BREAKING NEWS: Pope Out, Dickey In at Beech Ridge

HUDSON, N.H. -- Joe Polewarczyk, Sr. confirmed on Friday afternoon that BDI Racing development driver Michael Pope of Dublin, Ga. will not be in the Joey Pole Racing entry at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough, Me. for Saturday's ACT Late Model Tour event.

Pope, a PASS South Super Late Model driver, ran as a teammate to Polewarczyk's son, Joey Jr., at last weekend's TD Banknorth 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway and, according to a BDI Racing press release on Tuesday, was scheduled to drive the same car at Beech Ridge, but will be replaced in the car by Steve Dickey instead.

Pope crashed in a consolation race at Oxford, then failed to qualify for the race in one of the last-chance events.

Dickey, of Londonderry, N.H., is a former Hobby Stock champion at Lee USA (N.H.) Speedway, and is a long-time crew member for the Polewarczyk team. Dickey competed in the Late Model class at Lee USA in 2004, and made one ACT Late Model Tour appearance at Barre's Thunder Road Int'l Speedbowl in 2005.

Pope will be racing at the Red Bud 300 at Anderson Speedway in Indiana with the CRA Super Series.

"I think [Pope] learned the hard way that racing up here in the north is nothing like what he's used to down south," Polewarczyk, Sr. said. "He and Bob Dillner (of BDI Racing) decided to focus on their deal in Indiana instead this weekend.

"Steve should be good. He's a good little driver and knows these cars, so we'll have fun with him this weekend. But the focus is still on winning the ACT championship with Joey."

Polewarczyk, Jr. is currently second in ACT Late Model Tour points, 23 points behind leader Scott Payea of Milton.