By TODD HEINTZELMAN

Racing correspondent

PORT ROYAL — The 2026 racing season kicks off Saturday afternoon at

Port Royal Speedway featuring the sprint cars and late models.

Racing begins at 4 with general admission gates opening at 2, and the

first 200 fans receiving a free hot dog and a commemorative sticker,

thanks to Port Royal Speedway Ministries and Packer’s Concessions. Pit

gates open at 1 and warm-ups are slated for 3. An autograph session

with sprint car champion Justin Whittall and late model champion Rick

Eckert will be held near the main gate from 2 until 2:30.

The sprint cars will be racing for $6,000 to win and the late models

$4,000 to win. Last season, Dillsburg’s Anthony Macri won the sprint

car opener. Danny Dietrich, Port Royal’s own Dylan Cisney and Lance

Dewase are other recent winners. All four drivers are expected to be

in the field Saturday.

After being without a ride for most of last season, Cisney picked up a

ride in Stewart Smith’s No. 27 and promptly won the sprint car feature

during the Juniata County Fair opener. He’ll continue racing the No.

27 this season.

Dewease, a five-time Opening Day winner, has changed rides this year

and will drive the Rich Eichelberger No. 8. He is only five wins

behind Keith Kauffman for the all-time sprint car win record at the

speedway (129-124).

York’s Rick Eckert won the late model opener last season en route to

his second track championship in the past three seasons.

Whittall, of Vincentown, N.J., won his first sprint car track

championship last season.

Port Royal’s Lane Snook dominated the limited late model division last

season, and will make the jump to super late models this season. The

17-year-old will still race in the limited late models part-time.

Port Royal hosts the identical program next Saturday, March 28.

The 305 sprint cars and limited late models make their season debuts

on Saturday, April 4, along with the 410 sprints. On April 11, it’s

once again sprint cars and late models. The 305 sprints, late models

and limited late models are on the April 18 schedule. The Keith

Kauffman Classic for the sprint cars is April 25.

Bob Weikert Memorial weekend is once again three days – May 22-24 –

and sanctioned by the High Limit Sprint Car series.

The 59th Annual Tuscarora 50 for the sprint cars will be held

Saturday, Sept 12, with racing the previous two nights as well.

The Weikert and T50 are among the highest paying sprint car races in

the country and just part of a schedule once again full of lucrative

races.

Port Royal hosts Sprint Car Speedweek on Wednesday, July 1, and

Saturday, July 4.

Williams Grove Speedway kicks off their 2026 season Sunday afternoon.

Gates open at noon, and racing begins at 2. The program features the

sprint cars only. Macri won the last two Grove openers.

Troy Wagaman Jr. earned his first career track championship at the

Grove last season -a fifth title for car owner Mike Heffner.

The Grove returns to its normal Friday night racing program on March 27 at 7:30.

Local and regional tracks have come together to create a PA Posse

Sprint Car Series. These events have increased payouts and a series

point fund at the end. Port Royal’s opener is also the series opener.

RACING SO FAR

Lincoln Speedway, Abbottstown, has completed three sprint car features

already this season. Chase Dietz won the first two and Freddie Rahmer

the most recent last Saturday.

Anthony Macri won the sprint car feature at BAPS Motor Speedway last Sunday.