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The biggest race of the year is scheduled for tonight at Port Royal Speedway.
The 48th annual Tuscarora 50 for sprint cars is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. The econo late models are also in action in a championship event.
Greg Hodnett is the defending Tuscarora 50 champion. Last year’s program drew 41 cars. Tony Stewart’s All Star Circuit of Champions sanction the event, which features a $45,000 purse. Should one driver lead every lap, their total earnings would be $13,250.
It all began in 1968 with Mitch Smith winning the first Tuscarora 50. Smith went on to win three 50s in a row. The list of winners has become a who’s who of sprint car racing – 22 drivers have won the event. Four drivers have won four times: Hodnett, Lance Dewease, Fred Rahmer and Doug Wolfgang. Hodnett and Dewease will attempt to become the first five-time winner tonight.
In the event of inclement weather, the race will be run Sunday.
The big news surrounding tonights race is the return of driver Todd Shaffer and car owner Dave Middleswarth. Shaffer scored 196 career wins, most of those aboard the Gary and Patty Beam-owned No. 88. Along the way 12 championships were secured. Shaffer has even raced in Australia. Shaffer won the Legends race recently held at Lincoln Speedway. Prior to that Shaffer had not been in active competition since 2011.
Middleswarth enjoyed success providing cars for drivers Barry Camp, Todd Hestor and Keith Kauffman. Middleswarth’s most recent driver was Chad Layton. Current plans are for Shaffer to drive this weekend only. It’s good to have both Shaffer and Middleswarth back, if only for a weekend.
Will Gamble was a Port Royal race fan and worker who died in 1998 at age 26 from cancer. Since that time his family and friends have presented the Will Gamble Determination Award during the Tuscarora 50 program. The award is given to the highest finishing Port Royal sprint car regular that fails to make the Tuscarora 50 starting line up. Gamble’s memory, love of racing, and Port Royal Speedway in particular live on through this award.
Selinsgrove Speedway hosts Championship Night this evening. T.J. Stutts has clinched the 360 sprint car title. Jeff Rine is trying to secure his 11th late model title. Mifflintown pro stock driver Andrew Shoop is 80 points ahead of Evendale’s A.J. Stroup.
Darrell Lanigan won last week’s 17th annual National Open for late models at Selinsgrove. It was Lanigan’s third National Open win in a row at the Snyder County oval. Rick Eckert of York finished seventh. Jeff Rine was ninth. Steve Campbell finished 10th. Mifflin County drivers Tim Wilson and Jason Schmidt failed to qualify for the A-Main.
The Charlie Paige era at Selinsgrove is set to end Sept. 19 with the Jim Nace Sprint Car Memorial, which pays the winner $10,000. The late models are also part of the program.
Last Sunday Hesston Speedway ran a special late model championship program. Area drivers fared well. Nick Dickson of Lewistown won the event. Matt Parks of Three Springs finished second. McVeytown’s Tim Smith was third, followed by Lewistown’s Waylon Wagner. Mike Mort, also from Lewistown, finished ninth.
It’s official: Susquehanna Speedway has been sold to businessman Scott Gobrecht. The sale became final Sept. 3. Former owners Todd and Rhonda Fisher will continue to operate the facility until season’s end.
The annual Juniata County Fair races have been impressive. Dylan Yoder of Selinsgrove won the Butch Renninger Memorial late model event sanctioned by the UFO series. Four top Port Royal regulars – Andy Haus, Eric Zembower, Patrick Bryner and Stevie Bailor – failed to make the A-main. Dave Ely won the sprint car feature. Mifflintown’s Corey Kepner took the xtreme stock checkered flag.
Congratulations to Lewistown 360 sprint car driver Eric Parker on a fine fifth-place finish last week end at Williams Grove.
Finally, I must congratulate Mifflin County driver Ronnie Aurand for winning his first ever 305 feature event Sunday night at Bedford Speedway.
Have a great racing week end. Hope for good weather tonight!
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Craig Rutherford writes about motorsports for The Sentinel.