Schlieper optimistic about Texas repeat

FORT WORTH-DALLAS (March 12, 2001) - Wisconsin's Dan Schlieper loves to race at the dirt tracks built last season by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., including the Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track. Schlieper's accomplishments on these speedways in 2000 makes him a favorite Wednesday evening, March 28 in the Albertson's Spring Challenge for the United Dirt Track Racing Association Pro DirtCar Series.

Schlieper dominated last season's Texas UDTRA dirt late model race on the four-tenths mile clay oval. He will return to defend his title driving the Performance Roofing Rayburn chassis late model. The 75-lap feature winner will earn $15,000.

Schlieper backed up his Texas performance last season with a late-season victory at The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway. Schlieper was leading the first Lowe's event when he was eliminated from the race by a mid-race incident.

"Our car setup is one of the main reasons for my success on these tracks," said Schlieper. "A lot of it has to do with the configuration of the track. I really like the wide, sweeping corners at Texas, it makes for good racing.

"My Rayburn chassis seems to excel when the track is heavy like it was last year at Texas. C.J. (Rayburn) knows how to build a chassis for a heavy dirt track."

Schlieper will be challenged at the Albertson's Spring Challenge by NASCAR Winston Cup stars Tony Stewart and Ken Schrader, defending UDTRA champion Scott Bloomquist, Billy Moyer, point leader Rick Eckert, point runnerup Steve Francis, Wendell Wallace, Donnie Moran and Freddy Smith.

Spectator gates for the Albertson's Spring Challenge will open at 5:00 p.m. The first heat race will begin at 7:40 p.m. Tickets are available at the speedway ticket office that is open daily, by calling (817) 215-8500, online at www.texasmotorspeedway.com or at Ticketmaster locations.

-TMS