By Bret Emrick
SHELBY, N.C. -- When the chase for the 2004 "Stacker 2 Cup" championship for the Stacker 2 Xtreme DirtCar Series gets underway in less than a month at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa (Gibsonton),FL a totally new look of talented drivers will greet the fans. And, it will be an exciting mix of cagey veterans battling the hunger of the "youth movement" that is taking over the sport of Xtreme DirtCar racing.
"Wow, what a talented mix of drivers the fans will get to cheer for during the upcoming season", stated Xtreme DirtCars,Inc. owner/president Doug Bland. "Brian Birkhofer, Jimmy Mars, Don O'Neal, Matt Miller, Earl Pearson Jr., Donnie Moran and Steve Shaver have all indicated that they will be following us. I'm excited about it because the Brian Birkhofer's and those guys are the future of our sport. These guys are the ones that are going to carry the torch on for the race fans down the road and these guys will be here for the long haul. And, we need future superstars for our sport."
A strong class of "rookie" drivers have decided to join the "veterans" for the 2004 Stacker 2 Xtreme DirtCar Series which pleases Bland immensely. "By far this is the strongest rookie class that has ever been in DirtCar racing", said Bland. "Billy Drake, Darren Miller, Shane Clanton, Jeep Van Wormer, Dennis Franklin and Jeff Choquette; those guys, a couple of them, could win a championship for that matter."
Bland feels that the "youth movement" is the right package for the right time when a person looks "long term and big picture". "It's like a ferris wheel", said Bland. "There are some drivers that are well known in DirtCar racing that are close to the end of their careers. But you can't get caught up in that, keep pushing these guys as the superstars. You have to keep continually filling the pipeline with new talent and bring these guys along and use them in your advertising and really grow the sport with new faces and new names. And there are so many talented drivers that I like said before, you have to have a steady mix of young drivers and drivers that are maybe in the middle of their careers and obviously you need the veterans out there because they have such a great fan base. You have to have a good mix. I really think there is going to be a changing of the guard here in DirtCar racing in the next few years."
When asked what type of schedule the drivers will see for 2004 Bland stated, "The schedule is 90-95% complete. We're just finishing up a couple of dates and we should have the schedule finalized prior to the Sunoco Motorsports Show in Philadelphia this week. We're very excited about it. A couple of things have delayed the release of the schedule. One is the IROC situation. We're trying to wait until their schedule comes out because we're going to have one our drivers, Brian Birkhofer, be a test driver this year in IROC's test program and that will make our 2004 champion eligible to compete in the IROC Series in 2005."
Having the invitation to compete in the IROC series is just one of the perks the 2004 "Stacker 2 Cup" champion will receive. "$60,000 in cash and a 2004 H2 Hummer and an opportunity to race in the IROC Series", said Bland. "The Hummer is valued at $60,000 so the championship is basically $120,000 in cash and prizes and last place in IROC pays $80,000!. Just to finish last in all four IROC races pays $80,000. And IROC coverage is worldwide. The Goodyear Tire Co. was integral in helping us to get that together."
The drivers declaring for the 2004 Lucas Oil "Rookie of the Year" will also be chasing some very strong year-end awards. "The rookie will receive $10,000 in cash, roughly $10,000 in a contingency package and then a brand new 2004 Harley-Davidson motorcyle", said Bland. "And the Lucas Oil rookie runner-up will receive a $2,500 cash award."
With the 2004 season just around the corner Bland is extremely anxious to get the season underway. "We've got a list of over 65 drivers who verbally told us that they were going to be at East Bay Raceway Park", explained Bland. "Many people will be there for the first time so I expect our car count to be very similar to years past. I think people that have never been to East Bay in the past are coming this year because they feel that have a chance to be competitive. It's never going to be easier to be competitive on our series than it will this year as far as things being equal and things not having to cost as much as in the past."
"Al Varnadore and Todd Hutto at East Bay, they understand and believe in what we're trying to do. They are looking towards the future and that's what gets me excited because they understand the big picture of what we are trying to accomplish. Every year the 'Winternationals' can just get bigger and bigger and bigger by having Stacker 2, and by having the Goodyear Tire Co. blimp flying over the event. It just puts it at a new level and give it notoriety that it never had before."
"When the fans walk through the gates that first night at East Bay and they see that Stacker 2 48' Interactive display unit and theor promotional models giving out free T-shirts and doing interactive games and they'll have a DJ booth built into the trailer and playing music....... It's a whole new thing for the fans of dirt racing to get involved in that they have never seen before. Dirt racing has never seen anything else like this and I think people are going to be impressed with what they see. It's a great way to start the season off on a track that is three-wide and where a driver can win the race after starting 20th. Any other track down there you can't do that. Al and his guys always give the drivers a good racing surface to entertain the fans and compete on."
The 2004 Stacker 2 Xtreme DirtCar Series season will officially get underway at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa (Gibsonton),FL for the February 2 - 7 "28th Winterationals" at the semi-banked 1/3rd mile clay oval. The Northern Xtreme DirtCar Series will sanction the Monday, Wednesday and Friday events while the Stacker 2 Xtreme DirtCar Series will sanction the other three nights of action. Arrangements have been made for a winning lucky fan attending the "Winternationals" to experience the "ride of a lifetime" with an airborne excursion aboard the Goodyear blimp. Any fan who has already purchased an advanced ticket and those fans purchasing advanced tickets through January 15, 2004 for the "Winternationals" will be eligible for this unique promotion. One name from all advanced ticket purchasers will be drawn at random with that person receiving the prize, courtesy of the Goodyear Tire Co.
Advanced reserved seat tickets can be purchased for single nights of racing, in a combo package for the three Northern Xtreme DirtCar Series sanctioned nights or the three Stacker 2 Xtreme DirtCar Series sanctioned nights or in a combo package for all six nights of racing. Single night advanced reserved seat ticket prices range, depending on seat selection, from $25.00 to $35.00 for the February 2 - 5 races and range in price from $25.00 to $40.00 for the February 6 and 7 races. A three-day combo pass is priced at $105.00 and a six-day combo pass is $200.00. Combo ticket prices are good until January 21, 2004. Three-day and six-day combo passes are not available below row 14.
Childrens tickets, general admission only, are 1/2 price. All credit card orders will be assessed a $5.00 handling charge. Pit admission tickets will be sold the day of the event only. Reserved camping at the track is also available for a nominal fee.
East Bay Raceway Park has also arranged for discounted lodging at the Holiday Inn City Centre in Tampa (800) 513-8940, Ramada Inn on Tampa Bay in Apollo Beach (800) 67-BEACH and Sleep Inn and Suites in Ellenton (941) 721-4933. For the "racers rate discount" mention East Bay Raceway Park.
To order advanced reserved tickets, reserved camping or for further information phone East Bay Raceway Park Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm at 813-677-7223, toll free at 877-457-5611 or visit the EBRP website located at www.eastbayracewaypark.com.
SHELBY, N.C. -- When the chase for the 2004 "Stacker 2 Cup" championship for the Stacker 2 Xtreme DirtCar Series gets underway in less than a month at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa (Gibsonton),FL a totally new look of talented drivers will greet the fans. And, it will be an exciting mix of cagey veterans battling the hunger of the "youth movement" that is taking over the sport of Xtreme DirtCar racing.
"Wow, what a talented mix of drivers the fans will get to cheer for during the upcoming season", stated Xtreme DirtCars,Inc. owner/president Doug Bland. "Brian Birkhofer, Jimmy Mars, Don O'Neal, Matt Miller, Earl Pearson Jr., Donnie Moran and Steve Shaver have all indicated that they will be following us. I'm excited about it because the Brian Birkhofer's and those guys are the future of our sport. These guys are the ones that are going to carry the torch on for the race fans down the road and these guys will be here for the long haul. And, we need future superstars for our sport."
A strong class of "rookie" drivers have decided to join the "veterans" for the 2004 Stacker 2 Xtreme DirtCar Series which pleases Bland immensely. "By far this is the strongest rookie class that has ever been in DirtCar racing", said Bland. "Billy Drake, Darren Miller, Shane Clanton, Jeep Van Wormer, Dennis Franklin and Jeff Choquette; those guys, a couple of them, could win a championship for that matter."
Bland feels that the "youth movement" is the right package for the right time when a person looks "long term and big picture". "It's like a ferris wheel", said Bland. "There are some drivers that are well known in DirtCar racing that are close to the end of their careers. But you can't get caught up in that, keep pushing these guys as the superstars. You have to keep continually filling the pipeline with new talent and bring these guys along and use them in your advertising and really grow the sport with new faces and new names. And there are so many talented drivers that I like said before, you have to have a steady mix of young drivers and drivers that are maybe in the middle of their careers and obviously you need the veterans out there because they have such a great fan base. You have to have a good mix. I really think there is going to be a changing of the guard here in DirtCar racing in the next few years."
When asked what type of schedule the drivers will see for 2004 Bland stated, "The schedule is 90-95% complete. We're just finishing up a couple of dates and we should have the schedule finalized prior to the Sunoco Motorsports Show in Philadelphia this week. We're very excited about it. A couple of things have delayed the release of the schedule. One is the IROC situation. We're trying to wait until their schedule comes out because we're going to have one our drivers, Brian Birkhofer, be a test driver this year in IROC's test program and that will make our 2004 champion eligible to compete in the IROC Series in 2005."
Having the invitation to compete in the IROC series is just one of the perks the 2004 "Stacker 2 Cup" champion will receive. "$60,000 in cash and a 2004 H2 Hummer and an opportunity to race in the IROC Series", said Bland. "The Hummer is valued at $60,000 so the championship is basically $120,000 in cash and prizes and last place in IROC pays $80,000!. Just to finish last in all four IROC races pays $80,000. And IROC coverage is worldwide. The Goodyear Tire Co. was integral in helping us to get that together."
The drivers declaring for the 2004 Lucas Oil "Rookie of the Year" will also be chasing some very strong year-end awards. "The rookie will receive $10,000 in cash, roughly $10,000 in a contingency package and then a brand new 2004 Harley-Davidson motorcyle", said Bland. "And the Lucas Oil rookie runner-up will receive a $2,500 cash award."
With the 2004 season just around the corner Bland is extremely anxious to get the season underway. "We've got a list of over 65 drivers who verbally told us that they were going to be at East Bay Raceway Park", explained Bland. "Many people will be there for the first time so I expect our car count to be very similar to years past. I think people that have never been to East Bay in the past are coming this year because they feel that have a chance to be competitive. It's never going to be easier to be competitive on our series than it will this year as far as things being equal and things not having to cost as much as in the past."
"Al Varnadore and Todd Hutto at East Bay, they understand and believe in what we're trying to do. They are looking towards the future and that's what gets me excited because they understand the big picture of what we are trying to accomplish. Every year the 'Winternationals' can just get bigger and bigger and bigger by having Stacker 2, and by having the Goodyear Tire Co. blimp flying over the event. It just puts it at a new level and give it notoriety that it never had before."
"When the fans walk through the gates that first night at East Bay and they see that Stacker 2 48' Interactive display unit and theor promotional models giving out free T-shirts and doing interactive games and they'll have a DJ booth built into the trailer and playing music....... It's a whole new thing for the fans of dirt racing to get involved in that they have never seen before. Dirt racing has never seen anything else like this and I think people are going to be impressed with what they see. It's a great way to start the season off on a track that is three-wide and where a driver can win the race after starting 20th. Any other track down there you can't do that. Al and his guys always give the drivers a good racing surface to entertain the fans and compete on."
The 2004 Stacker 2 Xtreme DirtCar Series season will officially get underway at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa (Gibsonton),FL for the February 2 - 7 "28th Winterationals" at the semi-banked 1/3rd mile clay oval. The Northern Xtreme DirtCar Series will sanction the Monday, Wednesday and Friday events while the Stacker 2 Xtreme DirtCar Series will sanction the other three nights of action. Arrangements have been made for a winning lucky fan attending the "Winternationals" to experience the "ride of a lifetime" with an airborne excursion aboard the Goodyear blimp. Any fan who has already purchased an advanced ticket and those fans purchasing advanced tickets through January 15, 2004 for the "Winternationals" will be eligible for this unique promotion. One name from all advanced ticket purchasers will be drawn at random with that person receiving the prize, courtesy of the Goodyear Tire Co.
Advanced reserved seat tickets can be purchased for single nights of racing, in a combo package for the three Northern Xtreme DirtCar Series sanctioned nights or the three Stacker 2 Xtreme DirtCar Series sanctioned nights or in a combo package for all six nights of racing. Single night advanced reserved seat ticket prices range, depending on seat selection, from $25.00 to $35.00 for the February 2 - 5 races and range in price from $25.00 to $40.00 for the February 6 and 7 races. A three-day combo pass is priced at $105.00 and a six-day combo pass is $200.00. Combo ticket prices are good until January 21, 2004. Three-day and six-day combo passes are not available below row 14.
Childrens tickets, general admission only, are 1/2 price. All credit card orders will be assessed a $5.00 handling charge. Pit admission tickets will be sold the day of the event only. Reserved camping at the track is also available for a nominal fee.
East Bay Raceway Park has also arranged for discounted lodging at the Holiday Inn City Centre in Tampa (800) 513-8940, Ramada Inn on Tampa Bay in Apollo Beach (800) 67-BEACH and Sleep Inn and Suites in Ellenton (941) 721-4933. For the "racers rate discount" mention East Bay Raceway Park.
To order advanced reserved tickets, reserved camping or for further information phone East Bay Raceway Park Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm at 813-677-7223, toll free at 877-457-5611 or visit the EBRP website located at www.eastbayracewaypark.com.
