CANANDAIGUA OPENS 2004 WITH AFTERNOON DIRT MODIFIED 50-LAPPER

CANANDAIGUA, NY.....The historic Ontario County Fairgrounds comes to life April 24 as Canandaigua Speedway unlocks it's gates for the 41st annual opening day event.

Representatives from True Value Hardware of Port Byron, N.Y. and Lime Rock Speedway in Caledonia will be in attendance to take in the season-opening program of DIRT Modified, Sportsman, Pro Stock and Street Stock action on Saturday afternoon. Gates open at 2 p.m. and racing begins at 4 p.m.

A lead-off 50-lap feature for the headline big-block Modifieds begins the charter member track's celebration of its 28th consecutive year of operation under the DIRT Motorsports banner.

Four-time defending Canandaigua modified champion Steve Paine will be returning aboard his familiar no. 7x TEO mount, carrying major sponsorship from Tallmadge Tire-Terrell's Potato Chips, Geneva Homes and Pabst.

In quest of establishing an all-time record fifth consecutive modified points title at the popular half-mile 'Land of Legends' speedplant, Paine's biggest challenges will come from former track regulars Danny Johnson, Ron Smoker, Gil Tegg,Jr. and Justin Haers, returning wheelmen Gary Tomkins, Vic Coffey, Chuck Bower, Chad Brachmann and small-blocker Randy Chrysler, along with area drivers Charlie Donk, Karl Comfort and Steve Gray. The list of big-block newcomers includes Chuck Graham, Mike Payne and Derrick Podsiadlo, the '03 Canandaigua 358-Modified champion.

Big-block specials during the season include the Taney Memorial 50 on May 29, a pair of Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series events on Aug. 12 and Sept. 26, and the 50-lap Season Championship race on Sept 4.

This year sponsored by Randy's Smoke Shop and Walmart Music Dept., the third annual Turning Stone Casino 358-Modified Super DIRT Series summer event takes center stage in Canandaigua on Aug. 25. A second small-block tour race has been added on Sept. 25 as part of Canandaigua's all-new Legends Championship Weekend.

The Sportsman title will be another hotly contested affair in 2004. Reigning track champion Paul Guererri will be returning to the weekly wars while local favorites Eldon Payne, Jr., Todd Henderson, Rob Bussey and Dave Allen will be out to steal away the coveted crown. Also expected back are 1992 Canandaigua champion Scott Schrader and second-generation rookie Justin Henderson (son of Todd).

On both May 29 and July 24 the Sportsman teams will not be in competition at Ontario Co. Fairgrounds. Instead, they will be contending at nearby Black Rock Speedway in search of valuable points towards the Canandaigua championship.

The division's biggest event of the year remains the Sunoco Race Fuels Sportsman Super DIRT Series event, in 2004 slated for Sept. 25 during the Legends Weekend.

Jipp Ortiz matched his success found at Canandaigua in 2000 by capturing the '03 Pro Stock track title. He also duplicated his feat of winning both the Canandaigua and overall Hoosier Tire-Sunoco Race Fuels Mr. DIRT Championship in 2000 as he topped both point standings in '03.

Ortiz returns to competition in Ontario County as the early favorite to regain the throne and he will be chased to the checkers weekly by Chad Homan, James Henry, Frank Guererri, Jr. and Daryl Hilkert.

The Empire Sports Network Pro Stock Super DIRT Series West Region 50-lap race is set for Sept. 25 with many of the touring stars expected to be in town for the 6th annual Top Gun No. 1 Shootout that pays $800 to win.

The Street Stock class rejoins the regular weekly card to complete a big four-star program every Saturday night during the summer. Last season four-time feature winner Mike Welch outdistanced Blane Smith to claim the elusive 2003 crown in wine country and this year more than 30 teams are already signed up to challenge for full-fender supremacy.

A pair of invasions by the new Patriot Sprint Group highlight shows on May 29 and July 3 while the annual stop by the Central New York Mini-Sprints will be made on June 19. The 14th 'Salute to Legends' will be held in conjunction with Legends Championship Weekend, Sept. 25-26.

The Gert and Ernie Farney Memorial continues at the Fairgrounds' on July 31 while Ladies take to the fast half-mile clay oval for competition on June 12 and August 14.

Canandaigua Speedway is located on County Road10 at the Ontario County Fairgrounds, just 1-1/2-miles north of Routes 5&20, and is easily accessible from the NYS Thruway (I-90), taking Exit 43 from the west or Exit 44 from the east. Additional information can be obtained by logging into canandaiguaspeedway.com, calling 716/394-0691 on raceday or during the week by dialing the track office at 315/568-8179 or DIRT Motorsports at 315/834-6606.