Hello again race fans. Another week of racing is upon us and the weather may again pose a problem.
Last Saturday night's racing was washed out at Port Royal Speedway. Check web sites or call area tracks before you head out.
This evening Port Royal has a three-division program planned consisting of sprint cars, late models and pro stocks. Race time is 6 p.m.
Selinsgrove Speedway is hosting 358 sprint cars, pro stocks and road runners. Race time is also at 6.
At Lincoln Speedway the 410 and 358 sprint cars are joined by the Legend cars. Hagerstown Speedway opens with a two-division show of limited late models and pure stocks.
So with no racing at Port Royal last week, I'll turn back the clock to two weeks ago and mention Daryl Stimeling's hand injury, which stemmed from a crash in the sprint car feature. The Lewistown driver is out of action for some time with a hand and thumb injury. He may have a slight fracture and also tendon issues. Doctors are allowing time for natural healing before deciding if surgery is necessary. Stimeling is working and wearing removable casts. He also suffered some back and neck trauma but no fractures and that is healing itself. Let's hope Stimeling can get back to the track soon.
And I've been asked by a number of folks about the Greg Hodnett/Fred Rahmer crash that ended up with Hodnett wining the feature and Rahmer wrecked. I know both men and they are great talents, and good hard racers. Lapped traffic played a part in that crash and I predict it's only going to get worse because these cars are traveling faster than ever. There's not much time to react. Neither driver was going to intentionally wipe the other out to win a race. They don't want or need to start that because they are going to face each other all season. Flat out it was hard racing between two good racers and they ran out of room. One final note, Keith Kauffman also had some assistance going around the ring on lap 10 of the same event.
On another topic: Port Royal's concession problems are being worked on and should be better. Fencing has been added at the stands and changes have been made in the payment part of the process. It was bad opening night but it's going to be resolved.
I learned that delays in starting the first sprint car heat were due to the fact the cars could not get to the racetrack because they couldn't get through the people at the pit concession stand. That won't happen again.
Lance Dewease is back racing. His first start was last week at Williams Grove Speedway. Dewease finished fifth. Dewease was injured last fall at Lincoln Speedway, where he fractured his neck.
The Eastern Museum of Racing dedicates its fourth addition today. Special activities start at 10 this morning with ribbon cutting ceremonies for the 20,000 square feet of exhibition area that has been added.
Lynn Paxton and Alan Kreitzer recently looked through photos donated and found pictures of the late Butch Renninger driving in the Jack Kochman Hell Drivers Thrill Show. Another thrill show driver from Mifflintown was Tom "T." Howard who passed away earlier this week. It is amazing how many area men were connected to the auto thrill shows of yesteryear. Our area is truly a hot bed for all kinds of motorized activities.
The museum note also now includes an area dedicated to drag racing.
Next week most area tracks have Easter activities planned for children. It would be a good night for family fun. Hope for good weather. Until then, please drive safely!
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Craig Rutherford writes about motorsports for The Sentinel.
