January 27, 2012 - (By Kevin Kovac, WoO LMS P.R. Director) Rick Eckert seemed to get his groove back at the end of last year's UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit Racing Equipment and rode the momentum to his first-ever World of Outlaws Late Model Series title.

This year the veteran star from York, Pa., hopes to step up his performance even more and return to his old winning ways at Volusia Speedway Park, which hosts six consecutive nights of DIRTcar Late Model racing from Feb. 20-25 as part of the 41st UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit. Four DIRTcar UMP-sanctioned events (Feb. 20, 21, 22 and 24) and two WoO LMS programs (Feb. 23 and 25) comprise the full-fender portion of the annual short-track spectacular in the Sunshine State.

"I gotta get back on a roll there," Eckert said of the sprawling half-mile oval located less than a half-hour outside Daytona Beach, Fla. "We closed out last year's (DIRTcar Nationals) strong, but it's been a long time since we've won a race there. This year we're gonna try to change that." [more]

December 26, 2011 - The #24 team released their preliminary plans for the upcoming 2012 racing season earlier today right here at www.RickEckertRacing.com! Rick Eckert will gun for his second straight World of Outlaws Late Model Series National Championship in 2012, as he will once again follow the entire series schedule next year. The '12 lid lifter for the Rick Eckert Racing team will be February 10-11, as a hefty $20,000 top prize will be on the line in the WOOLMS opener at the Screven Motor Speedway in Sylvania, Georgia. You can view the dates that Rick has confirmed by accessing the SCHEDULE page of the website!

November 14, 2011 - Rick Eckert, of York, Pennsylvania, closed out his version of the 2011 racing season on November 12-13 at the legendary Hagerstown Speedway in Hagerstown, Maryland. The annual running of the 'Octoberfest 350' was held at the 1/2-mile venue over the weekend and a $10,000 top prize was on the line. Rick ran second in his heat race on Saturday, which locked him into the outside of the third row for Sunday afternoon's 100-lapper. Armed with a soft tire combination, the newly-crowned World of Outlaws Late Model Series Champion stormed all the way up to second to bid for his fourth career 'Octoberfest 350' title. Unfortunately, those same soft tires gave way as the race wore on and Rick faded back to a ninth place finish in his season finale. Complete results from Hagerstown can be accessed by clicking on www.hagerstownspeedway.com.

November 6, 2011 - In a dramatic conclusion to the 2011 World of Outlaws Late Model Series season, Rick Eckert emerged as the WOOLMS National Champion following the 'Lowes Foods World Finals' at the immaculate Dirt Track at Charlotte from November 3-5! The huge weekend started on Thursday night at the Concord, North Carolina speedplant with qualifying and Rick posted the eighteenth fastest lap for Friday's show and the ninth quickest lap for Saturday's program. When Friday rolled around, Rick ran third in his heat race prior to moving up six positions in the $10,000 to win feature event en route to a steady twelfth place performance.

The York, Pennsylvania standout was a mere two markers ahead of Josh Richards when the 'Lowes Foods World Finals' finale took place in front of over 14,000 spectators and the cameras of the SPEED Channel on Saturday evening. Rick ran fourth in his loaded heat race and later won his B-Main to transfer into the 50-lap, $10,000 to win main event. After starting twentieth on the grid, Rick and Josh Richards raced back-and-forth for position throughout the race. It appeared as if Richards was on his way to another series championship, but a last lap flat tire on the #1 car allowed Eckert to scoot by for a twelfth place finish and his first World of Outlaws Late Model Series Championship, which was worth a hefty $100,000! Full coverage from the 'Lowes Foods World Finals' weekend at Charlotte can be viewed online at www.worldofoutlaws.com.

October 17, 2011 - Rick Eckert and his #24 team hit the road and invaded both the Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, North Carolina and the Winchester Speedway in Winchester, Virginia from October 12-15. On Wednesday night at Charlotte, the World of Outlaws Late Model Series sanctioned a $10,000 to win program. Rick, who is the current WOOLMS point leader, timed in fifth fastest during qualifying and later ran second in his heat race. After drawing the fourth starting spot prior to the 50-lapper, "Scrub" brought home a solid fourth place effort behind only winner Josh Richards, Steve Shaver, and Clint Smith.

On Friday and Saturday, the action shifted to Winchester for the two-day 'Raye Vest Memorial' event. In Friday's $5,000 to win unsanctioned race, Rick wound up fifth in the final rundown behind only winner Jamie Lathroum, Jonathan Davenport, Vic Coffey, and Jason Covert. The York, Pennsylvania native then finished fourth in the $1,000 to win qualifying feature on Saturday evening to earn the eighth starting position in the $10,000 to win 'Raye Vest Memorial' finale. Rick advanced past a couple of cars in the A-Main to score a solid sixth place performance in the race that memorialized his former car owner. Complete results from both Charlotte and Winchester can be accessed online at www.dirtondirt.com.

October 9, 2011 - The Rick Eckert Racing team scored their third and fourth victories of the 2011 campaign from October 6-8 in the states of New York and Pennsylvania! On Thursday night, the Rolling Wheels Raceway in Elbridge, New York played host to a pivotal World of Outlaws Late Model Series battle. Rick Eckert laid down the fastest lap during WOOLMS time trials and later ran second in his heat race. After drawing the fourth starting spot prior to the 50-lapper, Rick grabbed the top spot on the 34th circuit and never looked back en route to the $10,000 triumph over Dan Stone, Josh Richards, Austin Hubbard, and Tim Fuller. The impressive win at Rolling Wheels during Super DIRT Week stretched Rick's current WOOLMS point lead over Josh Richards!

Following a day off on Friday, it was back to work for the #24 team on Saturday evening at the Selinsgrove Speedway in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. On a track where Rick cut his teeth in Dirt Late Model racing, he set fast time in Group B during qualifying and later won his heat race. "Scrub" then rolled off from the outside of the front row in the 13th Annual 'Foss Jewelers Late Model Open' and inherited the lead on lap 21 when leader Dan Stone broke in front of him. Rick led the remaining nine circuits on his way to the popular $5,000 win over Jeff Rine, Jamie Lathroum, Scott Haus, and Jim Yoder. Complete results from both of these races can be accessed by clicking on www.dirtondirt.com.