Post by Dirt Master on Jun 8, 2007 11:17:13 GMT -5
Contact: DIRT MotorSports d/b/a World Racing Group
Kevin Kovac, World of Outlaws Late Model Series P.R. Director
704-254-7929 . kkovac@dirtmotorsports.com
Clint Smith Proud To Provide Ride For Jeff Gordon's Return To Dirt In Wednesday's Nextel Prelude To The Dream At Eldora Speedway
Fellow World of Outlaws Late Model Series Regulars Steve Francis & Josh Richards Also Teamed With NASCAR Stars For Special Event
ROSSBURG, OH - June 6, 2007 - NASCAR Nextel Cup mega-star Jeff Gordon will make his first dirt-track start since 1991 with some help from an old-school southern racer known as 'Cat Daddy.'
When Gordon takes the green flag in the 'Nextel Prelude to the Dream' event on Wednesday night (June 6) at Tony Stewart's Eldora Speedway, he'll be behind the wheel of a dirt Late Model fielded by Clint Smith, a veteran dirt-tracker from Senoia, Ga., who certainly won't get starry-eyed in Gordon's presence.
In fact, Smith, 42, believes his reputation as a hard-nosed, no-nonsense competitor helped bring him together with Gordon for a unique event in which two-dozen well-known drivers from motorsports' big leagues will have some fun racing dirt Late Models to benefit the Victory Junction Gang.
"I think (event organizers) knew I could kind of handle Jeff Gordon's 'status,' you could say," said Smith, the current points leader of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series. "They knew we wouldn't be overwhelmed with him, and he wouldn't be intimidated with us. I could just teach and help him a little bit (with dirt Late Models), and we could have a good little team.
"Jeff and these (NASCAR) guys are from a different type of racing - they're 'celebrity' types, I like to say," he continued. "But I've raced with a lot of those guys, and I know a bunch of them. I'm not overwhelmed by those guys at all.
"As far as I see it, they're just like we are - we're at the top of our sport, and they're at the top of their sport. To me, we're the same status - except they've got a lot more money."
For Smith, the best part about being associated with one of the country's most famous sports figures for the night is the excitement it will provide his family.
"My wife (Kim), and my daughter (14-year-old Jenna), it'll be fun for them because they don't get to see people like Jeff Gordon very often," said Smith. "My daughter will get to meet Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon - Tony Stewart's her idol, and she likes Jeff Gordon too. She's going to get a chance to meet people she wouldn't normally get to meet if I was just a regular Dad."
Smith will admit that he's proud to have Gordon driving his car - and in that vein, he'll make one request of Gordon for posterity.
"I'm going to get Gordon to sign the door (of the Late Model he drives)," said Smith. "I'm going to put that thing in my basement. Twenty years from now we might sit there, look at that door, and say, 'This guy has won more (NASCAR Nextel Cup) championships than anybody, and he raced my car once.' That's a pretty cool deal."
Smith has prepared a GRT chassis dirt Late Model for Gordon that's been painted and lettered with Gordon's familiar rainbow colors and No. 24. He had to bolt in a new seat and make some adjustments to the positioning of the car's pedals - after all, Smith has at least six inches and 100 pounds on Gordon - but otherwise the machine will be identical to what Smith normally races.
Gordon hasn't raced on dirt since a USAC Midget event in 1991, but Smith has little doubt the current Nextel Cup points leader will get comfortable with alacrity.
And if Gordon enjoys himself, Smith would have no problem teaming up again with him in the future.
"It's gonna be a great deal," said Smith. "Maybe we'll even build a relationship and he'll want to run a (dirt Late Model) race later in the year if he can. If he does, he can just give me a call and we'll stick his seat in and go racin'."
*****
Two other WoO LMS regulars will be teamed with NASCAR stars for Wednesday's 'Nextel Prelude to the Dream' at Eldora Speedway.
Josh Richards, 19, of Shinnston, W.Va., will continue his close relationship with Eldora owner Tony Stewart, who will drive the Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats No. 20 from the Rocket Chassis shop of Josh's father Mark. Josh will serve as Stewart's crew chief for the night.
Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., meanwhile, will be partnered with Ryan Newman for the 'Prelude.' Francis, who became acquainted with Newman through reps at Mopar, has prepared a brand-new Ranger Boats/Jasper Engines & Transmissions Rocket for Newman; Newman's old USAC number, 39, will adorn the car's doors.
*****
For more information on Eldora Speedway, visit www.eldoraspeedway.com.
More info on the WoO LMS is available by logging on to www.worldofoutlaws.com.
Kevin Kovac, World of Outlaws Late Model Series P.R. Director
704-254-7929 . kkovac@dirtmotorsports.com
Clint Smith Proud To Provide Ride For Jeff Gordon's Return To Dirt In Wednesday's Nextel Prelude To The Dream At Eldora Speedway
Fellow World of Outlaws Late Model Series Regulars Steve Francis & Josh Richards Also Teamed With NASCAR Stars For Special Event
ROSSBURG, OH - June 6, 2007 - NASCAR Nextel Cup mega-star Jeff Gordon will make his first dirt-track start since 1991 with some help from an old-school southern racer known as 'Cat Daddy.'
When Gordon takes the green flag in the 'Nextel Prelude to the Dream' event on Wednesday night (June 6) at Tony Stewart's Eldora Speedway, he'll be behind the wheel of a dirt Late Model fielded by Clint Smith, a veteran dirt-tracker from Senoia, Ga., who certainly won't get starry-eyed in Gordon's presence.
In fact, Smith, 42, believes his reputation as a hard-nosed, no-nonsense competitor helped bring him together with Gordon for a unique event in which two-dozen well-known drivers from motorsports' big leagues will have some fun racing dirt Late Models to benefit the Victory Junction Gang.
"I think (event organizers) knew I could kind of handle Jeff Gordon's 'status,' you could say," said Smith, the current points leader of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series. "They knew we wouldn't be overwhelmed with him, and he wouldn't be intimidated with us. I could just teach and help him a little bit (with dirt Late Models), and we could have a good little team.
"Jeff and these (NASCAR) guys are from a different type of racing - they're 'celebrity' types, I like to say," he continued. "But I've raced with a lot of those guys, and I know a bunch of them. I'm not overwhelmed by those guys at all.
"As far as I see it, they're just like we are - we're at the top of our sport, and they're at the top of their sport. To me, we're the same status - except they've got a lot more money."
For Smith, the best part about being associated with one of the country's most famous sports figures for the night is the excitement it will provide his family.
"My wife (Kim), and my daughter (14-year-old Jenna), it'll be fun for them because they don't get to see people like Jeff Gordon very often," said Smith. "My daughter will get to meet Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon - Tony Stewart's her idol, and she likes Jeff Gordon too. She's going to get a chance to meet people she wouldn't normally get to meet if I was just a regular Dad."
Smith will admit that he's proud to have Gordon driving his car - and in that vein, he'll make one request of Gordon for posterity.
"I'm going to get Gordon to sign the door (of the Late Model he drives)," said Smith. "I'm going to put that thing in my basement. Twenty years from now we might sit there, look at that door, and say, 'This guy has won more (NASCAR Nextel Cup) championships than anybody, and he raced my car once.' That's a pretty cool deal."
Smith has prepared a GRT chassis dirt Late Model for Gordon that's been painted and lettered with Gordon's familiar rainbow colors and No. 24. He had to bolt in a new seat and make some adjustments to the positioning of the car's pedals - after all, Smith has at least six inches and 100 pounds on Gordon - but otherwise the machine will be identical to what Smith normally races.
Gordon hasn't raced on dirt since a USAC Midget event in 1991, but Smith has little doubt the current Nextel Cup points leader will get comfortable with alacrity.
And if Gordon enjoys himself, Smith would have no problem teaming up again with him in the future.
"It's gonna be a great deal," said Smith. "Maybe we'll even build a relationship and he'll want to run a (dirt Late Model) race later in the year if he can. If he does, he can just give me a call and we'll stick his seat in and go racin'."
*****
Two other WoO LMS regulars will be teamed with NASCAR stars for Wednesday's 'Nextel Prelude to the Dream' at Eldora Speedway.
Josh Richards, 19, of Shinnston, W.Va., will continue his close relationship with Eldora owner Tony Stewart, who will drive the Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats No. 20 from the Rocket Chassis shop of Josh's father Mark. Josh will serve as Stewart's crew chief for the night.
Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., meanwhile, will be partnered with Ryan Newman for the 'Prelude.' Francis, who became acquainted with Newman through reps at Mopar, has prepared a brand-new Ranger Boats/Jasper Engines & Transmissions Rocket for Newman; Newman's old USAC number, 39, will adorn the car's doors.
*****
For more information on Eldora Speedway, visit www.eldoraspeedway.com.
More info on the WoO LMS is available by logging on to www.worldofoutlaws.com.