PORT ROYAL - Port Royal Speedway will try to have kids' night again tonight. Action starts at 7 p.m.
Kids big wheel, big foot and bicycle racing will be run at intermission. Parents are reminded to bring their child's helmet as per state law. The event has been postponed twice due to rain.
Sprint cars, late models, 305 sprint cars and powder puff cars also are scheduled.
Next week the Port Royal Speedway hosts its annual bicycle giveaway for kids. It is also the Butch Renninger Memorial race for late models. I can't believe it is the sixth running of that event. Time passes quickly.
Congratulations go out to Gary Beward for winning his first late model feature last week at Port Royal. It was an emotional moment for Beward and car owner Ed Powell. Beward joins Todd Snook, who won the week before in late model action. Both moved up from the pro stock class, where they performed well.
Todd Shaffer won last week's sprint car feature over Keith Kauffman. The pair put on a show moving through the pack. Shaffer has a tough job every week in that he is the point leader at both Williams Grove and Port Royal, so he starts in the middle. In today's world of sprint car racing, it is hard to get to the front in 25 laps. Despite that, Shaffer is the only four-time sprint car winner this year at Port Royal.
Mark Smith apparently has opted to leave Port Royal Speedway to race at Lincoln Speedway for the remainder of the season. I'm sorry to see that and I'm not sure why Smith has not has the kind of season we've come to expect and has struggled. I hate to see him go elsewhere because he is exciting to watch.
Congratulations to Stevie Smith and his team for a fine run in the Knoxville Nationals last week and also to Greg Hodnett and Jimmy Nace with driver Jason Solwald for making the A-main. I understand the Jim and Sandy Kline No. 22 crew was awarded the best dressed team award, which came with a trophy and $1,000 check.
One driver who may not be in action tonight is Kauffman. Sean Michael is scheduled to return to the driver's seat of the Michael Heffner No. 27 this evening. Heffner will provide a car for Kauffman to race in the National Open at Williams Grove. He also is willing to keep Kauffman in a second car, but needs financial help to do it. He is seeking to borrow a truck and trailer to get the car to the track plus cash and a qualified mechanic to maintain the car. A lot of folks are pulling for Kauffman to stay in this ride as he has looked good driving the car the last two weeks.
Todd Shaffer holds a 200-point lead over Mike Erdley in sprint car action at Port Royal with two points races remaining. Shaffer has won four championships at the Juniata County oval, in 1995, 1998, 2003 and 2008. Scotty Haus is the late model points leader over Waylon Wagner.
Lincoln Speedway hosts 410 and 358 sprint car action tonight. They also run thundercars. Brian Montieth is the point leader over Alan Krimes by just 10 points entering the weekend.
Hagerstown Speedway has late model, limited late models, pure stocks and a demo derby planned. Race time is 7 p.m.
Williams Grove runs another one of its $5 general admission shows tonight. Super sportsman, limited late models, street stocks and 4-cylinder stocks make up the show.
Bedford Speedway has a regular five division show Friday night before hosting the Three State Flyers Series Labor Day. The top 20 money earners will run a separate 20-lap feature and the regular Three State program is 35 laps. Veteran announcer Frank Sagi will call the Three States action. Entertainment by Sagi is worth the price of a ticket alone.
I received good news Thursday that Mary Ann Keiffer has improved some from her terrible injuries last week. Keiffer was injured while riding a motorcycle. Some therapy has been started. I do not yet have an address for cards, but I will pass it along ASAP. Keiffer remains in a Pittsburgh hospital.
I notice Jimmie Johnson and about nine other racers visited the White House this week. President Obama had kind things to say about NASCAR and the racing community. Normally only the champion gets a White House invite.
Bristol Motor Speedway hosts NASCAR tonight. ESPN has TV coverage. The half-mile concrete track has another sellout crowd on hand. The track holds more than 160,000 and has sold out a record 53 times. To me that says something about short track racing. When it is good and the track plays a big part in that, there's no better racing to watch. Richmond is another good short track on the Cup schedule.
It's been a quiet week in motorsports. I guess Brett Favre and Plaxico Burress made all the sports headlines this week. Until next week, please drive carefully.
Craig Rutherford writes about motorsports for The Sentinel. He is associated with Port Royal Speedway.
