The news is coming in at a steady pace and tracks, teams and series are almost on full speed as most dirt tracks across the country prepare to open for the season during the next several weeks. We have driver news, track news, series news and more in this edition of DAO Dirt Late Model Notebook.

DIRT LATE MODEL NEWS & NOTES:

Allgaier Motorsports, an Illinois-based racing team that fields dirt late models, midgets and an ARCA RE/MAX entry with 18-year-old JUSTIN ALLGAIER behind the wheel, recently learned that they were tapped to receive an important distinction - the “Air Force Salutes Award”. This award, presented by the 345th Recruiting Squadron of the United States Air Force, acknowledges the exemplary efforts of Allgaier Motorsports in promoting the U.S. Air Force. Past recipients of these awards include the St. Louis Cardinals, Missouri Tigers, World Snowmobile Association, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and Bob Hope.

EARL PEARSON JR driving the Lucas Oil sponsored Dunn-Benson Ford, is the first official entry for the 2nd Annual Lucas Oil Knoxville Late Model Nationals. But the event sponsors name on the side of the Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model is no guarantee of a starting spot in the 30 car line up on Saturday, October 1st, 2005. The Lucas Oil Dunn- Benson Ford Motorsports team and Earl Pearson Jr., announced a new product sponsorship for 2005. K&N Engineering Inc, of Riverside, California, is the inventor and leading innovator of reusable cotton gauze filter technology for automotive applications.

RICK COMBS of Cincinnati, OH drove the race of his career on Friday Night, March 25 at the Florence Speedway as the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts kicked off it's 2005 racing season with the "Spring 50 Tuneup" for Late Models and when the night was done it was Combs sitting in victory circle after taking the biggest win of his racing career in stunning fashion leading all 30 laps to take the $3,000 first place money.

WALLY FOX will be competing in a new Rocket Chassis this season.

Eric Myers Racing, and ERIC ‘SPUD’ MYERS announced the launch of their new website: http://www.ericmyers20m.com. The new site will have weekly updates about their 2005 racing endeavors so fans will be able to track the team's progress during the 2005 season.

STEVE LAURSEN has a new website at: http://www.stevelaursen.com

STEVE BARNETT will be running the Battle of the Bluegrass Series in 2005.

DENNIS ERB plans on competing with a variety of different series this year including the Stacker2 World of Outlaws Late Model Series, the WDRL PolyDome Super Series, the Lucas Oil NARA Dirtcar Series, the Northern AllStars Late Model Series, and the UMP Challenge of Champions Series. He also plans on attending all of the UMP Summernational races again in 2005.

BRAD HALL announced a host of new sponsors for the 2005 season: Miller Bros. Coal, Bloomquist Race Cars, Gary Hall Motors, Dirt Late Model Magazine, Sweet Manufacturing, ACPT Drive Shafts, MSD Ignition, Oval Craft, Impact Race Products, Design 500 Racewear, and Hoosier Tire South. Hall will be using Custom Race Engines in 2005.

SANCTION NEWS & NOTES:

A new, separate points system and an expanded prize package will provide even more incentive and excitement for this year’s O’Reilly/NCRA Late Model Rookie of the Year competitors. For the first time ever, the NCRA will use a separate points system to determine its top late model rookie. These points are in addition to and separate from any regular points the driver receives. Six corporate sponsors will provide more than $1,850 in cash and prizes for the top rookie late model driver in 2005.

The trek to the World of Outlaw Late Model Series championship will begin in earnest April 8th at “The Rock”/Allegany County Speedway in Cumberland, MD followed the next night, Apr. 9th, with a stop at Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway in Saluda, VA. Both of the $10,000 to win events will mark first ever appearances of the World Of Outlaws Stacker 2® Late Model Series to the racing facilities.

On May 14, 2005 under the direction for the second year of O’Reilly Auto Parts, TORA will begin its 5th anniversary season. The series kicks off it’s 5th year at a new venue, the State Fair Speedway in Oklahoma City on May 14. It will be the first of two visits on the year for the 3/8 mile facility in the Sooner State.

Carolina Clash Super Late Model Dirt Series founder and president Larry Lee announced this week that his organization has become a partner with Make-A-Wish Foundation, one of the largest wish-granting organizations in the world for kids who suffer from life-threatening illnesses.

With renewed sponsorship from Sunoco Race Fuels and the Bazell Oil Company of Logan, Ohio, the American Late Model Series (ALMS) is ready to embark upon its 11th season. An ambitious 25-race slate awaits the chase towards the $5,000 championship title. This year’s slate pretty much mirrors last year diversified schedule, with each of the tracks that held events last season, returning to the fold in 2005. The lone addition will be a first-ever trip across the border, when the ALMS faithful venture to Ontario, Canada and the South Buxton Speedway in August.

The Deery Brothers Summer Series makes its first trip into Nebraska for its 19th opening night race. I.M.C.A. Sunoco Late Models then take the tour trail to more familiar venues, with six early spring events on the 2005 schedule. I-80 Speedway at Nebraska Raceway Park in Greenwood is set to host the first-ever Deery race in the Cornhusker State on Friday, April 1. The second half of the weekend doubleheader is Saturday, April 2 at Hamil-ton County Speed-way in Webster City.

RACE TRACK NEWS & NOTES:

Inclement weather has forced Port Royal Speedway Officials to cancel the Saturday night March 26 season opener. Opening night activities will now occur on Saturday April 2 at 7:00 P.M. Gates will open at 5. Scheduled to compete are the Ramsey's Car Wash/AB Auto Glass Late Models.

An unseasonably cool spring weather pattern has forced the third delay of the Third Annual "Spring Fest" at the Challenger Raceway. Owner/Promoters Jack and Donna Lentz have moved the event back to Sunday, April 17.

The 2005 racing season for the Lebanon I-44 Speedway is scheduled to begin on April 2. Children 12 and under will now get into the races for free. Juniors, ages 13-15, are $5. Adult ticket price is now $10.

Boundless Motor Sports Racing, Inc. d/b/a DIRT MotorSportsTM (DIRT) (OTCBB: BMSR.OB), announced that it has closed the acquisition of Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, PA from Lernerville Speedway Inc. and its owners. The half-mile, clay oval with seating for approximately 11,000 built in 1967, will host more than 30 races this season including three World of Outlaws Sprint Series®, two World of Outlaws Stacker 2® Late Model Series events and an Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRT Series event.

The Late Model drivers at Cedar Lake Speedway have overwhelmingly voted to run Goodyear Tires starting in 2005. Cedar Lake held a meeting on Saturday, March 26th with all of its late model drivers that were able to attend. The following drivers were represented at the meeting. By an overwhelming vote of 17-2, the Goodyear G40 was voted in as the spec tire for regular racing at Cedar Lake Speedway this year. This means that all regular late model racing at Cedar Lake in 2005 will be non-sanctioned. However, all other rules and procedures associated with the late models will continue to be the same for 2005. The tire change goes into effect the weekend after opener (April 16th). If opener is pushed to April 15th and 16th, the tire rule goes into effect April 23rd. For the Season Opener at Cedar Lake, late models can run a Goodyear G40, a Hoosier D30, or D55 only.

Junction Motor Speedway will be hosting a Limited Late Model Special in conjunction with the Eagle Sprint Car Touring Series (ESTS) on Friday April 8th. It was released that JMS would implement the I-80 Limited Late Model rules however officials have decided to use a different rules package.

Drivers and fans alike will be able to get a first hand view of the upcoming season at the Lebanon Midway Speedway on Friday Night April 15 as the track has scheduled a test and tune or play night under the lights.

Racing will officially roar into action Saturday night April 2nd for the 2005 season when Laurens County Speedway opens its gates. Coca Cola will be returning as division sponsor in the Coca Cola Super Late Model division. Last years champion was Chris Lyons of Laurens.

B&H Promotions’ sophomore season is just under three weeks away as Lincoln Speedway will host its 2005 Practice Day on Sunday, April 10th. Open Practice Sessions will be held for all classes will take place from 2:00pm to 8:00pm in the form of simulated Hot Lap Sessions. Grandstand admission is Free, while pit passes are $15. Hoosier Tire has been signed as the official tire of Lincoln Speedway.

The ownership of Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, Mississippi has formed an alliance with Johnny Stokes and members of the Columbus Speedway event team to promote and manage racing events at the Magnolia Motor Speedway for the 2005 racing season.

INDUSTRY NEWS & NOTES:

Imperial Heights Garage is now the tire dealer for PPMS and Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic - Pittsburgh. Info at 412-331-3500 or 724-695-0150.

Midwest Motorsports Promotions will present the 2005 Midwest Racers Autograph Day on Saturday, April 2 from 11am to 4pm the event is free to the public and participants. The forth annual edition of the event will be held once again at the Lancaster Event Center at 84th and Havelock Ave in Lincoln, NE.

MEDIA NEWS & NOTES:

The nation's premier website for documenting the history of dirt track racing and recognizing the long time fans of the sport, Dirtfans.com, is pleased to announce the addition of Sports Plus Video as a sponsor for the 2005 racing season. Sports Plus Video, located in Williamsport, Maryland, and popular for their outstanding video coverage of races all across the country, will be doing monthly giveaways on Dirtfans.com.

Dirtfans.com is about to embark on an exciting new journey that will enlighten many dirt late model fans. For the entire 2005 racing season, dirt late model driver, Kevin Lentz, will be on staff providing fans with a look into his life and what it takes to be a weekend warrior. This unique perspective will give fans a chance to see the inside life of a husband, father and racecar driver and what it takes for him to balance it all. Nicknamed the Ohio Outlaw, Kevin Lentz is a regular at Skyline and Midway Speedways in Ohio. Throughout the season, Kevin will supply the fans with full coverage of his trials and tribulations of being a true outlaw racecar driver. Excited about the new addition, Jody Shannon stated, “I have been watching the racing media portray and cover one perspective for quite sometime and decided it was time to invoke some reality and show the struggle of a weekend warrior. We are pleased to have Kevin as a part of the staff and look forward to a season full of great finishes and informative and entertaining articles. I hope this will give fans a much greater appreciation for guys like Kevin who make this sport what it is.”

Along with some famed dirt Late Model stars some of the hottest up-and-coming young guns in dirt racing will be featured on the Dirt Nation radio show Monday evening April 4. Several stars of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series will be on hand to discuss the start of the bulk of their 2005 season that will be highlighted by the Speed Channel filming of the $10,000 to win Dixie Chopper 50 presented by Thurston Spring Service, Inc. on April 9 at Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway. Also appearing will be several members of the newly formed Bridgeport Speedway ‘Young Guns’ brigade sponsored by JD3 Graphics. Dirt Nation is hosted each Monday evening by the Rat Pack, featuring Dave Seay, Brian Tidball and Doc Lehman and airs every Monday evening from 8:00 – 10:00 PM EST and can be accessed over the internet at: http://www.racetalklive.com Dirt Nation is co-sponsored by Virginia Motor Speedway, Dirt America Online presented by GottaRace.com and Slavic Custom Shirts.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series (WoO LMS) is on its way to Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway for a 50-lap no holds barred brawl. The $10,000 to win 50-lap Dixie Chopper 50 presented by Thurston Spring Service, Inc. will be Saturday, April 9th and will be in front of the Speed Channel cameras, the first of fifteen televised events for the World of Outlaws Late Model Series. WoO LMS drivers who will appear on Dirt Nation to discuss the upcoming weekend include Rick Eckert, Chub Frank, Josh Richards and WoO LMS Liaison Director Bret Emrick.

A new promotional concept at Bridgeport Speedway, the JD3Graphics/Bridgeport Speedway Young Guns, is a group of nine teen-age and early-20’s dirt racing sensations that not only compete at the New Jersey racetrack but participate in an active and ambitious schedule of special promotional events throughout the region in an effort to promote, publicize and entice young people to attend dirt racing. Special JD3Graphics/Bridgeport Speedway Young Guns members who will appear on Dirt Nation Monday evening include Big Block Modified driver Kyle Strickler, 21, Small Block Modified driver Billy Pauch, Jr., 17, and Sportsman driver Mark Forte, Jr., 18. Also appearing will be Bridgeport Speedway promoter Dave Adams and JD3 Graphics Proprietor Jay Dugan.

Each show is also archived ‘On Demand’ so listeners can tune in at their convenience throughout the week.