WATERLOO, Iowa — Corey Dripps is preparing for a swap — a driver swap, that is. Dripps, from Waterloo, Iowa, and Jack Bateman of Canaan, N.H., will take turns in a one-of-a-kind driver swap that will have the drivers turning a few laps in each others cars. The unique twist is that Dripps drives an open-wheeled dirt modified in the Midwest, while Bateman drives an East Coast Modified that races on pavement.

Dripps will travel to Oxford Plains Speedway in Oxford, Me., to compete against a steller field of pavement drivers in the Maine-Ly Action Sports 100. The program will see a series of heat races, last chance races and then the 100-lap main event for the True Value Modified Racing Series.

"It all started with a conversation with (Speedway Illustrated editor) Karl Fredrickson," explained Dripps. "Karl told me that I should try coming out east one time and try a night in one. We never really got pushing the thing very hard until this past off season. We talked, and we decided to have me come out there and try a ride in his car.

"I ran into Jack Bateman while I was at the P.R.I. (Performance Racing Industry) show, and he told me he had heard that I was thinking about coming out that way to race an East Coast Modified. He told me that if I was serious about it, he would put in one of his cars."

Bateman has been competing in the New England-based modified class for over 35 years. Whether he is running a regular weekly program or the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, he is a threat to win.  Bateman has currently moved his latest racing adventures to the foundation of the True Value Modified Racing Series.

"The event he has me racing at this weekend won't be easy," Dripps added. "I really don't know what to expect. I think it will be harder to pass. With those bigger tires, I do expect to have more grip under me than I've every had before."

Dripps has seen a very limited amount of time on pavement. He once drove a car for Arlo Becker at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1999.  The team has also traveled with their dirt car to compete at the annual Octoberfest in LaCrosse, Wis., a time or two.

"If I make the show, that would great," said Dripps. "I just want to bring it back to the trailer in one piece."

Bateman will head to the Midwest to try his hand at one of the B.C. Chassis house cars, Aug. 7 at the Humboldt (Kan.) Speedway and Aug. 8 at the Beatrice (Neb.) Speedway. Bateman too said he doesn't really know what to expect, but is looking forward to competing those two nights with the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series.

To learn more about Corey Dripps Racing, visit the team's web site at www.coreydripps.com. More about Jack Bateman is available at www.jackbateman.com and the True Value Modified Racing Series is online at www.modifiedracingseries.com.