Texas Dirt Track preview

FORT WORTH-DALLAS (March 26, 2001) - News and notes leading into the RPM Week - Texas races at the Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track; the Albertson's Spring Challenge for the United Dirt Track Racing Association Pro DirtCar Series on Wednesday night, March 28 and the Southern Bleacher Classic for the Pennzoil World of Outlaws sprint cars Thursday and Friday nights, March 29-30.

OH SAY CAN YOU SEE?
The tacky clay racing surface at the Dirt Track caught many of the UDTRA drivers unprepared in the series 2000 debut. The thin, clear plastic lens drivers use on their helmets are called tearoffs. The drivers prepare several layers of tearoffs prior to a race and rip them off one at a time when they become dirty.

Many of the UDTRA races are held on dirt tracks featuring hard, packed clay surfaces. Last year nearly every UDTRA driver had used their entire allotment of tearoffs less than 20 laps into the 100-lap main event on the four-tenths mile oval. Most had to struggle the rest of the distance with limited vision.

"We are going to be ready this time," said 1997 UDTRA champion Billy Moyer. "The tacky clay caught most of us by surprise last year. The last laps of the race were tough, you could hardly see."

The UDTRA series regulars will be competing against NASCAR Winston Cup drivers Tony Stewart and Ken Schrader who will be making special dirt track appearances in the Albertson's Spring Challenge.

SWINDELL LONE STAR STATE BOUND:
Sammy Swindell, three-time Pennzoil World of Outlaws champion, has reduced his racing schedule for 2001 in order to spend more time helping 16-year-old son Kevin kick off his racing career. Swindell will compete in only his second Pennzoil World of Outlaws event of the season Thursday and Friday nights in the Southern Bleacher Classic.

Swindell will be seeking his initial triumph of 2001 in the $20,000-to-win program. Swindell encountered little good luck in his Channelock-sponsored Stealth sprint car during his lone appearance at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Complete racing programs will be staged each night of the Southern Bleacher Classic. Thursday night's preliminary feature will offer $5,000 to the winner.

RICHEST ONE-DAY UDTRA PURSE
The $63,250 purse for the Albertson's Spring Challenge is the richest one-night payoff in the ten-year history of the United Dirt Track Racing Association. The winner of the 75-lap feature will collect $15,000 plus contingency awards.

HALL OF FAME DRIVER TO SIGN AUTOGRAPHS
Brad Doty, a television commentator for The National Network who will be inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame this summer, will sign autographs at the Dirt Track Thursday night during the Southern Bleacher Classic.

Author and television reporter Dave Argabright who assisted Doty in compiling his autobiography, "Still Wide Open", will join Doty. Doty was one of the top racers with the World of Outlaws until a serious accident left him paralyzed and cut short his driving career. Copies of the book will be available.

Doty and Argabright will be available at 5:00 p.m. when the grandstands open for spectators. The two will be on the air Friday night when The National Network (TNN) offers live coverage of the Southern Bleacher Classic's final program.

IT'S YOUR STORE
United Dirt Track Racing Association's two leading drivers for the 2001 season, Rick Eckert and Steve Francis, will be signing autographs at Albertson's stores Tuesday afternoon. Point leader Eckert will appear at Albertsons located at 1108 N. Highway 377 in Roanoke from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. The new Albertson's is three miles east of the speedway. Series point runner-up Francis will sign autographs at Albertson's, 8428 Denton Highway in Watauga from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

-TMS