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The 4th annual CompetitionPlus.com Spring Open
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The latest news from the East Coast’s largest test session
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Pre-entries received as of February 16(1-15-2004) - The following pre-entries have been received for the 4th annual CompetitionPlus.com Spring Open at Virginia Motorsports Park. Pre-entries for CompetitionPlus.com Spring Open as of February 16, 2004 Top Fuel 1. Grant Flowers Pro Modified 1. Scotty Cannon
1. Robert Patrick
1. Mike Moran Nostalgia Pro Street 1. Kevin Parent Top Alcohol Funny Car 1. Mick Snyder Pro Nostalgia 1. Paul Adams
1. Frank Jonkman – Nostalgia Nitro Funny Car Sportsman 1. Carlos Wells (Top Sportsman) Virginia Motorsports Park begins track preparation for fourth annual CompetitionPlus.com Spring Open
(1-15-2003) – Virginia Motorsports Park has taken the first steps toward preparing for the official IHRA preseason test session during the weekend of March 11-14 in Dinwiddie, Va., located outside of Richmond. The award-winning drag racing facility, which hosts the IHRA ACDelco Nationals in late-May, is undergoing improvements to its existing record-setting surface. Freeburn Track Grinding was retained to grind the entire quarter-mile and work began this week. “It’s all about staying ahead of the game,” explained Pierce. “We take pride in our racing facility and it’s our objective to always keep Virginia Motorsports Park better than it has to be. This week’s work is laying the groundwork for a velvety smooth track surface. With that said, we expect even quicker times and faster speeds. “In a little over sixty days, we will open our gates for the official IHRA preseason test event – the CompetitionPlus.com Spring Open, and we are going to make sure that the top professional and sportsman drivers have the necessary testing they need headed into the Amalie Oil Texas Nationals in San Antonio.
“Of course, it won’t hurt them whe they run the ACDelco Nationals here a couple of months later. Each week that we run on this surface makes it even better.” IHRA’s master track prepsman Jim Weinert is quick to point out that VMP is taking steps to make a good track even better. He is expected to be on hand at the CompetitionPlus.com Spring Open where 6.0s in Pro Modified and 6.4’s in Sunoco Pro Stock are expected to be common. “The work they are doing will help in getting rid of some of the grooves on the top end,” explained Weinert, who track-prep prowess is largely regarded in the sport. “This will help in getting a better glue application on the top end. There’s a very good chance that we’ll see some records.”
In 2002, the CompetitionPlus.com Spring Open yielded tremendous elapsed times in the Pro Modified and Sunoco Pro Stock ranks. Pro Modified racer Al Billes recorded a 6.112 and former IHRA Pro Stock World Champion Gene Wilson blasted out a 6.51 in Charlie Hunt’s Cougar. Pre-enter for the 4th annual CompetitionPlus.com Spring Open. Professional teams are given free testing in exchange for participating in a special “Chicago Style” Shootout on Saturday. The Spring Open will provide professional drivers the opportunity
to test provided that they participate in a special "Chicago
Style" eliminations program on Sunday. Pre-entry is encouraged
for the professionals as it not only assists the VMP crew with determining
parking space as well as publicity for the event. If you have a
sponsor, this would be a great way to garner publicity for them.
Professional teams that pre-enter will be given free entry for three
crewmen. Checks or money orders must be made payable to Virginia Motorsports Park. They may be sent to the following address: Virginia Motorsports Park Deadline for pre-entry is March 4, 2004 A special e-mail address has been set up for those that wish to pre-enter online. Online pre-entries can be e-mailed to springopen2004@aol.com. The following information must be included with each pre-entry. The FastNews Network and DragRaceCentral.com will provide daily coverage of the event. |
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(12-14-2003) - In an effort to give attending drivers as much publicity as possible, the CompetitionPlus.com Spring Open is open to pre-entry registration. The third annual event will be held at Virginia Motorsports Park in Dinwiddie Va., during the weekend of March 11-14, which is two weeks before the IHRA Texas Nationals in San Antonio, Texas.
This unique gathering will feature everything from Pro Modifieds to mountain motor Sunoco Pro Stocks to various sportsman entries in test mode. Also on hand will be a couple of Top Fuelers, Funny Cars and Nitro Harley-Davidsons. There will be a special Chicago style eliminations program on Saturday in the professional divisions in exchange for the test time.
The Spring Open will provide professional drivers the opportunity to test provided that they participate in a special "Chicago Style" eliminations program on Sunday. Pre-entry is encouraged for the professionals as it not only assists the VMP crew with determining parking space as well as publicity for the event. If you have a sponsor, this would be a great way to garner publicity for them. Professional teams that pre-enter will be given free entry for three crewmen.
Sportsman drivers that wish to test and tune during the event can receive a cost break by pre-entering. The standard fee for the CompetitionPlus.com Spring Open will be $75 at the gate for the entire weekend and $25 per day if a driver does not wish the entire program. However, if they pre-enter, the fee drops to $65 for the entire event.
Checks or money orders must be made payable to Virginia Motorsports Park.They may be sent to the following address:
Virginia Motorsports Park
8018 Boydton Plank Road
Petersburg, VA 23803
Deadline for pre-entry is March 4, 2004
A special e-mail address has been set up for those that wish to pre-enter online. Online pre-entries can be e-mailed to springopen2004@aol.com.
The following information must be included with each pre-entry.
Car Number:
Classification:
Driver Name:
Team Owner Name:
Address
City, State & Zip
Phone Number You Can Be Best Reached At:
Car Make:
Sponsor (if applicable):
Days you plan on attending - NOTE - If you plan on attending the complete
event, please list - COMPLETE EVENT
The FastNews Network and DragRaceCentral.com will provide daily coverage of the event.
CompetitionPlus.com Spring Open returns to Virginia Motorsports Park for fourth annual running as official IHRA pre-season test event
(12-13-2003) – For the fourth consecutive season, drag racers will get their shot at preparing for the upcoming season courtesy of the CompetitionPlus.com Spring Open hosted by Virginia Motorsports Park located outside of Richmond, Va. The event will provide four days of testing for professional and sportsman drivers beginning on March 11th and concluding on March 14th. Details on special programs and sponsors will be released in the coming weeks.
One of the trademarks of the event has been the Chicago Style eliminations format featuring Pro Modified, Sunoco Pro Stocks and alcohol-burning Funny Cars. Previous winners include Alan Pittman, Mike Ashley and Steve Vick in Pro Modified and Chris Holbrook, Gene Wilson and Carl Baker in Sunoco Pro Stock.
Event coordinator Bobby Bennett is pleased that the event is returning to its original date and will be contested before the season begins.
“I really have to thank Bill Bader for giving us the chance to present a real pre-season event,” explained Bennett. “Last year’s scheduling conflicts provided an obstacle, but this year things have returned to normal. This event promises to be even larger than in year’s past and I am very thankful to be aligned with Brian Pierce and the hard-working staff at Virginia Motorsports Park.”
VMP’s Brian Pierce is excited with the potential that this event provides.
“Over the last four years we have created a good event designed to both help the racers and give race fans a chance to get out of the house after a long winter,” Pierce said. “We are looking forward to working with the staff at CompetitionPlus.com and the racers that plan to attend. This is going to be great.”
Last year, the event was held the week before the IHRA national event in Rockingham. This season the CompetitionPlus.com Spring Open will be contested two weeks before the IHRA season opener in San Antonio, Texas.
