| Pat Ward, Dan Schlieper Earn Volusia Victories, |
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Pat Ward, Dan Schlieper Earn Volusia Victories,Become Eligible In Alltel All-Star Fan Voting BARBERVILLE, Fla. — Feb. 11, 2009 — Pat Ward and Dan Schlieper logged many miles to race in Florida at the season-opening Alltel DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park. On Wednesday night, they made it pay off.
Ward, of Genoa, N.Y., drove his Advance Auto Parts Big-Block Modified to victory before Schlieper, of Sullivan, Wis., held off Darrell Lanigan to capture the checkered flag in the UMP DIRTcar Super Late Model main event. Ward becomes the second New Yorker to win during the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH, joining Randy Hall of Olean. With three more nights to go, the winners represent eight different states: Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Wisconsin.
Ward and Schlieper are now eligible for voting in the Alltel All-Star competition. Fans can vote via text message to 247253 and enter their favorite driver’s letter code, or by visiting AlltelAllStar.com and casting a ballot. Votes will be tallied daily until Feb. 28. The overall winner as determined by fan votes will receive the $10,000 grand prize, while the top vote-getter in the other three divisions will earn $1,000. Over 12 consecutive nights from Feb. 3 to Feb. 14, 410 Sprint Cars, UMP DIRTcar Modifieds, Dirt Late Models and Big-Block Modifieds will all compete. Ward earned his first victory at Volusia after several years of trying. He started on the outside of Row 2, worked to the front and held off Dale Planck down the stretch for the victory at the sweeping half-mile oval, making him eligible for voting at AlltelAllStar.com.
“I’m a good clean racer and I’ve got an old motorhome that keeps breaking down every time I come down to Florida,” said Ward about why fans should choose him as the Alltel All-Star. “The money would help pay for that, and me and my girlfriend wouldn’t have to worry about that every time we get in it and drive it.”
Schlieper took the green on the inside of Row 2, working past pole-sitter Eddie Carrier Jr. midway through the 30-lap feature event. Darrell Lanigan came from 10th to take the lead with five to go before Schlieper motored back in front on the high side of the track and held off Lanigan at the checkered flag, making the Wisconsin Wild Man eligible in Alltel All-Star voting.“Just to be able to get some votes, and maybe even get the most votes, would be an accomplishment,” Schlieper said. “Alltel is putting up a lot of money for that and I just hope everybody votes for me.” Through nine nights of competition at the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH, the Alltel All-Star contenders and their text message Letter Codes (in parenthesis) include: Sprint Cars — Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. (b); Stevie Smith, Broken Arrow, Okla. (d); Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, Ind. (f). UMP DIRTcar Modifieds — Jared Landers, Batesville, Ark. (a); Austin Dillon, Lewisville, N.C. (c); Randy Hall, Olean, N.Y. (e). Dirt Late Models — Darren Miller, Chadwick, Ill. (g); Earl Pearson Jr., Jacksonville, Fla. (h); Dan Schlieper, Sullivan, Wis. (j). Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series — Pat Ward, Genoa, N.Y. (i). For more information about Alltel, please visit www.alltel.com. To cast your vote online visit www.AlltelAllStar.com. Alltel DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH Statistical Report — Night 9 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series 30-lap A-mainPos. / Name1. Pat Ward2. Dale Planck3. Andy Bachetti4. Dan Vauter5. Brett Hearn6. Jamie Mills7. Jeff Brownell8. Matt Jester9. Keith Flach10. Jimmy Johnson11. Dave Camara12. Tim Kerr13. Randy Chrysler14. Rich Scagliotta15. Rex King Jr.16. Matt Sheppard17. Darwin Greene18. Brad Trice19. Larry Wight Jr.20. Michel Chicoine21. Jeff Brown22. Jim Rasey23. Dave Rauscher24. Sean Beardsley25. Jimmy Horton26. Mario Clair27. Gary Risch Jr. UMP DIRTcar Super Late Model 30-lap A-mainPos. / Driver1. Dan Schlieper2. Darrell Lanigan3. Rick Eckert4. Earl Pearson Jr.5. Billy Moyer6. Eddie Carrier Jr.7. Tim Fuller8. Chub Frank9. Jimmy Owens10. Scott James11. Steve Francis12. Darren Miller13. Dennis Erb Jr.14. John Anderson15. Josh Richards16. Billy Decker17. Mark Pettyjohn18. Vic Coffey19. John Blankenship20. Frank Heckenast Jr.21. Justin Ratliff22. Austin Hubbard23. Tommy Kerr24. Scott Bloomquist Alltel DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH Daily SchedulePits open at 3 p.m., grandstands at 5 p.m., racing at 7:30 p.m. February 3, TuesdayAll Star Circuit of Champions (Donny Schatz)UMP DIRTcar Modifieds (Jared Landers) February 4, WednesdayAll Star Circuit of Champions (Donny Schatz)UMP DIRTcar Modifieds (Jared Landers) February 5, ThursdayAll Star Circuit of Champions (Stevie Smith)UMP DIRTcar Modifieds (Austin Dillon) February 6, FridayWorld of Outlaws Sprint Car Series (Donny Schatz)UMP DIRTcar Modifieds “The Gator” qualifying Night 1 (Jared Landers) February 7, SaturdayWorld of Outlaws Sprint Car Series (Joey Saldana)UMP DIRTcar Modifieds “The Gator” qualifying Night 2 (Randy Hall) February 8, SundayWorld of Outlaws Sprint Car Series (Donny Schatz)UMP DIRTcar Modifieds “The Gator” Championship (Jared Landers) February 9, MondayUMP DIRTcar Late Models (Darren Miller)UMP DIRTcar Modifieds (Jared Landers) February 10, TuesdayUMP DIRTcar Late Models (Earl Pearson Jr.)UMP DIRTcar Modifieds (Austin Dillon) February 11, WednesdayUMP DIRTcar Late Models (Dan Schlieper)Advance Auto Parts Big Block Modifieds (Pat Ward) February 12, ThursdayWorld of Outlaws Late Model SeriesAdvance Auto Parts Big Block Modifieds February 13, FridayUMP DIRTcar Late ModelsAdvance Auto Parts Big Block Modifieds February 14, SaturdayWorld of Outlaws Late Model SeriesAdvance Auto Parts Big Block Modifieds |
