Though snow played havoc with the auto racing scheduled for this past Sunday, Port Royal Speedway is ready for its annual "Bug Day" (no you do not have to bring bug spray) this Saturday, March 23. Any type oval track race car is welcome. The track will be open from 1-5 p.m. for racers to test and each class of race car will be given individual track time and classes will rotate.

     Speedway concession stands will also be open. Those entering the pit area will have to pay and those choosing to settle in the grandstands will be admitted FREE.

     The first race of the season will be on Saturday afternoon, March 30, at 1 p.m. when the Aumiller's sprint cars and Stong's Pro Stocks will be in action. And at 12:30 p.m. there will be a giant Easter Egg hunt.

     Saturday night action will get a green flag on April 6.

     For those who like to plan well in advance the annual Fair will feature country star Tracy Byrd on August 31. Tickets go on sale May 1.

     The only local racing that we are aware of, we should say the only local racing that we were made aware of, was at Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, PA on Saturday.

     Fred Rahmer won his first feature ever for Joe Harz, the Elmer, NJ furniture dealer who owns the sprint car driven now by Rahmer.

     Rahmer started 5th, took the lead on the fifth lap, and went on to a easy 4.45 second victory.

     Although Rahmer started his sprint career in a Harz sprinter way back in 1986 he was never able to win a feature for him. The two split and went in different directions. Rahmer went on to win more than 270 feature events, no counting those he won in modified stock car racing. When Harz and Rahmer got back together this year, Rahmer's goal was to win quickly for Harz.

     It was his first win for Harz but his 113th win at Lincoln Speedway.

     Second spot went to Keith Kauffman followed by Steve Siegel, Bobby Weaver and Lance Dewease got fifth coming from 18th starting spot.

     Neil Smith won his 26th career feature in the 20-lap thundercar feature while Steve Claybaugh won the March 2nd make-up feature for thundercars.

     Mt. Airy, MD's Bill Brown claimed the 15-lap feature for the Northeast Classic Race Cars.

     Lincoln Speedway goes to a Saturday night schedule of racing on March 23rd with a 6 p.m. starting time. The 358 sprints will make their first of 15 appearances this season, joining the super sprint and thundercar regulars in a three division show. Gates open at 4 p.m. while racing gets the green flag at 6 p.m.

     For the second Sunday in a row Ma Nature brought a halt to any thoughts of sprint car racing at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, PA. Ma Nature knocked out racing the previous Sunday with cold and high winds. This past Sunday it was now showers that caused the show to be cancelled even before the first hot lap session could be presented.

     Spring arrives, believe it or not, this week. Williams Grove Speedway will try again on Sunday afternoon, March 24, when the 358 sprints will be featured with the sprint cars. Racing starts at 2 p.m.

     And that will be the final Sunday afternoon show. Friday night racing begins with the Early Bird Championship for sprint cars on March 29 with an 8 p.m. starting time.

     RAIN MIXED WITH SLEET and a forecast of more of the same along with temperatures in the low 40's forced Promoter Frank Plessinger to cancel the Sunday afternoon triple-feature program at the Hagerstown, MD Speedway. The next triple- header program for the ITSI late models, Hoosier Tire Mid- Atlantic late model sportsman and the Ernie's Salvage Yard pure stocks will be on Saturday night, April 6th, Fan Appreciation Night. General Admission is only $6.00 for adults and children, under 12, will be admitted free.

     Hagerstown Speedway will try again this Sunday afternoon with the Octoberfest Qualifier for the small block modifieds. The 30-lap feature will pay $2,000 with a guaranteed starting spot in the Octoberfest 350 for the winner in October. Joining the modifieds will be the late models in a 30-lap feature also paying $2,000 to win. Dwarf cars will also be in action. Racing starts at 1:30 p.m.

      For those who may be heading to Hagerstown Speedway to see Roy Deese Jr. in action, he has been suspended from competition for one year. His behavior at the season opener, which should have been an embarrassment to all involved, was so bad that speedway management figured he should not be allowed to compete there any longer.....or at least for the rest of this season. A good move.

     Action switches to Saturday night on March 30th with the running of the 22nd Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRT Series 100-lap race featuring the top big-block modified racers. Brett Hearn with his Budweiser sponsored entry will be a favorite to win. The ITSI late models will be in action also. Racing starts at 6 p.m. And it will cost you $20.00 for an adult admission and kids under 12 are FREE.

     NEW OWNERS ARE IN PLACE at the Wall Township Speedway (formerly Wall Stadium) and the Jersey Shore paved one-third- mile oval opens for business on Saturday afternoon, March

23rd at 2 p.m. Included in the action will be modifieds, pro stocks, street stocks, legends and trucks. The March 23rd and March 30th shows will be non-point events in an effort to attract some outsiders to sample the new management's operations.

     Admission for Saturday afternoon racing will be $15.00 for adults, $5.00 for children 6-12, and under 6 will be admitted free.

     The championship points season will kick off on Saturday night April 6th with the inaugural running of the Jennie and Tom Nicol Memorial (they were the owners of the track, the founders) which will feature all five divisions plus the Three-Quarter Midgets and a fireworks show. All Saturday events will carry a 1 p.m. Sunday afternoon rain date.

     The track is located in Wall Township, NJ, not too far from Bruce Springsteen's home town of Asbury Park, NJ.

     BURNHAM BOILERS have announced that they will sponsor the May 18th NASCAR Busch North Series race at Nazareth Speedway. The event will be titled the Burnham Boilers 100 and will be run in conjunction with the NASCAR Busch and Featherlite Modified Series events that weekend.

     Headquartered in Lancaster, PA, Burnham Boilers has been a sponsor of teams and events on the NASCAR Busch North Series circuit for eight years.

     The road to Indianapolis now runs through Nazareth, PA Speedway as it welcomes the fastest growing open wheel series in the United States -- the Indy Racing League April 19-21. The weekend will offer fans the opportunity to see open-wheel racing stars such as former Indy 500 winner Al Unser Jr., Scott Sharp, Eddie Cheever and reigning IRL champion Sam Hornish Jr. along with Team Penske in the Sunday Firestone Indy 225. The weekend will also include some additional exciting open cockpit action including the USAC Weld Racing Silver Crown cars, USAC Sprint cars and USAC midgets.

     There are good tickets available for the weekend of open wheel action. Telephone 1-888-629-RACE for information.

     THE GILMORE NAME is well known in modified racing and Kenny Gilmore continues to carry on the name as he competes at Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville, PA. Kenny, son of former modified great Charlie Gilmore, will be in the Ron and Ann Wilson NASCAR Modified at the Berks County oval.

     Action at Grandview will get the green on Saturday, March 30 when a FREE-TO-THE-PUBLIC practice session is presented starting at 12 noon. On track activity is open to all classes of competition.

     And on Saturday, April 6, the battle for the very lucrative NASCAR regional title and track championship will get started for the modified stock cars. A 40-lap feature will top the Trevdan Building Supply sponsored night of racing for the NASCAR modifieds. And there will be a full card of racing for the NASCAR late models. The first event will be seen at 6 p.m.

     And the racing will be taped for later showing on RCN4 Cable out of Allentown, PA.

     FOR FANS OF NASCAR WINSTON CUP RACING, Sterling Marlin put the Coors Light Dodge in victory lane at Darlington Raceway on Sunday. Steve Park, who suffered a serious head injury at Darlington in September of last year, made his return to the driving. He started fourth, lead some laps and was knocked out of the race when he tangled with Stacy Compton, a slower car, was leading. Park was not injured.

     The big news was the announcement by Brooke Gordon, wife of four time NASCAR Winston Cup champion Jeff Gordon, that she had filed for a divorce. They have been married for seven years.

     Better known as "Ken and Barbie" the couple seem to be perfect partners. She is asking for their mansion in Palm Beach, Florida worth $9 million, a Porsche and Mercedes. She wants him to keep paying the daytime and evening housekeepers, the maintenance people, and the chef. She also wants alimony plus use of their boats and the plane owned by one of their companies.

     You can reach Ernie Saxton at  erniesaxton@compuserve.com.