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All Up In Your Grill
Favorite Stop: World of Outlaws Late Model Series Stars Look Forward To Another Delaware International Speedway Visit On Thursday Night (May 28)
World of Outlaws Late Model Series teams always look forward to visiting Delaware International Speedway, which hosts the national tour’s ‘First State 50’ this Thursday night (May 28).
But their reasons for making DIS a red-circle date on the series schedule go beyond what happens on the half-mile, semi-banked oval.
While the WoO LMS stars give Charlie Cathell’s Delaware International Speedway high rankings for its typically racy surface and superb facilities, it’s the track’s proximity to the Atlantic Ocean that gets them a bit more excited to steer their haulers there.
Thursday night’s 50-lap, $10,000-to-win program will mark the fifth time in the last six years that the WoO LMS has competed at Delaware International – and as most of the tour’s teams have done after the previous four events, a large contingent of Outlaws will head to the beach in Ocean City, Md., on Friday to enjoy some rare rest and relaxation in the midst of a busy racing schedule.
It’s become a tradition for the WoO LMS racers – battle hard on the Delaware International clay, then make the 45-minute drive over to Ocean City for an off-day filled with fun. More than half of the 16 teams that have entered every tour event this season plan to gather at the beach this Friday.
Well, they’ll make a run to the seashore as long as they don’t experience any catastrophes on Thursday night.
“At Delaware (International), you’re thinking, ‘Keep the fenders on the car so we can go to the beach,’” smiled 2008 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year Vic Coffey of Caledonia, N.Y., who paid his first visit to Ocean City with the Outlaws clan after last year’s show at DIS. “You definitely want to be able to spend a nice, relaxing day at the beach without thinking, ‘I have a car in the trailer that’s all wadded up.’”
Coffey and his Sweeteners Plus Racing crew are primed and ready to tear up Ocean City this Friday. Other WoO LMS drivers who have indicated they plan to join Coffey and Co. in the OC include Rick Eckert of York, Pa., who owns a rental home in the town; Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa.; Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga.; Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga.; Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y.; Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill.; and Rookie of the Year contenders Jordan Bland of Campbellsville, Ky., Russell King of Bristolville, Ohio, and Dustin Hapka of Grand Forks, N.D.
In addition, new ’09 WoO LMS regular Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis., has been asking what all the fuss is about Ocean City, and 14-year-old rookie Tyler Reddick of Corning, Calif., appeared ready to press his parents to make the trip over after hearing about the bustling beach.
The only WoO LMS regulars who haven’t said they’re considering a trip to Ocean City are points leader Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va.; defending champion Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., who won WoO LMS events at DIS in 2005 and 2008; Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., who will likely spend Friday at his car owner Dale Beitler’s shop in Maryland; and rookie Brent Robinson of Smithfield, Va., who plans to return to his garage after Thursday’s action.
Yes, Ocean City will be invaded by Outlaws on Friday. As in past visits, you can expect them to gather in the morning along the Ocean City boardwalk, where they’ll choose sides for a marathon session of volleyball in the sand (“The World of Outlaws Beach Volleyball Tour,” quipped Coffey) and get some periodic refreshment at the Purple Moose Saloon. They’ll also probably race some go-karts, play a round of miniature golf and eat tasty beach food before turning their attention to Saturday night’s racing program at Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway.
It’s a day of camaraderie among the competitive-but-friendly Outlaws, a welcome respite from the tour’s grueling travel schedule.
“We try to have a good time anywhere we go,” said Frank, the 47-year-old standout who won the 2007 WoO LMS ‘First State 50’ at Delaware International. “It’s a little easier (to have fun) after we run at Delaware. I know my wife and crew are always excited for the Delaware race because that means we’ll probably go to the beach.”
The Ocean City excursion will be even more enjoyable for a driver coming off a victory at Delaware International Speedway, and that’s what all the WoO LMS stars will be shooting for on Thursday night. Competition has been fierce on this year’s tour, with Francis standing as the only driver with more than one win (he’s captured three A-Mains) through 11 events.
The Outlaws will face off with a strong group of Mid-Atlantic racers led by Ricky Elliott of Seaford, Del., who has come close to winning the WoO LMS event at the track just 20 minutes from his home. Others expected include Richard Jarvis Jr. of Ocean City, Md., whose two wins this season at DIS include last Saturday night’s feature; 17-year-old Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., who scored a WoO LMS career-high finish of seventh in his last A-Main start on April 18 at Virginia Motor Speedway; Kenny and David Pettyjohn of Georgetown, Del.; David Hill of Trappe, Md.; Donald Lingo Jr. of Millsboro, Del.; Jeremy Miller of Gettysburg, Pa.; and Jamie Lathroum of Mechanicsville, Md.
The ‘First State 50’ comes at the start of the spring NASCAR weekend at Dover International Speedway, which sits just 50 miles north of the dirt track.
Gates are scheduled to open at 5 p.m. and racing is set to begin at 7 p.m. on Thursday.
General admission is $26 for adults, $5 for children 7-13 and free for kids 6-and-under. Reserved seats are $30 for adults and $9 for children 7-13, and pit admission is $35 for adults, $10 for children 7-13 and free for kids 6-and-under.
For more information visit Delaware Motorsports Complex or call the track office at 302-875-1911.
Additional info on the WoO LMS is available by logging on to World of Outlaws Entry Page.
World of Outlaws Late Model Series teams always look forward to visiting Delaware International Speedway, which hosts the national tour’s ‘First State 50’ this Thursday night (May 28).
But their reasons for making DIS a red-circle date on the series schedule go beyond what happens on the half-mile, semi-banked oval.
While the WoO LMS stars give Charlie Cathell’s Delaware International Speedway high rankings for its typically racy surface and superb facilities, it’s the track’s proximity to the Atlantic Ocean that gets them a bit more excited to steer their haulers there.
Thursday night’s 50-lap, $10,000-to-win program will mark the fifth time in the last six years that the WoO LMS has competed at Delaware International – and as most of the tour’s teams have done after the previous four events, a large contingent of Outlaws will head to the beach in Ocean City, Md., on Friday to enjoy some rare rest and relaxation in the midst of a busy racing schedule.
It’s become a tradition for the WoO LMS racers – battle hard on the Delaware International clay, then make the 45-minute drive over to Ocean City for an off-day filled with fun. More than half of the 16 teams that have entered every tour event this season plan to gather at the beach this Friday.
Well, they’ll make a run to the seashore as long as they don’t experience any catastrophes on Thursday night.
“At Delaware (International), you’re thinking, ‘Keep the fenders on the car so we can go to the beach,’” smiled 2008 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year Vic Coffey of Caledonia, N.Y., who paid his first visit to Ocean City with the Outlaws clan after last year’s show at DIS. “You definitely want to be able to spend a nice, relaxing day at the beach without thinking, ‘I have a car in the trailer that’s all wadded up.’”
Coffey and his Sweeteners Plus Racing crew are primed and ready to tear up Ocean City this Friday. Other WoO LMS drivers who have indicated they plan to join Coffey and Co. in the OC include Rick Eckert of York, Pa., who owns a rental home in the town; Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa.; Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga.; Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga.; Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y.; Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill.; and Rookie of the Year contenders Jordan Bland of Campbellsville, Ky., Russell King of Bristolville, Ohio, and Dustin Hapka of Grand Forks, N.D.
In addition, new ’09 WoO LMS regular Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis., has been asking what all the fuss is about Ocean City, and 14-year-old rookie Tyler Reddick of Corning, Calif., appeared ready to press his parents to make the trip over after hearing about the bustling beach.
The only WoO LMS regulars who haven’t said they’re considering a trip to Ocean City are points leader Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va.; defending champion Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., who won WoO LMS events at DIS in 2005 and 2008; Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., who will likely spend Friday at his car owner Dale Beitler’s shop in Maryland; and rookie Brent Robinson of Smithfield, Va., who plans to return to his garage after Thursday’s action.
Yes, Ocean City will be invaded by Outlaws on Friday. As in past visits, you can expect them to gather in the morning along the Ocean City boardwalk, where they’ll choose sides for a marathon session of volleyball in the sand (“The World of Outlaws Beach Volleyball Tour,” quipped Coffey) and get some periodic refreshment at the Purple Moose Saloon. They’ll also probably race some go-karts, play a round of miniature golf and eat tasty beach food before turning their attention to Saturday night’s racing program at Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway.
It’s a day of camaraderie among the competitive-but-friendly Outlaws, a welcome respite from the tour’s grueling travel schedule.
“We try to have a good time anywhere we go,” said Frank, the 47-year-old standout who won the 2007 WoO LMS ‘First State 50’ at Delaware International. “It’s a little easier (to have fun) after we run at Delaware. I know my wife and crew are always excited for the Delaware race because that means we’ll probably go to the beach.”
The Ocean City excursion will be even more enjoyable for a driver coming off a victory at Delaware International Speedway, and that’s what all the WoO LMS stars will be shooting for on Thursday night. Competition has been fierce on this year’s tour, with Francis standing as the only driver with more than one win (he’s captured three A-Mains) through 11 events.
The Outlaws will face off with a strong group of Mid-Atlantic racers led by Ricky Elliott of Seaford, Del., who has come close to winning the WoO LMS event at the track just 20 minutes from his home. Others expected include Richard Jarvis Jr. of Ocean City, Md., whose two wins this season at DIS include last Saturday night’s feature; 17-year-old Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., who scored a WoO LMS career-high finish of seventh in his last A-Main start on April 18 at Virginia Motor Speedway; Kenny and David Pettyjohn of Georgetown, Del.; David Hill of Trappe, Md.; Donald Lingo Jr. of Millsboro, Del.; Jeremy Miller of Gettysburg, Pa.; and Jamie Lathroum of Mechanicsville, Md.
The ‘First State 50’ comes at the start of the spring NASCAR weekend at Dover International Speedway, which sits just 50 miles north of the dirt track.
Gates are scheduled to open at 5 p.m. and racing is set to begin at 7 p.m. on Thursday.
General admission is $26 for adults, $5 for children 7-13 and free for kids 6-and-under. Reserved seats are $30 for adults and $9 for children 7-13, and pit admission is $35 for adults, $10 for children 7-13 and free for kids 6-and-under.
For more information visit Delaware Motorsports Complex or call the track office at 302-875-1911.
Additional info on the WoO LMS is available by logging on to World of Outlaws Entry Page.
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