SPORTSMAN 'FIRECRACKER' QUALIFIER HEATS UP CANANDAIGUA CARD

CANANDAIGUA, NY.....DIRT Sportsman teams take center stage at Canandaigua Speedway in the first special of the season while the mighty Modified, Pro Stock and Street Stock racers join in the big Payne Building & Contracting-Payne Tilt Bed Service four-star program on Saturday, May 4.

All-time track feature winner Alan Johnson (111), first-year regular Randy Chrysler, full-fender veteran Jon Miller and Mike Minutolo shared opening day honors in April to kick off general manager Jeff Farney's first full season at the "Land of Legends" clay oval.

Led by Chrysler and John Plumb, the lone returnee among last year's top-five point earners, top sportsman entries will be searching for a qualifying berth in the Syracuse 'Firecracker' Championship ---a Sunoco Race Fuels Super DIRT Series event--- at the New York State Fairgrounds on July 3. Eventual Mr. DIRT Champion Chad Brachamann captured the Independence Day special last July while 2001 Canandaigua Sportsman regulars Steve Gray (3rd) and Justin Haers (5th) posted high finishes in the 20-mile main.

Reigning Fulton Speedway points king Tim Sears gained the first Syracuse starting berth in the 2002 Cayuga County Fair Speedway season-opener while Rolling Wheels Raceway was slated to host the second qualifier on April 28.

Two-time defending Canandaigua Modified points champion Steve Paine, who won a division-high eight features at the Ontario County Fairgrounds in '01, will once again pace the big-block field filled with all-stars Bob and Tim McCreadie, Pat Ward, Billy Decker and Ron Smoker.

Weekly pilots Charlie Donk, Gary Tomkins, Chuck Hebing, Vic Coffey and Chuck Bower continue to make the 'Land of Legends' one of the most competitive tracks on the entire DIRT circuit throughout the summer months.

With 2001 track champions Jason Boyle (Pro Stock) and Richard Briggs (Street Stock) moving up in class this season, full-fender drivers will be anxious to take their seats atop the throne.

'01 points runner-up Jon Miller is the early favorite after copping the Pro Stock opener while top returnees Leroy Lewis and Mike Welch carry their experience in the Street Stock ranks. 2000 Pro Stock points champion Jipp Ortiz remains one of the biggest threats every week and Roger Chrysler is expected to be one of the top invaders challenging the locals throughout the upcoming season.

The Ontario County Fairgrounds' gates swing open at 5 p.m. and the first qualifying heat goes off promptly at 7 p.m.

Canandaigua Speedway on the Ontario County Fairgrounds is located just east of the city, with the track being easily accessible by using either Exit 44 (traveling east) or Exit 43 (traveling west) of the New York State Thruway.