PENN YAN, NY — Blog By Race Chaser Online New York Dirt Track Correspondent Steven Ovens — Troyer Race Cars Photo —

2014 had a feeling to it on the dirt that made me feel like we are going through a bit of resurgence.  Instead of being on the decline, dirt track racing is making a comeback.  The economy landed a few uppercuts over the last 5-10 years, but short track racing still has a few left hooks up it’s sleeve.

One division that I thought took a big leap over the past year was the Sportsman Modified division.  Whether you are from the Open Sportsman or GM Crate Sportsman ranks, 2014 was a pretty good year for you.  This division seems to benefit from a couple of different factors including affordability, several different series to choose from to travel, a steady growth of young driving talent and now manufacturers jumping onboard to support the ‘little guys’ in ways they have never been supported in the past.

Sportsman Modifieds took it on the chin for many years about just being a support division, the step-sister to the sexy Dirt Big-Block Modified.  But it’s interesting to note that there are many dirt tracks across New York State that used to headline their nightly card with Modifieds that now see Sportsman Mods as their headliner.  Yates County Speedway (Black Rock), Freedom Motorsports Park and Raceway 5 come to mind first when I think of this concept on the local level.

But in 2014 Sportsman teams had many tracks to choose from and several series to choose from.  Of course the DIRTcar Sportsman Series was one option, but even that series has taken on more of a Western NY/Canada type of schedule.  Even though this series features the Dirt Modified drivers of the future, I think DIRTcar has fallen asleep at the wheel on the opportunity to promote these drivers of the future.  That is, except for one race held during Super DIRT Week- the DIRTcar Futures events.  Of course that is if you can afford to put a package together to race on the mile.

One series that is getting ready to begin season #3 of competition and continues to gain momentum heading into 2015 is the Grit Racing Series.  This series carried out an ambitious schedule last year and now plans a North and South Series to help the teams that want to travel to races but want to focus on either a North or South region of tracks.

Dates are being added even as I write this week’s blog so expect more to come out in the coming weeks right here at the Official Media Outlet of the Grit Racing Series.  In fact, just this week the Grit Series announced that they will be joining the Short Track Super Series at the Woodhull Raceway for the running of ‘Hustlin’ The Highbanks 51’ on Tuesday August 11^th.

Our new relationship with the Grit Racing Series is going to give Grit drivers an opportunity to tell their individual stories on a national stage.  Stay tuned to Race Chaser Online for Grit Racing Series driver profiles leading up to the season opener at Canandaigua Motorsports Park.

The King of Dirt Series is new to the Sportsman Modified fold and appears that it will focus entirely on the capital region tracks including Albany-Saratoga Speedway, Lebanon Valley Speedway and the Fonda Speedway.  The six-race series will be the inaugural run ‘To Crown a King’ for promoter Rob Hazer and the KoD.

With all of the recent changes coming about for the Sportsman Modifieds, one change could potentially benefit them in a very big way.  Troyer Race Cars has created the Troyer Sportsman Cup incentive program that will pit Sportsman Modified competitors all across the dirt track landscape against one another in a battle for the best set of finishes in a Troyer chassis.

Drivers will submit their weekly finishes to Troyer to accumulate season points toward the Troyer Cup.  The rules are as follows:

1. Your top 20 finishes at any dirt surface track (Does not need to be D.I.R.T CAR sanctioned) counts toward the year end overall points. 
2. Points will be cumulated at the end of the season and results posted on Troyerracecars.com and the Troyer Race Cars Facebook page. 
3. All finishes must be in a Troyer Chassis
4. Competitors must register for the Troyer Sportsman Cup on TroyerRaceCars.com
5. A Troyer issued serial number will be required for registration. If a serial number cannot be located on the chassis please contact us atInfo@Troyerracecars.com or 585-352-5590 for verification
6. All results must be reported on TroyerRaceCars.com within 5 days of race
7. Wins must be reported with a victory lane photo attached
8. A provided Troyer Sportsman Cup Decal must be run on the top front outside corner of each door or on the upper outside of each quarter panel for a car to be eligible for series points
9. A provided Troyer Sportsman Cup patch should be placed on chest of driving suit and a photo submitted of driver wearing the suit
10. Troyer Racecars reserves the right to name double points Special shows throughout the year
11. These special shows will be listed in the spring on TroyerRaceCars.com
12. Prizes will be awarded at the National Parts Peddler Show in Syracuse in November 2015
13. Winners must be present at Parts Peddler to collect prizes
14. All decisions regarding rules, eligibility, prizes, prize breakdown, and the contest are under the sole discretion of Troyer Inc.
15. All decisions made by Troyer Inc. are final and non debatable.
16. All contest rules and prizes are subject to change under the sole discretion of Troyer Inc. 

 

The payout for the Top 5 is quite substantial and could set a team up quite nicely to win races and championships in the 2016 season.  Top 5 Payout and Points structure are as follows:

 

*Overall Payout – $29,725.00* as of 10/23/14

*Payout based on estimated retail value of prizes

1st PLACE: $10,000 (Chassis, Body, Bumpers, Side Bars, Body Mounts, + $1500 in Troyer Bucks)

2nd Place: $5,000 (Chassis, Bumpers, Body Mounts, + $300 Troyer Bucks)

3rd Place: $2,500 (Troyer Bucks)

4th Place: $1,500 (Troyer Bucks)

5th Place: $1,000 (Troyer Bucks)

Additional Prizes Provided by Series Industry Partners

Product distribution will be announced before race season.

Saldana Racing Products – Radiator – $500 Value

Winters Performance – Lightweight Front End Kit – $1,300 Value

Integra Racing Shocks – 4 Shocks – $750 Value

Vahlco Wheels – 4 Wheels – $1,000 Value

Wilwood Engineering – Complete Brake System – $1,450 Value

Kirkey Racing Fabrication – 69000 Full Containment Seat – $700 Value

FK Rod Ends – Complete Rod End Kit (x10) – $300 Value (x10)

Velocita – Troyer Team Driving Suit – $1,000 Value

 

Points Breakdown

Pos 1 – 30 Points

Pos 2 – 29 Points

Pos 3 – 28 Points

Pos 4 – 27 Points

Pos 5 – 26 Points

Pos 6 – 25 Points

Pos 7 – 24 Points

Pos 8 – 23 Points

Pos 9 – 22 Points

Pos 10 – 21 Points

Pos 11 – 20 Points

Pos 12 – 19 Points

Pos 13 – 18 Points

Pos 14 – 17 Points

Pos 15 – 16 Points

Pos 16 – 15 Points

Pos 17 – 14 Points

Pos 18 – 13 Points

Pos 19 – 12 Points

Pos 20 – 11 Points

Pos 21 – 10 Points

Pos 22 – 9 Points

Pos 23 – 8 Points

Pos 24 – 7 Points

Pos 25 – 6 Points

Pos 26 – 5 Points

Pos 27 – 4 Points

Pos 28 – 3 Points

Pos 29 – 2 Points

Pos 30 – 1 Points

Pos 3X, etc – 1 Points