Volusia Speedway Park.
WHERE: Volusia Speedway Park, Barberville, Fla. The track is 15 miles west of Ormond Beach. From I-95, take exit 88 west on State Rd. 40. From Highway 17, take State Rd 40, 5 miles east of Barberville.
WHEN: Racing begins at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Saturday, Feb. 17 and Feb. 19.
NEWS & NOTES
*Busy schedule: The 2005 racing season for the Stacker 2® World of Outlaws Late Model Series currently features 53 dates. The second season for the premiere late model sanctioning organization will see the “Dirty Dozen” visiting 37 speedways in 19 states.
*Bloomer blooms: Scott Bloomquist clinched the inaugural series championship on the final night of the 2004 season at Delta Bowl Speedway in Tunica, Miss.
*Mr. Second aims for the top: Steve Francis was the 2004 runner-up, but he started the season in Victory Lane on the series first night of racing.
*Doing double duty: Tim McCreadie joins the Dirty Dozen in 2005 after an incredible rookie season that saw him compete not only in the late model ranks for the first time, but also his customary DIRT Modified division. McCreadie was named the World of Outlaws Late Model Rookie of the Year.
*Kid Rocket-ing to the top: Josh Richards will take aim at the rookie title. Richards, 16, was so impressive in a limited role last season that even veteran teammate Bart Hartman agreed Richards should take over the Rocket Chassis house car. Richards is the son of Rocket president Mark Richards.
QUOTABLE
Scott Bloomquist
*On the development of the series: “I think everybody was looking at the potential for the series. I think everyone was just excited the possibilities. Inevitably, anytime you do something with people that you’re not familiar with or you’re not sure of their reputation, you’re going to have some insecurity about it, but overall I just think everybody had an optimistic attitude about it.”
*On starting the season at Volusia: “I think everybody just has a different feeling about racing because they’ve been off for a while. A lot of us live where it’s cool in the wintertime and to get away from where you’re at and go down and hopefully have some nice weather, it just kind of energizes you. So much new equipment and all the possibilities that everyone has in their mind for their new equipment, you never know what’s going to happen. Sometimes you’ll see guys come out of the box running a lot better than you thought. Some guys that were running really good come out with some new stuff and run worse. It’s really an unknown time and it’s really interesting just to go down there and see what unfolds.”
*On the series’ potential: “I see its potential as endless. I see its potential as near [NASCAR Nextel] Cup level. I think it’s going to take some facilities. It’s a lot of work but I don’t think there’s any form of racing that you can find that’s as good.”
Steve Francis
*On the night of the series debut in 2004: “To me it was a big sense of satisfaction because for one thing I’ll always be in the record books as the first winner of the World of Outlaws late model races, that was one big thing. I had never won at Volusia before so that was another big thing. And to win with a group of guys that we had just started putting together in October and November, to win the first night out was good for them. It was good for myself, but it was good for them, too.”
*On how far has this series come in one year: “A whole lot further than anybody ever expected. To be able to get 12 guys to be able to pull together that quick, that good and that fast was amazing. We’ve done some business ventures together with some t-shirts and things like that as a group of 12 and I don’t think anybody ever thought that was possible. It’s a tribute to all the guys. We’re fierce competitors on the racetrack, but we’re smart enough to know we’re business partners in this thing, too.”
Chub Frank
*On opening the series debut last year at Volusia: “I was looking forward to it even though we didn’t run as good as I’d like to. I was looking forward to running against them all year. I figured they’re probably the best guys in the country and if you want to be the best you’ve got to beat the best. Everybody was there. We had about 70 cars every night. Just to make the races down there is an accomplishment."
*On expectations for the 2005 event: “I would say there will probably be more cars. I would say it’s probably going to be bigger this year than it was last year.”
*On the accomplishments of creating the series: “Just what they accomplished in a short time. To get that schedule from the time that we started talking about it, it was two or three months and the whole operation was up and running as far as having the schedules and the drivers and everything lined up, I thought that was pretty amazing.”
*On a fresh start at Volusia: “Yeah. I’m looking forward to 2005. I’m looking forward to going to Florida this year and running with the World of Outlaws. I think our program is going to be a lot better this year than it was last year because of all the stuff that was going on.”
Mark Richards
*On the inaugural 2004 season: “I think it came off really well. None of the other series out there that are in existence today came about as fast as the World of Outlaws did. Most of the time it takes years to get to where the World of Outlaws got to in one short season. A couple of years from now if things continue at the trend it’s going now, it’ll be the elite series in all of dirt track late model racing.”
*On the quality of racing: “The racing is phenomenal. The product is phenomenal.”
*On his thoughts about the series entering its first year: “There was a lot of uncertainty at that time. Truthfully, we didn’t know what to expect. We were going in with a new group with no history. I can say this, [DIRT MotorSports] stood up and did everything it committed to do, plus more. They never shied away from any of the commitments they had. They stood up and fulfilled all of their commitments.”
*On starting the season at Volusia: “It’s a jumpstart to the season. Because of the weather in the north, you’re not going to start up here until April. Where is the closest place for the dirt late model season to get started for the majority of the racers? Florida. And because of all the hype and all the stuff going on down there with the Daytona 500 and all the NASCAR events, there are a lot of race fans down there. The race last year was very successful, and it will continue being very successful there at Volusia.”
Tim McCreadie
*On running in two series last season: “We really didn’t have a definite plan that we were going to go out and do that. We got our modified stuff in order like we normally do. Then I talked to Mark Richards a little bit and we put a car together for Florida. It was a little bit different than what they were building, it was a swing-arm-type car. We had success. We went to Georgia and got a second and third in two nights of racing there and then went to Volusia and had a good week. When we got back, we said we’d go to Green Valley. It’s an open, unsanctioned race. We said if we run well there then we’ll just keep racing. So we went to Green Valley and got third. The next thing you know we decided to do the whole thing. What kind of hurt us with performances is that we had to build our whole team during the season. If we knew we were going to do that, we would have put two cars together and had two or three motors ready. We had one car, one motor and not a lot of spares. We kind of winged it out on the road at the last minute. It was a lot harder to do both in 2004 because I had to fly home a bunch and I didn’t have tickets set and I was bouncing around and everything.”
*On racing late models vs. modifieds: “I’ve seen them a little bit from racing with my dad. We’ve seen them in Florida, we’ve seen them at Hagerstown. These guys already had them when I first started driving for Sweetners. My opinion is if I have a chance to race all kinds of things, then that’s what I’d like to do. You see a guy along the lines of Tony Stewart or Jeff Gordon who races all different stuff. It would be anybody’s dream to be able to race different kinds of cars and be successful at them and just keep racing things all over the country. That was kind of what my thinking was. I’d give it a shot, these guys have the cars, if it works out great, if it doesn’t no hard feelings because we have a pretty successful modified program. All in all, I think we’re going to get where we want to be. It has enabled me to have some other opportunities, like running the Chili Bowl this year. I probably never would have had that opportunity if I just stuck with the modified stuff. Down the road, if something bigger comes along then that would be cool, too. Right now, I’m just happy to be able to travel a little bit more and we’ve had a little bit of success and we’re hoping to have a great year.”
*On 2005 expectations: “My goal is to win races. We had some good chances to win last year, but I made some mistakes in lapped traffic or drove off the racetrack, but I just want to win. Everybody asks if I can win points or this and that, if you win enough races the points take care of themselves. Look at how Scott’s tour went. He had some ups and downs, but at the end of the season he ended up the champion because he was winning. If you win enough, you can afford to have a bad night. Hopefully in 2005, we can just improve on what we’re doing and get some wins out of this tour.”
NEXT EVENT
The Stacker 2® World of Outlaws Late Model Series next races April 8 at The Rock – Allegany County Speedway in Cumberland, Md., and April 9 at Virginia Motor Speedway in Saluda, Va.
WHAT: The Stacker 2® World of Outlaws Late Model Series launches its second season at the site of its inaugural event last year, Volusia Speedway Park.
WHERE: Volusia Speedway Park, Barberville, Fla. The track is 15 miles west of Ormond Beach. From I-95, take exit 88 west on State Rd. 40. From Highway 17, take State Rd 40, 5 miles east of Barberville.
WHEN: Racing begins at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Saturday, Feb. 17 and Feb. 19.
NEWS & NOTES
*Busy schedule: The 2005 racing season for the Stacker 2® World of Outlaws Late Model Series currently features 53 dates. The second season for the premiere late model sanctioning organization will see the “Dirty Dozen” visiting 37 speedways in 19 states.
*Bloomer blooms: Scott Bloomquist clinched the inaugural series championship on the final night of the 2004 season at Delta Bowl Speedway in Tunica, Miss.
*Mr. Second aims for the top: Steve Francis was the 2004 runner-up, but he started the season in Victory Lane on the series first night of racing.
*Doing double duty: Tim McCreadie joins the Dirty Dozen in 2005 after an incredible rookie season that saw him compete not only in the late model ranks for the first time, but also his customary DIRT Modified division. McCreadie was named the World of Outlaws Late Model Rookie of the Year.
*Kid Rocket-ing to the top: Josh Richards will take aim at the rookie title. Richards, 16, was so impressive in a limited role last season that even veteran teammate Bart Hartman agreed Richards should take over the Rocket Chassis house car. Richards is the son of Rocket president Mark Richards.
QUOTABLE
Scott Bloomquist
*On the development of the series: “I think everybody was looking at the potential for the series. I think everyone was just excited the possibilities. Inevitably, anytime you do something with people that you’re not familiar with or you’re not sure of their reputation, you’re going to have some insecurity about it, but overall I just think everybody had an optimistic attitude about it.”
*On starting the season at Volusia: “I think everybody just has a different feeling about racing because they’ve been off for a while. A lot of us live where it’s cool in the wintertime and to get away from where you’re at and go down and hopefully have some nice weather, it just kind of energizes you. So much new equipment and all the possibilities that everyone has in their mind for their new equipment, you never know what’s going to happen. Sometimes you’ll see guys come out of the box running a lot better than you thought. Some guys that were running really good come out with some new stuff and run worse. It’s really an unknown time and it’s really interesting just to go down there and see what unfolds.”
*On the series’ potential: “I see its potential as endless. I see its potential as near [NASCAR Nextel] Cup level. I think it’s going to take some facilities. It’s a lot of work but I don’t think there’s any form of racing that you can find that’s as good.”
Steve Francis
*On the night of the series debut in 2004: “To me it was a big sense of satisfaction because for one thing I’ll always be in the record books as the first winner of the World of Outlaws late model races, that was one big thing. I had never won at Volusia before so that was another big thing. And to win with a group of guys that we had just started putting together in October and November, to win the first night out was good for them. It was good for myself, but it was good for them, too.”
*On how far has this series come in one year: “A whole lot further than anybody ever expected. To be able to get 12 guys to be able to pull together that quick, that good and that fast was amazing. We’ve done some business ventures together with some t-shirts and things like that as a group of 12 and I don’t think anybody ever thought that was possible. It’s a tribute to all the guys. We’re fierce competitors on the racetrack, but we’re smart enough to know we’re business partners in this thing, too.”
Chub Frank
*On opening the series debut last year at Volusia: “I was looking forward to it even though we didn’t run as good as I’d like to. I was looking forward to running against them all year. I figured they’re probably the best guys in the country and if you want to be the best you’ve got to beat the best. Everybody was there. We had about 70 cars every night. Just to make the races down there is an accomplishment."
*On expectations for the 2005 event: “I would say there will probably be more cars. I would say it’s probably going to be bigger this year than it was last year.”
*On the accomplishments of creating the series: “Just what they accomplished in a short time. To get that schedule from the time that we started talking about it, it was two or three months and the whole operation was up and running as far as having the schedules and the drivers and everything lined up, I thought that was pretty amazing.”
*On a fresh start at Volusia: “Yeah. I’m looking forward to 2005. I’m looking forward to going to Florida this year and running with the World of Outlaws. I think our program is going to be a lot better this year than it was last year because of all the stuff that was going on.”
Mark Richards
*On the inaugural 2004 season: “I think it came off really well. None of the other series out there that are in existence today came about as fast as the World of Outlaws did. Most of the time it takes years to get to where the World of Outlaws got to in one short season. A couple of years from now if things continue at the trend it’s going now, it’ll be the elite series in all of dirt track late model racing.”
*On the quality of racing: “The racing is phenomenal. The product is phenomenal.”
*On his thoughts about the series entering its first year: “There was a lot of uncertainty at that time. Truthfully, we didn’t know what to expect. We were going in with a new group with no history. I can say this, [DIRT MotorSports] stood up and did everything it committed to do, plus more. They never shied away from any of the commitments they had. They stood up and fulfilled all of their commitments.”
*On starting the season at Volusia: “It’s a jumpstart to the season. Because of the weather in the north, you’re not going to start up here until April. Where is the closest place for the dirt late model season to get started for the majority of the racers? Florida. And because of all the hype and all the stuff going on down there with the Daytona 500 and all the NASCAR events, there are a lot of race fans down there. The race last year was very successful, and it will continue being very successful there at Volusia.”
Tim McCreadie
*On running in two series last season: “We really didn’t have a definite plan that we were going to go out and do that. We got our modified stuff in order like we normally do. Then I talked to Mark Richards a little bit and we put a car together for Florida. It was a little bit different than what they were building, it was a swing-arm-type car. We had success. We went to Georgia and got a second and third in two nights of racing there and then went to Volusia and had a good week. When we got back, we said we’d go to Green Valley. It’s an open, unsanctioned race. We said if we run well there then we’ll just keep racing. So we went to Green Valley and got third. The next thing you know we decided to do the whole thing. What kind of hurt us with performances is that we had to build our whole team during the season. If we knew we were going to do that, we would have put two cars together and had two or three motors ready. We had one car, one motor and not a lot of spares. We kind of winged it out on the road at the last minute. It was a lot harder to do both in 2004 because I had to fly home a bunch and I didn’t have tickets set and I was bouncing around and everything.”
*On racing late models vs. modifieds: “I’ve seen them a little bit from racing with my dad. We’ve seen them in Florida, we’ve seen them at Hagerstown. These guys already had them when I first started driving for Sweetners. My opinion is if I have a chance to race all kinds of things, then that’s what I’d like to do. You see a guy along the lines of Tony Stewart or Jeff Gordon who races all different stuff. It would be anybody’s dream to be able to race different kinds of cars and be successful at them and just keep racing things all over the country. That was kind of what my thinking was. I’d give it a shot, these guys have the cars, if it works out great, if it doesn’t no hard feelings because we have a pretty successful modified program. All in all, I think we’re going to get where we want to be. It has enabled me to have some other opportunities, like running the Chili Bowl this year. I probably never would have had that opportunity if I just stuck with the modified stuff. Down the road, if something bigger comes along then that would be cool, too. Right now, I’m just happy to be able to travel a little bit more and we’ve had a little bit of success and we’re hoping to have a great year.”
*On 2005 expectations: “My goal is to win races. We had some good chances to win last year, but I made some mistakes in lapped traffic or drove off the racetrack, but I just want to win. Everybody asks if I can win points or this and that, if you win enough races the points take care of themselves. Look at how Scott’s tour went. He had some ups and downs, but at the end of the season he ended up the champion because he was winning. If you win enough, you can afford to have a bad night. Hopefully in 2005, we can just improve on what we’re doing and get some wins out of this tour.”
NEXT EVENT
The Stacker 2® World of Outlaws Late Model Series next races April 8 at The Rock – Allegany County Speedway in Cumberland, Md., and April 9 at Virginia Motor Speedway in Saluda, Va.
