Beaver County 'hall' comes calling for Bolland
Beaver County native Kevin Bolland was preparing for the 2010 DIRTcar Modified season when the call came to join the likes of Mike Ditka, Tony Dorsett, Joe Namath and childhood friend Terry Francona in the Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame.
"I was surprised when I got a phone call on a Sunday night about three months ago," Bolland said. "It was quite a surprise. I wasn't ready. I didn't even know that I was one of the nominees."
Bolland, 50, of New Brighton will become the first auto racing driver to be inducted Sunday into the Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame.
After a brief professional career racing motorcycles, Bolland turned to the dirt tracks, driving a family owned Big Block Modified in 1982 with good results. In his first year, Bolland won seven features at Lernerville and Sharon Speedways along with a track championship at Mercer Raceway Park.
Since that breakout year, Bolland has collected eight track titles, a few regional championships and 107 feature wins. His biggest win came in 2003 at the Super DIRTcar Series event at The Dirt Track at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C.
Bolland plans to continue competing with the Modified locally and with the Super DIRTcar Series when the opportunity presents itself.
Ironically, Kevin isn't the first member of the Bolland family utilizing wheels to be inducted into the Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame. Jan Bolland-Tanner, Kevin's sister, was inducted in 2003 after a long road-racing cycling career representing the United States Cycling Team, winning gold and bronze medals at the World and Pan-Am Games.
DIRTcar Big-Block Star Kevin Bolland To Join Beaver County Sports Hall DIRTcar Big-Block Star Kevin Bolland To Join Beaver County Sports Hall
Weedsport, NY – April 9, 2010 – DIRTcar Big-Block Modified standout Kevin Bolland has been chosen for induction into the Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame and will be honored Sunday, April 18, at the annual dinner to be held at The Fez, 2312 Brodhead Road, Hopewell Township, Aliquippa, Pa. with festivities beginning at 6 p.m.
As the Hall’s first-ever motorsports inductee, Bolland's recent selection unites him with 346 other honored men and women who have excelled in their chosen sport or sports-related activity. Among the elite list of athletes already enshrined are National Football League legends Mike Ditka ’77 (coach of 1986 Super Bowl champion Chicago Bears), Joe Namath ’82 (quarterback of 1969 Super Bowl Champion New York Jets) and Tony Dorsett ’94 (running back for 1978 Super Bowl Champion Dallas Cowboys; 1976 Heisman Trophy winner), major league baseball notables Terry Francona ’95 (manager for 2-time World Series Champion Boston Red Sox) and Joe Beggs ’79 (relief pitcher for World Series Champions New York Yankees and Cincinnati Reds), plus National Basketball Association sharpshooter ‘Pistol’ Pete Maravich ’90 (5-time All-Star game selection).
On April 18, Bolland, 50, from New Brighton, Pa., will be joined with nine more honored athletes and sports personalities that comprise the Class of 2010. This newest group of outstanding individuals includes Keystone State stalwarts Bob Babich, Sig Brauch, Ellis Cannon, Joe DAlessandris, Mike Emrick, Scott Ensworth, Ginsburg Hyman, Jerald Ingram and Myron Walker.
A veteran of 27 years in racing, Bolland has captured hundreds of victories along with eight Big-Block Modified point championships at homestate ovals Tri-City Speedway (5) in Franklin, Lernerville Speedway (2) in Sarver, and Mercer Raceway in 1982 --- the same season he was named Western Pennsylvania Rookie of the Year. On the DIRTcar Racing Northeast circuit, he has taken 60 checkered all in the new millennium, with the biggest win scored in Super DIRTcar Series competition at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in 2003.
The Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring those who have brought fame and recognition to Beaver County through their contributions to the world of sports. Founded on Sept 18, 1975, the Sports Hall is housed in the Golden Dome of the Community College of Beaver County in Center Township, Pa. and the museum is open during regular college hours and dome events.
For further information, please contact Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame representative Jack Fullen at 724/846-6600x242.
DIRTcar Racing Northeast main office is located in Weedsport, New York on the Cayuga County Fairgrounds, home of DIRTcar All-Star Weekend in July. DIRTcar Northeast’s crown jewel event ---Super DIRT Week at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse runs annually in October featuring Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Championship Series events for Big-Block Modified, 358-Modified, Sportsman and Pro Stock divisions. Ticket and schedule information is available by contacting the Weedsport office (315/834-6606) during the day or logging intowww.allstar100weekend.com and www.superdirtweekonline.com anytime.
The Big-Block Super DIRTcar Series is brought to fans across the Northeast by several sponsors and partners, including series sponsors Hoosier Racing Tire www.hoosiertire.com and VP Racing Fuels www.vpracingfuels.com. Promotional partners include Rite Aid Corporation www.riteaid.com, Dig Safely New Yorkwww.digsafelynewyork.com and the University of Northwestern Ohio www.unoh.com and the contingency sponsors are Bars Leaks www.barsproducts.com, Bert Transmission www.berttransmission.com, Bicknell Racing Products www.bicknellracingproducts.com, Bilstein Shocks www.bilstein.com, Brodix Cylinder Headswww.brodix.com, Ferris Industries www.ferrisindustries.com, Integra Shockswww.integrashocksandsprings.com, Intercomp www.intercomp-racing.com, KSE Racing Products www.kse-racing.com, Motorsports Safety Systems www.motorsportssafetysystems.com, Penske Shocks,www.penskeshocks.com, Racing Electronics www.racingelectronics.com, Rislone Oil Stabilizerwww.barsproducts.com and Wrisco Industries www.wrisco.com.
Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame
On April 18th, his name will be joined with the nine other honored athletes and sports personalities listed on the bottom of this letter. The Class of 2O10 is an outstanding group that we are pleased and proud to honor. The dinner, a grand event, is annually attended by four to five hundred relatives and friends of the honorees.
Click here for ticket information. It is recommended that you use the form to assure seating with other friends and relatives. Make additional copies if necessary and order your tickets early. A form is also available to purchase an ad for the professionally prepared Induction Dinner Program, which makes an excellent keepsake for Kevin's big night.
If you have any questions, please contact Jack Fullen at 724-846-6600 x242, Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame representative.
We look forward to seeing you on April 18, 2010.
Directions to the Fez
Yours in Sports, Will Dagen, President Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame *CLASS OF 2010" Bob Babich, Kevin Bolland, Sig Brauch, Ellis Cannon, Joe DAlessandris, Mike Emrick, Scott Ensworth, Ginsburg Hyman*, Jerald Ingram, Myron Walker
* deceased