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First Official Entries Arrive for Seventh Annual
Friends of Mike Race
New Egypt, NJ (July 15, 2012)
– In just two short weeks the New Egypt Speedway will be hosting one of
the most lucrative paying events in the track’s 15-year history.
On Saturday, July 28 NES will be honoring race fan Mike Rogie in the 7th
Annual Friends of Mike races. In conjunction with the 100-lap main
event the ‘Rogie Rumble III’ will be back by popular demand. The
Sportsman and Outlaw Stocks will also be in competition on this evening
as they race for $1,500 and $1,000 in their respective divisions (The
Crate-1 Sportsman will race their F.O.M. race on October 27).
Last year Tim McCreadie of Watertown, NY invaded NES to take home an
unprecedented $20,000 top prize. He was able to conquer the
100-lap event in grand style which also happened to be his first career
modified victory at the speedway. ‘T-Mac’ led a star-studded field
across the finish line which included Duane Howard, Stewart Friesen,
Matt Sheppard, and Jeff Strunk. This year’s 100-lap race will once
again pay a five-figure purse to the winner. The fortunate
Modified winner of FOM VII will take home a substantial $10,000 for
place prize for their winning efforts.
After listening to many of
the competitors, NES has given them what they’ve asked for this year.
Rather than having an attractive, yet top heavy purse, the wealth will
be evenly spread out to all the drivers. The cars that qualify
through their heats and consolations events will be guaranteed $1,000 to
take the green flag.
Event organizer and track manager Danny
Serrano has listened to the driver’s suggestions over the past few years
and decided it was time to act on those suggestions in 2012.
“Paying 20 grand to win a race is phenomenal, it really is. But,
only one guy gets to see all that money. This year we wanted to
make it much more attractive to the drivers yet still pay generously to
the winner. I think this year more than ever that it’s more
important to make 30 guys a little more happier rather than a select
few,” explained Serrano.
John McClelland of Martinsville, NJ
became the first official F.O.M. VII entry last week. McClelland
also known as ‘Johnny-Mac’ currently sits 12th in the NES modified point
standings. McClelland is looking to keep the F.O.M. ‘first time
winner streak’ alive, in 2012 as Willie Osmun and the aforementioned
McCreadie have won the past two events. J-Mac, a multiple
Sportsman division winner, is still in search of his first NES modified
victory. Back on May 19th John drove his Land Image, Rotor Clip,
Joy Auto Parts sponsored Troyer to a career best second place finish
behind current point leader Ryan Godown. Will McClelland be able
to make it a ‘hat trick’ this year for first time winners?
Gary
Tomkins became the second modified driver to enter this year’s
100-lapper. Tomkins, a regular at the Canandaigua Speedway in
upstate NY, will be behind the wheel of the Ray and Debbie Tuit No. 673.
The Clifton, NY driver will steer the Sparta Trucking/Pro Stock
Automotive, Morrison powered Bicknell in his second consecutive F.O.M.
appearance. The 2004 MR. DIRT Big Block Champion currently sits
seventh in the Canandaigua point standings and is sixth on the track’s
overall win list with 45 victories.
Joey Grammes courtesy of Five
Mile Point and Rick Laubach via Big Diamond have locked up
guaranteed starting spots in the 100-lap event. As the days draw
nearer you can be assured that the entries will be released in all the
divisions racing on F.O.M. Night. Drivers can find their entry
forms on the track’s website www.newegyptspeedway.net. Rules,
procedures, and qualifying formats will be released later this week.
The three division program has a starting time of 6pm. The
grandstand and pit gates will both open at 2pm. There will be a
“free-to-the-public” barbeque from 2pm to 4pm in the turn 4 picnic area
in conjunction with the fan-favorite ‘Chinese Auction/Tricky Tray’.
The auction starts at 2pm with the winner’s prizes being drawn during
intermission. Lap Sponsors still remain open. If you are
interested in sponsoring laps, you can call the track office at
609-758-1900. You may sponsor a lap in the Modified, Sportsman,
Outlaw Stock, or Crate-1 division.
Even with $1,000 to qualify
for the 100 lap affair, Adult admission for the July 28 spectacle
remains at $30, Students 12-15 are $15, children 11 and under are FREE,
Pit Admission is $40 no track license required. For more
information regarding times, prices, the auction, and BBQ, rules,
entries, lap sponsors, and other important information you can visit
www.newegyptspeedway.net or call the track
office.
New Egypt Speedway is located at 720 Route 539, New
Egypt, NJ just minutes from Six Flags Great Adventure. |
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