Planning Begins For 2008 At Delange Racing
With the 2007 racing season now over, planning for 2008 is underway at DeLange Racing. The first step is assessing the team’s strengths and weaknesses and how to improve in the next year. That process is already underway and should be completed shortly.
The next step is to put together a schedule for next season. One decision that has already been made is to focus on Modified racing in 2008. The team plans to follow the Race of Champions Asphalt Modified Tour once again next year. The specific races will depend on the 2008 RoC Tour schedule once it has been released. Team owner Dave DeLange plans to compete for a Regional title and hopefully the overall championship.
DeLange Racing will also be taking a move upward in 2008 by running a limited schedule of races on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. Once again the exact races to be run will depend on the Modified Tour schedule. It has been decided the team will run the traditional Tour April openers in Connecticut ; the Icebreaker at Thompson International Speedway in Thompson , Connecticut , and the Spring Sizzler at Stafford Motor Speedway in Stafford Springs , Connecticut . Spencer Speedway in Williamson , New York has announced they will host a NASCAR Modified Tour race on July 12, 2008, and that event will definitely be on the DeLange schedule. Other races will be added when the full Tour schedule is released in a few weeks and should number from six to eight events for the DeLange team.
DeLange Racing will also compete in as many local Modified races as possible. Spencer Speedway has announced they will schedule four-to-eight Modified specials, mostly 50-lappers, throughout the season and the DeLange team plans to attend as many as possible. Lancaster Raceway Park has not announced their plans for 2008, but if they run a limited number of Modified races as they did in 2007, the DeLange team will support their “home track” whenever possible. Other Modified races could be added as the team’s schedule allows.
On weekends when the DeLange team is not racing the Modified, they will run a limited schedule of SST Sportsman/Modified-type events, primarily at Holland International Speedway and Lancaster.
With such an aggressive schedule planned for 2008, some inevitable changes have been made within the DeLange Racing team. Bobby Holmes of Lockport will not be returning, with Erick Rudolph of Ransomville taking over as the sole driver. Both the Modified and the SST cars will carry the #45 and be sponsored by Original Pizza Logs, PrimeTyme Motorsports and Brigham Concrete. It is with great sadness we say farewell to Holmes and everyone at DeLange Racing wishes him all the best in his future racing endeavors.
“This is a big step forward for our team,” says team owner Dave DeLange. “It has always been a dream of mine to race on the NASCAR Modified Tour and we are finally in a position to fulfill that goal. I think Erick is a young driver with immeasurable talent and I am confident he will be successful as he moves up the ladder. Jim and Charlie Rudolph have competed on that level and their knowledge and experience will be a valuable asset. We are pleased to have our fine sponsors, Original Pizza Logs, PrimeTyme Motorsports and Brigham Concrete, making the move forward with us and we hope to represent them well. Their support is crucial to be successful.
“With all this move involves,” continues DeLange, “some changes had to be made to streamline our team. We are sad to lose Bobby Holmes; he is a talented driver and a fine young man. We enjoyed our time with him and we wish him nothing but the best in his future racing. Change is inevitable but it isn’t always pleasant.”
Look for more news on DeLange Racing and the 2008 season in the coming weeks. It is going to be a great challenge and we are eager to confront it.
Bruce Boucher/DeLange Racing PR
found this on their website
