By Julia Foy
ELBRIDGE, N. Y. – July 19, 2013 – The World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Showdown Tuesday, July 23, at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park may bring to Central New York some of the country’s best sprint car racers, including 2012 Rolling Wheels winners “The King” Steve Kinser and Paul McMahan, but some local stars are ready for the challenge.
With demonstrated success in a 410 Sprint Car now added to her outstanding career in a 360 Sprint Car and DIRTcar Modified, the Sprakers, N. Y., driver Jessica Zemken is ready to rise to the challenge. In 2010, she charged to seven wins in the 360 Sprint Series with less than 12 starts, and in 2012, she made two top-ten finishes in the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series.
“It’s definitely a challenge to go and run with those guys and be competitive,” said Zemken of the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series drivers. “Those guys with the World of Outlaws have 80 races under their belts by the time I have maybe 10 or 15 running in the 360 with ESS (Empire Super Sprints).”
Nonetheless, Zemken has already had a busy month with the Empire Super Sprints, participating in the tour’s five-race Central New York Speedweek, which kicked off Wednesday, July 3, at Rolling Wheels Raceway. Taking the Filtrec Corp./Cobra Coaches Dash that night, Zemken has already this season had success in a Sprint Car at Rolling Wheels.
“Rolling Wheels is definitely a fun, fast place to race. It’s wide and smooth, so it’s always racey and smooth and it’s a fun place to go,” Zemken said. “We usually run pretty well in the 360 there. We had a couple of good finishes there in the 410 with the World of Outlaws, so we’re looking forward to this one.”
The nationally touring World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series hit the state of New York just four times in 2013, and two of those four will be at Rolling Wheels’s 5/8-mile oval. The long straightaways and wide turns at “The Fast Track” make it a unique challenge for the extra-fast 410 Sprint Cars, and the extra laps could help locals like Zemken dethrone “The King” Kinser, the last World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series winner at Rolling Wheels. However, trading up to a 410 from the 360 Sprint Cars of the Empire Super Sprints also poses a challenge to local racers.
“It’s definitely a different style of racing between the 360 and the 410 because you’re going so much faster,” said Zemken, noting that running with the talented World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series drivers helps her improve as a racer. “I’m always able to learn something running with those guys and it makes me a better driver to go there and compete with them.”
General admission tickets to Rolling Wheels Tuesday, July 23, are just $29 for adults, $10 for kids 10 to 17, and FREE for children 9 and under! Reserved seating is also available in the top two rows in the grandstands for just $35 per seat. Rounding out the racing action at Tuesday’s World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Showdown is a full show for DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds.
Tickets purchased before noon Monday, July 22, also include a FREE Fan Pit Pass, so be sure to order tickets now by visiting www.dirtcar.com/tickets or by calling (877) 395-8606.
General parking and camping are FREE at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park but VIP camping spots just outside turns 1 and 2 can be reserved for just $25 each. For more information about Rolling Wheels Raceway Park and the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Showdown, visit www.rollingwheelsraceway.com.
AT A GLANCE:
World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Showdown
Divisions: World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series; DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds
Date: Tuesday, July 23
Time: Grandstand gates open at 5 p.m., racing starts at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Rolling Wheels Raceway Park, 8310 Grant Avenue Road, Elbridge, N. Y.
About the Track: Dubbed “The Fast Track,” Rolling Wheels Raceway Park is Central New York’s premier motorsports facility. Located just 30 minutes west of Syracuse, the history-filled 5/8-mile clay oval allows for extra-fast racing due to its long straightaways and wide turns.
Tickets: General admission is $29 for adults, $10 for kids 10 to 17, FREE for children 9 and under. Reserved seats are available for $35. Visit www.dirtcar.com/tickets or call (877) 395-8606 to purchase tickets in advance.
The Super DIRTcar Series and DIRTcar Racing in the Northeast Region is brought to fans by several sponsors and partners including Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, Chevy Performance Parts, NAPA Auto Parts, and Safety-Kleen. Contingency partners include the University of Northwestern Ohio. Contingency sponsors are ASI, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix, ButlerBuilt, Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Edelbrock, Integra Shocks, Intercomp, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, KSE Racing Products, Motorsports Safety Systems, MSD Performance, Penske Shocks, Racing Electronics, Superflow and Wrisco Industries.