07/25/2002
NEW ENDURO TOURING
SERIES TO RUN ON DIRT AND ASPHALT
A new enduro series is currently being finalized
that will give the areas low budget drivers a new innovative tour
and a chance at some good money.
The newly formed North East Enduro Touring Series
(N.E.E.T.S.) will be making stops at some of the premier dirt and
asphalt racing facilities in the northeast.
Beginning in 2003, a new era in enduro racing
comes to northeast United States. Enduro racing has been around for
quite some time, but has never been recognized as "real
racing" by some. These special events of crash and smash
racing, put on a great show for fans, but rarely have substantial
payouts and have not been taken too seriously. In fact endurance
racing is taken very seriously by many drivers that could afford to
race in a top class but choose to do this because it is fun.
This series is the brain trust of former Dirt
Street stock champion Billy Bartley of Scranton, PA, current
Director of Operations at 1/3 mile asphalt track Mountain Speedway
in St. Johns, Pennsylvania. Bartley will also serve as the series
director/ promoter, and draws on his racing experience and over 15
plus years of race officiating to put this tour together. He will
also rely heavily on the new series race director, Mike Odwazny, a
former enduro driver himself.
Together, they are planning a minimum 10 race
schedule at almost as many tracks in various states in the
northeast. The tracks of different sizes and surfaces will test the
skills of the drivers. The asphalt and dirt tracks participating in
the series will range from 1/4 mile, up to 5/8 mile in length. There
is even a road course enduro in the works. The total laps will vary
depending on the track. All races will be run in "true enduro
style"
At this time, track locations are in New York,
Pennsylvania and Connecticut. There have also been inquires and
interest from speedways in New Jersey and Maryland. Bartley is now
in the midst of setting up the schedule with, and contacting the
individual track owners and promoters. The 2k3 N.E.E.T.S. schedule
should be finalized by Christmas 2002.
The series will have rules for the cars that have
both safety and pocket book in mind. A person can build a
competitive car for under $1,000, and probably buy one cheaper. The
purses will depend on the amount of cars registered. "In these
days of $15,000 to $75,000 minimum investments in a weekly racing
series to build and race a car, I am making it possible for the
average fan or pit crew member to run a fun series with a (by the
rules) cheap car and win" says Bartley. The amounts will be
announced by the series in the near future. A year end Champion will
be crowned, a points fund will have been accrued, and will be paid
out at a year end trophy banquet. He will also be awarded the
coveted #1 to display on his car for the 2004 season.
Bartley is now looking for corporate sponsors to
back the tour and has a few prospects with strong interest. They
also need individual race sponsors for each track. The media has
expressed a high interest in this new venture and will be watching
it closely. Sponsors will be announced in future press releases.
Anyone interested in the tour series, whether a
member driver or track, potential race sponsor, or just a fan, can
follow developments by visiting the new website at http://www.speedwaytech.com/endurotour.htm.
If you have immediate questions, you can contact Bartley at (570)
346-5973 or via email, at billyb@speedwaytech.com.
Sources:
NEETS PR
Posted: July 25, 2002
