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I never like the end of racing season because I hate winter. However, the month of August can’t end soon enough.
Racing in general and in Pennsylvania in particular have taken some tough hits this month. First there was the fatality of an All-American stock car driver at Susquehanna Speedway. Jim Campbell Jr. died as a result of a racing accident Aug. 14 at Williams Grove. Just when I thought things were back to normal another fatality took place after the Indy Car race last Sunday at Pocono International Raceway.
English born Justin Wilson died Monday from head injuries suffered in Sunday’s race. Wilson fought for life after being struck in the head with a front end that came off another race car. The part was estimated to weight nearly 100 pounds.
Wilson was knocked unconscious before crashing into a SAFER barrier on the inside of the speedway. Wilson was taken to a hospital in Allentown, where he died.
Tragic as it was, some good came from a bad situation. First, Tony Stewart immediately reached out to friends and acquaintances in the Indy Car world. Stewart is no stranger to Wilson or the Andretti Autosports team, which has family ties to our state. Stewart sent his airplane to Colorado to pick up Wilson’s family and transport them back east.
Wilson was an organ donor and while tragic, his passing gave the gift of life to six other people who received donations through his death. The hospital received high marks from family and Indy car staff for its handling of the situation. In the aftermath of tragedy, speedway and Indycar officials will look at car construction and track procedures to determine if additional things can be done in the name of safety.
Stewart, of course, remains involved in a wrongful death lawsuit in New York. That suit stems from Kevin Ward’s death last year during an Empire Super Sprint sanctioned program. Stewart hit back this week, successfully having the case moved to federal court using the argument both parties are from different states. I believe Stewart’s chance of successfully defending himself improve greatly in federal court. I feel there’s a better chance of an impartial jury in a federal court pool.
The rumor mill has been running concerning the possible sale of Susquehanna Speedway in York County. A social media site announced the track had been sold with renovations planned exceeding $1 million. Speedway management asked for the story to be taken down indicating business will remain as usual at this time.
There was midweek action this week. Greg Hodnett won Sunday and Tuesday night at Susquehanna and New Egypt (N.J.) speedways. Fred Rahmer’s Legends of PA race was set to be run later in the week.
Ryan Smith took a wild ride flipping high into the air during action Tuesday night at New Egypt. The car flipped over a fence separating the pit bleachers and race track. A heavy equipment shovel was utilized to pick up Smith’s car and return it to the speedway for transport.
Tonight Port Royal Speedway is in action with a three-division show of sprint cars, late models and super sportsman. The sportsman cars last raced at the Juniata County oval Oct. 12, 2013. Scott Geesey won that event. Frankie Herr is the all time leading Port Royal sportsman winner with five checkered flags. The program is the final event before the 161st annual Juniata County Fair kicks off.
Selinsgrove Speedway will be busy this evening with a tuneup race before the World of Outlaws late models invade for next week’s National Open. That event pays the winner $8,000. The race format has been changed back to a one-day program. That’s a good thing – the late model National Open is no longer in direct competition with the Butch Renninger late model memorial event at Port Royal Speedway. Drivers have a chance at a good payoff in two prestigious Central Pa. programs.
The Renninger Memorial is a 33-lap UFO-sanctioned feature that pays the winner $3,500. The event, which includes 410 sprint cars, econo late models and xtreme stocks, kicks off the 161st annual Juniata County Fair.
Lincoln Speedway operates tonight with 410 sprint cars, 358 late models, street stocks and kids big wheel racing. Next week is the final points race of the year at the Pigeon Hills oval.
Hesston Speedway is dark until Sept. 6 when a 44-lap late model championship program will be run.
Finally, injured racer Kevin Swindell announced what many of us feared – he suffered a serious spinal cord injury during action at Knoxville, Iowa, and surgery required removal of a rib for a spinal fusion. There’s hope Swindell may walk again.
On a happier note, father Sammy Swindell announced he will campaign a CJB Motorsports car in 2016 with the World of Outlaws.
It was nice to see that Steve Kinser scored an All Star Circuit of Champions sprint car victory last Friday at I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, Mich.
Until next week, please drive safely!
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Craig Rutherford writes about motorsports for The Sentinel.