Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Wingless Sprint Cars to Invade Gamblers Raceway

from Lori Potter

Pennsylvania wingless sprint fans have for many years been traveling to the Indy area sometimes on a weekly and biweekly basis to watch wingless sprints. For these people wingless is the traditional sprint car, the way they should be. From time to time a wingless show is held, the yearly show at Mercer comes to mind. Several years ago I tried to organize a series, The Wingless Warriors. Although some tracks showed some interest none were willing to have a show except Tri-City Speedway in Franklin. These great folks at Tri-City gave it a shot, and some observers to this day will tell you after all of the drivers got it figured out it turned out to be one of the best sprint car races they had ever seen.

Now after a six year dry spell, I have been contacted by the management of the New Gamblers Raceway Park in Clearfield, to once again let loose the Wingless Warriors on their racetrack warpath. Together with GM Dick DeLisle we have scheduled the first show for Sunday June 24th. Gates will open at 2pm with racing at 5pm, with this earlier start date working people will be able to get home in a timely fashion. This is an old fashioned “Run What You Brung” competition. It is open to all engine specs from 305 to 410, and including the “Green Flag” type of sprinters.

Sprint car pre-registration is free, registration the day of the show will be $25. You can register by email elp1177@hotmail.com (insert “sprint” in the subject line) or phoning at 814.263.4326, if you see Rick Rarer or Daryl Stimeling at the track they will also have registration flyers. Gamblers regular pit and grandstand admission pricing will be in effect, please check Gamblers website www.gamblersracewaypark.com. Also on tap for the same evening will be 270 & 600 Micro Sprints. I will post more on the Micro Sprints as I receive information.

I ask fans and drivers to please turn out for this event as the continued success of wingless and micros at Gamblers will depend very much on this first show

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

“RFD IS ALL ABOUT FANS “

Tomorrow night May 23rd , Racing Fans Direct will be at Grandview Speedway participating in what should be one of most exciting shows of the season as part of round one of the new Dupont Tyvek Keystone Cup Sprint series . It will be exciting because of the quality of cars , the track itself always produces passing in lap traffic , The Outlaws VS The Posse ,& fan excitement provided always by Thunder On The Hill promotions .

Most tracks provide some fan excitement , but always at Thunder On The Hill it seems like there’s always more Fan entertainment , like giveaways , fireworks at the start, Comdial Communications Sponsorship of prize money for fans & drivers , & yes there’s Joe The Pizza Dude who roams the grandstands giving out free pizza to excited screaming fans .

An this is just a small part of what were about here at Racing Fans Direct bringing fun , prizes, giveaways , money , exciting racing tours to fans , & convenience like no where else . While our site has been temporarily down were making bigger plans , organizing new tours , a new web site & adding a new lovely addition to RFD “ Ms Dana Hastings “ as Ms Racing Fans Direct 2007 who will be at Grandview Wednesday night signing autographs , handing out Pizza’s from Joe , taking photos with fans , and other fan inspired action . So we ask you to come out to meet Dana , Bob & all your favorite drivers , but most of all see why RFD will make a difference in you’re racing plans . Contact us at 443-974-7027 or e-mail racingfansdirect@bigplanet.com

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

SPRINTS TO RACE WINGLESS SATURDAY AT MERCER; FREE CRAWFORD COUNTY NIGHT


Mercer, PA)…Mercer Raceway Park will return to action this Saturday night, May 19 in hopes of completing the fifth straight night of action and sixth of the season. While the weekly five divisions, the Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, American Racer/Lias Tire Modifieds, Tire Express Stock Cars, Big Daddy’s Speed Center Mod Lites, and the M&D Paving Mini Stocks will all be action, one twist to the night will be that the Sprint Cars will race wingless! It’s free Crawford County Night presented by Armstrong with racing starting at 7 p.m.

Sprint Car racing has long been associated with Mercer Raceway Park and other than a few All Star races in the 70s, traditional wingless Sprint Car acing was the norm until the 80s. On Saturday night, the wings will be coming off for the first of two times this season highlighted by a $1,500 to-win feature. The second wingless event will take place on Saturday, August 18.
Since 1989, nine wingless events have been run. Four-time track champion, Jamie Smith leads the way with three wins totaling $7,300. Other winners include 2002 and 2003 champion Troy Preston, who won the 1989 event, wingless standout racers Todd Kane (1997), Rob Chaney (2000), and USAC star Mat Neely (2006), and track regulars Rob Eyler (2004) and Doug Stanley (2005).

“We always enjoy having wingless events at Mercer Raceway Park,” explained ninth year owner Vicki Emig. “The fans seem to enjoy it plus it always tightens the competition by adding a new twist. The best thing this year is that there will be no increase in admission and fans from Crawford County can enjoy the show at no charge!”

The second free county night takes place Saturday night as all residents who reside in Crawford County will be admitted at no charge. Fans can simply show their ID with a Crawford County city listed and they will be admitted into the grandstands for general admission. All accompanying children will also be free.

“Last year’s Crawford County night was huge,” stated Emig. “We have to thank our great marketing partner Armstrong Cable for helping us to promote the event. If the weather is nice we expect another great turnout.”

Current point leaders heading into Saturday night are Kittanning’s Rod George (Sprint Cars), Grove City’s Steve Young (Modifieds), Sandy Lake’s Brian Booher (Stock Cars), West Middlesex’s Rod Jones (Mod Lites), and Elkton, Ohio’s Lucas Sprouse (Mini Stocks).
Brian Booher has been on a tear winning three of the four point races in the Stock Cars. If Booher wins the feature Saturday night he can make a little history by recording his 24th career win, which would put him on top of the Stock Car win list since the track reopened in 1994. He is currently tied with nemesis, Andy Buckley, who has one victory this season.

After a 25-year absence, the Mini Stock division is back weekly. Just one car showed for opening night, but last week the car count rose to nine for this affordable, amateur division, and we expect more cars in the coming weeks.

Regular admission prices are in effect Saturday with adults just $11, students 6-15 $5, children five and under free, family passes $25, and pit passes $25. Pit gates open at 3:30 p.m. with grandstands at 4:30, hot laps at 6:15, and racing at 7.

Mercer Raceway Park is located minutes from both Interstate 79 and 80 just off Route 19 on Fairground Road in Mercer, Pa. Dirt track racing and quality family entertainment are presented weekly late March through early October. The office in New Bedford, Pa. is open year-round after 1:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information call the office at 724-964-9300 or the track on race day at 724-662-1310. Check out our website at www.mercerracewaypark.com for the latest.

Monday, May 14, 2007

OUTLAWS ROLL INTO LERNERVILLE FOR COMMONWEALTH CLASH

By Eric J. Westendorf



Sarver, PA (May 14, 2007) The Clash is close at hand! The RVs and campers are in the parking lots, haulers at nearby hotels, and tomorrow evening Tuesday May 15, the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars will invade the Sarver 4/10-mile oval for the first time of the 2007 season. Local drivers Ed Lynch Jr., Kevin Schaeffer, Bob Felmlee, and Rod George will do their best to defend the Action Track from an Outlaw invasion.

The “First Commonwealth Bank Clash” will begin at 7:15 for time trials, with heat races slated to start at 8:00. The Commonwealth Clash is the first of two World of Outlaws Sprint invasions of the 2007 season. The second invasion will come later in the summer for the Cleveland Brothers Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup XVI on July 17.

The Commonwealth Clash marks the return of “The King” Steve Kinser, “The Dude” Danny Lasoski, Jason , Tim Kaeding, Paul McMahan and other former NST drivers, who are back on tour in 2007 after a year with the now defunct NST Tour. Kinser, a 20-time World of Outlaws Champion, has 15 career wins at the Lernerville Speedway.

Current Outlaws points’ leader Donny Schatz won the 2006 Don Martin Silver Cup XV. Joey Saldana, currently second in points XX points behind Schatz, holds the track record of 12.334 seconds. Also in action Tuesday will be 1993 Lernerville Track Champion Tim Shaffer, now a well-established Outlaw veteran who won the 2005 Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup XIV.

Also on the card Tuesday Night will be the 2nd UMP Modified race of the season at Lernerville Speedway. Dave Hess Jr. will be looking to back up his April 17 victory, while Two-time reigning Pure Stock Track Champion Butch Lambert will be looking to pull his e-Mod into Victory Lane like he has done in his pure stock so many times.
The weather looks to be mild, temperatures in the mid-80s and no rain until well after racing has been completed. Ticket prices have been reduced from 2006 rates. General admission is $25 for adults, $22 for Seniors, $20 for students 11-17, 10 & under will be admitted free. For $2 extra dollars you can purchase reserved seats. Pit passes are available for $32. DIRT members can purchase a pit pass for $27. Those wishing to purchase a reserved seat may upgrade to a pit pass by paying the difference in price. For more details log on to www.lernerville.com or contact the track office at (724) 353-1511.

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

LYNCH, FERREE, BOLLAND, PEGHER LEAD LERNERVILLE BUDWEISER POINTS


By Eric J. Westendorf

Sarver, PA (May 8, 2007) With three nights of Budweiser Point Fund racing in the books the 2007 Budweiser Point Standings are starting to take shape.

In the Commercial Truck & Trailer Sprints, “The Apollo Rocket” Ed Lynch Jr. has an eight-point edge over Reigning Track Champion “Cool” Kevin Schaeffer. Lynch has two feature wins, two heat wins, and a third place finish in the only feature he didn’t win. Schaeffer has one win and a second place finish in feature events, along with two heat race wins. Dan Shetler, with two Top Fives and a seventh place finish is third. Gary Rankin and Carl Bowser round out the Top Five.

Alex Ferree’s two wins and a second place finish in three points races has him solidly in the Budweiser points lead in the Friedman’s Freshmarkets Late Model division. With two Top Fives and two heat race wins, Mike Blose sits second, a distant 24 points behind Ferree. Gary Lyle is third, Dutch Davies is fourth, and newcomer Jared Hawkins sits fifth.

The top of the point standings both in the Ferrante Motor Cars Modifieds and Advance Auto Parts Pure Stocks reflect the competitive action on the track in both divisions.

Kevin Bolland leads the Ferrante Motor Cars Modifieds points by just two markers over Del Rougeux Jr. Bolland has a second and two fourth place finishes in feature events and two heat race wins. Rougeux has finished third, fourth, and second so far this season. Dave Murdick, who currently sits third, has a second and third place finish to his credit in feature events, and one heat race win. Feature winners Brian Swartzlander and Jeremiah Shingledecker, (2 wins), round out the Top Five.

The Budweiser points are just as close in the Advance Auto Parts Pure Stocks, where Mike Pegher, Jr. is in the lead. Pegher has won one feature, a second and a third and has not lost a heat race all year. Close behind in second place is Joe Kelley with a win and a second place finish. This past week’s feature winner Bob Egley is third. Egley also has two other Top Fives and a heat race win. Terry Young with two Top Fives and two heat race wins is fourth. Greg Beech and Paul Schreckengost are tied for fifth place.

All four “Fab Four” Divisions will be back in action this Friday May 11 as the Budweiser Points Fund rolls on. Then next Tuesday, May 15 the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars invade the Action Track for the first time in the 2007 season. Can Budweiser Points leader Ed Lynch Jr. get his second career World of Outlaws win at his home track? Be there to find out! Call the track office (724) 353-1511 to reserve your tickets now. Or purchase them at the main ticket windows after 8:30 p.m. this Friday Night at the speedway. Either way, you won’t want to miss the return of “King” Steve Kinser, “The Dude” Danny Lasoski, as well as 2006 Outlaws Champion Donny Schatz, or current Outlaw points leader Joey Saldana

Monday, May 07, 2007

*Greg Wilson Leads O’Reilly All Stars Points Chase***

CAMARGO, IL) 5-6-07 Defending All Star Champion, Greg Wilson, is once again sitting on top of the standings in the 2007 season points chase. Despite a tough night at Attica Raceway Park where Wilson crashed while leading the A-main, he still managed to rack up enough points to put the Verl Warnimont owned #w20 at the top of the heap. Danville, Indiana’s Danny Smith trails Wilson by just 5 points as the All Stars head to Pennsylvania on Saturday to compete with the always tough locals at Port Royal Speedway before heading to Bedford Speedway on Sunday.

*Driver Points:*
w20 Greg Wilson 4922
4 Danny Smith 4873
11m Brandon Martin 4734
28 Brian Paulus 4705
20e Brian Ellenberger 4696
71m Paul May 4637
11n Ed Neumeister 4558
9 Craig Mintz 4259
51 Fred Rahmer 38210
6s Brad Sweet 367

*Owner Points:*

w20 Verl Warnimont 4922
4 Danny Smith 4873
11m BMI Racing 4734
20e Brian Ellenberger 4725
28 P&P Motorsports 4706
71m Paul May 4637
11n Ed Neumeister 4558
9 Top Gun Racing 4259
51 Jim & Sandy Kline 38210
6s Brad Sweet 367

For more information on the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions visit www.allstarsprint.com <http://www.allstarsprint.com/> and for information on the 25^th Annual Ohio Sprint Speedweek visit www.ohiospeedweek.com <http://www.ohiospeedweek.com/> .

Ohsweken Speedway WORLD of OUTLAW ADVANCED TICKETS Sales Update

ADVANCED TICKET SALES for the July 25th “Six Nations Showdown” at OhswekenSpeedway presented by ARROW EXPRESS featuring the World of Outlaw Sprintscontinue at a brisk pace. Ticket requests have been taken daily by phoneonly (519-542-2116), Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM andwill continue until July 10th. Credit card payment in full is required atthe time of purchase. Tickets are then mailed directly to your home. Adultprice is $40 with children 12 and under at $25.

NO TICKETS WILL BE HELDWITHOUT PAYMENT. NO TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE TRACK UNTIL RACE DAY. ALL SEATS ON THESPECTATOR SIDE OF THE SPEEDWAY ARE RESERVED FOR THIS EVENT.“Tickets have been selling at such a rate that the entire existing standsare already sold out” stated an excited promoter Glenn Styres. “We had hopedthat the fans would support this event and purchase advanced tickets so wecould justify any needs for additional seating but this is beyondexpectation. We have already contracted to install an additional 1,288 seatsat each end of the existing stands on the front stretch. This will almosttriple what we started with and we can install more if the demand is there”Styres went on. “We hope that as many people that want tickets will buy inadvance to help us make sure that ample seating is available on race day andto also help get people into the track when the gates open” Styrescontinued.

“We will make every effort to ensure that all who want to come to this eventwill have a place to sit at race time. I just hope that people remainpatient and continue to call”. The much anticipated event will include all of the stars and cars of thepremier Sprint Car series headquartered in the United States featuring SteveKinser and Danny Lasoski. The Wednesday, July 25th show is a full point racefor the series with racing scheduled to get underway with the usual 7:45 PMstart. The winner will collect a cool $10,000. Pit Gates will open at 2:00PM with spectator gates opening at 4:00. An autograph session is scheduledto begin at 4:30. Mini Stocks will also be on the program in a support role.

NO ONE UNDER 13 WILL BE ADMITTED INTO THE PITS. Be sure to keep up on all the latest news from Ohsweken Speedway by loggingon to the official website at www.ohswekenspeedway.com as the countdowncontinues toward the first green flag of the season for “Friday NightThunder” on May 11th when a “Test & Tune” session will be held for alldivisions competing at the speedway during 2007. Then opening night, May18th the “Southern Ontario Sprints” make their first appearance of theseason along with a regular program of DIRT Sportsman, Thunder Stocks andMini Stocks.