Money Man: “The Doctor” Danny Johnson Sets Sights On $15,000 As Short Track Super Series North Region Title Contender Driving For Chris Gennarelli; Next Series Stop: Big Diamond Speedway Tuesday, May 5 For ‘Anthracite Assault’

Money Man: “The Doctor” Danny Johnson Sets Sights On $15,000 As Short Track Super Series North Region Title Contender Driving For Chris Gennarelli; Next Series Stop: Big Diamond Speedway Tuesday, May 5 For ‘Anthracite Assault’

MINERSVILLE, PA – Danny Johnson built the reputation as a true “money racer” in the Northeast dirt Modified community.

Johnson, of Rochester, N.Y., as a result, has taken a liking to the Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Hi-Tek and its lucrative pay structures and massive point fund. After falling just shy of the inaugural STSS championship to Andy Bachetti last year, Johnson is eyeing the top prize in 2015.

‘The Doctor’ and car owner Chris Gennarelli have committed to a run for the $15,000 STSS Bob Hilbert Sportswear North Region title. The team’s next stop on the series is Minersville, Pa.’s Big Diamond Speedway on Tuesday, May 5 (rain date: May 6) with the 50-lap ‘Anthracite Assault’ special offering $5,000-plus to win, $1,000 for 10th and $400 just to take the green flag.

The unique Big Diamond event offers both STSS North Region and Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc. South Region presented by Scotty’s Speed & Diesel points.

At the April 11 STSS opener, held in southeastern New York at Orange County Fair Speedway, Johnson guided the Gennarelli-owned No. 27J small-block to a podium finish in third. It was a solid kickoff to his bid for the STSS North Region 15k title, posted from a massive $38,000-plus point fund for the eight-race schedule.

“We’re going after the $15,000 (champion’s share),” emphasized Gennarelli by phone. “We’re planning on running every North race. All the shows pay well and Danny has that 15 grand on his mind.”

Gennarelli, a northeastern Pennsylvania businessman who has helped to rejuvenate Johnson’s career with fresh equipment, said his team is geared up for the series with three distinct engine combinations. They have been experimenting with the powerplants in early ’15 events.

Pennsylvania’s Coal Region will be the meeting point between North and South on May 5.

Heading into Big Diamond, Stewart Friesen of Sprakers, N.Y., leads the STSS North Region chase, having won the opener at Orange County on April 11 over Jerry Higbie Jr., Johnson, Tommy Meier and Brett Hearn.

The South Region began at Bridgeport (N.J.) Speedway on April 19 with Hellertown, Pa.’s Rick Laubach scoring the inaugural ‘South Jersey Shootout’ victory. David Van Horn Jr., Craig Von Dohren, Ryan Watt and Jack Swain chased the ‘Quaker Shaker’ across the line.

Unique to the ‘Anthracite Assault’ at Big Diamond: the Modifieds will utilize sail panels for the only time this season. Sail panels are a staple of the STSS North Region and will be utilized during South Region events at Big Diamond and N.J.’s New Egypt Speedway June 11.

The 2015 ‘Anthracite Assault’ running will be the second edition of this race. The first took place nearly four years ago, on July 26, 2011, and was won by Friesen, narrowly holding off Duane Howard.

STSS Modifieds will be joined on the program by Sportsman (Open vs. Crate 602) in a $1,000-to-win, $100-to-start 25-lap main. Doug Borger’s XCel 600 Modifieds will be in action with $1,000 on the line for the winner of the 20-lap special.

BD Motorsports Media LLC takes on a co-promotional role for the Tuesday night special. A rain date is set for Wednesday, May 6.

Gates, both in the grandstand and pit areas, will open at 4 p.m. in the grandstand and pit areas. The drivers’ meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. Hot laps hit the track at 7 p.m. with racing at 7:30 p.m.

Adult grandstand admission is $25. Kids under 12 and active military with ID are admitted free. Pit admission is $35, with no license required.

Complete race rules and general information have been posted on the STSS website at: http://bdmotorsportsmedia.com/general-information-and-rules/

The complete pay structure is also available: http://bdmotorsportsmedia.com/modified-pay-structure/

To learn more about the Short Track Super Series or BD Motorsports Media LLC, visit www.shortttracksuperseries.com or www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com, call 845.728.2781 or e-mail bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com. “Like” Short Track Super Series on Facebook or follow @ShortTrackSS on Twitter.

Big Diamond Speedway is a three-eighths-mile clay oval located in Minersville, Pa., just miles from Pottsville. The facility offers free parking, state-of-the-art concession areas and restrooms and not a “bad seat” in the house, with hillside grandstands overlooking the on-track action. The speedway GPS address is 392 Forest Lane Pottsville, PA 17901. The official website is www.bigdspeedway.com.

The Short Track Super Series is presented by Hi-Tek Race Fuel, American Racer/Lias Tire, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc., Scotty’s Speed & Diesel, East Coast Speed/ECS Auto, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Allstar Performance, ATL Fuel Cells, Bicknell Racing Products, COMP Performance Group (COMP Cams, Driven Racing Oil & Quarter Master), Crane Ignition, Dirt Track Digest, Fast Axle, Fox Racing Shocks, Henry’s Stainless Steel Exhaust, Hig Fab Chassis, Hyperco, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, Lineman Racing, Pilat Graphic Design, Race Pro Weekly, Racers Guide, S&D Bodyline, S&W Awards, Shiley Fabrication, Simplicity Design, Teo-Pro Car, Vahlco Wheels & VP Racing Fuel.

Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek 2015 Schedule

Bob Hilbert Sportswear North Region
Saturday, April 11– Orange County Fair Speedway/Middletown, NY: Hard Clay Open – WINNER: STEWART FRIESEN
Tuesday, May 5 (Rain Date: May 6) – Big Diamond Speedway/Minersville, PA (Combo): Anthracite Assault
Tuesday, May 19 (Rain Date: May 20) – Accord Speedway/Accord, NY: Battle of the Bullring 3
Sunday, June 28 (Rain Date: June 29) – Thunder Mountain Speedway/Center Lisle, NY: Lightning on the Mountain
Wednesday, July 22 (Rain Date: July 23) – I-88 Speedway/Afton, NY: Crazy 8s Special
Tuesday, August 11 (Rain Date: Aug. 12) – Woodhull Raceway/Woodhull, NY: Hustlin’ the High Banks 51
Sunday, September 13 (Rain Date: Sept. 20) – Thunder Mountain Speedway/Center Lisle, NY: Wade Decker Memorial
Friday-Saturday October 9-10 (Rain Date: Oct. 11) – I-88 Speedway/Afton, NY: Short Track SuperNationals 8 – Championship Points

Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek Bob Hilbert Sportswear North Region Point Fund (*based on 8 events): 1. $15,000; 2. $7,000; 3. $3,500; 4. $2,500; 5. $2,000; 6. $1,650; 7. $1,550; 8. $1,450; 9. $1,350; 10. $1,250; 11. $750; 12. $650.

Drivers with perfect attendance outside the Top-12 receive $250.

Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc. South Region Presented By Scotty’s Speed & Diesel
Sunday, April 19 – Bridgeport Speedway/Bridgeport, NJ: South Jersey Shootout – WINNER: RICK LAUBACH
Tuesday, May 5 (Rain Date: May 6) – Big Diamond Speedway/Minersville, PA (Combo): Anthracite Assault
Thursday, June 11 (Rain Date: June 15) – New Egypt Speedway/New Egypt, NJ: Dirty Jersey 3 – $10,000 to win!
Tuesday, Aug. 4 (Rain Date: Aug. 5) – Delaware International Speedway/Delmar, DE – Diamond State 50
Tuesday, Sept. 1 (Rain Date: Sept. 2) – Georgetown Speedway/Georgetown, DE – Beach Blast 2 – Championship Points

Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc. South Region Presented By Scotty’s Speed & Diesel Point Fund (*based on 5 events): 1. $7,500; 2. $3,000; 3. $2,250; 4. $1,500; 5. $1,250; 6. $1,000; 7. $900; 8. $850; 9. $800; 10. $750.

Drivers with perfect attendance outside the Top-10 receive $250.