Ransomville’s Summer Nationals Right Around The Corner
Story By: STEVE PETTY / RANSOMVILLE SPEEDWAY – RANSOMVILLE, NY – One of the most prestigious events in the Northeast, the 33rd running of the Summer Nationals for the Big Block Modified Super DIRTcar Series at the Ransomville Speedway will take place on Tuesday, August 8th presented by Coors Light, Parco Buildings, and Wendt’s Propane and Gas.
“The Franklin Flyer” Billy Decker from Unadilla, NY leads Phoenix, NY’s “Lightning” Larry Wight by just two points coming into the events at Merrittville and Ransomville. Coming into the Niagara Region events, Decker has three wins on the series while Wight has earned one victory on the tour. Decker won the 2014 edition of the Summer Nationals. Three previous winners of the Summer Nationals, Brett Hearn (1990, 2005), Pat Ward (2007), and Stewart Friesen (2006, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016) round out the top five in Super DIRTcar Series points entering the Monday-Tuesday doubleheader in the Region.
Several DIRTcar Hall of Famers and future Hall of Famers have graced victory lane in the Summer Nationals. “Barefoot” Bob McCreadie has won the event on six occasions as well as 2017 inductee “AJ Slideways” Alan Johnson. Alan’s brother “The Doctor” Danny Johnson has also won the Summer Nationals six times in his Hall of Fame career. Stewart Friesen will be trying to win his sixth Summer Nationals when the Big Block Modifieds come to town.
The $6,000 to win event for the Big Block Modified Super DIRTcar Series will be joined by the Investors Service Sportsman and the KiPo Chevrolet Street Stocks. Gates will open at 4:30 pm with Hot Laps at 6:30 pm. Time Trials for the Big Blocks will take place at 7:00 pm with qualifying heats taking the green flag at 7:15 pm. Before the races, enjoy the famous Ransomville Volunteer Fire Company Chicken BBQ. For just $10, enjoy the best Chicken BBQ around with all proceeds benefiting the Ransomville Volunteer Fire Company.
Coors Light continues to be the longtime sponsor for the Summer Nationals. The local Coors Light distributor to Ransomville is Certo Brothers, located at 2500 North America Drive in Buffalo. Get your ice cold Coors Light at the Ransomville Fire Company’s Beer Booth to those 21 years of age and older and enjoy responsibly.
Parco Builders has been in business since 1984 and once again, is a co-sponsor of the Summer Nationals. Located in nearby Newfane, Parco is considered to be Western New York’s largest and most experienced post-frame building company. They are a family owned and operated with two generations actively working with a hands on approach in their daily business. Parco can be contacted by phone at (716) 778-8552, visit them at 6140 First Street in Newfane or online at www.parcobuildings.com
Wendt’s Propane is also once again a co-sponsor of the Summer Nationals. Since 1968, Wendt’s Propane is a major distributor of Propane and Oil to all of Western New York. Servicing residential, commercial and agricultural customers, Wendt’s can be contacted online at www.wendtspropaneandoil.com visiting them on Facebook, or by seeing them at 5910 Ward Road in Sanborn.
The stars of the Super DIRTcar Series, Matt Shepard, Larry Wight, Brett Hearn, Billy Decker, Tim Fuller, Peter Britten, Jimmy Phelps and Max McLaughlin will be joined by defending Ransomville track champion, “The Ransomville Renegade” Ryan Susice, past race winner Erick Rudolph and “Mr. Small Block” Pete Bicknell, and all the Big R regulars as they try to defend home turf against the best DIRTcar Modified racers in the Northeast.
