Auto Locator Racing.com This, That and the other...

    DRAG RACING will be in the spotlight this weekend as the top names in professional drag racing head to Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, PA. Six time Pro Stock champion Warren Johnson, looking to defend his title, will be a strong favorite going into 18th Annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals. Gary Scelzi, John Force , Troy Coughlin and Angelle Savoie are the defending winners of the $19 million race. It is the 18th of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. It is the 12th of 14 events in the PRO Stock Bike Category. Pro qualifying will be continuing at noon and 3 p.m. on Saturday, September 14th with final professional eliminations starting at 11 a.m. on Sunday. If you can not get to the track to see guys like Kenny Bernstein, Larry Dixon, and others run in person, you can tune in ESPN2 at 4 p.m. on Saturday and 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 15. If you can get to the track telephone 610.856.7200 for ticket information. More than 100,000 people are expected at the track during the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals.
    BIG DIAMOND RACEWAY in Minersville, PA had Meme DeSantis and Duane Howard as the NASCAR Modified feature winners on Friday night. Keith Hoffman won the track championship for the third time. The final event of the season will be presented on Sunday, September 29th, 1 p.m. with a 50-lapper for Sportsman, a 20 lapper for Roadrunners and there will be PowderPuff racing for the Ladies. It should make for an interesting season finale.
Shawn Fitzpatrick won the final Sportsman point race on Friday night but it was Craig Whitmoyer taking the title in that division. And Dave Winslow got his second straight roadrunner feature win but Rodney Ulsh was the champion.
    MIFFLINTOWN'S SHAWN STIDFOLE was able to repeat his efforts of just one-week ago by pulling off back-to-back sprint car victories at the Clinton County Speedway. Stidfole topped the full field of 20 sprint cars on Friday night for his second win of the season.
The 25-lap race also decided the 2002 sprint car championship, which was the closest margin in the speedway's history. Selinsgrove's Blain Heimbach claimed the 2002 crowd by a mere four points over Lewistown's Darryl Stimeling.
Jack Shady got his third Super Stock feature win. Kyle Parson held off his Grandfather Lou Parson for a win in the Four Cylinder feature. Josh Kennelly earned his first career victory in the Roadrunner competition.
This Friday night there will be two features for the Enduro racers as their feature last week was curfewed and added to this week's show. In addition there will be racing for the Late Models, Super Stocks, Four Cylinders and Daredevils. Racing starts at 7:30 p.m.
    THE LIMITED SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP will be on the line this Friday night at Williams Grove Speedway. This will be a doubleheader show that features both the 410 sprints and 358 (limited) sprint car racers. Racing starts at 8 p.m. It will also be Mnaufacturers' Night with each feature starter receiving a packer of product or gift certificates from an assortment of manufacturers in the auto racing industry.
Several of the manufacturers will have displays set up in the infield.
Harrisburg's Chad Layton, the hottest driver in limited sprint car racing this season, is in the driver's set to clinch his first limited sprint point championship at Williams Grove.
The Super Sportsman will join the 410 sprint cars on September 20 before the Pennzoil World of Outlaws return for the two day Cleveland Brothers National Open on September 27-28.
Curtis Nichols used a late race restart to wrest the lead from Neil Foust and went on to score a $2500 victory in the Enduro 200 for stock cars Friday night. Nichols topped an 81-car field of Enduro racers.
    THIS WEEKEND, September 14 & 15, The Columbia Hill Climbers 4x4 off road racing club will host their annual off road racing challenge on the Kingsdale Fire Company just 5-miles south of Littlestown, PA. On Saturday morning they will kick things off with 100 yard side-by-side dirt drag racing. When the drag racing is finished and the track lights are turned on the nighttime figure 8 occurs followed by a top eliminator for the winners and second place finishers of each class. On Sunday come out and see some of the best off road racers on the East Coast as they try and conquer the rough obstacle course. Start time once again will be 11:00 a.m. Races are held rain or shine and bring your blankets and lawn chairs. Pets are not allowed and no bottles in the spectator areas. For more information telephone Michael Brandt @ 717.270.1193 or Andy Miller @717.738.0856.
    IT WILL BE AUTO LOCATOR FAN APPRECIATION NIGHT at the Hagerstown, MD Speedway this Saturday. Grandstand admission for adults will be just $6.00 with children under 12 admitted free. It promises to be an exciting night as the ITSI late models; Hoosier Tires/Mid-Atlantic late model sportsman and Ernie's Salvage Yard pure stocks battle it out in the final point races of the year. The track championships will be on the line for all three classes. Gates open at 5 p.m. with racing at 7 p.m. Nathan Duborow will try to grab his 7th late model title but his first since 1996. Keith Reed won his first career win holding off several late race challenges. The win came in the 20-lap Ernie's Salvage Yard Fall Championship for pure stocks on Saturday night. Larry Hurley was the inner in the 100-lap Fall Championship Enduro. And it was James Gress winning the Tommy Thompson Demolition Derby.

    THE LANCO CLYDE MARTIN MEMORIAL SPEEDWAY had more than 140 micro sprints in the pits on Saturday night with Jarrett Seng getting the win in the Ingham's Powder Coating 250cc two-stroke main event. Other drivers enjoy victory lane on Saturday night included Tim Iulg in the 600cc feature, Jen Schlegel in the 250cc four-stroke main, Mike Miller in the 125cc headliner and his nephew Curtis Miller in the Sportsman feature. Mike Miller won the ninth career title in the 125cc class.
This Saturday the season will close out at Lanco, Brickerville, PA, with Bud's Spring Shop Night. The four division program will include the 250cc four-stroke feature, and racing for the 125cc, 250cc four-stroke and two-stroke classes. Racing will start at 6 p.m.
    A TOTAL PURSE of over $30,000 awaits super sportsman teams this Saturday, September 14, at Silver Spring Speedway in Mechanicsburg, PA. The 28th Annual Giant Food Stores Sportsman 100 will pay $6,000 to the winner.
Gates open at 5, warm-ups are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and time trials start at 7. An autograph session with past Sportsman 100 champions will be held prior to warm-ups. Giant Foods will have giveaways for all fans when they come through the gates.
Jim Shuttlesworth is the defending champion of the event and has recorded three wins this season. Shuttlesworth ranks second in the point standings.
Dave Calaman tuned up for the Giant Food Stores Sportsman 100 by winning the 25-lap Cindy Rowe Auto Glass sportsman feature Saturday night. Frankie Herr wrapped up his first Cindy Rowe Auto Glass speedway track championship. Herr won the sportsman tour title in 1996 and last season.
Bob Scott Jr. won the Sutliff Street Stock feature while Gary Stutting Jr., a four feature winner, won the championship.
    AT NASCAR SANCTIONED GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY Meme DeSantis won the 30-lap True Value Hardware NASCAR Modified feature race while John Durling won his first of the season in the Late Model 20-lap main event.
Jeff Strunk earned his second track modified championship, his first title coming in 2000. And it was Lou Egrie winning the Late Model championship by just a narrow margin over second place Chuck Schutz. Egrie is also a two time champion having won the title for the first time back in 1997.
The T.H.Properties Freedom 76 Modified Classic will be presented on Saturday, September 14th at 7 p.m. With $20,000 posted for the winner the race is expected to attract many of the top names in modified stock car racing. Champion Jeff Strunk will be trying for his first win in the Classic.
Pre-race activities will start at 3 p.m. with music, driver interviews, and autograph sessions. Finger printing will be done for kids by the Telford area police and there will be a clown on hand for face painting.
And on Saturday, September 21-28, there will be open competition racing for the modified stock cars and the late models starting at 6 p.m.
    LANCE DEWEASE won the Tuscarora 50 Sprint Car championship at Port Royal, PA Speedway. Jim Palm won the Pro Stock feature.
The Port Royal Speedway returns to action Saturday night September 14th with the Small Car Invitational. The little guys of racing are invited to the super fast Juniata County oval. Scheduled to compete are the 305 sprint cars, Stong's Auto Parts Pro Stocks, 4 cylinder Pure Stocks, Enduro Cars and Ladies Powder Puff Racing. Racing starts at 7 p.m. Pennzoil World of Outlaws will be at Port Royal on Sunday, September 29th.
    ANOTHER BIG EVENT IN LOCAL RACING happens at Selinsgrove, PA Speedway on Saturday, September 14th at 7 p.m. The Alexander Family Dealerships Sprint Car Open will feature 410 and 358 sprint cars in a chase for more than $30,000 in prize money. The 410 sprint main will pay $4,000 to win while the 358 sprint car feature will offer $2000 to the winner.
    WINSTON CUP RACING returns to the area next weekend at Dover Motorsports Speedway in Dover, Delaware. On Friday, September 20, the Busch North Series will be seen in competition followed by a Saturday show that will feature the NASCAR Busch Series competitors. And on Sunday, September 22 the NASCAR Winston Cup racers, locked in the closest battle for a championship ever in the history of the sport, will run in a 400-mile race.
We are told that good seats remain.
    NASCAR Winston Cup ace Tony Stewart will be at Brickel's Racing Collectibles in Leesport, PA. on September 19th, a Thursday, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. For information on Stewart's appearance and the show cars and other attractions, telephone 1-888-705-0456.
Ernie Saxton can be reached at Esaxton144@aol.com.