Inside Line Promotions – SOMERTON, Ariz. (Dec. 8, 2014) – A pair of dynamic forces in sprint car racing will align for the Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown.
Ohio native Dale Blaney, who is coming off a career-best season when he powered to 21 feature victories, will team up with veteran crew chief and car owner Paul Silva for the event at Cocopah Speedway on Jan. 2-3, Jan. 6 and Jan. 9-10.
“Rico (Abreu) was the guy who called me and asked if I was going to run,” Blaney said. “I didn’t know at that point. It’s a long way from Columbus, Ohio, to Arizona. I talked to Paul in Charlotte and worked things out. There’s probably about two opportunities in my book that I’d run someone else’s car and his is one of them. I have a lot of respect for that guy. His cars are really fast and I’d like to jump in them to see if I’m just as fast.”
Silva said he had to make some modifications to a new car to accommodate Blaney, who is 6-foot-4.
“I was looking for someone to do a good job and I think he’ll do a good job,” Silva said. “He’s definitely a good racer.”
Blaney, who said he has never been to Cocopah Speedway and hasn’t raced in the state of Arizona since the late 1990s, added that he is excited about the opportunity to continue racing throughout the offseason.
“It’s definitely a bonus,” he said. “I went to Australia last year and ran probably 14 times and came back here and had my best year ever. I don’t know if that has anything to do with anything, but I’m a superstitious guy. If I can race in the winter time it’s a bonus.”
There is also a financial incentive for drivers to head to Arizona. The Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown weekend races – Jan. 2-3 and Jan. 9-10 – pay $12,000 to win and $1,000 to start with the event on Jan. 6 paying $5,000 to win. There is also a points fund for the top five in overall points.
“I’ve seen videos of races out there,” Blaney said. “It looks like a fun place to race and that it creates good racing.”
Tickets are available for sale online by visiting https://secure.pivotalracing.com/venues/cocopah-speedway.
WINTER HEAT SPRINT CAR SHOWDOWN –
Dates: Jan. 2-3, 6, 9-10, 2015
Track: Cocopah Speedway in Somerton, Ariz.
Prize: $12,000-to-win, $1,000-to-start each night (Jan. 2-3, 9-10); $5,000-to-win (Jan. 6); approximately $250,000 total prize money
Type: 410ci sprint cars
TICKETS –
Fans can purchase tickets by clicking https://secure.pivotalracing.com/venues/cocopah-speedway. Anyone who purchases by Dec. 1, 2014, will receive a free fan pass to the pits from 2-5 p.m. on that race date.
PAY-PER-VIEW –
SPEED SPORT Productions will be broadcasting live Pay-Per-View video of the Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown for $27.95 per night or a special all-access pass of $99.95 for all five nights (good only through Dec. 15). Visit http://www.SPEEDSPORT.TV/live for more information. The event will also be taped for a pair of one-hour delayed television broadcasts via MAVTV.
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.CocopahSpeedway.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CocopahShowdown
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WinterHeatSprintCarShowdown
THE EVENT –
The inaugural Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown will showcase the top sprint car drivers in the world in sunny Southwest Arizona during the first two weekends of January in 2015. The four weekend races pay $12,000 to the winner and at least $1,000 to every driver who advances to the main event with the midweek show paying $5,000 to win.
POINTS FUND –
A $10,000 points fund will be split among the top-five finishers. The champion will receive a $4,000 bonus with drivers finishing second through fifth each offered $1,500. A driver will earn points throughout heat races, qualifying races and main events during the five events. A competitor must attempt to race in all five Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown races to be eligible for the points fund.
COCOPAH SPEEDWAY –
Cocopah Speedway is a semi-banked, 3/8-mile dirt track located in Somerton, Ariz. It has a concrete wall perimeter, television-quality lighting and the pits are located outside turns three and four. There is also dry camping free of charge on the property. For more information, visit http://www.CocopahSpeedway.com.
COMETIC GASKET –
Cometic Gasket, Inc., is a leading worldwide supplier of shelf stock, custom and short-run gaskets for the performance aftermarket, original equipment and motor sports industries. The company, which is located in Concord, Ohio, was created in 1989 and ships out more than 5,000 types of gaskets to customers worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.Cometic.com.
JE PISTONS –
JE Pistons is the leader in high performance forged pistons. Based in Irvine, Calif., the company has more than 60 years of experience and has a history of manufacturing the highest quality pistons and components that professional engine builders, race teams and high-performance enthusiasts trust and rely on. For more information, visit http://www.JEPistons.com.
K1 TECHNOLOGIES –
K1 Technologies, which is located in Mentor, Ohio, has many years in the field of designing, engineering and manufacturing connecting rods and crankshafts. For more information, visit http://www.K1Technologies.com.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –
Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations and media management for motor sports drivers, teams, sponsors, tracks, series, events, organizations and manufacturers. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and the return on investment for your sponsors.
To meet the media relations needs of your program and to join Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or InsideLinePromotions@gmail.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.