Saturday night, fans at East Bay Raceway's Hav-a-Tampa Late Model race witnessed a few hot laps by one of the strangest looking race cars around. Brett Hearn turned a few laps in his red #3 Budweiser DIRT modified. Along with Late Models and Sprint cars, DIRT modifieds are here in Florida for Speedweeks, this year racing at Volusia Speedway Park (VSP) in Barberville.

Just what is a "DIRT modified?"

Drivers Independent Race Tracks, aka DIRT, formed in 1976 in upstate New York with two weekly tracks running modifieds. Will Cagle won the first DIRT title that year. Since that time, DIRT has expanded to over thirty tracks in New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Canada. It is one of the most successful regional sanctioning bodies in the United States. Each year, the Mr. DIRT Modified championship is awarded to the driver who amasses the most points during the season. Points are awarded through a system of track championships, weeknight summer specials, and year ending extra distance events. Some of the special events are televised.

DIRT currently sanctions four racing divisions, the highest of which is the big block modified class. Modifieds were originally coupes with the fenders removed. In the 1970's, asphalt modifieds moved toward the Ford Pinto body style. DIRT modifieds, however, gravitated towards a wedge shaped, Gremlin body style.

Today, DIRT modifieds are pure racing machines. Sheet metal covers a tubular steel frame. Big block modifieds can run up to a 467 cubic inch engine, fed by a four barrel carburetor that averages 750 horsepower. The car must weigh a minimum of 2550 pounds. A two speed transmission delivers power to the large rear tires. Smaller tires are used on the front. Like all modifieds, DIRT modifieds have no fenders and this allows them to kick dust into the air like no other racing series.

While the Florida Speedweeks Tour does not count towards the season ending Mr. DIRT championship, it is a title of its own. The Tampa Fairgrounds, East Bay Raceway, St Augustine, and Volusia Speedway Park have all hosted DIRT races dating back to 1978. With Brett Hearn's test at East Bay, one can only wonder if New York native Stan Kolan will host a DIRT raceat East Bay in 2001.

Of the thirty-six pre-registered drivers for VSP's Speedweeks, three rise to the top of the list. Danny Johnson from Rochester, NY drives the #27j Sweeteners Plus modified. Johnson is the 1999 Mr. DIRT Champion, the third time he has captured that honor. In 1999, he also captured track championships at Canandaigua and Rolling Wheels.

#3 Brett Hearn is always a threat when he is on the track. Brett "the Jet" has over 500 career DIRT feature victories, and like Johnson, three Mr.DIRT championships, the last coming in 1997 when he tied Johnson. TheSussex, NJ native won the 1999 Orange County Fair Speedway championship driving his Budweiser sponsored modified.

Finally, no one can count out West Sand Lake, NY's Kenny Tremont. Tremont lead all DIRT drivers with eighteen victories in 1999, including the Mr. DIRT Track USA title race and the Eckerd 300 at Syracuse, NY, DIRT's biggest race. Driving the #115 Fane Concrete modified, Tremont also opened the '99 season with six consecutive victories at Lebanon Valley Speedway on his way to the track championship.

The DIRT modifieds opened Speedweeks Tuesday night at Volusia Speedway Park. They will return to action on the fast half mile Thursday, Friday,and Saturday nights. Don't miss your chance to see this wild group of racers. DIRT and speed, what a great combination!

--For Florida Stock Car Racing I'm John Matthews

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