This, That and the other in Motorsports...

Exclusive for Auto Locator by Ernie Saxton

As printed in Issue Dated 4-9-2004

    

   MOST PEOPLE REACHING THE AGE OF 66 are retired or considering retiring. That is no so for Smokey Snellbaker. The veteran driver says, "I turned 66 on March 6th - I'm just getting started." He proved that on Saturday afternoon at Silver Spring Speedway when he drove to his 24th career Super portsman win and his third opening day victory. Finishing second was defending champ Frankie Herr followed by Paul Troutman, Steve Cannon and Paul Miller. The second Super Sportsman feature of the day was won by Jim Shuttlesworth. Snellbaker managed only a 23rd place finish in the second 25-lapper. Silver Spring Speedway swings back into action on Saturday, April 3rd, with the Super Sportsman and the first race of the season for the street stocks. Gates open at 4 p.m. with racing starts at 6 p.m.

WILLIAMS GROVE SPEEDWAY will switch to Friday night racing on April 2 with sprint cars and late models on the card.
     The first heat is scheduled to start at 8:00.
     After using Sunday afternoons as race dates from late February through March, Williams Grove racers are looking forward to competing under the lights once again.  Despite a new 10-lap track record set by defending Cindy Rowe Auto Glass champion Lance Dewease on Sunday
afternoon, March 7, speeds are generally faster at night.
     The powerful late models will be making the first of three scheduled appearances with the sprint cars.  The popular stock car class will also be the sole attraction on Saturday night, June 2, as part of
the Stacker 2 Xtreme Dirt Car Series.
     Last season rain washed out the only appearance of the late models at Williams Grove after a tremendous field of cars and some nationally known drivers had entered the pit area.  A race weekend at home allowed national champion Rick Eckert to enter last year's event along with other notable names such as Gary Stuhler, Scotty Haus,  Kenny Pettyjohn and Nathan Durboraw.
     Also included among the 39-car field were  D. J. Myers and Andy Anderson, the last two drivers to win late model features at Williams Grove.
     Because of the support shown by the late model racers in the past, two more sprint/late model dates were added to the 2004 schedule.  The double headers are set for June 25 and August 13.
     The sprint car feature will be 25 laps this week and the late models will go 20 laps.
     The sprint car drivers have their first special event coming up on April 9 when the Early Bird Championship will be presented.  The winner of the 30-lap Early Bird will collect $6000.
     There will be no support division on April 9.
AFTER EXCHANGING LEADS WITH TIM FULLER 12 TIMES, Gary Tomkins of Clifton Springs, NY made the 13th swap coming off the fourth turn on the final lap in his favor to win the 100 lap Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series Modified race at Hagerstown Speedway on Saturday night. It was the second straight DIRT Modified win for Tomkins at Hagerstown.
"First off I want to thank Tim Fuller," said Tomkins in Victory Lane. "He gave me room to race and I tried to give him room. I went a little harder on my tires and the longer I went the better they were. What a race to win." In other action, young Kirk Ryan won the Late Model stock car feature after having impressive runs in the early season events. Tim Fuller finished second in the DIRT Modified feature followed by Brett Hearn, Billy Decker and Jerry Higbie. There were 67 DIRT Big Block Modifieds on hand for the Saturday night show.
THE MONTH OF APRIL means the beginning of racing under the lights at the Hagerstown Speedway. The month starts off with Fan Appreciation night on Saturday, April 3rd . Adult General Admission for the triple header program is only $6.00 with children under 12 FREE. Promoter Frank Plessinger has a big night of fun and excitement planned for the whole family. The Easter Bunny will make an early stop with a special Easter Egg Hunt for the kids sponsored by Twigg Cycle of Hagerstown. Gates open at 4 P.M. with warm-ups at 5:30 P.M. Racing begins at 6 P.M for the triple-header program featuring the late models, Hoosier Tires Mid-Atlantic late model sportsman and Ernie's Salvage Yard pure stocks.The following week, Saturday April 10th, the first enduro race of the season is on tap. The amateur drivers will join the late models, late model sportsman and pure stocks in a four feature program that will be full of excitement. Grandstand general admission is only $9 with kids under 12 FREE. The Hagerstown Speedway will switch to Friday night, April 16th, the following week for the first round of the Winchester-Hagerstown-Cumberland Speedways Tri-Track Shootout. The 40-lap feature will pay $3,000 to the winner with $300 to start. Race time is 8 P.M. with gates opening at 5 P.M. Joining the late models will be the pure stocks in a non-points event.
Hagerstown will return to its regular Saturday night slot on April 24th for the 23rd Annual Stanley Schetrompf Memorial. Sanctioned by the World of Outlaws, the 50-lap event will pay $10,000. Joining the late models will be the late model sportsman and the pure stocks. Race time is 7:30 P.M. with gates opening at 5 P.M. Warm-ups begin at 7 P.M. For additional information, contact the speedway office at (301) 582-0640 or checkout the internet at www.hagerstownspeedway.com.

  SELINSGROVE SPEEDWAY kicked off their 2004 season on Friday night with Darren Eash winning the 25-lap Susquehanna Valley 410 Sprint Series sprint feature. He made it look easy as he lead all the laps jumping from his second starting spot to get the lead on the first lap and going on to grab the $2500 first place money. Todd Shaffer grabbed second spot while veteran Keith Kauffman was the third place finisher followed by Fred Rahmer and Lance Dewease. Just 23 sprint cars were on hand for the opener. The Pro Stock feature was won by Gerald Kratzer followed by A.J.Stroup and Bill Pyle.                                                                            
LANCE DEWEASE came from eighth starting spot on Saturday night at Lincoln Speedway to tin the 25 lap-410 sprint car feature. It was his first win of the season and gave car owners Al & Betty Hamitlon their 400th career sprint car win. Dewease became the 6th different feature winner in sprint car competition at Lincoln this season.
"We've had a lot of people trying to cause a lot of problems and trying to tear this team down," said Dewease in victory lane reacting to rumors that the team was splitting up. "But that's not going to happen. We haven't had the fastest start we'd have liked t, but starting spot has even everything it seems this year, and everyone's winning off the first two-rows-here especially. You could pass here tonight." Cris Eash finished second followed by Fred Rahmer, Brian Montieth and Greg Hodnett.
In the Thundercars it was Mike Walls getting the win in the 20-lap feature that was rained out last Saturday with Craig Wagaman finishing second. Duane Hahn took the win in the second 20-lap main event while Wagaman got his second runner-up finish of the night. In the INEX Legends veteran Jason Rochelle won the 20 lap feature followed by Ronnie Dunstan (former truck driver for A.J. Foyt) and Allen Felix.
Racing at Lincoln Speedway on Saturday night, 6 p.m., will include the 410 sprints, Thundercars and Silver Spring Limited Late Models. Starting time will switch to 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 10th.
AT PORT ROYAL SPEEDWAY Mark Smith kicked off the 2004 season with a win in the 25-lap sprint car feature race on Saturday afternoon. Keith Kauffman grabbed a strong second place finish followed by Todd Shaffer, Judi Baters and Mike Wagner.
Todd Snook won the Pro Stocks feature and it was Ronnie Garlock getting the top spot in the 4 Cylinder Stock Cars. Racing action returns to Port Royal on Saturday. There will be features for the sprints, Pro Stocks, Enduro cars and Late Models. Action starts at 7 p.m. And on April 10th there will be the Kids Easter Egg Hunt and the second appearance of the 4 cylinder stock cars.
GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY presented their annual free-to-the-public practice session on Saturday afternoon and despite threatening weather close to 70 race cars took part in the 4 hour session. And a large crowd of fans came out to see the new equipment being tested by their favorites.
Jeff Strunk starts defense of his 2003 NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modified championship and shoots for his fourth driving title when Patriot Bank presents the opening night show at the Bechtelsville, PA oval at 6 p.m. on Saturday night.
Included in the night's activity will be a doubleheader show of NASCAR Modifieds and Late Models with the Modifieds topping the program with a 40 lap feature.
MAHONING VALLEY SPEEDWAY in Lehighton, PA kicks off their season on April 3rd with Pole Day 2004. A wide variety of race cars will pound the pavement at Mahoning Valley including Modifieds, Late Models, D/A Modifieds, Street Stocks, Factory Stocks and 4-Cylinder Stocks. Three quarter midget racing will also be a part of the Pole Day activity and run about a dozen events at the track.
For information on what is happening at Mahoning Valley Speedway check in at 570.386.1225.
LAKE MOC-A-TEK SPEEDWAY in Lakeville, PA opens with practice day on Saturday, April 10th. Included will be a full program of four feature events for the Sportsman/358 Modifieds along with Street Stocks, Pure Stock/Four Cylinders and 250cc Micro Sprints. It will also be a practice session for all divisions of competition.
What is unique about it all is that it is all free to fans and the green falls at 2 p.m.
The season will officially open on April 17th and there will be Sunday rain dates in place this season.
THOUGH WE HAVE HEARD NOTHING OFFICIAL we hear that Bridgeport, NJ Speedway will play host to a practice day on April 3rd and then kick off their season on Saturday, April 10th with the United Racing Club sprint cars as the headliner show. Check in at www.bridgeportspeedway.net to get the latest information.
BIG DIAMOND RACEWAY PLAYED HOST to the DIRT Southeast Series Tour Modifieds on Sunday with Fran Cozze able to grab the big win with Billy Pauch finishing second followed by Jimmy Horton, Doug Manmiller and Danny Johnson.
Action returns to Big Diamond on Sunday at 2 p.m. with NASCAR Modifieds, Sportsman-Modifieds and Roadrunners. No racing on Easter Weekend and then action switches to Friday nights, 7:30 p.m., April 16th.
WE LIKE THIS QUOTE: Mark Martin in explaining what it is like to race Cup cars at Bristol Motor Speedway: "I always equate Bristol to trying to fly a jet fighter around the inside of a basketball arena."
Ernie Saxton can be reached at Esaxton144@aol.com or check in at his website www.saxtonsponsormarket.com