Fast Friends to Appear at SpeedwayEXPO
SpeedwayEXPO ’09 will feature a diverse group of special guests
Salisbury, MA — One of the most interesting groups of racing characters ever assembled will help kick off the Northeast racing season in style at the Big E in Springfield. Check out this star-studded lineup:
Steve Park–This Long Island native was a standout in the modified division before getting “the call” to drive a Busch car for Dale Earnhardt Sr. in 1996. That led to the Cup Series, where Steve earned two wins with DEI, including an emotional win at Rockingham a week after Earnhardt’s shocking death at Daytona. Steve returned to the Camping World East Series in 2008. (Left)
Matt Kobyluk–Last year he became the first Native American to win a NASCAR championship, taking four wins and the title in the Camping World East Series. A member of the Mohegan Nation, Kobyluk is sponsored by Mohegan Sun.
Ricky Craven–At age 15 he won Rookie of the Year at Maine’s Unity Raceway, starting him along a path that led from ACT to Busch North to the Busch Series, and eventually to Cup racing. His two career Cup wins include a dramatic paint-swapping duel with Kurt Busch at Darlington in 2003. (Left)
Mike Stefanik–He was handpicked for stardom by no less than Richie Evans, and he’s lived up to the billing, with eight Whelen Modified Tour championships and more feature wins than any other driver in Tour history. Named one of the top 10 NASCAR modified drivers of all time in 2003.
Bones Bourcier–The nationally acclaimed writer returns to New England, where he fell in love with racing during the heyday of the modified division. He has co-authored books with Cup star Tony Stewart and safety pioneer Bill Simpson, and has also compiled biographies of his childhood heroes, Richie Evans, Bugsy Stevens, and Eddie Flemke.
Ted Christopher–One of the most versatile drivers in New England,
Teddy has won in modifieds – including his first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship last year – SK’s, midgets, late models, supermodifieds, and has also run Busch, Sprint Cup, and even Rolex 24 races at Daytona. And he’s just as free-wheeling with his opinions as he is with his racing.(Left)
Dave Dion–He’s collaborated with radio personality Dave Moody on a critically acclaimed autobiography called Life Wide Open. It’s a fitting description of this late model legend’s career, as he has barnstormed the East Coast with his band of brothers, always in their signature Fords.
Renée Dupuis–She climbed the ladder from quarter-midgets to modifieds, and in 1999 became the only woman ever to win a modified feature at Riverside Park. She is also the first woman to record a top-10 finish on the Whelen Modified Tour, where she remains a consistent competitor. (Left)
Vaughn Gittin Jr.–One of the country’s top talents in the sport of drifting, Gittin provides a unique perspective at this year’s XPO: sideways.
Chris Castagna–This Virginian is one of the bright young lights in the Jetta TDI Cup, a grassroots road-racing series that features diesel-powered Volkswagens.
Corey Dripps and Mike Spaulding–These dirt-trackers are serious winners in the United States Modified Touring Series. And, as you will see, they also know how to have a seriously good time. (Left)
Coupons ($5 off) for discount admission to SpeedwayEXPO will soon be available at more than 160 participating Sunoco dealers throughout New England. Tickets can also be purchased in advance to save $5 off the price at the gate ($16 for adults, children 10 and under free). These money-saving tickets are available at 978-465-9099 x 103 (ask for Barbara) or online at SpeedwayEXPO.com.
Produced by Speedway Illustrated Magazine and sponsored by Sunoco, SpeedwayEXPO will be at the Big E, in West Springfield, MA, Feb. 27 – March 1, 2009. It is the largest event for drivers, teams, tracks, and racing vendors in the Northeast. SpeedwayEXPO will launch the 2009 racing season with more than 200 new race cars and old favorites, and hundreds of exhibits for drivers, crews, and fans from a dozen states and Canada. Thousands of enthusiasts pack more than 130,000 square feet of exhibit space to take part in seminars and demonstrations; see retailers of racing gear and memorabilia; and meet today’s and yesterday’s racing celebrities.
For the latest information on SpeedwayEXPO presented by Sunoco and to sign up to receive the free SpeedwayEXPO ’09 E-newsletter, visit SpeedwayExpo.com.
Sources: Ted Hugger/SpeedwayEXPO PR