This, That and the other in Motorsports...

Exclusive for Auto Locator by Ernie Saxton

As printed in Issue Dated 6-18-2004

    

  Twin 20-lap feature events for 410 sprint cars are on tap this Friday night, June 11, at Williams Grove Speedway. The first heat is scheduled to start at 8:00.
     Qualifying heats and the first feature will be lined up according to the Grove's usual handicapping system which is based on each driver's earnings average.
     The winner of the first feature will draw for inversion of the second feature.
     Each 20-lap test will pay $2500 to win.
    The June 11th date will be the 26th time a twin 20s event has been presented at Williams Grove.  Only two drivers have been able to pull off a sweep.  Van May did it in 1983 when he outran Lynn Paxton and Bobby Davis in the first feature, then bested Jimmy Horton and Randy Wolfe in the second.  Fred Rahmer accomplished a similar feat in 1995 by defeating Lance Dewease and Brian Paulus in the first, then Don Kreitz
and Billy Pauch in the second.
     The best record in twin 20's competition over the years belongs to Kreitz, who owns five victories.
     Other multiple winners include May with four, Pauch, Rahmer and Cris Eash with three and Dewease, Kenny Adams, Dan Dietrich, Keith Kauffman, Jim Nace, Steve Siegel, Steve Stambaugh and Bobby Weaver with two apiece.
     Greg Hodnett, Scott Tobias, Tighe Scott, Paul Lotier, Maynard Yingst, Barry Camp, Daryl Gohn, Jerry Stone, Bob Landis, Johnny Mackison, Joe Gravino,  Dave Kelly, Joey Kuhn, Steve Smith Billy Brian and Glenn Fitzcharles own single victories in the twin 20's format.
     Each 20-lap feature will carry a separate point payoff for both the Cindy RoweAuto Glass track championship and the Diamond Series.
     There will be no support division for the twin 20s program.
     The limited (358 c.i.) sprints will return to Williams Grove along with the 410 sprint cars on June 18.

            RAIN stopped the Friday night action at Williams Grove but not before a 358 sprint car feature left from May 21st was completed with Mike Lehman winning the 20 lapper over Chad Layton.

            Rain checks from the Friday night event will be honored through July 2nd.

            FOUR NEW WINNERS visited victory lane on Friday night at Clinton County Speedway. Winners in the Auto Locator Night events were Vince Snyder in sprint cars, Justin Corin in 358 Late Models, Tim Krape in Pro Stocks and John Myers in Enduro competition.

            They will all be back in action on Friday, June 11th, with racing starting at 7:30 p.m. And there is an Enduro race planned for Sunday, June 13th.

            LINCOLN SPEEDWAY, SILVER SPRING, SELINSGROVE, PORT ROYAL, HAGERSTOWN and others had their Saturday night shows rained out.

            Lincoln comes back this Saturday with Pepsi Night at 7:30 p.m. The 410 sprints, Thundercars and Silver Spring Limited Late Models will be in action.

            THIS COULD BE A GREAT EVENING OF NASCAR RACING AND WORTH THE LONG RIDE TO WALL TOWNSHIP, NJ.

            Steady morning and afternoon rain and the promise of more into the evening forced Wall Township Speedway officials to cancel the events scheduled for Saturday evening (June 5). With this first rained out event of the year now in the record books, all attention is turning to this Saturday evening's (June 12) "Racing's Greatest Night of Champions" which features ten nationally famous NASCAR drivers.

            With tickets selling at a rapid pace, NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series officials are urging all fans who want to be a part of the "Racing's Greatest Night of Champions" event to purchase their tickets in advance.

            "We want everyone who wants a ticket to get a ticket for this event," operations manager Sergio Benitez said. "That is why we have set up several locations, in addition to the speedway office, for fans to secure their tickets in advance."

            Tickets prices are $50 for Adults and $25 for Children. VIP Meet & Greet Tickets are sold only exclusively at Wall Township Speedway (732-681-6400) for $300 each or 2 tickets for $500.

            Heading the list of champions on hand will be former NASCAR Champion, Daytona 500 winner and multi-time NASCAR Most Popular Driver Bill Elliott. In addition to meeting with fans, Elliott will compete in a special match race against the celebrity drivers and will also compete against local competitors in Truck Series action.

            FOX Network commentator Darrell Waltrip, a former Daytona 500 winner who currently competes in a limited number of Craftsman Truck Series races, jumped at the chance to visit Wall Township Speedway after his brother Michael was forced to cancel his appearance. Michael Waltrip will not be able to attend since his race team has decided to chase the NASCAR Busch Grand National title.

            Representing the current day stars will be Kevin Harvick, Sterling Marlin, Jimmy Spencer and Kerry Earnhardt. The list of NASCAR legends that will participate is just as impressive with Cale Yarborough, Harry Gant, Ernie Irvan, Dave Marcis and Dick Trickle announcing their involvement.

            For years, NASCAR fans have debated about the talents of the sports legendary drivers compared to those of racing's current day stars. Those fans will have the opportunity to settle that argument once and for all when the NASCAR stars, both retired and current, visit the speedway. The event will not only feature legendary and current day NASCAR stars in interviews and autograph sessions, but also in racing action on the third mile high banked paved oval.

            In addition to the on-track action for the legends and current day NASCAR stars, Spencer says that the will also return to his racing roots during the evening and drive a Modified stock car during the regularly scheduled racing program. That program will consist of Modified, Street Stock and Truck Series racing.

   In addition to "Racing's Greatest Night of Champions," Wall Township Speedway presents NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series auto racing action every Saturday night at 6:00 p.m.

            Wall Township Speedway is located on Rt. 34 in Wall Township, N.J. just a mile north of Garden State Parkway Exit 98 and Interstate 195 Exit 35B. The speedway hotline is 732-681-6400 and the internet address is www.wallspeedway.com.

            GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY had their Auto Locator Night rained out this past Saturday. And this Saturday they have one of the best events of the season with the United Racing Club sprint cars and NASCAR Modifieds performing in a doubleheader starting at 7:30 p.m. and sponsored by Scott Powersports of Coopersburg, PA. The Auto Locator Night will be rescheduled for later in this season.

            Former URC sprint champion Mike Haggenbottom will do double duty as he runs with the ARCA RE/MAX SERIES in their 200 at Pocono Raceway in the afternoon on June 12th and then head to Grandview for the sprint car show that night.

            BIG DIAMOND RACEWAY got their Friday night show in with Craig VonDohren winning his third of the season and his third in eight days with the Devine Transport #70D Modified. Keith Hoffman grabbed second while Doug Maniller garbbed third in the NASCAR Modified feature.

            Larry Lippencott got the win in the 20-lapper for NASCAR ShorTrack Sportsman Modifieds and it was Dean Ulsh topping the field in the Roadrunners. Racing returns on Friday night with Modifieds, Sportsman-Modifieds and Roadrunners starting at 8 p.m.

            PORT ROYAL SPEEDWAY has their first mid-week show of the season on June 16th when Auto Locator presents 410 sprints, super sportsman, pro stocks and 4 cylinder stock cars set for a 7 p.m. start.

            THIS SPEAKS FOR ITSELF AND COULD USE EVERYONE’S SUPPORT.        

This is an event that can use everyone’s support and we ask that if your schedule allows please get out and support this very worthy cause.

            Strawberry Festival to Benefit Young Cancer Patients. A Strawberry Festival to benefit young cancer patients Ben Grabey, Sam Mills and Heath Hassler will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church June 12th.

            Ben, the son of World of Outlaws Sprint Series Technical Inspector Don Grabey, suffered a massive seizure five weeks ago. He was rushed to Reading Hospital, where it was determined he had a brain tumor similar to Mills. Ben and Sam have been best friends their entire lives.

            Brain surgery was performed to remove Ben’s tumor April 30th. He has suffered no ill effects as a result of the surgery or the seizure, but the surgeon, neuro-oncologist, four pathologists and several specialists from around the country are still unable to determine if his tumor is benign or malignant.

            World of Outlaws Sprint Series teams have helped organize a fund-raiser at the Strawberry Festival in Wernersville to help with the mounting bills insurance companies will not pay. The festival is scheduled for 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. June 12th (rain date June 13th) at Trinity Lutheran Church, located at 130 S. Walnut Street, Wernersville, PA 19565. Directions to the church may be obtained by calling 610-678-1782.

            All proceeds from the event will go toward the boys’ medical expenses, and $200 will be donated to the Wernersville Police Department. There will be plenty of food, strawberries, desserts, children’s games, entertainment and a silent auction/raffle.

            Many World of Outlaws Sprint Series teams have graciously donated many items for the auction/raffle, including a 2004 "The Mean 15" tour shirt signed by all 15 members. Other items to be auctioned will be signed shirts and caps from Daryn Pittman, Tim Shaffer, Erin Crocker, Craig Dollansky, Joey Saldana, Jason Meyers, Danny Lasoski, Jason Sides, Brian Brown and Workin' Woody.

            A signed crew/team shirt by Donny Schatz; a signed 2004 tour cap signed by all 15 "Mean 15" members and a clock signed by Meyers will also be auctioned.

            Among the other items up for bids will be a Dr. Seuss "Cat In the Hat" Xtreme Series 1:24 scale limited edition collectable car signed by Lasoski and a bag of Racers Choice Kona Coffee by Volcano Joe's signed by Saldana. Steve and Kraig Kinser and other drivers are also planning to donate items to the fund-raising auction.

            FOR NEXTEL CUP FANS the Pocono 500 is set for Pocono Raceway on Sunday afternoon June 13th. We are told there are still seats available for the 500 miler. A chance to see Dale Earnhardt Jr., who is telling everyone that he would like to race in the Indy 500 and LeMans in the future, Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth, Tony Stewart and a host of others in action. Penndel, PA’s Andy Belmont is scheduled to be there to try for a starting spot in the 500. Belmont is also fielding the car that will be driven by Mike Haggenbottom in the ARCA 200.

            Selinsgrove Speedway presents Insinger Performance/Sunoco Racing Fuels and Auto Locator Night on June 12th with 358 sprints, late models, pro stocks and roadrunners at 7 p.m.

            Ernie Saxton can be reached at Esaxton144@aol.com or check in at www.saxtonsponsormarket.com.