The Indy Racing League has competed on many 1-mile ovals during its seven-year history, but never have the series' teams and drivers had to come to grips with a track like Nazareth Speedway.

     Quite simply, there's no other track like Nazareth, site of the inaugural Firestone Indy 225 on Sunday, April 21. The 1-mile oval features a unique layout that officially features four turns, but many drivers say the kinks and doglegs throughout the circuit actually provide more turns than four.

     The turns have varying degrees of banking, with Turn 1 at 3 degrees, Turn 2 at 4 degrees and Turns 3 and 4 at 6 degrees. The front straightaway is banked at 3 degrees, while the back straight is banked at 2.7 degrees.

     Adding to the complexity is a varying width ranging between 50 and 60 feet around the oval.

     And perhaps the most daunting aspect of the track is an elevation change of 34 feet. Which means that there is racing uphill.

     Sam Hornish Jr., defending Indy Racing League champion, describes a lap in traffic at Nazareth this way, "It's almost like a roller-coaster ride when you get behind somebody, when you get two guys in front of you."

     1998 Indianapolis 500 winner Eddie Cheever Jr. said about Nazareth, "Racing at Nazareth is almost like going back in time. The last time I raced at Nazareth (1995), I was leading when I ran out of fuel with a lap and a half to go. It would have been a great victory. I was driving for A.J. Foyt, and at that time he was on a long streak of winless races. Have you ever gone crazy about all the single socks you have stored away in a drawer at home? I have a lot of those, and this race is one of them. Winning at Nazareth would be like finding one of those lost socks. It's a great track. It's very busy. In many ways, it reminds me of Richmond (Richmond, VA International Raceway). In a flash, you are right back to where you started. It is going to be a

hard, hard race. The winner will be the one who doesn't get involved in accidents."

     The Firestone Indy 225 will provide two distinct challenges for Indy Racing drivers and teams: They'll need to race against both their competitors and the track, one of the toughest in the 15-race series. The race starts at 1 p.m. on Sunday and will be televised live on ABC.

     The Indy Racing League is not the only racing to be seen at Nazareth Speedway this weekend. The USAC Midgets, Sprints and Silver Crown cars will be running also.

     On Friday there will be practice for all classes of competition and time trials for midgets and sprints. On Saturday there will be 25-lap features, starting at 2 p.m. for midgets (several local midget racing talents competing) and for sprints. The Silver Crown cars will run a qualifying event and time trials. Indy Racing League will also have

qualifying.

     Pennzoil World of Outlaws racer Sammy Swindell will be running a Silver Crown car as will local modified racing talents Billy Pauch, Richie Tobias and former sprint ace Tom Capie.

     On Sunday the Silver Crown cars will run at 10:30 a.m. followed by the 1 p.m. show of Indy Racing League cars.

     There are good tickets available for all events. Telephone 888.629.7223 for ticket information.

     CHRIS EASH has driven three different cars so far this season. He started the season without a ride. Eash was able to wheel Bob Weber's West Point Supply sprint car to victory on Friday night at Williams Grove Speedway. It was the first time Eash had been in Weber's car and Weber is a newcomer to the 410 sprint ranks as a car owner.

     Todd Shaffer who started eighth finished second followed by Greg Hodnett, Sean Michael and Todd Gracey.

     The 20-lap test for the 358 Limited sprints was won by Chad Layton. It was his second win of the season.

     The 410-sprints and 358 sprints are in action at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, PA on Friday, April 19th at 8 p.m. And on April 26th the Gumout Series sprinters visit the legendary oval.

     JIMMY HORTON and car owners Johnny and Nicky Leach have joined forces in a small block modified championship effort at East Windsor, NJ Speedway. Their season gets underway on Friday April 19th at 7:30 p.m. Big blocks and small blocks run as one division on the popular one-half mile clay oval. And there will be racing for the sportsman and street stocks.

     New this season is an effort to bring limited sprint car racing to East Windsor Speedway. The limited sprints will be part of each Friday night regular show of racing.

     TRAIL-WAY SPEEDWAY (Hanover, PA) had Brad McClelland winning the 250cc winged micro sprint feature.  Mike Walls won the Thundercar feature and Sam Gallagher won the Street Stock feature.

     This Friday, April 19th, Trail-Way hosts the 250cc winged micro sprints, street stocks and thundercars. The thundercars will be running in a $500 to win 25-lap championship event.

     GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY (Bechtelsville) was able to get everything in but the features on Saturday night. That sets up a BARGAIN NIGHT for fans. This Saturday, April 20, the NASCAR Modifieds will be featured in two 30-lap features plus a 20-lap feature for Late Models. That is three features for the price of two at the admission gate.

     Racing will start at 6 p.m. Coming up on April 27th is Checkered Flag Fan Club Night. And on May 4 it will be Auto Locator Night. Sunday May 5, the first NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Series event will be presented with URC/ESS sprint cars in action along with ARDC midgets. Some Central Pennsy sprint racers are planning to compete.

     APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS. At least that is the

story I have heard. However April showers played havoc with area tracks trying to run events on Saturday.

     Hagerstown, MD Speedway was rained out and now runs a special Friday night show, April 19th, that features a Winchester Speedway/Hagerstown Speedway Late Model shootout. The 40-lap event will pay $3000 to win. In addition the 7:30 p.m. show will feature the pure stocks.

     On Saturday, April 27th, the Renegade STARS DirtCar Series will be at Hagerstown Speedway for the annual Stanley Schetrompf Memorial.

     Lincoln Speedway was rained out after waiting two hours for the weather to clear. For those on hand for the ARDC midget and sprint show on Saturday, rain-checks will be honored for the next three weeks.

     This Saturday, April 20th, Lincoln Speedway will feature a tripleheader show of super sprints, 358 sprints and thundercar racing action. First heat goes at 7 p.m.

     Silver Spring Speedway (Mechanicsburg, PA) cancelled early on Saturday. This Saturday, April 20, the 6 p.m. show will feature super sportsman and street stocks plus late models.

     Coming on April 27th will be the ARDC midgets.

     Port Royal Speedway was another victim of MA Nature. The final afternoon show will now be run this Saturday, April 20, featuring the sprints, late models and pro stocks. Racing will start at 1 p.m.

     And on April 27th the action will switch to nights with the Gumout Series sprint cars on hand. For information on racing at Port Royal telephone 717.527.2303.

     Selinsgrove, PA Speedway rained out on Saturday. They are back in action, if weather permits, on Saturday at 7 p.m. with sprints, late models, pro stocks and roadrunners.

     Here is one for the fans to attend, free admission on April 27th when the Pack The Track II is presented. And on April 28th the Jan Opperman Memorial for big block sprinters will be the attraction.

     BRIDGEPORT, NJ SPEEDWAY had Doug Hoffman, the defending track champion, winning the Modified feature on Saturday night. Bob Sarkisian won the sportsman feature and the URC sprint car feature was won by Greg Coverdale.

     With 44 sprint cars on hand, and URC having an opening date on April 20th, they have booked the URC sprinters back for the second straight Saturday. Racing will start at 5 p.m. with Modifieds, Sportsman and URC sprint cars.

     On Friday night, 7 p.m. Bridgeport Speedway offers 125,250 and 600 micro sprints along with 4 cylinder stocks will run on the 1/4-mile track. And the Street Stocks and Enduro stocks are on the 5/8th mile track. You pay one admission and see racing on two tracks.

     BIG DIAMOND RACEWAY (Minersville, PA) had Meme DeSantis winning the NASCAR Modified stock car feature race on Sunday afternoon. Former track champion Duane Howard earned second.

     Racing action returns on Sunday at 4 p.m. (take note of the new starting time) with the NASCAR Modifieds, Sportsman and Roadrunners being the attraction.

     Have a great racing week.

     Ernie Saxton can be reached at erniesaxton@compuserve.com.