By David Smith, Jr.

PARK CITY, Kan. (April 28, 2008) - Just a little over one week remains until the O'Reilly NCRA presented by ICM/Ethanol makes its second attempt to open their 38th consecutive season sanctioning dirt car races as the series' modified division heads to 81 Speedway in Park City, Kansas on Saturday night, May 3. The series was to open there season back on April 12 but inclement weather forced the race to be postponed.

 

The event will mark the first of five scheduled races on the series home track for the 2008 race season with over forty drivers expected to compete.

 

On the strength of three victories last season, Brian Franz of Halstead, Kansas won his fifth consecutive NCRA modified championship while competing in all ten of the events held. Franz leads the division in all-time feature victories (24) and series championships (5). As we go to press, it is unclear if the Bills Built chassis driver will go after his sixth career championship. But the same was said last year at the beginning of the 2007 season and the veteran made his mind up early to make another successful run for the championship.

 

In his first year on the tour, Park City driver Jeremy Massey took home NCRA modified rookie of the year honors and it wasn't just based on consistency. Massey would pick up two victories on his rookie tour, the first coming on a thrilling last lap pass at Enid Speedway Park while the second came at his home track at 81 Speedway. Both victories propelled him to runner-up in the series point standings. Massey edged out fellow rookie contenders Casey McClaskey and third-generation driver Brenden Gemmill for the rookie honors.

 

Drivers expected to compete full-time with the series in 2008 include Greg Stephen's, Mark Hurd, Mike Jarvis, Brian McGowen, Brian Powers, Brian Casey, Jason Roe, Travis Govern and Greg Burt. Former series champions Johnny Allen (1999, 200, 2001) and Greg Skaggs (2002) have also indicated their intentions to compete with the series when their schedules permit.

 

Steel tube quick change rear ends are allowed for the 2008 race season but are not mandatory.

 

Gates open at 5:00 PM with racing set to begin at 7:00 PM. 81 Speedway is located North of Wichita on I-135 to exit 16, then 0.7 miles west on 77th in Park City. For more race information, contact the speedway office (316) 755-1781.