By TOM AVENENGO
This week’s photo:
The late, great Johnny Thomson, in the Vargo Midget.
Back in the day – taken from the EMPA website:
Johnny Thomson
Known as “The Flying Scot,” Johnny Thomson (April 9, 1922 – September 24, 1960) of Lowell, Massachusetts, was an outstanding open-wheel racer and one of the most likeable drivers that ever slipped into a racing car. And this reputation was echoed by his great friend and fellow EMPA Hall of Fame member Tommy Hinnershitz who said that Thomson was “the finest gentleman that I knew in racing and there was no one else like him.”
Humble about his considerable abilities, Thomson was just 16 when he began racing Midgets – against his parents’ wishes, no less – in a V-8-powered car that he built to use at the race track which was just across the street from his home. Then, when America entered World War II, the graduate of the New England Aircraft School in Boston became a crew chief on a North American B-25 Mitchell Bomber that saw considerable service in Italy and he came home with five battle stars and the Distinguished Air Force Medal for bravery beyond the call of duty.
With the war over, Thomson picked up where he left off by winning 32 races in 1948 in the McLeod Offy and he was the United Car Owners Association’s New England Midget Champion in 1948 & 1949. After that, he raced successfully with the American Racing Drivers Club and became the American Automobile Association’s Eastern Midget Champion in 1952.
In 1953, Thomson began driving Sam Traylor’s highly regarded jet-black Offy-powered Sprint Car and he and his pal Hinnershitz became the stars of the AAA Eastern Division. He also raced in some AAA Championship events and made his first start that year in the Indianapolis 500. But it was on the dirt tracks where the “diminutive rim-rider” was peerless.
The 1954 AAA and 1958 United States Auto Club Eastern Sprint Car Champion had five 100-mile USAC National Championship victories on the venerable dirt-miles – in 1957 at Langhorne, Pennsylvania; then in 1958 at Springfield and DuQuion, Illinois; Syracuse, New York; and Sacramento, California. His June 2, 1957, victory at Langhorne from the pole (107.496 mph) was the first time that a 100-mile race had been run on a dirt track in less than one hour as he averaged 100.174 mph in his winning yellow No. 44 D-A Lubricants Dirt Offy.
In eight (1953-1960) Indianapolis 500s, Thomson was third (1959), fourth (1955) and fifth (1960). Plus, he won the pole in 1959 with a 145.908 mph run in his unique left-hand-drive, pink-black-and-white No. 3 Racing Associates Luigi Lesvosky-built Offy Roadster.
All told then – with asphalt wins at Milwaukee in 1955 (AAA) & 1959 (USAC) included – Thomson had seven National Championship victories, 43 Top-10s and nine poles in 69 starts.
Thomson also raced his yellow No. 7 D-A/Racing Associates Offy Roadster at Monza, Italy, in 1958 where USAC’s best challenged Europe’s top drivers on the high-banked layout. But he cut his Sprint Car racing in 1959 to concentrate on the National Driving Championship.
However, on September 13, 1959, while driving Ken Hickey’s yellow No. 1 Offy Sprint Car at Williams Grove (Pa.) Speedway, the Boyertown, Pennsylvania, resident’s car hit the guard rail during the second heat and his seat belt broke, throwing him out onto the track.
A broken knee, ankle and finger sidelined Thomson for the rest of 1959. But although he only ran in eight National Championship races in his No. 3, he was third to Champion Rodger Ward and runner-up Tony Bettenhausen who ran in 12 and 13 races, respectively.
In 1960, Johnny Thomson again focused on the National title. But on a late September Saturday on the rutty, dry and dusty Allentown (Pa.) Fairgrounds track his No. 6 Stearly Motor Freight Special Offy Sprint Car was in a violent first-lap backstretch accident that saw it rip through 30 feet of inside fencing and then flip into the infield. Thus the life of a great driver and great ambassador for auto racing was tragically ended at the age of 38.
Note: Massive “Brain Fade” on my part – completely forgot I had a photo Of Johnny in last weeks column.
Some personal/family stuff:
For Easter, some of the family that’s down here in Florida went to my granddaughters house for dinner. We had ham and Leg of Lamb, along with potatoes, mixed veggies – you know, the usual stuff. Yes, I behaved myself and only had a fairly good sized plate full. Uh huh – I’ve really cut back on eating and keeping my weight in check.
Son Tom, his wife Penny and their daughter, Marisa left for their cruise a week previously. An old friend of my daughter Sandy’s, Mary, came down for a visit for the week. She left the day before Easter, heading back north.
On Tuesday, I got the news that Tom fell while attempting to climb up something that is there for people to climb, if they think they can. Well, he didn’t make it, and took quite a fall. To the best of my knowledge, he didn’t break anything, but he sure is a hurting puppy!
Racin’ stuff:
Basically a rather quiet week as far as any racing goes. “Mother Nature” was kinda misbehaving again – well up north, anyway. Been beautiful down here in Florida – mid to high 80’s.
Town of Wallkill to make pitch for $100M water park
http://www.recordonline.com/article/20150401/NEWS/150409892#ReaderReaction
Note: Not sure if this will affect the track in Middletown, or not.
From an interview between Dr. Dirt and Mike Gurda, a few years ago:
Q – I heard a rumor that a quarter mile oval will be erected in the infield.
A – You heard correctly. We recently obtained Jersey barriers, and as we speak, the old guard rail on the front straightaway is being removed. That will be replaced by the barriers before ESW. The barriers will be safer for the drivers and race teams during their pit stops.
Once ESW in completed, we will begin construction of a quarter mile race track with the remaining Jersey barriers, and hopefully have it completed by early spring. It would utilize the existing front straight, then loop through the infield, exiting by the half covered grandstands. It will not replace any of the racing on the regular track for next year.
Our plans are to operate the track on Sunday afternoon. What type of racing will be held, you ask. That hasn’t been fully qualified yet. My answer is…anything with wheels, as long as there a 5 or more people that want to participate.
Mini-Sprints, Legends, Go Karts, Motorcycles, Quads, Slingshots and yes, even school buses and trailers if they want to bring them in.
The track will have no effect on infield parking for a regular Saturday night show.
We’ll have to add some lighting, that’s for sure. It’s really a time and labor effort more so than anything else, so there won’t be much in the way of out of pocket expenses. Clay for the surface is not an issue. Anyplace you dig in the infield, you’ll find at least six feet of good quality clay that has built up over the past 60 years. It’s not the river bottom sandy clay.
We’ll be in a better position to announce our plans next spring depending on how mild the winter is to us. There is no time frame for the project, so there are no deadlines.
Once again, I would like to thank Mike Gurda for spending the time with me, and answering my questions. Now, where can I find a half dozen automated bar stools for the Quarter mile track. He did say ANYTHING with wheels. I hope he doesn’t invite the local Roller Derby teams to participate.
Note: So, I wonder whatever happened to this 1/4 mile track?
Chevrolet penalized for IndyCar engine regulation infraction
In part: “Chevrolet has been penalized after the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Several elements of the penalty are indicated below.
Here is the release from INDYCAR:
Chevrolet, which earned 128 points in the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 29, has been penalized 220 points per Verizon IndyCar Series regulations.
According to Rule 10.6.4.4 of the Verizon IndyCar Series rulebook, 20 points will be deducted for a non-minor engine repair. Eleven of the 12 Chevrolet engines in the field underwent repairs following the St. Petersburg race.”
http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com/2015/04/06/chevrolet-penalized-for-indycar-engine-regulation-infraction/
NASCAR community tweets words of encouragement to Steve Byrnes
http://www.foxsports.com/nascar/shake-and-bake/steve-byrnes-race-hub-fox-sports-1-drivers-tweet-words-of-encouragement-040815
From Jayski:
http://www.jayski.com/
NASCAR announces All-Star Race format:
Showcasing the sport’s top talent, NASCAR announced changes for the 2015 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race that will elevate the excitement of this annual classic. Race coverage is set for 7:00pm/et, Saturday, May 16 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The field will include race winners from the 2014 and 2015 seasons, as well as all former NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race winners and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions who are full-time competitors – all of whom will compete for the $1 million prize awarded to the winner. Prior to this change, former NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race winners and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions were eligible only if they accomplished the feat within the previous 10 seasons.
In addition, the five-segment race will increase by a total of 20 laps, with the first four segments each scheduled for 25 laps as compared to 20 in recent years. With the final 10-lap shootout, the race now totals 110 laps.
The 2015 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race will have a minimum field of 20 drivers. There are currently 17 drivers eligible, with three additional spots available. Two of those are reserved for the segment winners from the two 20-lap Sprint Showdown segments beginning at 7:00pm/et, Friday, May 15 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The final spot belongs to the Sprint Fan Vote winner; voting at www.NASCAR.com/sprintfanvote and the NASCAR MOBILE application closes at 7:00pm/et on May 15. The winner of the Sprint Fan Vote will be announced in Victory Lane following the conclusion of the Sprint Showdown.
Drivers in the 2015 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race will compete in cars that conform to all 2015 rules. The race format will consist of a total of five segments: four 25-lap segments, with the average finish of the first four segments determining the order cars will enter pit road for a mandatory four-tire pit stop following the fourth segment. Running order ties will be broken by the finish of the fourth segment. The order of the cars returning to the track following the mandatory pit stop determines the starting order for a final winner-take-all 10-lap segment.
All laps will count in segments one through four. In the fifth and final segment, only green flag laps will be counted. There will be optional pit stops during the breaks following each of the first three segments, with the field set by the pit stop/stay out positioning during the five caution laps.
The following drivers are eligible to compete in the 2015 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race: #47-AJ Allmendinger, #43-Aric Almirola, #41-Kurt Busch, #18-Kyle Busch, #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., #19-Carl Edwards, #24-Jeff Gordon, #11-Denny Hamlin, #4-Kevin Harvick, #48-Jimmie Johnson, #5-Kasey Kahne, #20-Matt Kenseth (2004 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race winner), #2-Brad Keselowski, #22-Joey Logano, #1-Jamie McMurray (2014 winner), #31-Ryan Newman (2002 winner), #14-Tony Stewart (2009 winner).(NASCAR)(4-8-2015)
From Track Forum:
http://www.trackforum.com/forums/forum.php
Miller talks to Foyt:
http://www.racer.com/videos/item/115188-racer-robin-miller-with-a-j-foyt
From the Dirt Track Digest Forum:
http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/DTD/
Brett Hearn’s wings at Orange County practice
http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/DTD/index.php?/topic/53207-brett-hearns-wings-at-orange-county-practice/
From the AARN:
This week in the AARN
Godown Sweeps New Egypt Small Block, Bridgeport RoC Big Block Weekend Openers
Asphalt 2015 Season Preview: Analyzing The NWMT, VMRS, ROC Series
S’Grove’s Paige Announces 2015 Will Be His Last As Promoter
Huge Win For PA’s Ryan Smith In Attica All Star Sprint Race
Preece Invades Mod South Tour; Picks Up South Boston Checkered
Howard Drives To Seventh Career Grandview 358 Mod Opener Victory
Montieth On A Roll At Lincoln; Takes Second Straight In Romp
Aaron Ott Checks Port Royal Off 410 Sprint Car Win Bucket List
Deyo Moves ‘Hard Clay Open’ From Tuesday To Saturday; Weather Cited
And, I also found this:
Selinsgrove promoter Charlie Page says 2015 is his last year.
Earl Krause had a real nice article about the late Tony Bonadies.
Lenny Sammons had a special article on how New York State is taking its first steps in the demise of the mile dirt track in Syracuse.
Per another article by Lenny Sammons, it kinda looks like Glenn Donnelly isn’t all that interested in taking over the racing that might be lost if and when the mile track in Syracuse goes away.
I have no idea as to how many that read my columns are into NASCAR Modified racing, but here’s a list of some of their top drivers – by Kevin Rice:
Justin Bonsignore, Bobby Santos, Doug Coby, Woody Pitkat, Ryan Preece, Donny Lia, Eric Goodale, Tommy Barrett, Rowan Pennick, Timmy Solomito, Todd Szegedy, Ted Christopher, Patrick Emerling, Chase Dowling and Jamie Tomaino.
Stephen Bubb covers some of the “Back in the Day” racing at Williams Grove, when USAC ruled the roost, so to say. Now, I believe USAC doesn’t even run at the Grove anymore. Sad, huh?
Geoff Yoder had an interesting article on how finances and insurance are effecting the Vintage race cars – especially on oval tracks.
With the racing season getting started up north – to an extent, Here is what some former OVRP Dirt Oval drivers did, last week:
Anthony Perrego was 19th in the modified feature at Bridgeport.
Davie Franek was 2th in the 360 Sprint Car feature at Selinsgrove.
Johnny Guarino was 16th in the modified (358’s) feature at New Egypt.
Note: I’m not sure if I’ll be posting racing results for this season from OCFS. Seems I’m unable to post on their website, so……………………………..
Midget Racing from “Back in the Day”:
Over the years I’ve been quite fortunate in having some others send me race results on various drivers and tracks. What follows is a listing of what I have. If you’re interested in any of them, I’ll have no problem sending whatever you want, via email. My email address is always at the end of my columns.
For the drivers, I now have lists of wins for:
Charlie Miller – 11 pages
Ed “Dutch” Schaefer – 8 pages
George Rice – 5 pages
Johnny Ritter – 6 pages
George Fonder -10 pages
Bill Holmes – 10 pages
Wes Saegesser – 11 pages
Ronney Householder – 17 pages
Len Duncan – 13 pages
Ted Tappett – 2 pages
Johnny Coy – 12 pages
Bill Schindler – 21 pages
Duane Carter – 11 pages
Henry Banks – 6 pages
Mel Kenyon – 23 pages
Sleepy Tripp – 34 pages
Nick Fornoro – 2 pages
Also, George Rice “Big car” results for 1934 & 35 – 1 page
I have race results (mostly top three in some cases) from the following tracks:
Yellow Jacket (1935-1942) – 9 pages
Yellow Jacket (Post War – 1945 – 1950) – 4
West Haven (1935-1941 & 1945-1949) – 8
Stafford (1948-1952) – 6
Some PA and NJ tracks (1946-1949) – 3
Middletown (1945 – 1949) – 3
Hinchliffe Stadium (1939) – 1
Hinchliffe Stadium (Post War 1945 – 1950) – 5
Menands (1947 – 1949) – 2
Kingsbridge Armory (1946 – 1949) – 18
Dorney Park (1947 – 1951) – 2
ARDC (Southern – VA & Md 1946 – 1950) – 5
Bay State 1st part (1938, 39, 40 & 41 and 1946-1949) – 7
Bay State 2nd part (1945 to 1951) – 7
Bridgeport (1935 – 1940 and 1947 – 1950) – 8
Castle Hill (1938 – 1941) – 7
Cedarhurst (1938 – 1941) – 8
Cherry Park (1946 – 1950) – 14
Danbury (1940 – 1942, 1945 – 1949 & 1951) – 5
West Springfield (Pre war – 1939, 40 & 42)) – 2
West Springfield (Post war – 1945 through 1950) – 17
Rhinebeck (1947 – 1951) – 1
Mineola (1946 – 1 race) – 1
NASCAR Midget winners (1953 – 1968) – 13
Deer Park (1947) – 1
Polo Grounds (1948 – wood track) – 1
Mineola (1946 1 race only) – 1
Freeport – (ARDC – 1948, 49 & 50) – 3
Islip (ARDC – 1947 & 48) – 1
Press Releases:
News from the Accord Speedway ‘Gobbler’
Media Contact: Brett Deyo – bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com or 845.728.2781
For Immediate Release/April 8, 2015
205 Career Wins, But None At Accord Speedway; Stewart Friesen Looks To Break Into Ulster County Bullring Win Column At ‘Gobbler’ Special Next Tuesday, April 14; Star-Studded Field At The Ready For Postponed Event With Huge Payout On The Line
ACCORD, NY – Northeast dirt Modified superstar Stewart Friesen has posted 205 victories during his astronomical career.
But there is one track noticeably absent from the Spraker, N.Y., driver’s win list: Accord Speedway. Friesen hopes to change that next Tuesday (April 14) when the Ulster County quarter-mile hosts the ‘Gobbler’ special postponed by weather and wet conditions last November.
Friesen plans to drive the Jeff Daley No. 44 small-block at the event in search of the massive $7,117.11-plus payday in the 50-lap big-block/small-block Modified event. A number of other bonuses, plus lap money, make the second edition of the ‘Gobbler’ special even more lucrative. Modifieds will also be featured in a 5-lap, $300-to-win Cash Dash for heat winners sponsored by Zubi’s Racing & Simplicity Designs.
“The closest I came to a win at Accord was the first ‘Gobbler’ race,” noted Friesen, reflecting on the inaugural ’13 edition when he chased young Anthony Perrego to the finish in what was Perrego’s first-career Modified victory. “That’s actually the last race I made there because of our schedule and it’s the best I’ve felt.
“I’m looking forward to getting back there next week with the notes we have now. $7,000 to win for a midweek show in April is pretty rare. I wouldn’t miss it.”
Friesen will have his work cut out for him. He wasn’t in attendance for the race’s original date last November due to the Utica-Rome (N.Y.) Speedway Awards Banquet. As a result, he will tag onto one of the established 10-lap heat races for Tuesday’s special.
“It’s a small track, so anything can happen,” noted Friesen.
The ‘Gobbler’ is shaping up to be an early season “must-see” for race fans.
Huge money is on the line for each of the four divisions on the schedule. As previously mentioned the Modifieds, big-blocks and small-blocks, will run 50 laps for a massive $7,117.11 to win plus lap money and other bonuses! Sportsman, Open vs. Crate 602, compete in a 25-lap feature with $1,500 going to the victor plus Crate 602 bonuses and other incentives. The second annual Ron Wright Memorial for the Pure Stock/Street Stock division will feature a $600-to-win 20-lap main, while the Slingshots will do battle for a $350 winner’s share in a 20-lap feature.
When Mother Nature ultimately prevailed last November, 134 race cars jammed the speedway pit area, providing the foundation for an event to remember.
Some of the top names in Northeast racing had assembled for the initial ‘Gobbler’ attempt, including PA stars Duane Howard and Jeff Strunk, Delaware champion Matt Jester, the Central New York superstar brother combination of Danny and Alan Johnson, rising star Mike Mahaney, talented teenager Tyler Dippel, Short Track Super Series champion Andy Bachetti, Capital District runner Bobby Varin, past Accord BD Motorsports Media winners Danny Creeden and Anthony Perrego and the tough Accord weekly cast led by siblings Mike and Rich Ricci, Jerry Higbie Jr., Danny Tyler, Tommy Meier and many more!
Modified competitors can utilize the ‘Gobbler’ as a shakedown for the Tuesday, May 19 (rain date: May 20) New York Truck Parts Inc. ‘Battle of the Bullring 3’ Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek points-paying event. The ‘Battle of the Bullring 3’ is the third of eight races on the Bob Hilbert Sportswear $15,000 North Region championship battle.
Like the Modifieds, diverse and solid fields were present for the Sportsman, Pure Stock/Street Stock and Slingshot divisions.
New entries will be welcomed at the ‘Gobbler’ event, but they must start behind those in attendance last November. As was planned last November, timed hot laps will set the field for the Slingshot portion of the program.
Complete ‘Gobbler’ general information can be found at the following link:http://bdmotorsportsmedia.com/gobbler-general-information/
A list of ‘Gobbler’ special awards and bonuses is posted on the web athttp://bdmotorsportsmedia.com/gobbler-special-awards-bonuses/
Adult grandstand admission is $22. Seniors, ages 65 and over, pay $20. Kids, 11 and under, are admitted for $5. Limited indoor seating is available at $35 by contacting the speedway office at 845.626.1142. Pit admission is $35, with no license required.
A reminder for all those returning from last November: wristbands and ticket stubs will need to be presented for entry.
The pit gate will open for wristband exchange at 3 p.m. At 4 p.m., general admission gates will officially open. A drivers’ meeting is planned for 5:45 p.m. with hot laps at 6 p.m. and racing promptly at 7 p.m.
The 2015 edition of the ‘Gobbler’ is set for Saturday, November 28, weather and conditions permitting.
Winners of the first ‘Gobbler’ special, run in November 2013, were Anthony Perrego (Modified), Rocky Warner (Sportsman) and Charlie Houghtaling (Pure Stock/Street Stock). The Slingshots were slated for their first ‘Gobbler’ appearance last November.
To learn more about the ‘Gobbler’ or other BD Motorsports Media LLC events, contact Brett Deyo by phone at 845.728.2781 or via e-mail at bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com. BD Motorsports Media is on the web atwww.bdmotorsportsmedia.com. “Like” Short Track Super Series on Facebook or follow @ShortTrackSS on Twitter.
Accord Speedway, a neat-and-tidy quarter-mile clay oval nestled in the hills of Ulster County, is located at 299 Whitfield Road Accord, NY 12404. The speedway is on the web at www.accordspeedway.com.
The Gobbler is presented by Sowle Trailer Repair, Above All Auto Repair, ASI Trophy & Awards, American Racer/Lias Tire, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Crane Golf, DMJ Racing Photo’s, Dwy’s Automotive, Hunt’s Machine, Jay’s Pool Service, Par 5 Landscaping, Rock Fantasy Hard Rock, Metal & Classic Rock and Smoke Shop, Shiley Fabrication, Simplicity Design, United Pump & Tank and Zubi’s Racing.
Brett Deyo
BD Motorsports Media LLC
Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek
Phone: 845.728.2781
www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com
Facebook: “Short Track Super Series”
Twitter: @ShortTrackSS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RE: HUGE 65TH OPENING WEEKEND
CONTACT: 607-775-5555
FIVE MILE POINT SPEEDWAY SET FOR 65TH SEASON OPENING WEEKEND THIS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. OVER $100,000 IN PRIZE MONEY UP FOR GRABS OVER TWO DAYS OF RACING.
KIRKWOOD, NY…The 65th consecutive Season Opening Weekend at Five Mile Point Speedway takes place this Saturday and Sunday. Racing on Saturday begins at 4:30 p.m. with racing on Sunday set to begin at 4 p.m. Over $100,000 in prize money will be up for grabs over the two days with the Race of Champions Dirt Modified Tour Spring 100 taking center stage on Sunday.
The Race of Champions Dirt Modified Tour Spring 100 will highlight the busy weekend of racing at the popular quarter mile oval. Over the two-day weekend race teams and fans will travel to the southern tier from all over the northeastern region. The Sunday RoC Modified 100 lap feature will settle the held over 2014 Championship race that was postponed due to poor weather. Stewart Friesen from Saratoga, NY and Matt Sheppard from Waterloo, NY will battle for the overall RoC Tour Championship. The two won the most Modified races in the northeastern United States last season and will settle the score this Sunday at Five Mile Point Speedway.
Ironically, the two drivers have won this event over the past two seasons. In 2013 Stewart Friesen won the race and last season it was Matt Sheppard winning the Spring 100. This year Friesen holds a slim 37 point lead entering the final race. The winner will earn 100 points and a minimum of $5,555. Both Friesen and Sheppard could earn nearly $16,000 for their victory in the race if they also secure the overall Race of Champions Tour Title.
Below is a breakdown of the two days of racing along with pricing. Our official website is www.fivemilepointspeedway.net. You can also contact the speedway offices directly at 607-775-5555.
Saturday Racing Program: GRIT Crate Sportsman Tour Opening Race, Race of Champions Street Stocks, Four Cylinder Open, Factory Stocks and Slingshots. Racing begins at 4:30 p.m.
Pit gates open: 2:45 p.m. Grandstand gates open: 3:30 p.m. Practice begins: 3:45 p.m.
Adult Grandstand Admission: $12 – Seniors: $10 – Youth (ages 13-17): $10 – Children 12 and younger FREE!
Family Five Pack: $30 – includes 2 adult, 3 youth/sr. or child tickets plus 5 hot dogs and 5 soda’s.
Sunday Racing Program: Race of Champions Dirt Modified Tour Spring 100 Title Race, IMCA Modified Empire State Tour Series Opener, Race of Champions Sportsman Tour, Slingshot Dual Regional Touring Event. Racing: 4: 00 p.m.
Adult Grandstand Admission: $21 – Seniors: $15 – Youth (ages 13-17): $10 – Children 12 and younger FREE!
Family Five Pack: $60
Contact: Lillian Bell
(717) 292-1696
-FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Big Racing Weekend at SSP on Saturday and Sunday Nights
410 & 358 Sprint Cars Return on Sunday Night for Spring Classic
Newberrytown, PA (April 8, 2015) – A big two-day race weekend will occur this Saturday and Sunday at the Susquehanna Speedway Park. On Saturday night, April 11 racing returns to the Big Track with the York County Racing Club Night featuring the BRC Late Models, Street Stocks, Xtreme Stock Cars, Road Warriors/Mini Vans and PA Sprint Series.
Then the 410 Super Sprint Cars return to SSP on Sunday April 12 along with the 358 Sprint Cars in the 6th Annual Sprint Car Spring Classic. The Super Sprint Car feature will pay $3,500-to-win for the 25-lap feature event. Non-qualifiers for the A-Main feature will receive a complimentary non-transferrable entry fee ($50.00 value) for the Final Showdown to be held at SSP in November. For the Super Sprint Cars, mufflers WILL NOT be required and Hoosier Brand Spec Tires will be required on all four corners (same as the 2015 rules at Williams Grove, Lincoln and Port Royal Speedways). All other rules will follow the generally accepted rules for Sprint Cars at local weekly Central PA Sprint Car tracks (1400 pounds weight rule). Raceivers will be mandatory for all Sprint Cars.
The 358 Sprint Car feature will pay $1,500-to-win for the 20-lap feature event. Non-qualifiers for the A-Main feature will receive a complimentary non-transferrable entry fee ($50.00 value) for the Final Showdown to be held at SSP in November. For the 358 Sprint Cars, mufflers WILL NOT be required and Hoosier Brand Spec Tires will be required on all four corners (same as the 2015 rules at Williams Grove, Lincoln and Trailways Speedway). All other rules of the Central PA 358 Sprint Cars will prevail for this event (1500 pounds weight rule). Raceivers will be mandatory for all Sprint Cars.
On both Saturday and Sunday, the pit gates will open at 3:30 p.m. Grandstand gates will open at 4:00 p.m. Warm-ups begin at 5:30 p.m. with qualifying races at 6:00 p.m. followed by consolation races and feature events.
General Admission Grandstand ticket prices for Saturday night are Adults (ages 18-59) $14.00; Young Adults (ages 11-17) & Senior Adults (60 & Older) $12.00; Children (10 & under) are free. Pit pass prices are $25.00 with a reduced price of $22.00 for all pit competitor license holders. The minimum age requirement to purchase a pit pass is 12 years of age with a copy of a birth certificate is required for all ages 12 to 14.
General Admission Grandstand ticket prices for Sunday night are Adults (ages 18-59) $18.00; Young Adults (ages 11-17) & Senior Adults (60 & Older) $15.00; Children (10 & under) are free. Pit pass prices are $25.00 with a reduced price of $22.00 for all pit competitor license holders. The minimum age requirement to purchase a pit pass is 12 years of age with a copy of a birth certificate is required for all ages 12 to 14.
Last weekend, the Susquehanna Speedway Park opened up on Saturday night for the 61st season with four exciting divisions on a cold and windy night. Dover’s Gene Knaub took the victory in the Bernheisel Race Components Late Model 25 lapper on opening night. Loysville’s Jim Plam Jr. took the win by leading the final ten laps of the Street Stock 20 lapper. Frankie Herr of Carlisle took the win in the 25-lap Super Sportsman tour race. Chad Earnst from East Berlin won the Legends Cars 20-lap feature event.
The Susquehanna Speedway Park is located midway between Harrisburg and York off I-83 to exit 32, then 1.4 miles NW on SR382 to York Road, then 1.3 miles south. For more information, contact the speedway offices at (717) 292-1696 or visit online at sspracing.net. On race day, use the track phone at (717) 938-9170 for up-to-date information at the “Big Track” and the “Outback Track.”
This week’s video:
Now that we’re getting into the racing season, I’ll be dropping this section. Might pick it up at the end of the season, IF I’m still doing these columns.
Non racin’ stuff:
A driving safety tip:
(Found on Facebook)
A 36 year old female had an accident several weeks ago. It was raining, though not excessively when her car suddenly began to hydro-plane and literally flew through the air. She was not seriously injured but very stunned at the sudden occurrence! When she explained to the Police Officer what had happened, he told her something that every driver should know –
NEVER DRIVE IN THE RAIN WITH YOUR CRUISE CONTROL ON..
She thought she was being cautious by setting the cruise control and maintaining a safe consistent speed in the rain….
But the Police Officer told her that if the cruise control is on, your car will begin to hydro-plane when the tires lose contact with the road, and your car will accelerate to a higher rate of speed making you take off like an airplane. She told the Officer that was exactly what had occurred. The Officer said this warning should be listed, on the driver’s seat sun-visor –
NEVER USE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE ROAD IS WET OR ICY,
Along with the airbag warning. We tell our teenagers to set the cruise control and drive a safe speed – but we don’t tell them to use the cruise control only when the road is dry.
The only person the accident victim found who knew this, (besides the Officer), was a man who’d had a similar accident, totaled his car and sustained severe injuries..
NOTE: Some vehicles (like the Toyota Sienna Limited XLE) will not allow you to set the cruise control when the windshield wipers are on.
Even if you send this to 15 people and only one of them doesn’t know about it, it’s still worth it. You may have saved a life.
Wow. Guess What Percent of Muslim “Refugees” in America Are Living on Food Stamps?
Men and women are sometimes forced to leave their native country in order to escape civil war and religious persecution. We call such individuals refugees, and we sometimes allow them into our country to help them start their lives over.
Here’s the problem: According to a new report issued by the Office of Refugee Resettlement, a whopping 75 percent of refugees who live in our country collect food stamps.
Furthermore, 20 percent collect Supplemental Security Income, 20 percent collect Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and 22 percent live in public housing.
But it gets worse. It turns out the biggest recipients of welfare among refugees happen to be Muslims! This means that compared to their African, Latin and Asian counterparts, Muslim refugees collect more food stamps, SSI, TANF and whatever else the government will hand out to them.
This bodes exceptionally unwell for our federal budget, especially given that the Obama administration plans to flood our country with tens of thousands more Muslim immigrants.
It also bodes badly for our national security. Keep in mind that the Boston Marathon bombers Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev were Muslim refugees. Furthermore, according to WND, finding terrorists among the countless Muslim refugees who live here is “virtually impossible.”
Yet our federal government, led by Barack Hussein Obama, keeps inviting more Muslim refugees and potential terrorists into our country and handing them freebies galore (H/T Breitbart).
It’s more than just fiscally unfeasible. It’s traitorous as well.
http://conservativetribune.com/muslim-refugees-food-stam
This weeks joke:
The 1st Affair
A married man was having an affair
with his secretary.
One day they went to her place
and made love all afternoon.
Exhausted, they fell asleep
and woke up at 8 PM.
The man hurriedly dressed
and told his lover to take his shoes
outside and rub them in the grass and dirt.
He put on his shoes and drove home.
‘Where have you been?’ his wife demanded.
‘I can’t lie to you,’ he replied,
‘I’m having an affair with my secretary.
We had sex all afternoon.’
She looked down at his shoes and said:
‘You lying bastard!
You’ve been playing golf!’
Until my next column – next week
Columns are available on the Dirt Track Digest at: http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/ at Contributing Columnists
And:
http://newenglandtractor.com/racereport/
Note: There has been a problem with the New England Tractor getting my last few column up and running. Hopefully, it will be ASAP.