Hartford, OH…Bright sunny skies greeted 43 E-Mod drivers as the took part as Sharon Speedway hosted the “Duel in the Dirt II” staring NASCAR drivers Dave Blaney, Kevin Harvick, and Kenny Schrader in a 25-lap showdown with the local drivers.

The 43 car files was divided into four 8-lap heat races with the top three in each heat advancing to the pill redraw and the top five to the feature. Starting tenth in the first heat race, Dunn knew he would have his work cut out for him to make A strong field of cars slowed Russ’ charge to the front, and was running sixth when a caution came out on lap six. Using the caution to his advantage, Russ was able to move up two positions to fourth making the main-event, but missing the re-draw.

Starting 13th in the 25 lap feature, Russ looked forward to a march to the front. A first lap caution allowed Russ to gain three spots and move up to 10th and 8th by lap two. Lap three he was not so lucky as Dunn, and Kevin Harvick and several other were involved in a multi car pile up forcing Russ to the pits with a flat right front tire. The crew made the tire charge and Dunn, rejoined the race in 16th. It was green flag racing over the next thirteen laps with Dunn advancing to 7th when the final caution of the night flew on lap 19.As the green flag waved the remaining field of cars raced to the checkers with Russ picking up two more spots to finish fifth.

August 23,2008

Hartford, OH…making their fourth visit of the month to Sharon Speedway, Dunn-Olivieri Racing was looking for a victory. It seems every time the team visits Sharon as little bad luck seems to follow them (fist time a blown motor while leading, second time a broken shock while leading and Saturday night after just getting the lead the rear end lift bar broke) the last two the team was able to come always with third place finishes, but not the top spot they were looking for.

A field of 23 E-Mods were in the pits and three heats would be used to determine the feature line up Needing only to finish in the top four in each heat for the re-draw, Russ used a third place finish in the second heat to move in the re-draw. The re-draw would give Russ the outside pole for the 15 lap feature. Taking his time,Russ used a caution on lap four to make his move. On lap five he made the pass for the lead and began to pull away from the field. Bad luck would happen on lap 6 as coming out of turn two the pull bar broke giving the car no forward bite and dropping him to fourth. Russ was able to make it back to third as the second place car had mechanical problems allowing Russ to advance one more position.

A total of twenty-two E-Mods were on hand with two eleven car eight lap heat races to set the field for the feature . Starting seventh in the first heat race, Russ finished third making him eligible for the redraw.The redraw was an invert four giving Dunn the fourth starting position for the 15 lap feature.Two caution on the first lap slowed the place, with Dunn advancing one spot to third. A caution on lap five had Dunn falling back to fifth but he was back to third on a caution on lap eight. Seven lap of green flag saw Dunn using the higgh side to move into second and set his sights on the leader. Cutting into the lead lap after lap Dunn was able to close to four car lengths as the white flag was displayed. A caution came out for a spinning car and set up a one lap dash to the finish. With his tires cooling off Dunn tried on the restart, but as the checkers flew it was a second place.

It will be three visits in a row as Dunn-Olivieri will once again make the tow over to the Sharon power plant for Tuesday’s August 12th NASCAR Night Duel in the Dirt II as the E-Mod driver will take on Dave & Dale Blaney and NASCAR stars Kevin Harvick and Ken Schrader.

A total of twenty two E-Mod took place in three heat races with Dunn racing in the first of the three heat races. No running for points Russ settled for a fourth place finish in the heat making him eligible for the fan redraw.The redraw gave Russ the outside pole for the 15 lap feature, and at the drop of the green flag he set sail until a eight car pile up on lap one took out a third of the field. On the restart Dunn once again was out front and pulling away from the field. Around lap six the left rear shock broke causing the car to slam down hard entering the corners, he was able to maintain his lead until lap 10. On the restart ,Russ had his hands full with an ill handling race car. and was forced to let off causing him to loose the lead and drop back two spots to third and that is where he finished as the checkers flew.

Tentative plans are to visit Sharon twice in a few days span for regular racing on August 9th and then again on August 12th as part of NASCAR Night II when drivers Kevin Harvick, Ken Schrader and track owner Dave Blaney will take part in this special E-Mod race.

Raceway 7. July 25
A field of twenty four E-Mods were in the pits for an evening of racing. There would be three heat races with Dunn scheduled to start third in the third heat race. Early contact with the leader on lap two caused the tie rod to break and it was all Russ could do to hold on and finish fourth to make the pill redraw. Winning the feature on July 4th meant Russ would have to start 12th. The 20 lap feature would prove to be a handful as the car for some reason lacked forward bite and lap after lap was not able to improve on his position. As the checkers flew Dunn finished a disappointing 11th

Stateline Speedway July 26
Busti, NY….making their first visit of the year to Stateline for a $5000 to win special, Dunn-Olivieri Racing and 67 other race teams were on hand to see who would collect the big pay check. The winner this night would be mother nature as a thunderstorm soaked the track, forcing track officials to cancel the event until sometime in September.

The holiday weekend brought both the fans and drivers out in high number as a total of thirty-five cars from New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania were pit side in what was going to be a very long night of racing, There would be a total of four eight lap heat races and two B-mains to set the field for the 20 lap feature. Starting fifth in the second heat race, Dunn was able to work his way into the redraw with a second place finish. The redraw would give Dunn the outside pole for feature.

As night turned into early morning (2:45 am), twenty four cars were ready to go racing. At the drop of the green flag Dunn rocketed into the lead and lead the first four circuits when the evenings first caution came out on lap 4. On the next restart there was confusion and for some reason the scores now had Dunn running second as the said he did not lead lap 5. It was now Dunn’s turn to plat follow the leader, and that he did for the next seven laps, Making an aggressive move in turn one on lap 12, Dunn was able to make the pass for the lead, Back in front again, Dunn clearly had the superior car and lead the remaining eight laps and when the checkers were waving (3:15 am) time really didn’t matter al that did was the teams first victory of 2008.

Dunn-Olivieri Racing (Dan, Russ & Dave) would like to dedicate this victory to a very wonderful person, Mary Lynn Nicholas. We know even if you not at the track that you are always rooting for us. Mary Lynn this one is for you.

Dunn-Olivieri Racing would like to thank their sponsors Dunn Trucking, Domhoff Racing Engines, Lias Tire American Race Tire, Frankland Racing Supply, Oyler Action Photos and Web Design, Vecennie Distributing (Straub & Iron City Beer).

Know as the “invader” Dunn and his team are living up to that title as Dunn-Olivieri racing has visited eight tracks this year (Mercer,Challenger, Sharon, Tri-City,Raceway 7, PPMS, 250 Speedway and Muskingum. The E-Mods are the featured division at 250 Speedway (250Speedway.Com) and eighteen were on had for the speedways third night of racing. There were three eight lap heat races, with Dunn starting on the pole in the second heat race. Using the starting position to his advantage, Russ was an easy winner. The reward for winning the heat race is you start in the position where you finished, so finishing 1st in the second heat race, Dunn would start on the outside pole for the 20 lap feature.

The start on the feature was slowed by two early cautions, but the next sixteen laps clicked off with out incident with Dunn leading all of them. The restart
on lap 17 would had the fans going crazy as Dunn and Tom Hagberg raced side by side for the next four laps. As the white flag was shown the two were still side by side when Dunn pushed a little high in turn two allowing Hagberg to gain a slight advantage going into turn three and Hagberg used it to his advantage as Dunn had to go high in turn four. It was a drag race to see who would get the win and even the scorers were not sure , but unfortunately for Dunn the win was given to Hagberg.

The last four laps of that race are captured on the following video:

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Dresden, OH … Saturday the team headed to Muskinum Speedway fo a $1500 to win E-mod special. There were a total of 34 cars pit side to battle for the top prize, but the only winner would be mother nature as after hot laps the rain came forcing the cancellation of the race until Saturday June 29th.

A small field of eleven E-Mods were signed in to the pits, and nine of the eleven were PPMS regulars. There was one eight lap heat race and starting 9th,Dunn advanced to fifth. The fan re-draw was an invert ten meaning Russ was to start 6th in the fifteen lap feature. The start of the race saw the caution come out before the first lap was completed, allowing Dunn to move up one position to 4th. Not being a PPMS regular the test session was a favorable one as Dunn hung around the mid of the pack for the remainder feeling good about the changes that were made to the car. In the end, a strong fourth place finish was a step in the right direction the team was looking for on the slicker track surfaces.

One race down PPMS and two more to go 250 Speedway and Muskingum Speedway over the weekend lets see if the momentum can continue.

A field of 24 E-Mods were pit side divided into three eight lap heat races. Starting last in the third heat, Dunn had worked his way into a transfer spot when he was hit in the right rear putting Russ to the rear, and with only two laps was unable to make it into the transfer spot finishing 5th.

Starting fifteenth in the 20 lap feature, Dunn was on the move to the front and was up to seventh on lap thirteen when several cars when several cars spun collecting and damaging the right side of the car, The damage was mostly to the sheet metal and Russ was able to stay in the race. The remaining laps russ did the best he could finishing with a disappointing 11th place finish.

Hartford, Oh (June 7th)….Saturday was to be a night of redemption from the previous night at Raceway 7 as all of Saturday morning and afternoon was used to repair the car A field of eighteen E-Mod were on hand with drivers from Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Starting fifth in the second eight lap heat, Dunn was able to transfer to the pill redraw by finishing third. The redraw had Russ starting fifth in the 15 lap feature. The first of four cautions came out on lap 3. and by lap 8 when the caution flew Russ was up to 4th. The car was not to Dunn’s liking and trying to find a better grove dropped two spots to finish sixth .

The team plans to reevaluate the chassis set and plans to venture to a few different tracks over the next few weeks. A visit to PPMS in Imperial, Pa 250 Speedway in Caditz Oh, and Muskigum County Speedway are planned for June 17th, 20th ,21st.

Hartford, OH - Saturday night was the second night of action at Sharon Speedway for Dunn-Olivieri Racing and the team was looking to improve on their second place finish in week one action. Eighteen race reams from Ohio and Pennsylvania were ready to take on the 3/8 mile Hartford oval.

The first of two nine car heat races had Dunn starting fifth in the first heat race. A rough race track and a ill-handling car at was all Dunn could do to finish third. No happy with the feel of the car Dunn and the crew made major changes to the car in preparation for the feature. The feature redraw had Dunn starting on the outside pole for the 15 lap feature. At he drop of the green flag it was like Russ was shot of a cannon as the car and the changes that were made to the were clearly working as Dunn had command on the field leading the first five laps. As good as the car was handling a trail of smoke could be seen coming from the car and was getting worse on each lap. A caution on lap five slowed the field and to much disappointment, Dunn was forced to retire to pits with engine problems.

The team will look to rebound from last weeks misfortunes as the head to either PPMS for the second leg of the E-Mod UFo Championship Series or to Tri-City Speedway for the first leg of the “E Series” Championship.

Dunn-Olivieri Racing would like to thank their sponsors: Dunn Trucking, Domhoff Racing Engines, Lias Tire, American RaceTire,Frankland Racing Supply, Oyler Action Photography and Web Design Vecenie Distributing (Straub & Iron City Beer)

Conneaut, OH: Dunn-Olivieri Racing was prepared for its weekend of racing at Raceway 7, Sharon Speedway and PPMS, but with inclement weather in the Tri-State area the only racing for this weekend was to be Friday night at Raceway 7. Saturdays weekly show at Sharon Speedway and the UFo Series at PPMS were canceled due to wet grounds and the forecast of rain through out the day and evening.

The 4th annual Race of Champions (to be eligible you must have been a past E-Mod champion at any track), was a loaded field with the best of the area E-Mod drivers (Justin Carlson, Joel Watson, Rich Michael Jr, Dave Hess Jr., Russ Dunn, Ron Roncaglione, Hugo Litwiler, Carl Mc Kinney, Randy Hall and Mike Potosky. Starting in the sixth ,the race had very little passing, and Russ was able to only advance one position to finish fifth.

A twenty four car field was on hand with drivers from New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania on hand to participate in three eight lap heat races. Starting second in the first heat race, Dunn bolted to the lead and lead the first six laps until he hit a rut causing him to loose the lead and finish second.

The pill re-draw has not been kind to the team this year and Friday was no exception with Dunn having to start tenth in the 20 lap feature. A field of cars loaded with ten past track champions with hundreds of feature win meant Dunn would have his work cut out for him. A lightning fast track saw had Dunn running in seventh when the evening only caution came out on lap eighteen when the leaders got together with lapped traffic. As a result of the accident, Dunn gained two spots to fifth on the restart. On restart, Dunn was able to make a last lap pass to finish fourth.

Plans for this week’s racing are yet to be finalized, but look for Dunn-Olivieri Racing to be at Sharon Speedway on May 24th and a possible visit to McKean County Raceway on May 22 for the UEMS United E-Mod Series race.