Record Purse Rewards Drivers For Every Race, Every Position In ‘Build Your Bank’ Challenge At Land Of Legends Raceway

Story By TOM SKIBINSKI / LAND OF LEGENDS RACEWAY – CANANDAIGUA, NY – On the brink of kicking off the 56th season of auto racing at Land of Legends Raceway, promoter Paul Cole has already laid the ground work for a lucrative season-finale at the historic Ontario County Fairgrounds clay oval.

The momentous DIRTcar ‘Build Your Bank’ Challenge for both DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds and DIRTcar 358 Modifieds on Saturday, Sept. 28, boasts a projected purse in excess of $45,000, with the DIRTcar Sportsman Series fall event adding another $10,000-plus to the record single-day payout in wine country.

This Modified event replaces the scheduled Super DIRTcar Series event.

“Working in conjunction with DIRTcar officials, we’ve created a unique event which offers a purse in every race, from qualifying runs right up to the feature,” stated Cole, after revealing details of easily the richest event scheduled during his two-year tenure at the speedway. “The format is designed to make it profitable for the whole field, even non-qualifiers will take home some money. Being a non-points event for both DIRTcar Big Blocks and Small Blocks, this type of high-dollar, short-distance event should prove attractive to many race teams in our region.”

With mammoth monetary rewards at stake in qualifying and a colossal $35,950 purse on the line for the 50-lap feature alone, Cole is proud to announce that at least 20 racers will collect over $1,000 in winnings after their single-day stop at Canandaigua’s legendary half-miler. In addition, an opportunity to earn a starting position at NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week will be afforded along with special contingency prizes, including a number of Hoosier Racing Tires.

“This event is so unique, unlike anything ever done before for Modified racing in the Northeast,” said DIRTcar Series Director Dean Reynolds. “First of all, the purse being offered and how it’s spread out is phenomenal. Land of Legends Raceway has definitely stepped up for the everyday racer, rewarding every position in every race. Then, the racing itself for the fans is going to be impressive with the way the lineups will be done, and rewarding the winners with a substantial payout will entice incredible racing from beginning to end.”

Three 20-lap Modified qualifying heats kick off trackside action, with preliminary race groups assembled based on the current DIRTcar Hoosier Point Weekly Standings. The top entrant goes to heat #1, second to heat #2, third to heat #3, fourth to heat #1, fifth to heat #2, sixth to heat #3, etc. A draw will be held for heat race starting positions.

A $1,500 cash pot is reserved for the heats with each winner collecting $500 and the top-3 from each participating in a redraw for feature race starting assignments. The top-6 finishers from each heat advance directly to the feature while positions 7-10 automatically earn a starting berth in the Last Chance Showdown (LCS).

A pair of $1,800 C-Mains (15-laps) secure starting spots in the LCS for drivers finishing in the top-4 positions with the winner and all non-qualifiers pocketing $150 each. From the $3,250 LCS (15-laps) starting 20 cars, the top-8 finishers transfer to the feature with the winner and all non-qualifiers receiving $250 each.

When the final checkered flag falls, the 50-lap feature winner will take home the $6,000 top prize, while the aggressive payoff structure awards $1,300 for 10th, $1,000 for 20th and $500 for last-place in the 26-car field. Small-Block bonuses are $500 for the highest finishing 358-Modified, $300 2nd-highest, $200 3rd-highest.

DIRTcar ‘Build Your Bank’ Challenge 50-Lap Feature Race Purse

1. $6,000, 2. $3,000, 3. $2,500, 4. $2,000. 5. $1,700, 6. $1,500, 7. $1,450, 8. $1,400, 9. $1,350, 10. $1,300, 11. $1,250, 12. $ 1,200, 13. $1,150, 14. $1,100, 15. $1,050, 16. $1,000, 17, $1,000, 18. $1,000, 19. $1,000, 20. $1,000, 21. $500, 22. $500, 23. $500, 24. $500, 25. $500, 26. $500.

The autumn curtain-closer in Canandaigua rewards the 40-lap DIRTcar Sportsman winner $2,000 with $125 guaranteed to start in the 30-car feature field. Sportsman drivers will also reap some of the Hoosier tires in this, the first round of the Fall Sportsman Series which concludes at Super DIRT Week.

Tickets for the ‘Build Your Bank’ Challenge are $29 for adults, $27 for seniors and $5 for children 6-16. All Reserved seats are $2 additional. The pit fee is $40.

LOLR opens Sat., Apr. 20, to officially launch the track’s 42nd year of operation under the DIRTcar Racing banner. Practice sessions at the fairgrounds have been slated for Sat., April 13 (10am-4pm) and Wed., April 17 (5-8pm). Grandstand general admission is free both practice days and the daily pit fee is $20.

The adult grandstand ticket price is $15 for Saturday Spectaculars, $13 for Seniors (65 yrs. plus) while 16 and under are FREE with a paid adult. Reserved Grandstand seating for a weekly show is $17 and $2 for all children 16 and under. Seniors 65+ are $15. Grandstand gates open at 5 p.m. and racing begins at 7 p.m.