Port Royal Speedway hosts another full program this week. The late models headline the program and are joined by the pro stocks, enduro cars, 305 sprint cars, and super sportsman. Kids big wheel, big foot and bicycle racing is also part of the show. Gates open tonight at 5 p.m. with racing at 7.
Last week, Bob Bennett picked up an emotional victory for himself and father John Mickle. Mickle is the car owner and drove himself for many years. I was happy to see Bennett win. Another guy who is having success this season is Daryl Stimeling. The Lewistown driver finished second and held off Greg Hodnett to secure the spot. That is the second time Stimeling has done that this season. Is a trip to the winners circle on Stimeling's horizon? I hope so. The Bolger Racing Team deserves the success it is enjoying right now.
It was nice to see Tim Fedder pick up the win in Port Royal late model action. And how about Mike Wagner II? Wagner scored his first 305 win at Port Royal on his mother's birthday. His father already won a 410 feature this season. I will have to check to see when that happened before. I'm not sure if Ed and Jimmy Spencer won at Port Royal in the same year or not. I'll let you know in a later column.
At Selinsgrove Speedway, Kevin Nouse collected the bonus money put up by Jeff Rine's sponsor. Nouse won the 358 sprint car feature. Steve Campbell finally arrived in the late model winner's circle to collect that bonus money also. It was Campbell's 42nd career win at the Snyder County track.
The All Star Circuit of Champions raced at Tri City Speedway in Franklin night. Daryn Pittman put the Keen Racing No. 17 in the winner's circle. It looks like Pittman was the only local car that attended the show. There were 28 sprint cars.
Donny Schatz won the Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway July 18. Cody Darrah finished 13th, one ahead of Ed Lynch. Lucas Wolfe finished 21st. Terry McCarl won the Friday night preliminary race.
Steve Kinser won the Brad Doty Classic at Limaland Speedway in Ohio Sunday night. It was Kinser's second Doty Classic victory. Kinser won the inaugural running of the race back in 1989.
I notice that MACS Series official Betty Lou Geesey passed away last Friday. Geesey was active as an official at Challenger Speedway for many years and also traveled with the touring late model MACS series. Services were held this past Tuesday.
Racing resumes next Friday night at Bedford Speedway when the annual fair race will be run. The Bedford Fair kicks off Sunday and runs through Aug.1. Bedford hosts the World of Outlaws late models Aug. 14.
Speaking of big time late model racing, Winchester Speedway hosts the Lucas Oil late model series next Friday night.
Williams Grove Speedway is in the middle of its Summer National event. That means the World of Outlaws are in town. Back in May, the Outlaws were spanked by the locals. Nine out of the top 10 were regulars. Greg Hodnett won the May program. Donny Schatz has won the last two Summer National titles, worth $20,000 each.
Port Royal Speedway's Dream Race is right around the corner. The event will be 40 laps this year and pay $15,000 to win. Second place will be worth $9,000 and third pays $6,000. Last place is worth $1,000. Aug. 1 is the Dream Race date.
I understand Jason Davis will substitute for Brian Henry tonight in the rescheduled enduro race at Port Royal. Henry had already made plans to vacation at the shore this weekend.
The NASCAR Cup teams race at Indy and Jeff Gordon is predicting a a better race than last year when Goodyear tires were wearing out in short runs. Gordon and Tony Stewart have tested the tires and like them. ESPN has TV coverage tomorrow starting at 1 p.m.
Hesston Speedway is quietly continuing to operate. They completed their fourth race of the season last Saturday night. Many of the Bedford Speedway regulars are also racing at Hesston. Jerry Bard won the limited late model feature. McVeytown driver Tim Smith finished fourth. Jarrett Walker won the street stock feature. Charlie Walters came out on top of hobby stock action and Chris Semple won the mini stock feature.
That's going to do it for another week. Drive safely! I hope to see you at an area speedway.
Craig Rutherford writes about motorsports for The Sentinel. He is associated with Port Royal Speedway.
