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

Finally the local speedways got a break from Ma Nature. Most of the area tracks got to run their shows this weekend though there were some delays because of rain showers and thunderstorms and yes, there were some rainouts.
AT WILLIAMS GROVE SPEEDWAY on Friday night, a track that has suffered through at least 13 weather related cancellations, racing was delayed for two hours as track management decided to see if they could wait out the rain and beat Ma Nature. Track management won. The show went on.
Greg Hodnett, who travels all the way from Memphis, TN each weekend to race sprint cars in the area, and Keith Kauffman split the twin 20-lap features for 410 sprint cars at Williams Grove Speedway on Friday night. For Hodnett it was his 16th career win at the Grove and his second consecutive Friday night victory. Mark Smith earned a second followed by Mike Erdley, Chris Knopp and Keith Kauffman.
In the second 20-lapper the ageless veteran Keith Kauffman was never really challenged as he rode to his first win of the season at Williams Grove. It was his 47th career win on the half-mile clay oval. Second spot went to Cris Eash followed by Chris Knop, Jason Hagenbuch and Lance Dewease.
The super sportsman racers will be part of the Friday, June 20th show at Williams Grove Speedway along with the 410 sprint cars. Racing starts at 8 p.m.
BIG DIAMOND RACEWAY in Minersville, PA had 50 limited sprint cars in the pits along with 37 modifieds and 17 roadrunners on Friday night. The show was delayed for about 30-45 minutes because of rain.
Kyle Weiss got his first win of the season in the 25-lap NASCAR Modified feature making him the fifth different winner of the season. Second spot was earned by Doug Manmiller followed by Rick Schaffer, Keith Hoffman and Rick Laubach.
The special KARS/AOAS Limited Sprint Car Challenge Championship with one driver coming all the way from New Castle, Australia (Adam Clarke) was won by local talent Chad Layton. Nate Snyder, who led 13 laps, finished second followed by Dale Hammaker, Curt Michael and Tim "Tastykakes" Hogue.
The NASCAR Roadrunner feature, 15 laps, had a new winner for the first time this season. Defending champion Rodney Ulsh was able to win one after seeing Doug Hendrick win four straight.
NASCAR Modifieds, Sportsman-Modifieds and Roadrunners return to action at Big Diamond Raceway on Friday, June 20th. Racing starts at 8 p.m. A kid's Big Wheel race will also be part of the Friday night action.
SELINSGROVE'S Blane Heimbach won his fourth sprint car feature race at Clinton County Speedway on Friday night. Jeff Weaver put some strong pressure on Heimbach in the final six laps but was not able to get by.
"We've been lucky here all season," said Heimbach. "At this moment things are just going our way."
Denny Fourney won the 20-lap Super Stock feature while the special 20-lap four cylinder pro stock championship the win went to Kyle Parson leading every lap. And it was rookie Jim Berry leading all the laps to take the win in the 15-lap Daredevil feature.
Ray Chambers got the win in the Enduro event.
Clinton County Speedway returns to action on Friday, June 20th, with Middleswarth Potato Chips Night. The sprint cars will compete in the Nittany 50, a 50-lap event. Also in action will be the Super Stocks, Daredevils, Pro Stocks and Enduro racers.
The 25-lap feature for the sprint cars had only 13 cars start the event.
WHEN THE MIDDLESWARTH POTATO CHIPS SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY 410 SPRINT SERIES SPEEDWEEK FINALE is presented at Selinsgrove Speedway on Sunday, July 6th, the first 1500 fans through the gate will receive free bags of Middleswarth Potato Chips.
And at 5:30 p.m., before racing action gets started, fans will have a chance to meet sprint car racers Mark Smith and Greg Hodnett. They will be part of a 30-minute autograph session.
The July 6th 410 sprint race, paying $5000 to the winner, will close out the week-long PA Sprint Speedweek Series that started at Lincoln Speedway on June 28th. Racing will start with time trials at 7 p.m. Fans should keep in mind that there is a July 7th raindate for this event.
This past Saturday at Selinsgrove Speedway Billy Dietrich drove to his first ever sprint car win on the half-mile clay oval. The win came in the 30-lap Challenge Championship that had 59 limited sprint cars trying to qualify for the main event.
Rain did delay the start of racing for almost one hour.
Chris Wilkinson was declared the winner of the 14-lap abbreviated late model feature. It was his first career victory at the track.
Kyle Bachman won the pro stock feature that had been carried over since May 17th. The regular pro stock and roadrunner events were postponed. And the track has now announced that Sunday rain dates will be in place for the balance of the season.

DESPITE HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS IN SURROUNDING AREAS and brief showers at the track Doug Manmiller was able to win the 30-lap U.S.Army NASCAR Modified feature at Grandview Speedway on Saturday night. It was his first win of the season. The 20-lapper for Late Models went to Rick Todorow in a close battle with Randy Stoudt.
NASCAR Modifieds and Late Models, at least 13 events of racing, will be featured on Saturday, June 21, 7:30 p.m. sponsored by Deka Batteries.
GARY STUHLER continued his winning ways by winning the Richard "Boney"Bonebrake Memorial for late model stock cars at Hagerstown, MD Speedway on Saturday night. The win was his sixth of the season and his 108th career win.
DJ Myers picked up the win, subbing in Tyler Armstrong's #84, led every lap of the 25-lap Hoosier Daddy Late Model Sportsman feature.
And Jeff Johnson was the winner in the 15-lap Ernie's Salvage Yard pure stock feature.
On Saturday night, the Hagerstown Speedway will round out the Winchester/Hagerstown Shootout with the fourth and final round of the series. Joining the ITSI Late Models will be the open competition pure stocks. Race time is 7:30 p.m.
LANCASTER'S Doug Esh threaded his way through some early-race crashes and held off a charging Lance Dewease to claim his second win of the season at Lincoln Speedway on Saturday night.
Dewease, the current point leader in the 410 sprint cars, had to settle for second.
Later on Dewease climbed into an Al Hamilton sprint car sporting a 360 engine and won the 25-lap United Racing Club sprint car feature after starting in 20th spot.
And it was Mike Ciezobka leading green flag-to-checkered flag to win his first career Thundercar feature race at Lincoln Speedway on Saturday night.
Coming up on Saturday night, June 21, 7:30 p.m. is Manheim Auction Night featuring the Cindy Rowe Paintless Dent Removal 410 sprints and thundercars along with the Silver Spring Limited Late Models. In addition there will be a Big Wheel races for the kids.
And on Saturday, June 28th the Pennsylvania Speedweek Sprint Series will kick off at Lincoln with the running of the 4th Annual Kevin Gobrecht Memorial for sprint cars.
A HEAVY THUNDERSTORM washed out Saturday night racing at Silver Spring Speedway.
Before the rain came, a total of 46 cars, including sportsman, late models and street stocks, were on display in the parking lot for a camera and autograph sessions as part of Kids Night.
Silver Spring will trying again this Saturday with Auto Locator Night. Bonus money will be up for grabs for sportsman, street stock and 4-cylinder classes courtesy of Auto Locator. Racing gets the green at 7 p.m.
FOR THE FOURTH SATURDAY IN A ROW Mahoning Valley Speedway in Lehighton, PA was rained out. They have a big night of racing planned for June 21, Checkered Flag Fan Club Night. There will be modifieds, late models, D/A Modifieds, Street Stocks, Factory Stocks, and 4-Cylinder Stocks PLUS TQ Midgets and Enduro #3. Racing starts at 6 p.m. Sounds like a lot of racing to me. Perhaps a BIG SEAT CUSHION NIGHT.
AT SUSQUEHANNA SPEEDWAY ON SUNDAY NIGHT fans coming out for the big Coors York County Nationals sprint car show had to be disappointed with just 12 410 sprint cars on hand. We are told some racers were boycotting the event because the purse had been cut since the original event had been scheduled.
Fred Rahmer won the 410 feature picking up $3,200 for his efforts. At one time, if memory serves us correctly, the event had a $7,000 first place offering. Lance Dewease finished second.
In the 358 Modifieds veteran racer Ray Swinehart was the winner followed by Jamie Mills and Doug Manmiller.
Sprints and modifieds return on Sunday night.
FOR SERIOUS SPRINT CAR RACING FANS….cut this part of the column out and paste it up so you are reminded of the 2003 PA SPEEDWEEK that will run from Saturday, June 28th through Sunday, July 6th.
Saturday, June 28 Lincoln Speedway
Sunday, June 29th, Grandview Speedway (rain date is June 30th)
Tuesday, July 1, Big Diamond Raceway
Wednesday, July 2, Silver Springs Speedway
Thursday, July 3, Susquehanna Speedway
Friday, July 4, Williams Grove Speedway
Saturday, July 5, Port Royal Speedway
Sunday, July 6, Selinsgrove, PA Speedway
IF YOUR LOCAL TRACK is not included in the column each week it is probably because we do not receive information from the speedway or it is not received in time to be included in this column.
Ernie Saxton can be reached at Esaxton144@aol.com or visit his website at www.saxtonsponsormarket.com