E3 Spark Plugs News

Jim Mardis, 2010 Lucas Oil-Rockstar Energy Drink Modified Series champion aims to defend his title in the 2011 series revving up March 26.

We’re looking forward to a jam-packed weekend here at E3 Spark Plugs. Racing fans are revved up over Saturday’s official start of the Lucas Oil-Rockstar Energy Drink Modified Series‘ 2011 season. Things heat up at the Havasu 95 Speedway in Lake Havasu City, AZ with the inaugural Dart Machinery LTD North-South Shootout, a newly created points series within a series that pits the talents of the Lucas Oil-Rockstar Energy Drink Series teams racing in southern California, Arizona and Nevada, against their equally talented modified racing contemporaries from northern California and Washington.

“This has the making of becoming one of the biggest racing events on the west coast,” said Lucas Oil-Rockstar Energy Drink Series Promoter Greg Scheidecker.”

Also new this year: two venues hosting series events for the first time. The Toyota Speedway at Irwindale, known as the fastest half mile oval in the southwest, and the Madera Speedway, the fastest third mile oval in the west, see series action in June, July and August. A new “Winners Circle” program awards a $200 bonus to any team that maintains a position in the top ten of the points standings – a nice financial boost to help cover increased travel costs. And, series drivers get a chance to showcase their talent on national television, via a broadcast agreement with MAV-TV. Crews will cover the June 4th race at the Toyota Speedway and the Nov. 5 race and the final product will air nationwide.

E3 Spark Plugs is back in the mix this year with the E3 Spark Plugs 75, a special post-season, non-points event. Winning won’t impact a racer’s final championship standings, but it will net a whopping $3,000 winner’s check, Bullsring victory lane bragging rights and the attention of modified racing teams from all across the western states.

Visit the Lucas Oil-Rockstar Energy Drink Modified Series website to get your tickets and hit up E3 Spark Plugs for high-performance spark plugs that’ll help get your car in race-ready condition.

Check out this recap of the 2010 Lucas Oil-Rockstar Modifieds 2010 action in Blythe, CA.

The Lucas Oil Modified Racing Series presented by Rockstar Energy Drink is down to its final 2010 event, including the E3 Spark Plugs 75. Each event of the 9-race series features 75 laps of green flag racing and doesn’t count yellow caution flag laps. It also features some of the most talented drivers on the scene today and boasts its own national television package.

Topping fans’ predictions for the series champ are Jim Mardis and Tim Morse. Currently, Mardi s has just 8-point lead on Morse. But Morse, proprietor of Morse Performance Exhaust Systems, has an extra impetus to win. Earlier this month, someone broke into his Burbank, CA shop’s security fence and stoke his race car and trailer. It was a devastating blow, but fellow racers have come out of the woodworks offering help. Among them is longtime friend and sometimes competitor Andrew Phipps, who quickly offered Morse the use of his open wheel modified, his car hauler and his crew. As for the car – we’re talking about the very same one that took Phipps to the 2009 Lucas Oil-Rockstar Modified Series championship.

Another offer came from fellow racer Jeff Murphy. He offered Morse the use of the #76 modified usually driven by his teenage son and racer Broc Murphy, who is recovering from a 150-foot fall from a ledge onto a boulder during a family hunting trip. There may be no honor among thieves, but there definitely is honor, friendship and camaraderie among racers.

Another competitor a betting man can’t rule out is Chris Gerchman, who claimed the checkered flag at the series’ Denny’s 75 at the Lucas Oil I 10 Speedway in Blythe, CA earlier this month. The win was his fifth for the season and made him the third driver in the series’ history to reach victory lane five times in one season.

Saturday’s race takes place at the Havasu 95 Speedway in Havasu City, Arizona. E3 Spark Plugs will give away its $100 E3 Spark Plugs Hard Charger Award. If you can’t attend the race, be sure to check for TV coverage of the race in your area and visit the E3 Spark Plugs blog for championship news. Want a hard charge out of your favorite ride? Pick up a set of E3 performance spark plugs for your car, truck or motorcycle.