The holiday weekend is here and racing is plentiful. Friday night's action was in doubt as this column was being prepared, due to weather. The World of Outlaws were to race at Bedford Speedway. In the event of postponement, track officials were trying to prepare a make up game plan. Hopefully, the weekend will go smoothly.
As for Port Royal, the track is scheduled to have several races over this and next weekend.
Tonight, the 154th annual Juniata County Fair kicks off with the Enduro 100. Fifty cars will be registered with the winner earning $1,000. I expect powder puff champion Jen Powell to compete in the enduro race. If she does, the guys could be running for second place.
Monday, the 58th annual edition of the Labor Day Classic will be run. Sprint cars, late models and pro stocks are in action. Racing starts at 1 p.m. The daylight show brings mixed emotions to drivers and fans. Racers aren't fond of the daylight track. Die hard fans don't like it either. Still, there are people who only come to the track once a year and Labor Day is their pick. The girls put on clothes that allow them to tan and the guys join them to party and watch the race. Many show up early for the food and a trip to the church stand for lunch is always popular. With the fair in the background, you can almost feel the excitement and nostalgia. There aren't many places left where fair racing still happens and we are lucky that Port Royal has it.
Next Friday is the "Night before the 50." The top four finishers in the sprint car feature are locked into Saturday night's A-main. We might as well talk about the pre-race Tuscarora 50 activities while we are at it. Sept. 6, the Tuscarora 50 Foundation and Nate and Ellie Alexander present a chili cook off. You can enter your favorite chili recipe in the competition or vote for someone else. Judging will be done at 12:30 p.m. Chili will be auctioned off after that with the proceeds divided between the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Support Our Troops fund, with 10 percent set aside for the injured drivers fund. After that, John Garloff and Steve Ramsey will host an autograph session for race fans starting at 3:00 p.m. at the horse ring.
The rumor mill has the All Star Circuit of Champions acquiring the IRS late model series from Dean Miracle. Negotiations could be finished this weekend. I think it will happen. Miracle has sufferred from cancer and has been under treatment. His series has run mainly in Ohio and western Pennsylvania. The IRS has traveled as far east as Bedford and into Cumberland, Md., where they raced a week ago. Robbie Blair was the winner over Jack Pencil.
Also, Joe Padula and Doug Timmons may bein charge of Cumberland Speedway next season. I can't confirm it but I think it's likley. Cumberland has struggled and had less than 40 cars in three divisions on the night of the IRS late model show. There weren't many fans either.
Congratulations go out to Todd Shaffer on winning his fourth sprint car track championship at Port Royal Speedway. Shaffer won the title a week ago. Mark Smith was the sprint car feature winner. Scotty Haus is the late model title holder. Tim Krape won the pro stock championship. Terry Naugle won the Enduro title. As noted above, Jen Powell is the powder puff champion.
Lincoln Speedway hosts their final point race tonight. Brian Montieth leads Cris Eash by five points. Fred rahmer is 45 points behind and Niki Young is 55 points back.
Congratulations to a couple of locals who recently won features at out-of-town tracks. Roger Laughlin, of McVeytown, won a late model race at Dog Hollow Speedway. Tim Smith, also of McVeytown, won a limited late model feature at Bedford. Daryl Stimeling, of Lewistown, won a sprint car feature at Clinton County Speedway. And the man from Mifflintown, Keith Kauffman, won the sprint car race Sunday night at Selinsgrove.
Way to go guys!
Former Port Royal Speedway and current Hesston announcer Tom Baker was behind the microphone last Friday night at Dog Hollow Speedway. Baker continues to entertain after all these years and I commend him for a job well done.
Injured driver Jeff Shepard was transported to a hospital near Baltimore, Md., to continue treatment after suffering serious head injuries at Knoxville, Iowa, during the Nationals. Guy Webb, All Star Circuit of Champions President, will run a benefit race for Shepard Sunday at Hill Top Speedway in Ohio, with $2 from every ticket sold going to the Shepard recovery fund. Other money will be raised as well.
Lance Dewease and Dale Blaney continue their battle for the All Star point title. Dewease is back on top entering this weekend's action. The title pays the winner $50,000.
That's going to do it for this week. Get out and enjoy the weekend!
Craig Rutherford writes about motorsports for The Sentinel. He is affiliated with Port Royal Speedway.
