This, That and the other in Motorsports...

Exclusive for Auto Locator by Ernie Saxton

As printed in Issue Dated 7-2-2004

    

  STOCK CAR RACING RETURNS to Williams Grove Speedway on Friday night, June 25, when the late models will join the sprint cars.
     The first heat is scheduled to start at 8:00.
     There will be no time trials in either division. That is good news for most fans.
     As an added attraction Doug Danger, on a motorcycle,  will perform some daredevil
stunts throughout the evening.
     This will be just the second appearance of the season for the powerful late models.  Donnie Moran of Dresden, Ohio, won the Stacker 2 Xtreme sanctioned event on June 6.  There will be no sanction for this week's late model program.
     The month of July will be a sprint car fan's delight at Williams Grove.  During the month only sprint car racing of both the 410 c.i. and 358 c.i. variety is on the schedule with the 410s set for some big paydays.
     The first major event of the month comes up on July 2 when the Mitch Smith Memorial will highlight Pennsylvania Sprint Speedweek.
     The race is named to honor the memory of the former Linglestown resident who was inducted posthumously into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame.
     The Mitch Smith Memorial will pay $10,000 to win and will be the richest race of Speedweek, an 8-race series run during a nine-day period at 8 Pennsylvania dirt tracks.
     A spectacular fireworks display will also be a part of the July 2 program.
     The 358s will join the sprint cars on July 9 and again on July 16.
     The July 16 program will also include time trials for the 410 c.i. sprints, which will allow the teams to practice for the World of Outlaws sanctioned Summer Nationals.
     The Summer Nationals, sponsored by Cleveland Brothers, is a three day event for sprint cars coming up on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, July 22-24.
     The winner of the July 24 finale will take home $20,000.
            $500 Comdial Bonus for new Track Record at Grandview Sunday, June 27 Comdial Telephone Communications will once again post a $500 bonus for the driver that set a new one lap track record at the Grandview Speedway.  The PA Posse 410 sprint drivers will have a shot at that bonus on Sunday night, June 27 when the 14th Annual Pennsylvania Sprint Speed Week Series returns to Grandview for the 15th season of the NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series. Fast time for the night will be worth $200 in cash with an additional $300 up for grabs if a new track record is posted.  Sean Michael and ZEMCO sprinter hold the one lap record time of 11.533 for the one-third mile Grandview Speedway.   The record breaking time was established in May of 2002.    Along with the potential of earning $500 for just one lap, the winner of the 35 lap 410 Sprint feature will also pocket a hefty $4,000.   This lucrative purse also offer $1,000 for tenth and $325 just to take the green in the 35 lap main event.  Also on the program will be the ARDC Midgets battling in a  twenty lap feature event.   Race time is set for 7:30 PM with gates opening at 5 PM.   In the event of rain, Monday night, June 28 with be the rain date with racing getting underway at 7:30 PM.

            Defending PA Sprint Speed Week Champion Fred Rahmer  will be there driving the Joe Harz sprinter as he  looks to add to his career win total which now exceeds 300 victories.   Thunder On The Hill  defending Sprint Champion Greg Hodnett of Memphis, TN will be looking to add another win to his career total on "the hill".  Of course, Lance Dewease and Billy Pauch will be two other hot shoes looking to return to the always joyous Thunder on the Hill victory lane and podium.   Don't count out the rest of the PA Posse. . . . . Keith Kauffman is always a force to consider along with Cris Eash, Mark Smith, Kenny Jacobs, Curt Michael and Brook Weibley.

            Some "new age" talent looking for their first visit to the Thunder on the Hill  Victory Lane include Chad Layton, Kevin Drury and Kevin Welsh.  All three drivers were ranked in the top ten in earnings of the 2003 Thunder Series.  New and youthful talents includes Lucas Wolfe, Josh Weller and Blain Heimbach just to name a few.The COMDIAL Time Trials will open the program joined by heats and a "B" Main all leading up to the $4,000 to win 35 lap 410 Sprint feature event.   The ARDC Midgets are expected to present a series of heat races leading up to the 20 lap feature. 

This event marks the 62nd race of the 15 year Thunder on the Hill Racing Series presented at the Grandview Speedway and co-promoted by Speedway owner Bruce Rogers and special events organizer Bob Miller.

            The ARDC Midgets will be making their first appearance of the 2004 season at Grandview, led by defending Champion and current point leader Ray Bull. The Bloomsburg, Pa driver will be looking to add to his 33rd career win with the traveling club, while Mike Miller, Ed Stimely Jr, Steve Lenig, Steve Buckwalter and the rest of the ARDC roster will all be there to try and grab the win. Bridgeport, PA's Scott Zipp will be the night's featured ARDC driver, with a profile appearing in the Thunder On The Hill Program book.

            Advance tickets for this open wheel doubleheader are now available by calling 215-860-5631.

   KENNY JACOBS AND FRED RAHMER won the AutoLocator Twin 20-lap features for 410 sprint cars at Williams Grove Speedway on Friday night. Rahmer is now in front in the chase for the championship in the 410 sprint division.

            AT BIG DIAMOND RACEWAY on Friday night Doug Hoffman was back in victory lane after finishing behind Craig VonDohren for a couple of features. Doug Manmiller had one of his strongest showings of the season getting second in the 25-lap NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modified feature race. Dave Dissinger won his first of the season in the NASCAR ShorTrack Sportsman Modified 20-lap feature and it was Mike Allar getting the win, his first of the season, in the Roadrunner feature.

             ALTHOUGH THE WEATHER may indicate summer has already been here for several weeks, Big Diamond Raceway kicks off the official June 21 arrival of summer with four big race dates within a ten-day period. The Forestville, PA 3/8th-mile oval will host competitive, professional racing events for the NASCAR Weekly Series Modifieds, Sportsman Modifieds and Roadrunners as well as 410 Sprints, 358 Sprints and open Sportsman Modifieds during the period from June 25 through July 4.

            The summer racing season gets underway on Friday, June 25 at 8 PM, with a full three-division NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series card including the Modifieds, Sportsman Modifieds and Roadrunners.

            Next, on Tuesday night, June 29, Big Diamond Raceway hosts the 2004 edition of Pennsylvania 410 Sprint Speedweek at 7:30. The 410 Sprints led by the likes of Greg Hodnett, Fred Rahmer, Lance Dewease, Keith Kauffman, Don Kreitz, Mark Smith, Kenny Jacobs and more will invade the Schuylkill County mountains for a shootout in the fastest cars that have ever competed at Big Diamond. The sprints will be joined by an open Sportsman stock program that will feature the weekly NASCAR Sportsman Modifieds against the regions best invaders.

            Friday night, July 2, will see the 358 Sprint cars on the 8 PM racing card along with the NASCAR Modifieds and Roadrunners. Keith Prutzman, Dale Hammaker, Rusty Pressley, Larry Kelleher, TJ Stutts, Mike Lehman, Dave Neuman, Dan Richcreek, Nyles Berkes, Kenny Foor, Cliff Brian and others are expected to lead the sprint car contingent in their first appearance of the season at Big Diamond.

            The two week racing four pack wraps-up with still another big event, the annual Georgie Stevenson Memorial on Sunday evening, July 4. This year the memorial event will culminate with twin features for all three weekly Big Diamond divisions. The NASCAR Modifieds will go in two, 20-lap feature, the NASCAR Sportsman Modifieds will compete in two, 15-lap features and the exciting Roadrunners will battle in a pair of 12-lap feature events.

            ALAN COLE won the Nittany 40 sprint car feature race at Clinton County Speedway on Friday night. He is the first driver to win two this season. Jeff Masden won the 358 Late Model main event making him the seventh different winner in as many event. Tim Krape took top honors in Pro Stocks and Jeff Chambers won the Enduro feature.

            Sprints, Late Models, Pro Stocks and Enduro are in action each Friday at 7:30 p.m.

            GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY offers two nights of racing this weekend with the Dodge Weekly Series Modifieds and Late Models on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. sponsored by Harry’s U-Pull-It Late Models. On Sunday it is the Thunder on the Hill show that you can read about in an earlier part of this weekly effort.

            On Saturday night at Grandview it was Rick Schaffer winning the 30 lap Modified feature regaining his status as the all time leading modified feature winner at the Berks County oval. Chris Shuey got his third win of the season in the Late Model 20 –lapper.

            FRED RAHMER did not win a feature at Lincoln Speedway in 2003 but he is making up for it this season. He won his fourth 410 sprint feature in a row at Lincoln on Saturday and his seventh of the season. Kevin Welsh won his second in a row with the United Racing Club sprinters at Lincoln and it was David Prunkl winning the Thundercar main event.

            The 5TH Annual Kevin Gobrecht Memorial for 410 sprints is the big attraction on Saturday night along with the Thundercars at 7:30 p.m.         

            Ernie Saxton can be reached at Esaxton144@aol.com.