By Roby Helm
MOORESVILLE, NC - The Xtreme DirtCar Series continues an annual tradition when they make a stop at Rome Speedway in Rome, GA on September 19-20 for the 13th Annual $20,000-to-win 100-lap Xtreme DirtCar Nationals Presented By South 107. The 32nd of 35 series events this season could play a pivotal role in the outcome of the 2003 XDCS point battle.
The scenic high-banked 1/2-mile clay oval has hosted 18 events in the 13-year history of the series that has also been known as the Hav-A-Tampa Dirt Racing Series and UDTRA Pro DirtCar Series. Many of the top dirt late model drivers in the country have posted series wins at Rome Speedway.
The current XDCS point leader and four-time series champion Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN has two career series wins at Rome Speedway coming in 2001 and 1996. Bloomquist could be looking to post his 100th career series win at Rome Speedway depending the outcome of the September 14 at Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, SC.
The 1999 series champion Dale McDowell of Rossville, GA and Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, FL are locked in a tight battle for the sixth position in the XDCS points chase. McDowell has three Rome Speedway series wins coming in 2002, 2000, and 1999. McDowell is just a few points behind Pearson, who also posted a series win at Rome Speedway in 1999.
The driver with the most series wins at Rome Speedway is Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN. Johnson has five series wins at Rome Speedway with the latest coming in 2002. Johnson had two wins in 1993 with the other wins coming in 1992, and 1991.
Other former Rome Speedway series winners are Bill Frye of Greenbrier, AR in 1999, Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC in 1998, Wendell Wallace of Batesville, AR in 1997, Stan Massey of Mabelton, GA in 1995, Granger Howell of Kingston, GA in 1994, Phil Coltrane of Canton, GA in 1993, and Mike Head of Ellenwood, GA in 1990.
Other entrants expected among the traveling pros include top ten XDCS drivers Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, IA, Jimmy Mars of Elk Mound, WI, defending and two-time series champion Rick Eckert of York, PA, Steve Francis of Ashland, KY, World 100 winner Dan Schlieper of Pewaukee, WI, Donnie Moran of Dresden, OH, and 2003 Lucas Oil Rookie of the Year Matt Miller of Waterville, OH.
Also look for Steve Shaver of Parkersburg, WV, Jeff Smith of Dallas, NC, 1996 series champion Freddy Smith of Knoxville, TN, Randle Chupp of Mooresville, NC, Shane Tankersley of Morganton, GA, 1993 series champion Clint Smith of Senoia, GA, Marshall Green of Dalton, GA, and Duayne Hommel of Newport, TN on September 19-20 at Rome Speedway.
The local contingent will be led by the newly crowned Rome Speedway/Dixie Speedway Late Model champion Jason Croft of Woodstock, GA. He'll be joined by Vernon Smith of Rome, GA, Don Jenkins of Kingston, GA, Frank Ingram of Woodstock, GA, and Rodney Martin of Cartersville, GA.
Along with the Xtreme DirtCars, the Rome Speedway Sportsman cars will be in action both nights, and the Econo Bombers and Super Bombers join the card on September 20. The XDCS and the Sportsman Division will run Time Trials and Heat Races on September 19, and the Action Performance Dash for the XDCS will also be run on the opening night.
The Action Performance Dash will feature the heat race winners starting inverted with the first heat race wining starting in the back, and the last heat race winning going from the pole. The way they finish is the way they will start the 100-lap main event on September 20. The winner of the Action Performance dash earns the pole position.
Hooters Restaurant in Rome, GA will be sponsoring an "Honorary Crew Chief" for a day contest for the Xtreme DirtCar Nationals. Registration forms for the contest are available at Hooters Restaurant in Rome, GA. The winner will be drawn by the Action Performance Dash pole winning driver during the "Xtreme Lunch" at Hooters from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on September 20.
The winner will serve as the "Honorary Crew Chief" of the pole car in the 100-lap main event. Hooters will award the contest winner and the crew chief of the pole winning car each with $250. The pole-winning car for the Xtreme DirtCar Nationals will also be on display, and many of the other XDCS drivers will be in attendance at the Hooters of Rome Xtreme Lunch.
On September 19, the pit gate opens at 3 p.m., and XDCS Tech and Registration will be from 4 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. The grandstand gate opens at 5 p.m., with the drivers meeting set for 7 p.m., and hot laps scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
The September 20 schedule of events has the pit gate opening at 3 p.m., and the grandstand gate opening at 5 p.m. There will be an XDCS Drivers Autograph Session on Souvenir Row for the fans from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and hot laps are scheduled for 7 p.m.
The September 20 racing program will feature the XDCS Consolation Races, the $20,000-to-win 100-lap XDCS main event, plus feature races for the Sportsman, Econo Bomber, and Super Bomber Divisions.
For a limited time, fans can save up to 25 percent on Xtreme DirtCar Series event tickets for the Rome Speedway Xtreme DirtCar Nationals by purchasing them now. Advance general admission grandstand seats are only $35 per person for the entire 2-day show.
Tickets can be charged by phone with their Visa/MasterCard by calling
(770) 926-5315 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Tickets purchased at the gate on race days will be priced higher. Rome Speedway is located four miles east of Rome, GA off U.S. Highway 411 on Chulio Road.
MOORESVILLE, NC - The Xtreme DirtCar Series continues an annual tradition when they make a stop at Rome Speedway in Rome, GA on September 19-20 for the 13th Annual $20,000-to-win 100-lap Xtreme DirtCar Nationals Presented By South 107. The 32nd of 35 series events this season could play a pivotal role in the outcome of the 2003 XDCS point battle.
The scenic high-banked 1/2-mile clay oval has hosted 18 events in the 13-year history of the series that has also been known as the Hav-A-Tampa Dirt Racing Series and UDTRA Pro DirtCar Series. Many of the top dirt late model drivers in the country have posted series wins at Rome Speedway.
The current XDCS point leader and four-time series champion Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN has two career series wins at Rome Speedway coming in 2001 and 1996. Bloomquist could be looking to post his 100th career series win at Rome Speedway depending the outcome of the September 14 at Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, SC.
The 1999 series champion Dale McDowell of Rossville, GA and Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, FL are locked in a tight battle for the sixth position in the XDCS points chase. McDowell has three Rome Speedway series wins coming in 2002, 2000, and 1999. McDowell is just a few points behind Pearson, who also posted a series win at Rome Speedway in 1999.
The driver with the most series wins at Rome Speedway is Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN. Johnson has five series wins at Rome Speedway with the latest coming in 2002. Johnson had two wins in 1993 with the other wins coming in 1992, and 1991.
Other former Rome Speedway series winners are Bill Frye of Greenbrier, AR in 1999, Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC in 1998, Wendell Wallace of Batesville, AR in 1997, Stan Massey of Mabelton, GA in 1995, Granger Howell of Kingston, GA in 1994, Phil Coltrane of Canton, GA in 1993, and Mike Head of Ellenwood, GA in 1990.
Other entrants expected among the traveling pros include top ten XDCS drivers Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, IA, Jimmy Mars of Elk Mound, WI, defending and two-time series champion Rick Eckert of York, PA, Steve Francis of Ashland, KY, World 100 winner Dan Schlieper of Pewaukee, WI, Donnie Moran of Dresden, OH, and 2003 Lucas Oil Rookie of the Year Matt Miller of Waterville, OH.
Also look for Steve Shaver of Parkersburg, WV, Jeff Smith of Dallas, NC, 1996 series champion Freddy Smith of Knoxville, TN, Randle Chupp of Mooresville, NC, Shane Tankersley of Morganton, GA, 1993 series champion Clint Smith of Senoia, GA, Marshall Green of Dalton, GA, and Duayne Hommel of Newport, TN on September 19-20 at Rome Speedway.
The local contingent will be led by the newly crowned Rome Speedway/Dixie Speedway Late Model champion Jason Croft of Woodstock, GA. He'll be joined by Vernon Smith of Rome, GA, Don Jenkins of Kingston, GA, Frank Ingram of Woodstock, GA, and Rodney Martin of Cartersville, GA.
Along with the Xtreme DirtCars, the Rome Speedway Sportsman cars will be in action both nights, and the Econo Bombers and Super Bombers join the card on September 20. The XDCS and the Sportsman Division will run Time Trials and Heat Races on September 19, and the Action Performance Dash for the XDCS will also be run on the opening night.
The Action Performance Dash will feature the heat race winners starting inverted with the first heat race wining starting in the back, and the last heat race winning going from the pole. The way they finish is the way they will start the 100-lap main event on September 20. The winner of the Action Performance dash earns the pole position.
Hooters Restaurant in Rome, GA will be sponsoring an "Honorary Crew Chief" for a day contest for the Xtreme DirtCar Nationals. Registration forms for the contest are available at Hooters Restaurant in Rome, GA. The winner will be drawn by the Action Performance Dash pole winning driver during the "Xtreme Lunch" at Hooters from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on September 20.
The winner will serve as the "Honorary Crew Chief" of the pole car in the 100-lap main event. Hooters will award the contest winner and the crew chief of the pole winning car each with $250. The pole-winning car for the Xtreme DirtCar Nationals will also be on display, and many of the other XDCS drivers will be in attendance at the Hooters of Rome Xtreme Lunch.
On September 19, the pit gate opens at 3 p.m., and XDCS Tech and Registration will be from 4 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. The grandstand gate opens at 5 p.m., with the drivers meeting set for 7 p.m., and hot laps scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
The September 20 schedule of events has the pit gate opening at 3 p.m., and the grandstand gate opening at 5 p.m. There will be an XDCS Drivers Autograph Session on Souvenir Row for the fans from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and hot laps are scheduled for 7 p.m.
The September 20 racing program will feature the XDCS Consolation Races, the $20,000-to-win 100-lap XDCS main event, plus feature races for the Sportsman, Econo Bomber, and Super Bomber Divisions.
For a limited time, fans can save up to 25 percent on Xtreme DirtCar Series event tickets for the Rome Speedway Xtreme DirtCar Nationals by purchasing them now. Advance general admission grandstand seats are only $35 per person for the entire 2-day show.
Tickets can be charged by phone with their Visa/MasterCard by calling
(770) 926-5315 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Tickets purchased at the gate on race days will be priced higher. Rome Speedway is located four miles east of Rome, GA off U.S. Highway 411 on Chulio Road.
