By Roby Helm
MOORESVILLE, NC - Xtreme DirtCar Series officials have announced that the
14th Annual $55,000-to-win Xtreme Hardee's Shootout Presented by Coca-Cola
at Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, GA on October 10-11 will now be open to all
dirt late model competitors that wish to compete.
In the past, the series finale has been an invitational event with drivers
having to earn an invitation during the course of the season.
Due to the large number of requests from drivers wanting to compete in The
Shootout that did not earn an invitation during the season, Xtreme DirtCar
Series President Doug Bland made the decision to drop the invitational
status of the event, and open it up to all competitors. Anyone that has an
XDCS-legal race car and pays a $100 entry fee can now compete in The
Shootout.
On October 11, the XDCS will compete in Ringers Gloves Qualifying, heat
races, and the Action Performance Dash. Drivers that earned a Ringer Gloves
Fast Time Award in 2003 will also compete in the $5,000-to-win Isky Dash.
A total of 16 drivers are currently eligible for the Isky Dash. Heading the
list is Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, IA, who has nine Ringer Gloves Fast
Time Awards, and will pick up a $5,000 bonus from Ringers Gloves at the
series Awards Banquet. Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN, and Jimmy Mars
of Elk Mound, WI each have three fast time awards.
Chris Madden of Gray Court, SC, Rick Eckert of York, PA, Dale McDowell of
Rossville, GA, and Steve Francis of Ashland, KY each have two fast time
awards. Nine drivers have one fast time award apiece.
Donnie Moran of Dresden, OH, Jason Montgomery of Jackson, OH, Shannon Babb
of Decatur, IL, Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, FL, Matt Miller of
Waterville, OH, Steve Shaver of Parkersburg, WV, Billy Moyer of Batesville,
AR, Scott Peltz of Cadiz, OH, and Randle Chupp of Mooresville, NC have all
earned a spot in the Isky Dash.
On October 11 the XDCS machines will compete in consolation races and the
$55,000-to-win 14th Annual Xtreme Shootout 100-lap main event.
For a limited time until October 3, advance general admission seats for The
Shootout are only $40 for rows 6-10 and also include both days. There are
still some reserved seats for rows 3-5 that are also available until October
9 for $52 which also includes both days.
Tickets can be charged by phone with a Visa or MasterCard by calling
770-926-5315 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. General Admission
tickets purchased at the gate on race day will be priced higher.
ROCKET CHASSIS CLINCHES FOURTH STRAIGHT CHASSIS MANUFACTURERS CHAMPIONSHIP:
Rocket Chassis of Shinnston, WV has clinched its fourth consecutive XDCS
Chassis Manufacturers Championship. Drivers have wheeled Rocket Chassis to
six XDCS wins so far this season.
Rick Eckert of York, PA has three wins, Steve Francis of Ashland, KY has
driven the Rocket "house car" to two wins, and Earl Pearson Jr. of
Jacksonville, FL has one win. Competing with Rocket Chassis in the XDCS
Chassis Manufacturers Challenge are Warrior Race Cars of Knoxville, TN,
Larry Shaw Race Cars of Batesville, AR, and GRT Race Cars of Greenbrier, AR.
DUAYNE HOMMEL CONTINUES TO IMPROVE: Duayne Hommel of Newport, TN continues
to improve after suffering a serious head injury in a highway accident on
September 23. Hommel has been upgraded to serious condition at University
of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, TN.
According to Hommel friend and family spokesman, fellow late model
competitor Ron "Flea" Fleenor of Knoxville, TN, Duayne's vital signs have
been good and steady for the past few days, and he has been responding to
people when they touch him.
"This morning he was moving his feet, arms and head and is wanting the hell
out of bed. They were putting the 'trach' in and the feeding tube in his
stomach today and everything went great. All his gauges are 'still' good,"
Fleenor said. "Now it's been a three good days in a row, so I am going to
ask everybody to keep doing what you've been doing because it seems to be
working pretty well at this point."
A large group of drivers, crew members, race officials, and fans gathered on
Saturday and Sunday at the XDCS event in Madison, NC for a prayer service
conducted by Dirt Racing Outreach.
During the weekend at the Xtreme DirtCar Series/Renegade DirtCar Series
co-sanctioned Charter Communications RaceFest World Championship at West
Virginia Motor Speedway in Parkersburg, WV, a replica door panel of Hommel's
#H2 race car will be raffled off with tickets available at the WVMS booth
for $1.00 each.
Todd Frye of Poske Performance is coordinating this effort, and all proceeds
will go to the Hommel family. The winning ticket will be drawn prior to the
100-lap $25,000-to-win main event.
Hommel contemplated a run for the XDCS Lucas Oil Rookie of the Year in 2003,
but decided he needed to run another season with the Southern All-Stars to
prepare himself and his team not only for a 2004 RoY run, but he also wanted
to challenge for the series championship.
Hommel was the 2002 Southern All-Star Series Champion, and was a frequent
competitor with the Xtreme DirtCar Series. In 2003, Hommel had competed in
seven events with one top five finish, and three top ten finishes. He was
leading the SAS point standings at the time of his accident.
Those wanting to make a donation to assist his family, wife Christi and
1-year-old son Daegen Cole, may do so by contacting the National Bank of
Tennessee, ATTN: Duayne Hommel Fund, P.O. Box 669, Newport, TN 37822.
MOORESVILLE, NC - Xtreme DirtCar Series officials have announced that the
14th Annual $55,000-to-win Xtreme Hardee's Shootout Presented by Coca-Cola
at Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, GA on October 10-11 will now be open to all
dirt late model competitors that wish to compete.
In the past, the series finale has been an invitational event with drivers
having to earn an invitation during the course of the season.
Due to the large number of requests from drivers wanting to compete in The
Shootout that did not earn an invitation during the season, Xtreme DirtCar
Series President Doug Bland made the decision to drop the invitational
status of the event, and open it up to all competitors. Anyone that has an
XDCS-legal race car and pays a $100 entry fee can now compete in The
Shootout.
On October 11, the XDCS will compete in Ringers Gloves Qualifying, heat
races, and the Action Performance Dash. Drivers that earned a Ringer Gloves
Fast Time Award in 2003 will also compete in the $5,000-to-win Isky Dash.
A total of 16 drivers are currently eligible for the Isky Dash. Heading the
list is Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, IA, who has nine Ringer Gloves Fast
Time Awards, and will pick up a $5,000 bonus from Ringers Gloves at the
series Awards Banquet. Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN, and Jimmy Mars
of Elk Mound, WI each have three fast time awards.
Chris Madden of Gray Court, SC, Rick Eckert of York, PA, Dale McDowell of
Rossville, GA, and Steve Francis of Ashland, KY each have two fast time
awards. Nine drivers have one fast time award apiece.
Donnie Moran of Dresden, OH, Jason Montgomery of Jackson, OH, Shannon Babb
of Decatur, IL, Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, FL, Matt Miller of
Waterville, OH, Steve Shaver of Parkersburg, WV, Billy Moyer of Batesville,
AR, Scott Peltz of Cadiz, OH, and Randle Chupp of Mooresville, NC have all
earned a spot in the Isky Dash.
On October 11 the XDCS machines will compete in consolation races and the
$55,000-to-win 14th Annual Xtreme Shootout 100-lap main event.
For a limited time until October 3, advance general admission seats for The
Shootout are only $40 for rows 6-10 and also include both days. There are
still some reserved seats for rows 3-5 that are also available until October
9 for $52 which also includes both days.
Tickets can be charged by phone with a Visa or MasterCard by calling
770-926-5315 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. General Admission
tickets purchased at the gate on race day will be priced higher.
ROCKET CHASSIS CLINCHES FOURTH STRAIGHT CHASSIS MANUFACTURERS CHAMPIONSHIP:
Rocket Chassis of Shinnston, WV has clinched its fourth consecutive XDCS
Chassis Manufacturers Championship. Drivers have wheeled Rocket Chassis to
six XDCS wins so far this season.
Rick Eckert of York, PA has three wins, Steve Francis of Ashland, KY has
driven the Rocket "house car" to two wins, and Earl Pearson Jr. of
Jacksonville, FL has one win. Competing with Rocket Chassis in the XDCS
Chassis Manufacturers Challenge are Warrior Race Cars of Knoxville, TN,
Larry Shaw Race Cars of Batesville, AR, and GRT Race Cars of Greenbrier, AR.
DUAYNE HOMMEL CONTINUES TO IMPROVE: Duayne Hommel of Newport, TN continues
to improve after suffering a serious head injury in a highway accident on
September 23. Hommel has been upgraded to serious condition at University
of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, TN.
According to Hommel friend and family spokesman, fellow late model
competitor Ron "Flea" Fleenor of Knoxville, TN, Duayne's vital signs have
been good and steady for the past few days, and he has been responding to
people when they touch him.
"This morning he was moving his feet, arms and head and is wanting the hell
out of bed. They were putting the 'trach' in and the feeding tube in his
stomach today and everything went great. All his gauges are 'still' good,"
Fleenor said. "Now it's been a three good days in a row, so I am going to
ask everybody to keep doing what you've been doing because it seems to be
working pretty well at this point."
A large group of drivers, crew members, race officials, and fans gathered on
Saturday and Sunday at the XDCS event in Madison, NC for a prayer service
conducted by Dirt Racing Outreach.
During the weekend at the Xtreme DirtCar Series/Renegade DirtCar Series
co-sanctioned Charter Communications RaceFest World Championship at West
Virginia Motor Speedway in Parkersburg, WV, a replica door panel of Hommel's
#H2 race car will be raffled off with tickets available at the WVMS booth
for $1.00 each.
Todd Frye of Poske Performance is coordinating this effort, and all proceeds
will go to the Hommel family. The winning ticket will be drawn prior to the
100-lap $25,000-to-win main event.
Hommel contemplated a run for the XDCS Lucas Oil Rookie of the Year in 2003,
but decided he needed to run another season with the Southern All-Stars to
prepare himself and his team not only for a 2004 RoY run, but he also wanted
to challenge for the series championship.
Hommel was the 2002 Southern All-Star Series Champion, and was a frequent
competitor with the Xtreme DirtCar Series. In 2003, Hommel had competed in
seven events with one top five finish, and three top ten finishes. He was
leading the SAS point standings at the time of his accident.
Those wanting to make a donation to assist his family, wife Christi and
1-year-old son Daegen Cole, may do so by contacting the National Bank of
Tennessee, ATTN: Duayne Hommel Fund, P.O. Box 669, Newport, TN 37822.
