January 23, 2008

FULTON SPEEDWAY FULLY COMMITTED TO NEW GM CRATE ENGINE RULES IN SPORTSMAN DIVISION

FULTON, NY – The Fulton Speedway is fully committed to the factory-sealed, 350 horsepower GM Crate Engine #8602 program for the DIRTcar Sportsman division during the 2008 race season and beyond. Recent questions have come up and false rumors have been flying, and track management wants to fully clarify the rule.

            The only engine permitted in the DIRTcar Sportsman division in the 2008 race season and beyond at Fulton Speedway is the affordable GM Crate Engine part #8602. This rule mirrors the bulk of the DIRTcar Northeast circuit including Cayuga County, Canandaigua, and Rolling Wheels Speedways in addition to the entire Sportsman Super DIRTcar Series.

            In a recent press release by DIRTcar Northeast, Bill Martens, Special Programs Manager for General Motors, has come forward after weeks of questioning to say that the out of control rumors of GM abandoning the Crate Engine program are absolutely false.

“GM Performance Parts will continue to supply factory-sealed 350 (8602), 355 (8603), and 400 (8604) horsepower circle track engines to the grassroots racing community in 2008 and into the indefinite future,” said Martens.  “The program has grown every year for the past five years, and with expanded interest in 2008, we fully expect this pattern to continue for many years in the future.”

“We know that many of these rumors have been created by the same folks that have been trying to undermine the program, feeling threatened by the loss of customers who were no longer able to afford their products.  What has been innuendo in the past has now moved to outright false statements.”

Developed six years ago, the GM Performance Parts crate engine #8602 program has strived to keep racers in the sport that can no longer afford to, while also assisting new racers into the sport that may not have major sponsorship dollars.

Fulton Speedway track officials believe deeply in the GM Crate program and saw very positive results during the 2007 race season with the class and drivers who then used the crate motor as an option. The program offers current drivers the option to stay involved in the sport for a period of time and offer new drivers an affordable means to get started. 2007 DIRTcar Sportsman Track Champion Jeremy Pitcher of Fulton had a GM Crate Engine in his Troyer machine for the entire season, winning two features in the process.

            For more information, contact the speedway wintertime office at (315) 668-2526 or visit www.fultonspeedway.com.