Lincoln Speedway takes center stage tonight when the sprint cars will compete in the Kenny Weld/Hilly Rife Memorial race.
Weld immigrated to Central Pennsylvania back in the 1970s and ended up driving for cattle baron Bob Weikert. The pair were one of the dominant teams in the region and scored numerous wins at all area speedways.
Weld moved on to compete in the modified stock car division at Reading Speedway and later built the "Bat-mobile" modified that won on the Syracuse mile. Weld's driving talents were well known. He was smooth behind the wheel and didn't tear up equipment. His fabricating skills also were impressive. Lincoln Speedway was Weld's Saturday night playground while residing in the Keystone State.
Hilly Rife promoted at Lincoln and other speedways and was one of the more colorful promoters of that era. Most of his career was spent at Lincoln Speedway. Tonight the track honors both men.
Fred Rahmer has won this race a record eight times. Lance Dewease is the defending race champion.
Selinsgrove Speedway's 358 sprint car title is coming down to the wire. Blane Heimbach has a 170-point advantage over T.J. Stutts entering the final points show. Action gets under way tonight at the Snyder County oval starting at 7. The late models, pro stocks and daredevils also are part of the show.
Williams Grove Speedway's scheduled Outlaw tune up night was called off Friday due to rain. The race was intended to be the final preparation for next weekend's World of Outlaws Morgan Hughes National Open. Our local drivers have fared well against the touring drivers the last several years and hopefully that trend will continue.
A charity event is planned next week to benefit Williams Grove's injured drivers fund. The fund raisers will take place at the track next Saturday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. A driver autograph session and auction will be held along with a barbecue.
Congratulations go out to driver Pat Cannon for winning one segment of last week's National Open at Selinsgrove Speedway. Cannon claimed the second event of the night. He finished second in the first segment. Daryn Pittman won the first leg. Cannon's win came with Hoosier rear tires. Most competitors ran Goodyear rubber.
Joey Saldana came, saw and conquered Hartford (Mich.) Speedway's World of Outlaws race Wednesday night. Saldana won in his first race back after an injury time out.
That's going to do it for another week. I'll be back next time with more news and information.
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Craig Rutherford writes about motorsports for The Sentinel.
