From BOSS
The wingless warriors of the Buckeye Outlaw Sprint Series are now just days away from the launch of the 2013 race season. The Ohio based regional touring series looks forward to a break out season with many new teams and new sponsors coming on board. The series schedule has expanded to 14 events on 9 of the midwest’s finest dirt racing facilities, while the standard race purse has increased in both win and start money. The popular open tire rule remains in affect and the bonus awards program that has been a staple of the series has also grown in cash awards including heat race payouts.
Defending points champion Dustin Smith of Russiaville, Indiana will be returning to defend his title aboard the Conaway Motorsports, Lee’s Hydraulics #37 car. Smith narrowly held off a determined Tony Beaber in the late season points battle back in October. Beaber, of Gibsonburg, Ohio, will also be returning to shoot for the title aboard the Beaberbuilt #3T. Other returning drivers include Kirk Jeffries (Westerville, OH), Aaron Middaugh (Polk, OH), Brandon Spithaler (Evans City, PA), Chuck Wilson (Perrysburg, OH), Lewie Christian (West Jefferson, OH), Mark Cassella (Weirton, WV), and Steve Irwin (Fenton, MI).
In addition to the returning BOSS stars, a new brigade of drivers plans to mount a challenge for the 2013 BOSS championship. New drivers who have expressed a plan to follow the series this year include Marshall Motorsports teammates Dallas Hewitt and Derek Hastings, Wapakoneta, Ohio’s Mike Miller, Pennsylvania hotshoes Adam Miller and Skip Dougherty, and second generation BOSS driver Chad Wilson. A host of other drivers have indicated their intentions to run most or several events as well.
The standard BOSS purse will now pay $1,400 to win and $250 to start. Every event will still offer $100 tow money to any driver who attempts to compete, but fails to start the main event. Several events along the tour will see increased purses including the season opening “Mike Hensel Memorial” at Fremont Speedway which will pay $3,300 to win and $300 to start on Saturday, May 4th. Lawrenceburg Speedway and Pittsburgh Motor Speedway events will also see increased purse structures.
New for the 2013 season will be heat race bonus money. A total of $100 will be paid per heat race event run. The top 3 finishers in each heat race will be awarded $50, $30, and $20 respectively. Underground Professionals Incorporated have stepped up to be the primary heat race sponsor and heat races #1 and #2 at each event will now be the “UPI” heat races of the night. Additional heat races at each event will vary with great sponsors on board such as S&H Nerfs, Kistler Engines, Indy Race Parts, Superior Tank & Trailer, Griff’s Engines, Ham Signs, Country Time Grocery, E A Home Supply, K-D Pizza, and 2Grafic Distributions. In order to be eligible for heat race money, cars must display decals of the nights heat race sponsors which will be supplied at the BOSS sign-in table.
The trademark of the BOSS traditional sprint series is that it is perhaps the last true “outlaw” sprint series. Once again there is no “membership fees” or “registration”, BOSS welcomes all drivers at all events. The primary staple of the series has been the open tire rule and that will remain in effect for the season. Tire manufacturers Hoosier Race Tire Midwest and Lias Tire American Racer have both agreed to return to sponsor the series in the form of bonus awards. Once again, a certificate for a free Hoosier tire will be presented to the highest finisher on all 4 Hoosier Tires in the main event. American Racer Tire will be awarding the highest main event finisher on all 4 of their respective tires a certificate for $100 toward the purchase of American Racer tires.
With the help of fine sponsors, bonus awards will return again. The Horne Performance Hard Charger award will be a $50 bonus awarded to the driver who advances the most positions in the main event from his originally assigned starting position. The Buckeye Machine and Fabrication Hard Luck Award will be a $50 prize awarded at each event to a driver who encounters problems. This award will be voted on by BOSS officials and track officials at each event and no driver is eligible for the award more than twice per season. The third and final bonus available is the Ernie’s Radiator Steel Block Award which will supply a $50 bonus to the highest finishing driver in each main event who is driving a car with a steel engine block. In order to be eligible for bonus awards, each bonus sponsor’s decal must be displayed on the car. Decals will be avaialble at the BOSS sign-in table.
Watch for more announcements in the coming days including a preview of the season opening May 4th Mike Hensel Memorial at Fremont Speedway. More information on the series can be found at www.buckeyesprints.com and the series owner can be reached at sprinter14@hotmail.com or phone 740-703-3768.
Heat race sponsorship opportunities are still available at some events and BOSS is always willing to work with potential sponsors to find a way to promote their business and offer participating teams more bonus payouts!