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The 53rd annual National Open at Williams Grove Speedway is still scheduled to run.
Who are the drivers to beat in this years race? Obviously Donny Schatz, a five-time open winner comes to mind. Schatz is having a record year already registering his 30th win last weekend at Michigan’s Berlin Speedway. A number of local drivers are possibilities.
Justin Henderson will pilot Donnie Kreitz Jr.’s car in tonight’s race, which allows Henderson a better chance at victory. Kreitz and longtime mechanic Davey Brown have a history of winning National Opens. Kreitz was a one time winner, Brown has won more than I can recall with drivers Lynn Paxton, and Doug Wolfgang along with Kreitz.
What does the PA Posse/World of Outlaws score card look like? In the National Open since 1989, when the race became Outlaw sanctioned, score it 16-10 Outlaws. Since 2000 there have been 82 Outlaw shows run at the Grove – score that 46-36 outlaws. The posse has found success over the past few years and I won’t be surprised if they score the win tonight.
Last week the Dirt Classic $20,000 win went to Brian Montieth at Lincoln Speedway. It’s hard to believe that Montieth’s last win before that was on June 13. Montieth rebounded at the right time.
Susquehanna Speedway’s new owner, Scott Gobrecht, has named Kolten Grouse general manager of the York County oval. Grouse will assume his duties following the conclusion of next month’s Outlaw races in Charlotte, N.C. Grouse is a native of Mechanicsburg employed by Kasey Kahne Racing as a tire specialist.
Sprint Car racing is currently growing and some track operators are improving purses in the right place. Eldora Speedway is adding $100,000 to next year’s Kings Royal purse. The race will still pay the winner $50,000. Second place will be worth $20,000 with fifth paying $10,000. The feature pays $3,000 to start.
Lincoln Speedway is increasing the Dirt Classic purse next year. It will still pay $20,000 to win but it’s worth $1,000 to take the green flag. That’s helping the racers that need it the most.
Dale Blaney locked up his third straight All Star Circuit of Champions title last Sunday night at Millstream Speedway in Ohio. Blaney has scored 12 All Star wins this season.
Christopher Bell is having a banner year and is destined for greatness in NASCAR sometime soon. Bell won two out of three legs of USAC’s 4 Crown Nationals last week at Eldora. Bell’s titles came in the Silver Crown and midget cars. Earlier, Bell won the NASCAR truck race at Eldora.
All Star regular Greg Wilson has had a comeback season scoring three wins and an Ohio Speedweek title. Wilson topped it off last week by upsetting the World of Outlaws at Eldora Speedway. Wilson is a former All Star champion.
Next week is the final Super Dirt Week event to ever be held at the Syracuse Moody Mile in New York. Sadly the track is being removed from the New York State Fairgrounds in a 50 million dollar redevelopment plan. Syracuse has hosted racing events for more than 100 years and is only one of three mile-long dirt tracks in the nation. Most of the sports greats have raced there.
Super Dirt week will move next year to Glenn Donnelly’s new Central New York Raceway Park which is one half hour from Syracuse. Construction will be started shortly. A half mile synthetic dirt surface for car and horse racing is planned along with a 2.2 mile road racing course, a NASCAR style garage, observation deck, restaurant, suites, radio & TV studios.
Super Dirt Week and World Racing Group have signed a 10-year contract with Donnelly for the facility. Ironically, Donnelly started Super Dirt Week before selling out to the World of Outlaws some years ago. Syracuse’s Moody Mile has hosted the event for 44 years and it is still a sad day in history when the checkered flag falls on the Syracuse 200 for big block modifieds.
One driver disappointed to see Syracuse Moody Mile go is Tony Stewart who never had the chance to race there. Stewart announced his NASCAR Sprint Cup retirement at the conclusion of the 2016 racing season. Stewart will remain a Sprint Cup owner. I predict a much happier Tony Stewart in 2017. Stewart will continue to race competing in some events as Gene Haas second driver in the new Formula One program at their facility. Stewart will be racing dirt and short track races when ever it suits much as Kenny Schrader and Kenny Wallace are currently doing. And yes sprint cars are a possibility.
Until next week, let’s hope for dry weather and a safe racing weekend!
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Craig Rutherford writes about motorsports for The Sentinel.