Hello again race fans. Port Royal Speedway hosts sprint cars, late models, pro stocks and enduro cars this evening. The pro stock racers have two feature events to run. Gates open at 5 with racing at 7 p.m.
Last week's racing was rained out at the Juniata County oval. Several sprint cars were sitting in turn four, about to perform the customary engine start when officials told racers to return to the pit area due to an impending storm. The rains hit and the program was wiped out.
The super sportsman feature will be made up July 24.
Selinsgrove Speedway presents the Joe Whitcomb Memorial race for 358 sprint cars this evening. Also part of the program are the late models, pro stocks and roadrunners.
Selinsgrove beat the weather man last week and Coleby Frye won at both Bedford and Selinsgrove in late model action last week.
At Lincoln Speedway, the Daryl & Glen Gohn Sr. Memorial race for 410 sprint cars will be run tonight. Thundercars and 358 sprint cars also are part of the program. Lincoln also managed to get its show in last Saturday night when the All Stars were in town. Brian Montieth beat the All Star regulars. Stevie Smith won last Friday night's All Star race at Williams Grove.
At Williams Grove Speedway tonight, super sportsman cars headline the program. Action starts at 6:30.
PA sprint car Speedweek gets under way June 26 at Lincoln Speedway. Port Royal Speedway hosts action July 3 when the 410s are joined by the 305 sprint cars. Bedford Speedway has its race June 27 and has what could be the best show of Speedweek, as sprint cars and late models are in action.
I notice ageless veteran Bob Felmlee won at Mercer Speedway in western Pennsylvania last weekend. Felmlee has been known to come to Port Royal's annual Bug Day to shake down his car. It was Felmlee's first win at Mercer in more than two years.
Congratulations to Alan Cole on winning the sprint car feature last Friday night at Clinton County Speedway. Cole beat out Lewistown driver Daryl Stimeling.
Appalachian Mountain late model Speedweek played host to 105 teams. Rick Eckert won the title and $15,600 in prize money. Jeremy Miller finished second with Lewistown's Nick Dickson third. Jason Covert, D.J. Myers, Jamie Lathroum and Jeff Rine also received point money. Port Royal had the high car count of the series. 55 cars were at the Juniata County oval.
I notice Dana Kinser, wife of Steve Kinser, had heart problems and was airlifted last Tuesday from their Bloomington, Ind., home to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis where she underwent 11 hours of open heart surgery.
NASCAR Media Group canceled plans to produce a series titled " NASCAR Wives."
Apparently, there wasn't enough controversy or soap opera-like content to produce a dramatic show on NASCAR women. Good - most racing marriages are pretty good despite the fact wives give up a lot to help further their husbands' careers. You can see that at home in local racing. That might make a better program. Just my opinion.
There will be a movie produced and aired on CMT this fall on the life of Richard Petty. The title is "Petty Blue" and it will be on sale on DVD in October.
Speaking of Petty, his race team is in shambles right now. Kasey Kahne is leaving and none of the three remaining drivers are signed for 2011. Plus, there's no primary sponsorship in place. The team has a lot to do during the rest of the season.
NASCAR said it was going to loosen up and I think it has. The Joey Logano/ Kevin Harvick altercation at Pocono resulted in no fines. Logano heated things up by saying Harvick's wife wears the firesuit in their family. The Harvicks responded by making ladies T-shirts stating " I wear the firesuit in this family" and giving the proceeds to charity. Michigan Speedway offered the shirts as part of a ticket promotion last week.
Let them fight it out, to a point. It sells tickets and creates interest in the sport.
The Cup cars are off to California to do some road racing this week end. The Infineon Raceway road course hosts action. Kasey Kahne is the defending race winner. TNT has coverage Sunday starting at 2 p.m. Kevin Harvick has a 22-point lead over Kyle Busch in Cup series action. Jeff Gordon is a five time winner at the track.
Until next week, please drive safely!
Craig Rutherford writes about motorsports for The Sentinel. He is associated with Port Royal Speedway.
