Two Canadians rookies recognized for their efforts on the DIRTcar Racing NE Circuit In 2007

Weedsport, NY - Headed by Motorsports Safety Systems/G-FORCE Rookie of the Year award winners Mike Bowman (Advance Auto Parts Big-Block Modified), Eric Landry (358-Modified), Larry Wight (Sportsman) and Jocelyn Roy (UMP Pro Stock), the DIRTcar Racing NorthEast circuit boasted an influx of new talent during the 2007 season.

Those same four divisions accounted for 73 first-time feature winners in 663 events, meaning after every nine races there was a new face for fans to see in victory lane during the past season. And some of those same drivers made a return trip to the winner's circle, emerging even more familiar with solid showings in their respective home track point standings.

Of the 20 first-time DIRTcar Big-Block Modified winners, recently crowned Brewerton (NY) Speedway champion Willy Decker and New Jersey standout Ryan Godown led a half-dozen in repeat runs with four apiece. The mighty Modifieds staged 194 events at 29 tracks with 74 drivers taking checkered flags.

Chris Shultz, Jeremy Markle and Johnny Guarino logged inaugural Small-Block wins at Orange County Fair (NY) Speedway to pace a poised group of nine first-timers in the DIRTcar 358-Modified ranks. Seventeen tracks ran off 147 main events with 60 more drivers joining the finish line celebration.

A grand total of 34 new drivers graced victory lane in DIRTcar Sportsman competition with a dozen promoters handing out trophies to at least one first-time winner. In all, 81 different drivers showed their prowess in 222 features contested at 16 tracks around the Northeast.

Exactly 100 main events were charted for the DIRTcar Racing UMP Pro Stocks in '07 and 27 drivers made their maiden voyage to victory lane at seven tracks. Two-time defending overall Hoosier Tire-Sunoco Race Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Pro Stock Champion Pete Stefanski led every DIRTcar division with 17 feature wins.

For their own accomplishments, '07 DIRTcar NE rookies Bowman, Landry, Wight and Roy collected a $700 package Motorsports Safety Systems at the season ending awards banquet in November that included a new G-FORCE helmet, set of six-point G-FORCE safety belts, one pair of G-FORCE driving gloves, and a $225 gift certificate toward the purchase of a HANS device. Bowman was also awarded a ButlerBuilt Racing Seat valued at $2,000.

2007 Motorsports Safety Systems/G-FORCE Racing Gear
DIRTcar NorthEast Rookies of the Year

MIKE BOWMAN - Baldwinsville, N.Y. (20 yrs.)
- driver of the no. 16 Klaben Nursery-Fulton Springs/Bicknell Big-Block Modified entry;
- competed at Cayuga Co. (16th pts/1 top-10), Brewerton (21st/3 top-10), Fulton (24th/1 top-10);
- finished 24th in overall Mr. DIRTcar Modified points (9th-place best at Cayuga County);

ERIC LANDRY - Trois-Rivieres, QUE (26 yrs.)
- driver of the no. 81 D'Artagnon's Bar/Bicknell 358-Modified entry;
- competed at autodromes Drummond (12th pts/4 top-5, 7 to-10) and Granby (20th pts);
- finished 28th in overall Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified points (19th-place best at Drummond).

LARRY WIGHT - Phoenix, N.Y. (15 yrs.)
- driver of the no. 99 Gypsum Express-Stadium International/Bicknell Sportsman entry;
- competed at Can-Am (15th pts/3 top-5), Fulton (19th pts/2 top-5), Thunder Alley (16th pts/2 top-5);
- finished 8th in overall Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman pts (1 top-5, 4 top-10 finishes).

JOCELYN ROY - Ste-Helene, QUE (28 yrs.)
- driver of the no. 05 Roy Racing Products/Chevrolet Monte Carlo Pro Stock entry;
- competed at Cornwall (13th pts/2 Top-5); Semi-Pro at Drummond (11th pts), Granby (16th pts);
- finished 13th in overall Mr. DIRTcar Pro Stock pts standings (1 top-5, 3 top-10 finishes).

The Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series for Big-Block Modifieds is brought to fans across the Northeast by several sponsors and partners, including series sponsors Advance Auto Parts, Hoosier Racing Tire and Sunoco Race Fuels. Promotional partners include AMB i.t., Rite Aid Corporation and the University of Northwestern Ohio and the contingency sponsors are Bert Transmission, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Crane Cams, Integra Shocks, MSD Ignitions, Motorsports Safety Systems, Penske Shocks and Wrisco Industries.

From Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing NorthEast Public Relations Director