Hello again race fans. Port Royal Speedway is back in action this week after a quick break. Tonight the track hosts a free students night with all students admitted free. The age cut off is 18 years old.
The pro stocks take center stage this evening with the 12th annual running of the Deryl Stong Memorial Race. Stong was a first-class racer and overall good guy. After he quit driving he continued to build engines for many local racers and remained active in the sport. His daughter Lisa helped sponsor the race through the family parts store business.
After the company was sold another area parts store picked up sponsorship of the race. It's always a good event. The pro stock class consistently produces some of the best racing at the track. Extra prize money is involved so the drivers will try very hard to perform well?
Also in action are the sprint cars and late models. It will be interesting to see if Keith Kauffman can pick up his first feature win of the season at the Juniata County oval. Kauffman is close and I predict he is going to hit the winners circle soon. Tim Wilson did a great job the last time the late models were in action and won two feature events. If he continues at his current pace he is going to be a force to reckon with.
Wilson recently informed me he is making his most serious attempt ever to win a track championship. He has two cars ready to race and both are capable of winning. Another guy to watch right now is Waylon Wagner because he will have a new engine under the hood with lots of horsepower - more than ever - and he managed to win races last year. Once he gets his car dialed in, look out because he will also be working hard to get to the front.
At Selinsgrove Speedway the roadrunner class takes center stage with a 20-lap feature with extra dollars on the line. The 358 sprint cars and late models are also on the program.
Williams Grove Speedway hosts another Saturday Night Special consisting of super sportsman, 358 late models and street stocks.
At Lincoln Speedway it's a three division show of 410 and 358 sprint cars and thundercars.
Hagerstown Speedway has the World of Outlaws sprint cars in action in the Kasey Kahne Challenge Sunday. Kahne will be on hand and plans to race and that is huge for the hub city oval. Kahne and Tony Stewart have done so much for dirt track racing by not forgetting their roots and I really respect them for that. Kenny Schrader, Kenny Wallace and Jimmy Spencer have also remembered where they came from.
Todd Peck, nephew of Tom Peck, has just signed a major sponsor for his NASCAR Truck racing. I do not have all details yet but I will be talking with him this week. Peck will run four races for them this year and 15 next season.
If you were at Lincoln Speedway and bought 50/50 tickets during the World of Outlaws race please check your tickets - the prize was more than $5,000 and earlier this week it remained unclaimed.
Fred Rahmer hit the winners circle at Williams Grove Speedway against the World of Outlaws last week. The victory keeps his win streak alive for 23 years now and that's impressive. Rahmer is only 54 years old and if he continues to perform well, his numbers will grow. Rahmer has 86 career wins at the track.
Rolling Wheels (N.Y.) Speedway hosted the World of Outlaws for a weeknight race this week and the sprint cars flew around the 5/8th-mile oval. Radar guns were clocking cars at 138 mph during the event. Paul McMahon won the feature.
Chad Layton and Tim Wilson are on top of the sprint car and late model point standings at Port Royal Speedway. Jeff Bryner has returned from retirement and now is on top of the pro stock standings. Pat Cannon and Jeff Rine lead Selinsgrove Speedway's sprint car and late model class.
We are right around the corner from the start of the Keystone Cup sprint car series, which kicks off Wednesday at Grandview Speedway. Port Royal will host Thursday night followed by Williams Grove on Friday and Lincoln Speedway May 26. Selinsgrove closes things out May 27. There will not be a race on Memorial Day.
Bedford Speedway is under new management and has announced it will hold a 410 sprint car race on June 3. The race will be a memorial and tribute to the late Roy Morral of Breezewood who fielded race cars for many area drivers including J.R. Ritchey, Smokey Snellbaker and Keith Kauffman. Morral always provide top-notch equipment to his drivers and he was well liked in the sport.
Speaking of Smokey Snellbaker, the Port Royal Keystone Cup race will now be known as the Smokey Snellbaker Classic and will include super sportsman cars. Snellbaker competed in both classes. Two of Snellbaker's former rides will be on display including the Lloyd Racing No. 56 "Pocket Rocket," which is being taken out of the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing and transported to Port Royal for the night.
Jed Donahue will be hosting his first expanded auto racing segment today on the PA Sports Network radio show. Donahue intends to try and have driver interviews and I will join him on the show. Shawn Brouse will follow with all the Port Royal Speedway news. About a half hour of the weekly show will be devoted to our sport. Tune in after the 11 a.m. news today to your local station. The show will include current racers, NASCAR drivers and retired stars.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup All Star race is tonight at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Race time is scheduled for 9 p.m. Speed Channel has TV coverage starting at 5 and lasts until midnight. Carl Edwards was the overall winner of last year's event, claiming three of four segments.
Jimmie Johnson scored the 200th Hendricks Motorsports team victory of its existence last week at Darlington.
The weather is improving and it's a good time to get out and support your favorite race tracks. I hope to see you there. Until next time, please drive safely!
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Craig Rutherford writes about motorsports for The Sentinel.
