For
Immediate Release
John Duty Racing
January 10th, 2009 - Portland, Oregon
John Duty and John Duty Racing are pleased to release their tentative 2009
Schedule. 2009 will mark the most ambitious schedule for JDR since 2005. With
33 dates on tap so far at 11 different tracks across 5 Western States and Iowa,
JDR will certainly be racking up some highway miles this coming season.
The
primary focus for John and his team will be the newly formed DIRTcar I-5 Northwest
Late Model Tour that will contest events across Oregon, Washington, and Northern
California as a sister series to the widely popular and successful Western All-Stars
DIRTcar Series. The I-5NWLMT schedule currently has 12 dates on tap so far, but
the series is looking to possibly add a couple more dates.
"Our
plan is to run the I-5NWLMT full time and our goal is to win as many races as
possible and win the championship," said Duty when asked about this new series.
"I hope it evolves into something that encompasses the entire West Coast
and leads to bigger races both in the Northwest and on the West Coast. With this
series and the Western All-Stars being run by the same people and under the DIRTcar
banner, I hope that can lead to bigger things and bigger events for dirt late
model racing out West. Now we have a regional series with some notoriety like
everywhere else in the country, so that will benefit us when talking to new and
potential sponsors."
When
asked for his thoughts on the schedule of this new series, Duty likes what he
sees. "The schedule has a good diversity of tracks, and they are quality
tracks. This schedule is a good starting point from which we can build upon. Hopefully
we can get more tracks and more events in the future."
2009
will mark the first season in 4 years, since 2005, that JDR has attempted to run
for a championship on a touring series, and that is a welcomed change for Duty.
"It is refreshing to be able to go after a championship again. With this
series, our program now has a goal to shoot for and that adds both structure and
focus to our racing program. Hopefully this series will step up the competition
level here in the Northwest and help to make us better when we go to bigger events
back east."
Duty's
schedule isn't just limited to the I-5NWLMT schedule; in fact there is a wide
range of diversity in the schedule that has John anxiously awaiting the start
of the upcoming season. Included in his schedule will be a first time trip to
Gillette Thunder Speedway in Gillette, Wyoming to compete in the World of Outlaws
Late Model Series event there as part of their Wild West Swing. Duty will also
travel south into California and Nevada to compete with the Western All-Stars
on numerous occasions. Also on tap is a return to the famed Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway
for the annual Lucas Oil Knoxville Late Model Nationals on the first weekend of
October. Rounding out the schedule will be a number of unsanctioned local events
across tracks in Oregon.
"I
am very excited to run that World of Outlaws race in Wyoming. That should be a
lot of fun getting to race at that level of competition. That trip will be fun
because it will be combined with a return to Great Basin Raceway in Ely, Nevada,
so we will be able to make a bit of a vacation out of that trip. I am also looking
forward to heading back to Knoxville as we had a great time last fall and performed
well, so we are excited to go back. I am also excited to head back to Skagit,
Chico, and Bakersfield as those are all great tracks that are a lot of fun to
race on. It should be a great year."
Duty's
2009 Schedule will be constantly updated throughout the season as more information
on special events in the fall becomes available, so look for additions to be made
for events in October and November. With no events scheduled in the Western States
until March, Duty's first event of 2009 will be March 14th at Bakersfield Speedway
in Bakersfield, California.
John
Duty Racing would like to thank its sponsors for their support in 2009: Don Frank
Floor Coverings Co., Ken & Mo Stokes, Rocket Chassis, Dirthead.com,
Taylormade Proformance, Oregon Motorsports Inc., Hypercoil Springs, and Elite
Cabinets Plus, LLC. John Duty Racing is always seeking additional sponsorship,
so any inquiries can be made via email at c.cassell@earthlink.net.