Johnny Benson Appearance UPDATE
Saturday, March 8th, 8:25 am

The Gater Photo Racing News would like to thank Oswego & Adirondack Speedways for all their efforts in coordinating Johnny's appearance at the Expo.  "We worked with Johnny [Benson] and all parties involved made every attempt to get him here." according to Joe Patrick, Expo organizer.  Unfortunately, for reasons out of our control, Johnny Benson will not be making an appearance at the Motorsports Expo this weekend.  

"The rest of the show is in full swing and bigger and better than ever " according to Expo officials.  The weather at this point in Syracuse is "OK" , we had a little rain but the roads seem to be fine at this point.  So, come on over to the NY State Fair Grounds and the Toyota Exhibition Center to kick off the 2008 race season.  

Johnny Benson Appearance
Thursday, March 6th

Johnny Benson has been scheduled to appear at this year's Motorsports Expo.  Since booking to appear at  the Expo, Johnny has been offered a ride in this Sunday's Sprint Cup NASCAR race.  Johnny will attempt to qualify on Friday for Sunday's race.  If successful Johnny will be in sunny Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday doing what he does best.  If he fails to qualify he will be making the trip to Syracuse, New York after he finishes his Craftsman Truck race on Friday evening. We wish Johnny all the best in qualifying!  Stay tuned for updates.

 

11^th Ms. DIRTcar Crowned At Motorsports Expo This Weekend

 Weedsport, NY – March 4, 2008 – By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar NorthEast PR Director

 The crowning of Ms. DIRTcar 2008 will kick-off the opening night of the 22^nd  Annual Motorsports Exposition & Trade Show, March 7-9 in the Cargill Exhibit Center on the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, N.Y. The Ms. DIRTcar competition will take place on Fri., March 7 beginning at 7 p.m. Each entry in the 11^th  Ms. DIRTcar contest will be judged in rounds of both sportswear and swimsuit competition plus a special on-stage interview session.

 The overall winner on Friday will receive a $500.00 award from Leaf Racewear, while the first and second runner-ups will collect trophies supplied by DIRTcar Northeast. The first engagement for Ms. DIRTcar 2008 will be a return visit to the show during the weekend for special appearances and photo shoots.

 "The pageant has become a staple over the years and we're proud to be involved with such a classy event," said Paul Latella, Director of Sales and Promotions for Leaf Racewear. "Just like in our business looking good is what makes the difference. The staff at Gater Racing News always presents a first class show and continuing to include this contest will make it even more attractive."

 Based in both London, Ontario and Port Huron, Michigan, Leaf Racewear & Safety Equipment, Inc. has been manufacturing and distributing quality racing safety equipment worldwide for two decades. The Leaf line of products, including race suits, gloves, shoes, crew apparel and safety accessories, have been designed to meet and exceed current SFI (SEMA ---Speed Equipment Manufacturers Association--- Foundation Inc.) quality assurance specifications and requirements for virtually all forms of racing competition.

 Since its inception, the Ms. DIRTcar contest has been recognized as a proven training ground for the Northeast-based Ms. Motorsports contest held annually in January.  The 2006 Ms. DIRTcar, Chelsea Miller, from Langhorne, Pa. and Garden State queen Kimberly Whitehead are the primary examples. Miller was recently crowned Ms. Motorsports ’07 in Atlantic City, N.J. while inaugural (1997) Ms. DIRTcar Whitehead from Sussex, N.J. captured the Ms. Motorsports title the following year. Western New Yorker Mandy Ireland ('98), Pennsylvanian Mandy Fenstermacher ('00) and Eastern New Yorker Wendy Congleton ('01) earned Ms. DIRTcar acclaim while New Jersey winner Cara Foss represented DIRTcar Northeast in 2002 and Dana Marie Hastings from Delaware wore the '03 crown. Central New Yorkers Judy Stroud ('04), Jackie Cecile (’05), and Western New Yorker Angela Galati (’07) have also garnered Ms. DIRTcar titles.

 Defending titlist, Galati, will make an appearance at this year’s Ms. DIRTcar to abdicate her crown to the 2008 contest winner.

 Throughout the upcoming race season, Ms. DIRTcar '08 will appear at select Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series race events and conclude her tenure during Super DIRT Week XXXVII, Oct. 9-12, at Syracuse and at the annual DIRTcar NorthEast Awards Banquet in Autumn.

 Contact event coordinator Joe Patrick at Gater Racing News (315/457-0175) for further information or to receive an official 2008 Ms. DIRTcar Contest application form. That same form is also available for print-out by logging into www.gaternews.com/expo.html and scrolling down to click on the Ms. DIRTcar Competition Entry Form or going directly to www.gaternews.com/expo/msdirt2006.pdf. For additional information regarding Leaf Racewear, call toll free at 1-800-731-7735 (North America) or 519/659-1115 (outside N.A.). E-mail can be sent to and orders placed on-line at leaf@leafracewear.com.

 The DIRT MotorSports™ Advance Auto Parts Modified Series 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., F.X. Caprara Car Companies and the University of Northwestern Ohio and the contingency sponsors are Bert Transmission, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix Cylinder Heads, DART Machinery, Holley HP Carburetors, MSD Ignitions, Miller Electric Manufacturing Company and Wrisco Industries.

Advance Auto Parts Series Stars To Sign Autographs At Motorsports Expo '08

 Weedsport, NY – March 3, 2008 – By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing NorthEast PR Director

 Participation by many of the cars and stars from the DIRTcar Racing NorthEast circuit has only served to heightened anticipation for the arrival of Motorsports Expo '08, March 7-9, in the Toyota Exhibit Center at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse.

A handful of Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series drivers are scheduled to be in attendance for the 21^st Annual Exposition & Trade Show presented by the staff at Gater Racing Photo News, with the current list headed by Big-Block Modified standouts Gary Tomkins, Jimmy Phelps, Dale Planck and Ryan Phelps plus 15-year old speedster Larry Wight.

 Each of these drivers will be on site Saturday at 1pm for a special autograph session that also offers plenty of photo opportunities. They will be available to answer questions and reveal their race plans for the upcoming season, with Planck expounding on his own success found at the recently concluded Alltel DIRTcar Nationals in Florida.

 Along with the no. 84 Honeoye Auto Parts entry steered by 2004 Mr. DIRTcar Modified Champion Tomkins, the Big-Block cars of Sean Beardsley (#18) and rookie Paul Guererri (#7), 358-Modified mount of Scott Kerwin (#7K) representing Ransomville, Sportsman rides of Earl Rudy (#16), Matt Smith (#1), Todd Town (#17T) and Dan Wiesner (#66), Pro Stock mount of Mike Vaughn (#11) plus the 4-Cylinder stocker of Brad Rathburn (#91) representing Black Rock will also be on display around the centrally located ‘DIRTcar Land’ throughout the weekend.

 "This year the show comes just two weeks before our first Advance Auto Parts Series points race at Hagerstown (Mar. 22) so there will be a lot of excitement building from all the fans and drivers stopping by," said DIRTcar NorthEast Director of Competition & Track Sanctioning Cory Reed. "And that means only one more month before our own season starts, giving everybody here even more to talk about. We're already eager to get back on the track after running in Florida and I'm sure the fans are even hungrier now with car shows swinging into full gear closer to home."

 Helping make ‘DIRTcar Land’ the biggest ever at Motorsports Expo ’08, Black Rock Speedway, Canandaigua Speedway, Cayuga County Fair Speedway, Humberstone Speedway, Ransomville Speedway and Rolling Wheels Raceway Park information areas will be active during the three-day show as track representatives will be providing schedule cards as well as supplying important news about each individual speedway.

Plenty of videos from last race season will be stocked in the DIRTcar booth, where teammates can fill out an official 2008 DIRTcar License application form, learn about ‘08 rule book updates and pick up major series race schedules. Younger race fans (ages 10-14, $40; 9 & under, $20) are encouraged to register and become members of DIRTcar Racing NorthEast's Kids Club. This club began in '06 with kids receiving free admission to regular shows at both Cayuga County and Canandaigua speedways plus additional membership perks.

 The crowning of Ms. DIRTcar 2008 highlights the first day of activity during the Exposition & Trade Show, with competition taking place Fri., March 7 beginning at 7 p.m. Each entry in the 11^th Ms. DIRTcar contest will be judged in the customary round of sportswear plus a special on-stage interview session.

 The New York State Fairgrounds is located on State Fair Blvd., off Route 690, only minutes west from downtown Syracuse. Show hours in the Toyota Exhibit Center are 5pm-10pm Fri., 11am-9pm Sat. and 11am-5pm on Sunday. For more information please contact Joe Patrick at 315/457-0175 during normal business hours.

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.