Hi there! Nice to be on board with Deon and I hope that you enjoy reading my columns. I will try to give you a little bit of everything, especially what is going on with the BRP Modified Tour series and its drivers.
The 2003 awards banquet was held in December at the Rocky Grove Fire Hall with over 175 people in attendance. Ron Smoker, point’s title champion was the big winner on and off the track this season. With 4 feature wins coming at Latrobe, Sharon, Tri City and Little Valley Speedways, Ron’s consistency point him at the top of the points pile for the second year in a row. At the banquet Ron was awarded $4,000 in cash for being the champion. He also received a BRP Modified Tour jacket, a pocket watch, his wife Jackie received a bracelet with a Modified Charm all from the Modified Tour. Ron also received a 1/10 scale replica Dirt Modified RC Car from Hooter Chassis and Hobby Shop. Ron also picked up the $500 S & W Auto Body Hard Charger Award money. Even though Ron’s plans for the 2004 season do not included Ron in Western Pennsylvania on a weekly basis as he has the past two years, Ron does plan on defending his 2002 and 2003 championship titles.
Twenty drivers received point fund money for the 2003 season and the rest of the gang behind Smoker include Kevin Bolland, Del Rougeux, Dave Murdick, Joe Crawford, Mark Flick, Skip Moore, Jimmy Weller, III, Andy Priest, Jim Rasey, Rick Hall, Rodney Beltz, Chanda Reitz, J.R. McGinley, George Hobaugh, Steve Barr, Carl Murdick, Lee Miller, Rex King and Jim Weller, Jr.
The 2004 season is looking very good as Modified Tour organizers have announced that for this season they will be paying back 24 positions. At the current time there are 10 races scheduled for the BRP Modified Tour series which include the following tracks: Tri City Speedway; Mercer Raceway Park; Lernerville Speedway; Central Pennsylvania Speedway; Merrittville Speedway in Thorold, Canada; Sharon Speedway; Raceway 7 and Latrobe Speedway. For more information and a copy of the schedule contact the BRP Modified Tour web site at www.modifiedtourinc.com.
Three of our local modified racers made the trip to Florida to compete with the DIRT series at Volusia County Speedway. Jim Rasey, Rex King and Russell King all let this frigid weather and headed for warmer, sunnier skies. Jim’s best finish of the three races was 11th and Rex’s best finish was 13th. Russell was just making his debut in a modified, and despite not making any of the races was very close a couple of nights. Russell was the youngest racer in Florida. At the age of 14, Russell’s 2004 plans include a full season at Tri City Speedway and his father Rex plans on making a full assault at Sharon Speedway for 2004.
There have been quite a few Bicknell cars purchased over the winter. Some of the drivers that have taken ownership include Gary Risch, Sr., Darrell Combs, and Brian Swartzlander purchased a Bicknell that was run by Pete Bicknell just a couple of races. Phil Evans bought one of Josh Skarzenski’s cars. Some of you may have heard that Josh Skarzenski plans on running full time this season at Sharon and Tri City in both his big block modified as well as in an e-mod. Taking care of his business and running these two cars should keep Josh very busy this season. Del Rougeux has three cars ready for the 2004 season. Del plans on running at Sharon and going back to defend his championship title at Tri City as well as running the Modified Tour series.
Brad Rapp is going to make his debut in the family owned #11R this season and plans on competing in the Small Block division at Central Pennsylvania Speedway. Brad has been racing go-karts the past several years and with an approaching 16th birthday, plans to fill the seat of his dad’s race car. We wish Brad the best of luck in 2004!
J. R. McGinley is changing his looks for this season going with an all-new color scheme on his Olsen modified. J. R. is planning on running at Lernerville Speedway and with the BRP Modified Tour. This season is J.R. is going to be running in memory of his late grandfather; Dick Rankin who was killed in a work related accident in August of 2003.
Of course, I cannot talk about the big block modifieds without mentioning that Mark Flick will be back running for Lon and I in the #2 modified this season. We have changed our look for 2004 moving from the red cars to yellow. It is definitely going to be a different look for us as well, but we hope that we are able to visit victory lane a couple of times this season. The highlight of our car ownership came last season when Mark visited victory lane at Sharon on July 12th. We have helped many race teams over the years, starting with George Bischoff who just had his total win streak broke this year by Ed Lynch, Jr. at Sharon, but we have to say that having our own car win was the best! We plan on running at Lernerville Speedway, Sharon Speedway and with the BRP Modified Tour. We have some new sponsors this season which include Pizza Logs and Tri County Homes, Inc. along with last years sponsors Townsend Gas and Oil and S.L. Express.
Did you ever think that you would see 4 sheets of .040 aluminum being hauled in a Geo Metro? Well folks, it can be done. Joe Crawford was at Big Daddy’s Speed Center the other day and believe it or not hauled 4 big sheets of aluminum home with him. How did he do it? We they were rolled up and shoved into the back of the car. There were several of us there who were betting that it couldn’t happen, but of course Joe proved us wrong. Speaking of Joe, his brother-in-law Chris Schiffer plans on coming back into racing this season after sitting out a year. He would like to run at Tri City and with the Modified Tour series.
Big Daddy’s Speed Center is building a new building at Rick Hall’s Safety Equipment location and could possibly in by the end of the summer. Look for upcoming news about their new location.
Don’t forget the upcoming race car shows. Tri City Speedway will be hosting their show at the Cranberry Mall in Cranberry, PA from Thursday, February 26th through Sunday February 29th. Lon and I will be hosting the Clarion Mall Race Car from Friday, March 5th through Sunday, March 7th. This mall is located just off of Exit 62, Interstate –80, Clarion, PA. Stop by and see us!!!!
Pam
