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Weather permitting, racing starts today in this part of the state.
Port Royal Speedway presents the first race of 2015 at 5 pm. with 410 and 305 sprint cars joined by late models on a track that promises to be fast. The first 200 children receive a chocolate Easter rabbit. Adult general admission patrons get a season schedule magnet. Winning race drivers will find added purse in the 410 sprint car and late model class. Retired driver Steve Swarmer added to the sprint car purse in memory of his late father, Pete Swarmer, who was the opening day winner 50 years ago – $3,600 is up for grabs. The top late model driver earns $2,500. Gates open at 3.
Port Royal held a practice session Wednesday night that attracted 31 cars. The track was smooth and fast. McClure late model driver Tim Wilson was clocked on radar entering turn one at 118 mph. Lewistown’s Jason Schmidt’s average lap speed was 101 mph in his new late model. Track crews reworked the track Thursday sealing it, expecting rain. Officials intend to complete tonight’s race if possible.
Selinsgrove Speedway also opens tonight with 360 sprint carts, late models, pro stocks and roadrunners in action. Race time is 6 p.m. The 360 cars are led by defending track champion Mark Smith. The Sunbury resident won six races at the Snyder County oval last season. Jeff Rine is the defending late model champion.
Susquehanna Speedway opens this evening with 358 late models, super sportsman, street stocks and legend cars. Starting time is 6.
Lincoln Speedway has raced twice this season. Greg Hodnett and Brian Montieth won 410 sprint car features. The Adams County oval presents a $5,000 to win, time trial program tonight. Also on the card are 358 sprint cars. Green flag is at 6.
Hagerstown Speedway will also operate tonight with a regular show.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup and Xfinity series enjoy the weekend off. Beaver Springs Dragway will also be dark tomorrow.
In other news Dale Blaney and mechanic George Fisher may not have a race car to campaign as owner Tom Kennedy developed unspecified personal problems last week. The team is on a week-to-week basis and unsure beyond the next three weeks of its status. This team won last year’s All Star Circuit of Champions title and would like to remain together.
Sammy Swindell raced in a 360 sprint car program recently at 83 Speedway in Park City, Kan. Swindell finished third behind Danny Lasoski and Wayne Johnson. Swindell’s retirement plans appear canceled.
Ryan Smith, winner of last falls World of Outlaws program at Port Royal, will race with the All Stars starting this weekend. Smith will stay on the tour through the first Pennsylvania swing the end of this month and evaluate from there. Smith lives in Kunkletown.
Lewistown driver Eric Parker took possesion of a Triple X chassis recently and is starting to assemble a new car. Parker plans to compete in the 360 sprint class at Selinsgrove Speedway. Parker won last year’s PA 305 sprint car title.
Mifflin County driver Ronnie Aurand’s new 305 sprint car looks great. I hear it told also performed well Wednesday night at Port Royal Speedway.
The All Stars announced a new qualifying procedure for this season. Time trials will be run in groups. Drivers are only trying to best others in their group. The top two in each heat race and top two time trials advance to the dash where a grudge draw determines the lineup. The feature line up is heads up according to the dash finish.
Last year it was Rico Abreu. This year it’s an 18-year-old driver named Tanner Thorson who surprised the World of Outlaws last week at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif. Thorson started 13th in the A-main and finished second. Thorson, from Nevada, campaigned midgets before advancing to sprint cars.
Daryn Pittman is struggling in Kasey Kahne’s sprint car. Pittman hasn’t finished in the top three during the last eight races.
Tyler Walker was sentenced to 90 days in jail and 36 months probation earlier this week. Hopefully this ends Walker’s current problems with the law, which date back to a 2013 three-state, 150 mph car chase. Walker must attend substance abuse counseling and pay a fine as part of his sentence. Walker is jailed in Utah.
Jeff Gordon and Hendrick Motorsports announced a partnership with Penn State University and Axalta Coating Systems (liquid and powder coating paints) in a campaign designed to drive awareness and support engineering and business programs at PSU. Gordon will appear at Penn State April 14 with a car painted for the June 7 Pocono race. Will there be any PSU blue?
Despite NASCAR being off, there’s plenty of news this week. Kyle Larson was released from the hospital Tuesday after passing out last Saturday at Martinsville Speedway. Medical tests failed to find any cause and Larson has been cleared to race at Texas.
Danica Patrick made personal appearances Wednesday at the New York Stock Exchange. Later Patrick returned to Charlotte where she appeared on behalf of sponsors at a convenience store where free gasoline and soda were given away to patrons.
Ernie Elliott’s wife Sheila was arrested on a felony aggravated assault charge Tuesday. She allegedly revved the motor of her Mercedes Benz auto March 18 attempting to run her husband over. He reportedly was forced to dive under a trailer to avoid being struck. Ernie Elliott was the mastermind Ford engine builder for brother Bill Elliott and still holds the record as motor builder with the fastest qualifying lap recorded in Cup history at Talladega, Ala.
NASCAR and Fox Networks raised the ire of fans by broadcasting the first of many races on Fox Sports 1 last Sunday. The program received the highest sports ratings ever on Fox 1 – but two million fewer fans watched this year’s race compared to last year on Fox’s over-the-air network, down 34 percent from last year. Message boards lit up with fans complaining they have had enough of NASCAR’s and Fox’s actions and vowed to quit watching the series.
Fox News correspondent Dana Perino has been named honorary starter for the upcoming Bristol Motor Speedway NASCAR race. Perino has never attended a race and joked about her lack of knowledge about racing on TV earlier this week.
April is Autism Awareness Month and Dover Speedway is again lighting the facilities in blue the entire month of April. Hats off to them as it’s their fourth year supporting the cause.
Happy Easter every one. Until next week, please drive safely!
Craig Rutherford writes about motorsports for The Sentinel.