PRO STOCK PURSE UP IN 2002 AT CANANDAIGUA

CANANDAIGUA, NY.....The Canandaigua Speedway race schedule will once again feature DIRT Modified, Sportsman, Pro Stock and Street Stock divisions on the regular Saturday night program.

For the 2002 season the Pro Stock class will enjoy a considerable increase in it's weekly feature race purse.

"We've recently had some teams travel out of the area because other tracks offered a bigger payday," said Jeff Farney, who began in January his first full year as Canandaigua's general manager. "We're hoping to match up better this season and bring those same guys back home."

Despite the average full-fender car count measuring a marginal drop in recent years, Canandaigua Speedway remains one of the most competitive ovals on the entire DIRT Motorsports circuit. The track points champion has been crowned the overall Hoosier Tire-Sunoco Race Fuels Mr. DIRT Pro Stock titlist three of the past four seasons.

Along with the inaugural Mr. DIRT Pro Stock points king, Steve Pesarek (1995), Tom Barron (1998), Jipp Ortiz (2000) and Jason Boyle (2001) continued to spread the 'Land of Legends' lore throughout the region.

"We want to do whatever we can to encourage local racers to be a part of DIRT Motorsports and especially activity at Canandaigua Speedway," Farney added. "Everything today always comes back to grassroots racing and we want to help take care of the teams that race with us every week."

Pro Stocks will continue to run a 20-lap main event following their qualifying heats and consolation round. This year the winner will pocket $200, second-place $150 and third-place $100, with increases shown all the way back to last-place in the standard 24-car starting field.

Officials at Cayuga County Fair Speedway will offer the same Pro Stock purse structure during the upcoming summer at the Weedsport, N.Y. oval.

Canandaigua's 2002 season-opener is set for April 20. The biggest event of the year for the Pro Stocks at the Ontario County Fairgrounds remains the Hoosier Tire Mr. DIRT Championship, this season scheduled on Saturday, September 14.

For additional information, please contact Canandaigua Speedway General Manager Jeff Farney directly at 315/568-8179. A complete set of rules for the DIRT Pro Stock class can be obtained by calling Cory Reed at DIRT Headquarters(315/834-6606) in the daytime.