After a highly successful 2008 season, Ransomville, New York racing star Erick Rudolph is ready to take his career to a higher level.

The defending Dunn Tire Raceway Park Modified and SST Modified champion has committed to the entire fourteen race 2009 NASCAR Whelen Modified Series schedule beginning next Sunday afternoon at the Thompson (CT) International Speedway Icebreaker 150. The long standing event is the annual opener for both Thompson and NASCAR'S oldest running touring series. Rudolph ran a selected number of NASCAR Whelen Modified Series events in 2008 with several top ten finishes. Erick was a fifth place finisher at Thompson's 2008 World Series finale last October which gives the 17 year old some valued experience for his quest to become the youngest driver to ever win the NASCAR Whelen Modified Series championship.

"The World Series race has given me a lot of confidence when we go back for the Icebreaker next week," said Erick, who will be making his third career start at the five-eights mile oval. "I know that Thompson is one of NASCAR'S premier short tracks. We'd love to pull out of there on Sunday night with a victory."

In addition to being one of the NASCAR'S premier ovals, it's also one of it's more challenging. A win at this "high profile" short track facility looks good on anyone's resume.

The Icebreaker 150 is scheduled to get underway at 3:15pm Sunday with qualifying on Saturday at 2:45pm.

Of the fourteen race NASCAR Whelen Modified Series schedule, Erick will drive seven races for legendary New Jersey car owner Ed Bennent. The remaining seven NASCAR races plus all Dunn Tire Raceway Park and RoC Series events will be in a car owned by Erick's dad Charlie, who put together several championships during his illustrious career.

The Erick Rudolph Racing Team has put together a competitive 62 race schedule for the 2009 season with a possibility of more races added as the season moves along. In addition to the full NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, Erick is also scheduled to compete in twelve Dunn Tire Raceway Park Modified events and all nine RoC Series events, including the Oswego Speedway 200 lap Race of Champions in September. Erick is also set to run selected number of events on the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour.

Erick will also drive a fifteen race schedule in Ransomville Speedway's premier DIRTcar 358 Modified division. Following last season's Super DIRT Week domination of the Town Mechanical 30 lap Sportsman event, Erick is looking forward to driving for H & H Motorsports car owners Al Heinke and John Holland at his hometown track.

"It's like a dream come true," says Rudolph. "I've driven a go-kart for a long period of time. I drove a Sportsman there in a heat race last year before it rained and I've had a few rides in a 600cc Modified but that's it. I'm really looking forward to driving here in a 358 Modified."

Erick will have a test, tune and time session at Ransomville on Friday, April 24th. The following Friday, May 1st, will be the 52nd annual Ransomville Speedway opener. Erick is also scheduled to drive in at least nine 600cc Modified events at six different tracks in Western and Central New York.

The Erick Rudolph Racing Team would like to thank Bob Cordova of Original Pizza Logs; Bob Snyder of Primetyme Motorsports and Tom Brigham Jr of Brigham Concrete for their support of the Erick Rudolph Race Team. To learn more about Erick Rudolph, please visit his website at www.erickrudolph.com.