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Tony Stewart’s All Star Circuit of Champions sprint car series visits Pennsylvania for the second week in a row this weekend.
Bedford Speedway hosted the group last Sunday.
Port Royal and Selinsgrove Speedways are paired up to host the All Stars. For both tracks it’s a new venture. Tonight’s Port Royal event is the Keith Kauffman Classic. Kauffman owns the most sprint car track championships and feature wins at the Juniata County oval. Kauffman briefly raced late models and has won stock car races at Port Royal and Selinsgrove.
Kauffman will sign autographs behind the grandstand prior to the event. Kauffman will also spend time sharing memories on the track’s PA system.
And, the super late models compete in the first leg of the Route 35 Dirt Late Model Challenge Series. Six races will be contested, three each at Port Royal and Selinsgrove, to determine a series champ. Tonight’s late model race is 25 laps.
This evening’s All Star sprint car race at Port Royal Speedway previously was the Bob Weikert Memorial Race. That program has been moved and expanded to a three-day event Memorial Day weekend.
Today at noon the Red Zone in Mifflintown will host a car show and Internet broadcast featuring PA Posse and All Star sprint car drivers and super late model stars. Race cars and apparel trailers will be in the parking lot. The cars driven by Danny Holtgraver, Greg Hodnett, Sheldon Haudenschild, Dylan Cisney, Andy Haus, Trent Brenneman, Logan Wagner, Hayes Mattern and Garrett Gray will be on display. The broadcast can be heard at www.juniatacountyradio.com. Dale Blaney is expected to be on hand to interview the drivers.
Look for former NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Dave Blaney to race this evening at Port Royal driving the Motter Racing No. 71.
All Star sprint car action continues tomorrow at Selinsgrove Speedway in the Ray Tilley Classic. The event honors Tilley, a four time sprint car champion at the Snyder County oval. Tilley’s titles were won in 1965-66 and 1968-69. Tilley is the all time sprint car winner at Selinsgrove with 69 victories. The Pine Grove driver passed away in 2011 from complications of a stroke at age 77.
Greg Hodnett is the defending Ray Tilley Classic Champion.
Tomorrow night’s All Star program at Selinsgrove marks the first appearance of the series at the track in 16 years. There have been 14 previous All star races there. There has never been a repeat All Star winner at Selinsgrove. Past winners include Bobbie Adamson, Mike Lloyd, Randy Wolfe, Lenny Krautheim, Doug Wolfgang, Kenny Jacobs, Frankie Kerr, Cris Eash, Johnny Mackison Jr., Blaney, Kauffman, Hodnett, Fred Rahmer and Todd Shaffer.
Selinsgrove Speedway is dark this evening in preparation for tomorrow’s All Star action.
So can the All Stars defeat the PA Posse this weekend? I hate to admit it but this is by far their best opportunity in years. Look for at least 12 travelers to invade. Chad Kemenah successfully defeated the Pennsylvania regulars last Sunday night at Bedford. All Star regulars expected include Blaney, Kemenah, Cap Henry, Tim Shaffer, Danny Smith, Holtgraver, Andrew Parker, Haudenschild, Kraig Kinser, Lee Jacobs, Caleb Helms and Kory Crabtree. Keystone State drivers Brent Marks, Bradley Howard and Ryan Smith have also been periodic travelers with the All Star group.
There’s 410 and 358 sprint car racing tonight at Lincoln Speedway. The legend cars are also part of the program.
Susquehanna Speedways is in operation this evening with Super Sportsman racers as the headline class.
Hesston Speedway returns to action next Saturday featuring super late models in an extra purse event.
Congratulations to Juniata County driver Andrew Shoop on scoring the opening night pro stock win at Selinsgrove. Shoop is also the defending pro stock champ at the speedway.
The All Star show at Bedford Speedway last Sunday night was the best in recent memory at the track. Tony Stewart was on hand helping conduct the program. Hodnett and Danny Dietrich were the only drivers to crack the 16-second bracket on the 5/8th mile oval. Mark Smith of Sunbury won the dash.
Lewistown driver Nathan Gramley won two 305 sprint car feature events last Saturday night at Port Royal. McVeytown’s Tim Smith finished fifth in Port Royal late model action. Lewistown’s Mike Mort finished 11th in the same event.
Have a great racing weekend. Please drive safely!
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Craig Rutherford writes about motorsports for The Sentinel.