By Roby Helm
MOORESVILLE, NC - Xtreme DirtCar Series officials have made several announcements in preparation for its 2003 opening events at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, FL on February 4, 6, and 8. Many series sponsors have signed on for the 2003, with seven new sponsors, and two drivers have signed on to compete for the 2003 Rookie of the Year Award.
Lucas Oil will return as the Official Lubricant of the Xtreme DirtCar Series, and the sponsor of the Lucas Oil Rookie of the Year Award. Lucas Oil will pay the top XDCS rookie driver $10,000 at the end of the season, and $2,500 to the RoY runner-up.
Matt Miller of Lakeview, OH and Troy Kuyoth of Stratford, WI have signed on as Lucas Oil Rookie of the Year candidates for the 2003 Xtreme DirtCar Series season.
Miller was the 2001 Renegade DirtCar Series Rookie of the Year, and also won an XDCS event, when it was known as the UDTRA Pro DirtCar Series, at Volusia Speedway Park in Daytona Beach, FL that same year. Last season, Miller had one top five finish, a second place effort in East Moline, IL, five top ten finishes and one fast time honor in XDCS/UDTRA competition.
"I've been wanting to do this for a couple of years, but we wanted to make sure we had the right equipment to do it right," Miller said. "We want to be competitive, and be able to run in the top five. We ran a few races last year, and were able to learn a lot. This is a tough deal because you're competing with the best cars and drivers in the country, plus with the travel and going to new tracks makes it a sharp learning curve."
Miller's number 7 Rocket chassis Grand Prix will be powered by a Russell Baker engine. The car is owned by Stephen McCullough and Denny Thornton of LoTemp Racing. Veteran Scott Smith will be the crew chief for the operation.
Kuyoth has spent the last seven years competing with the WISSOTA organization in the Midwest driving Street Stocks, Modifieds, and Late Models. Before moving into the Late Models, Kuyoth was the WISSOTA Modified Champion in 1999. Last year, Kuyoth was the Late Model Track Champion at MHR Speedway in Unity, WI.
"Trying to see if I can run with the best in the business is something I've always wanted to try before I get too old to do it," Kuyoth said. "I can't thank Mike and Julie Seubert of Seubert Calf Ranches enough for believing in me, and giving me the opportunity to do this. Having traveled throughout the Midwest with the WISSOTA Modifieds, I know what it's like being on the road."
Kuyoth will compete for the Lucas Oil Rookie of the Year title driving the number 80 Seubert Calf Ranches Rocket/Pro Power Grand Prix owned by Mike and Julie Seubert, and wrenched by Mike Rogers.
"Seubert Calf Ranches has always supported every aspect of dirt late model racing, and is proud to send Brian Birkhofer and Troy Kuyoth to compete in the XDCS," Seubert Calf Ranches president Mike Seubert said. "We are also very excited about the "Stratford Slingshot" chances about running as a rookie on the series."
Advance Auto Parts returns to the series as the Official Auto Parts Store and the sponsor of the XDCS Hard Charger Award for the driver that advances the most from the start to the finish of the main event. Hoosier Race Tires is back as the XDCS Official Race Tire, and Sunoco will once again be the Official Racing Gas of the XDCS, awarding a Consolation Race winner at each event with a drum of fuel. Autobet.US and Action Performance are two new official XDCS sponsors for the 2003 season.
There are 20 Contingency Sponsors for the 2003 season, with 17 returning and three new sponsors. The Contingency Sponsors will post cash and product awards to XDCS competitors during the 2003 season.
Ringers Gloves will step up its XDCS sponsorship program in 2003 by sponsoring the Fast Time Award at each event.
The Ringers Gloves Fast Qualifier will receive a pair of driving gloves and a special trophy at each event. The driver with the most fast time honors during the 2003 XDCS season will earn an extra $5,000. The driver with the most fast time honors at the halfway point in the season will earn $1,000 from Ringers Gloves.
Other returning Contingency sponsors are Edelbrock, Isky Cams, MSD Ignitions, Lunati Cams and Cranks, Holley Carburetors, Simpson Safety Products, Wrisco, CV Products, JE Pistons, Weld Wheels, Comp Cams, AFCO Performance Parts, Demon Carburetors, Custom Craft Headers, Mahle Pistons, ATL Fuel Cells, Five Star Performance Bodies and Chapman Cylinder Heads.
Isky will once again sponsor the Isky Dash for 2003 XDCS Fast Qualifiers on October 10 as a part of the 14th Annual Xtreme Shootout at Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, GA.
The three new contingency sponsors for the 2003 season are Waterloo Tool Storage, Arctic Cat, and Oval Craft.
Defending and three-time XDCS Chassis Manufacturers Champion Rocket Chassis is back as an Associate Sponsor. Joining Rocket as Associate Sponsors in the 2003 Chassis Manufacturers Challenge will be three-time Champion GRT Race Cars, Warrior Race Cars and Larry Shaw Race Cars.
Defending and four-time Engine Builders Champion Custom Race Engines is back as an Associate Sponsor, and will be joined in the 2003 Engine Builders competition by former champion Cornett Racing Engines, Pro Power Racing Engines, and a new entrant and Associate Sponsor for this season, Race Tech Engines.
Other XDCS Associate Sponsors for the 2003 season will be American Racer Tires, Champ Pans, Intercomp, Goodyear Racing Tires, The Label Company, and two new associate sponsors, Corporate Image and Cruise With The Champions.
XDCS officials are still negotiating with additional sponsors on all levels, and are expecting to make some additional announcements in the coming weeks.
EAST BAY TO HOST TWO SPEED CHANNEL EVENTS: The XDCS events at East Bay Raceway park in Tampa, FL on February 6, and 8 will be taped by SPEED Channel for airing this spring.
The first of three East Bay events will be a $5,000-to-win event on February 4, with the February 6 show paying $7,000-to-win, and the East Bay Winternationals finale on February 8 paying $15,000-to-win. The two televised events will feature double-file restarts.
SPEED Channel has given XDCS officials the 26 air dates for the 13 2003 events, and XDCS officials are now assigning events to these dates. XDCS officials are continuing to complete the 2003 schedule of events, with events to be announced in some new market areas at new tracks to the series. XDCS officials will release the schedule updates as soon as the schedule is completed and finalized.
XDCS MOVES INTO NEW DIGS: The Xtreme DirtCar Series has opened its new office at 160 North Wilkinson Road in Mooresville, NC. The office phone numbers are (704) 658-9940, or FAX at (704) 658-9941. The mailing address is P.O. Box 4314, Mooresville, NC 28117-4314.
MOORESVILLE, NC - Xtreme DirtCar Series officials have made several announcements in preparation for its 2003 opening events at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, FL on February 4, 6, and 8. Many series sponsors have signed on for the 2003, with seven new sponsors, and two drivers have signed on to compete for the 2003 Rookie of the Year Award.
Lucas Oil will return as the Official Lubricant of the Xtreme DirtCar Series, and the sponsor of the Lucas Oil Rookie of the Year Award. Lucas Oil will pay the top XDCS rookie driver $10,000 at the end of the season, and $2,500 to the RoY runner-up.
Matt Miller of Lakeview, OH and Troy Kuyoth of Stratford, WI have signed on as Lucas Oil Rookie of the Year candidates for the 2003 Xtreme DirtCar Series season.
Miller was the 2001 Renegade DirtCar Series Rookie of the Year, and also won an XDCS event, when it was known as the UDTRA Pro DirtCar Series, at Volusia Speedway Park in Daytona Beach, FL that same year. Last season, Miller had one top five finish, a second place effort in East Moline, IL, five top ten finishes and one fast time honor in XDCS/UDTRA competition.
"I've been wanting to do this for a couple of years, but we wanted to make sure we had the right equipment to do it right," Miller said. "We want to be competitive, and be able to run in the top five. We ran a few races last year, and were able to learn a lot. This is a tough deal because you're competing with the best cars and drivers in the country, plus with the travel and going to new tracks makes it a sharp learning curve."
Miller's number 7 Rocket chassis Grand Prix will be powered by a Russell Baker engine. The car is owned by Stephen McCullough and Denny Thornton of LoTemp Racing. Veteran Scott Smith will be the crew chief for the operation.
Kuyoth has spent the last seven years competing with the WISSOTA organization in the Midwest driving Street Stocks, Modifieds, and Late Models. Before moving into the Late Models, Kuyoth was the WISSOTA Modified Champion in 1999. Last year, Kuyoth was the Late Model Track Champion at MHR Speedway in Unity, WI.
"Trying to see if I can run with the best in the business is something I've always wanted to try before I get too old to do it," Kuyoth said. "I can't thank Mike and Julie Seubert of Seubert Calf Ranches enough for believing in me, and giving me the opportunity to do this. Having traveled throughout the Midwest with the WISSOTA Modifieds, I know what it's like being on the road."
Kuyoth will compete for the Lucas Oil Rookie of the Year title driving the number 80 Seubert Calf Ranches Rocket/Pro Power Grand Prix owned by Mike and Julie Seubert, and wrenched by Mike Rogers.
"Seubert Calf Ranches has always supported every aspect of dirt late model racing, and is proud to send Brian Birkhofer and Troy Kuyoth to compete in the XDCS," Seubert Calf Ranches president Mike Seubert said. "We are also very excited about the "Stratford Slingshot" chances about running as a rookie on the series."
Advance Auto Parts returns to the series as the Official Auto Parts Store and the sponsor of the XDCS Hard Charger Award for the driver that advances the most from the start to the finish of the main event. Hoosier Race Tires is back as the XDCS Official Race Tire, and Sunoco will once again be the Official Racing Gas of the XDCS, awarding a Consolation Race winner at each event with a drum of fuel. Autobet.US and Action Performance are two new official XDCS sponsors for the 2003 season.
There are 20 Contingency Sponsors for the 2003 season, with 17 returning and three new sponsors. The Contingency Sponsors will post cash and product awards to XDCS competitors during the 2003 season.
Ringers Gloves will step up its XDCS sponsorship program in 2003 by sponsoring the Fast Time Award at each event.
The Ringers Gloves Fast Qualifier will receive a pair of driving gloves and a special trophy at each event. The driver with the most fast time honors during the 2003 XDCS season will earn an extra $5,000. The driver with the most fast time honors at the halfway point in the season will earn $1,000 from Ringers Gloves.
Other returning Contingency sponsors are Edelbrock, Isky Cams, MSD Ignitions, Lunati Cams and Cranks, Holley Carburetors, Simpson Safety Products, Wrisco, CV Products, JE Pistons, Weld Wheels, Comp Cams, AFCO Performance Parts, Demon Carburetors, Custom Craft Headers, Mahle Pistons, ATL Fuel Cells, Five Star Performance Bodies and Chapman Cylinder Heads.
Isky will once again sponsor the Isky Dash for 2003 XDCS Fast Qualifiers on October 10 as a part of the 14th Annual Xtreme Shootout at Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, GA.
The three new contingency sponsors for the 2003 season are Waterloo Tool Storage, Arctic Cat, and Oval Craft.
Defending and three-time XDCS Chassis Manufacturers Champion Rocket Chassis is back as an Associate Sponsor. Joining Rocket as Associate Sponsors in the 2003 Chassis Manufacturers Challenge will be three-time Champion GRT Race Cars, Warrior Race Cars and Larry Shaw Race Cars.
Defending and four-time Engine Builders Champion Custom Race Engines is back as an Associate Sponsor, and will be joined in the 2003 Engine Builders competition by former champion Cornett Racing Engines, Pro Power Racing Engines, and a new entrant and Associate Sponsor for this season, Race Tech Engines.
Other XDCS Associate Sponsors for the 2003 season will be American Racer Tires, Champ Pans, Intercomp, Goodyear Racing Tires, The Label Company, and two new associate sponsors, Corporate Image and Cruise With The Champions.
XDCS officials are still negotiating with additional sponsors on all levels, and are expecting to make some additional announcements in the coming weeks.
EAST BAY TO HOST TWO SPEED CHANNEL EVENTS: The XDCS events at East Bay Raceway park in Tampa, FL on February 6, and 8 will be taped by SPEED Channel for airing this spring.
The first of three East Bay events will be a $5,000-to-win event on February 4, with the February 6 show paying $7,000-to-win, and the East Bay Winternationals finale on February 8 paying $15,000-to-win. The two televised events will feature double-file restarts.
SPEED Channel has given XDCS officials the 26 air dates for the 13 2003 events, and XDCS officials are now assigning events to these dates. XDCS officials are continuing to complete the 2003 schedule of events, with events to be announced in some new market areas at new tracks to the series. XDCS officials will release the schedule updates as soon as the schedule is completed and finalized.
XDCS MOVES INTO NEW DIGS: The Xtreme DirtCar Series has opened its new office at 160 North Wilkinson Road in Mooresville, NC. The office phone numbers are (704) 658-9940, or FAX at (704) 658-9941. The mailing address is P.O. Box 4314, Mooresville, NC 28117-4314.
