The fDTWC (future Dirt Track World Championship) event
for up and coming teenage Dirt Late Model racers is now accepting
driver inquiries for a 2008 running. Due to a last minute
sponsorship snag, the event has been delayed from a 2007 running.
The
event will be invitation only formatted in conjunction with a major
Late Model event. Interested parties can
send inquires to richard at straightcircles.com for further
information.
Only
drivers who on January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008 who were
of the age of 13 thru 19 will be considered for invitation. A
drivers on track performance will be reviewed before driver is made
an invited driver to compete in the prestigious event.
Drivers
must submit the following information via email:
Drivers
Name, Birthdate (00/00/0000), Car Number, home track, year began
Late Model racing, year began racing and divisions ran since, major
accomplishments. A raised seal copy of birth certificate MAY BE
required for consideration. A profile photo and current car
picture is also required.
A
drivers eligibility will be reviewed and driver will be sent an
email or letter of eligibility to confirm acceptance to compete in
the 2008 event.
Other
notes...
The
original event for showcasing the talents of future champions of the
sport ran in 2003 in conjunction with the DTWC at Bluegrass
Speedway. The Richard Cunningham staged event was established then
as an every 5th-year event (much like a graduation class system) and
will return for it's second running in 2008 at a to be named
facility, with a new class of future race stars.
Chase
Austin - the 2003 fDTWC champion has signed on to a driver
development position with Rusty Wallace, Inc.
To read
more click HERE.
In
2003 Straight Circles Communications organized and promoted the
first ever fDTWC (future Dirt Track World Championships). The race
for dirt late model racers under the age of 21 showcased drivers who
had shown outstanding talent and dedication to their racing.
It
is planned to do a fDTWC every 5 years, much like a graduating
class/high school format. The first one was held at Bardstown, KY's
Bluegrass Speedway in conjunction with Carl Short's DTWC weekend.
This
section will be updated and include info on the 2003 class... and
look ahead to the future.
fDTWC
Champion Austin Gets Charlotte Recognition...
Top NASCAR
Teams Show High Level of Interest in Teenage Racer's Future -
(
Eudora
,
KS
–
June 7,
2004
)
- - Chase
Austin's visit to
Charlotte
,
North Carolina
and the activities at Lowes Motor Speedway during the Memorial Day
weekend left a very positive feeling about the talented minority
stock car professional. Following
a special awards presentation, preceding Saturday's (May 29th)
NASCAR Busch Grand National Division event,
Austin
was the talk of numerous key business leaders in the motorsports
industry. Among them, a
handful of top-rated NASCAR Nextel Cup team owners who expressed
interest in bringing Chase Austin into their respective
organizations. During
his stay in the
Charlotte
area,
Austin
was the guest of Roush Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs
Racing and Richard Childress Racing, who among others, expressed
enthusiasm about working with this talented teen.
More
on Chase Austin and to continue reading article click HERE
Todd
Hunt Gets Back to Business...
After
having his race car burn up in an accident this spring (see below),
Todd Hunt got back on track the first weekend of June and has been
putting top five finishes on the board in the above #2.
Todd
was pulled to safety from the drivers compartment thanks to the
quick reaction of one his own sponsors. The track lacked fire
fighting equipment to battle the fire and the car was a total loss
for the team.
We
Share the lost of a friend and a future:
Nathan Rettig
January
14, 1991 - April 9, 2004
Nathan
Rettig (born
Jan. 14, 1991)
lost his life Friday morning April 9th in a four-wheeler accident.
The Sikeston, Missouri son of former Late Model driver Allan
Rettig had started his path down a Late Model career with several
Super Late Model starts in the 2003 season.
Graduating
thru the ranks of other stock cars, it was in the true Late Model
and/or Limited Late Models that Nathan was turning heads as a
legit future star of not only dirt Late Model racing, but any form
of motorsports he so desired.
It
was around a 12-year-old Nathan that the 2003 future Dirt Track
World Championships were idealized and planned. After watching
Nathan not only make the starting field at the Malden, MO MARS
show late last summer, but be competitive, it put credence toward
the idea and potential of such a race.
It
was out of respect for his father Allan, that we diligently tried
to find Nathan a ride for the fDTWC after the Rettig team had done
tore down his car for the winter before the running of the fDTWC.
As promoter at Ky Lake, one of the most supportive drivers was
Allan and one of the easiest to work with. It was that same friend
I found in Allan when we chatted about the fDTWC last fall and
Nathan's involvement and how much he believed in what I was going
to do and the reasons behind the ideas and plans...
Unlike
a racetrack, life has it's own course, one of turns and corners we
never can anticipate. We can only dream of the wins and
trophy's Nathan would have collected, but in his unexpected
passing, we treasure the moments he shared with us and the moments
of kid-like wonderment we experienced in his presence and the
reminder that thru a kids eyes - anything is possible and every
moment is a moment of learning and enjoying life in a way we
should remember for all our years.
Richard
Cunningham
Photos from
Summer 2003 - Malden (MO) Speedway. Richard Cunningham Photos
