CANANDAIGUA SPEEDWAY SECURES FIRST-EVER SUNOCO 358 SERIES EVENT

CANANDAIGUA, NY...In light of it's status as a founding member track, Canandaigua Speedway has prospered with an annual Super DIRT Series big-block date since DIRT Motorsports was established in 1976.

Track General Manager Jeff Farney has already made great strides in creating a new tradition as he recently booked the first-ever Sunoco Race Fuels 358-Modified Super DIRT Series event at the Ontario County Fairgrounds.

The 100-lap small-block race is scheduled for Wed., Aug. 21 and will be joined by a regular program of DIRT Pro Stock competition.

"With negotiations still underway for a Modified race at Eldora in September, I thought about bringing in 358 teams just in case I lost the autumn big-block date," said Farney, who begins his first full season of promotion when Canandaigua opens on April 20. "When the August small-block Series show at Can-Am was dropped things just kind of fell into place. After possibly settling for one Series date awhile back, now I may have three if Eldora stays with the Sept. 27-28 weekend."

Currently on Canandaigua's 2002 season agenda are 100-lap Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRT Series events on Wed., Aug. 7 and Sat., Sept. 14. A Sportsman SDS race joins the Aug. 7 show and an ARANY Pro Stock tour appearance fills the Sept. 14 card.

The addition of Canandaigua is a natural match with Black Rock Speedway, which hosts the Sunoco 358-Modified Series the night before. Less than a 45-minute drive separates the facilities that often share both fans and competitors weekly throughout their race season.

"I know a lot of Canadians that come down to Black Rock every year so another race close by should be a real good deal for the travelers," said Steve Paine, the two-time defending DIRT Modified points champion at Canandaigua who has also captured 358 high-point honors at Black Rock the past four years. Making the Waterloo, N.Y. open-wheel veteran a clear favorite in Canandaigua's small-block debut is the fact that he has won the past three Advance Auto Modified Series races at Canandaigua.

"Canandaigua is just about the right size for small-blocks. It's shorter than Rolling Wheels, Can-Am, Orange County and Lebanon, tracks where we've had races for years. And best of all for teams it's straightaways are not motor killers," Paine said.

Farney revealed that he has not visited Black Rock since he was a teenager, when the track was known as Dundee Speedway. He now has plans to be in Yates County for the Aug. 20 century grind and continue to generate interest for his inaugural small-block showdown the following night.

"This (358 race) will be a homecoming of sorts for some drivers who haven't had a good reason to return to Canandaigua," Farney added. "Most of the teams I spoke with last season showed a lot of interest in having a small-block race here. The season hasn't even started but I'm already looking forward to the end of August."

For more information contact DIRT Motorsports (315/834-6606) or Jeff Farney (315/568-8179) and be sure to log into canandaiguaspeedway.com and www.dirtmotorsports.com for the latest breaking news.