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The final green flag in Central Pennsylvania racing recently fell, but there’s plenty of action around area race tracks.
Port Royal and Lincoln speedways recently held awards banquets. Port Royal crowned champions Lucas Wolfe (410 sprint cars), Mike Lupfer (late models), Andrew Yoder (econo late models), Jason Zook (xtreme stocks) and Jeff Miller (305 sprint cars). Dylan Cisney was 410 runner-up and most improved driver. Ryan Taylor won the sportsmanship award.
Lupfer claimed his second consecutive late model title. Scotty Haus last accomplished the multi-title feat in 2007-11. Mitch Hack finished second behind Lupfer. Trent Brenneman was named most improved driver in late models. Yoder competed in both late model divisions and was named rookie of the year. Tim Fedder was awarded the econo late sportsmanship award. Eric Irvin took home the hard charger award in econo action. Charlie Bryner was the hard charger in xtreme stock car racing.
Lincoln Speedway held its banquet in York last Saturday. Brian Montieth was honored for winning his fifth 410 sprint car title. Kyle Moody earned the most improved 410 driver award. Scott Zellers was declared mechanic of the year. Doug Hammaker won the 358 sprint car title.
Three area speedways are busy with facility improvements. Path Valley, Susquehanna and Port Royal are all replacing bleacher seats, which should boost capacity at each track. Susquehanna and Path Valley are in the process of adding clay and re-shaping their speedways. Susquehanna intends to add some lighting to the track.
The UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions released their 2016 schedule which includes date changes in Central Pennsylvania. Bedford Speedway has two race dates, April 17 and June 5. Port Royal Speedway will host the travelers April 22 and Sept. 9-10. Selinsgrove Speedway returns to the schedule for the first time in 16 years on April 24. Grandview Speedway entertains Tony Stewart’s group Aug. 18. Williams Grove follows a day later. Lincoln Speedway closes out with a race Aug. 20.
The World of Outlaws released part of their 2016 schedule. All area speedways appear to have retained their dates, although the schedule has been tweaked. The World Finals in Charlotte have been moved up one week to the final weekend in October, which has to shuffle Port Royal’s date. More to come shortly. Look for the World of Outlaws sprint cars to return to Super Dirt Week in 2016 or 2017.
The World Racing Group also released the Super Dirt Car Series schedule and Williams Grove will once again host the big block modifieds, on June 22. The last time the group raced there was in 2006.
Construction has started on Central New York Raceway Park. Promoter Glenn Donnelly issued a progress report this week which included video. The project is slightly ahead of schedule at this point. If the weather cooperates construction will commence in early January on a five-story, 90-foot tall building which will contain the press box, corporate suites, a restaurant and more; 3,000 camp spaces are planned along with 300 additional camp sites with water, sewer and electric hook ups. The dirt track should be ready for racing by July 4. The road race course and NASCAR-style garage area is targeted for completion by Labor Day.
The Appalachian Late Model Speedweek schedule has been released and it contains eight dates. Bedford kicks things off June 3, followed by Port Royal (June 4), Path Valley (June 5), Hesston (June 9), Hagerstown (June 11) and Selinsgrove (June 12).
The NASCAR Sprint Cup season was over for 16 hours when the silly season began. Gone at Stewart Haas Racing are Tony Stewart and Danica Patrick’s crew chiefs. Stewart said, “There’s going to be a lot of changes. We’re not even a 15th place car.” Chad Johnston left Stewart and was immediately hired by Chip Ganassi Racing to crew chief Kyle Larson’s machine next season.
Stewart will have a Penn State University graduate calling the shots on top of his pit box next year – Mike Bugarewicz, who has mechanical engineering degrees from PSU, began his NASCAR career in 2005 at Roush Fenway. Look for an improved season during Stewart’s final campaign.
Not all the news is good this week. Longtime Midwestern sprint car owner and builder Bob Trostle passed away Nov 21. Trostle sprint cars were synonymous with success nationwide.
Locally, Karen Mansfield Duckett lost her husband Denny to cancer. Duckett passed away Nov. 21. Mansfield has been a goodwill ambassador for auto racing a long time and took her push truck all over the East Coast and Midwest to sprint car programs. Her husband was known as “shotgun” at the speedway, usually riding along while Mansfield drove. The pair married before Duckett’s death. Services were held Wednesday in Curwensville.
Finally, what I hope is the start of some good news. As the race cars circled Homestead-Miami Speedway last Sunday, racers were also testing at what was once one of the best places to watch a NASCAR race. Level 1 Motorsports fields Camping World Truck Series machines for driver development programs in NASCAR. They have exclusive test rights for Rockingham, N.C., Speedway. The organization posted on social media, “We’re excited to be the first of the puzzle of bringing this great track back to life.” The track last hosted competition in 2013.
I hope you’re enjoying a great Thanksgiving weekend. Good luck to all hunters Monday.
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Craig Rutherford writes about motorsports for The Sentinel.