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Many area race fans have their eyes on Williams Grove Speedway this weekend. The annual Summer Nationals program got underway last night. The events are sanctioned by the World of Outlaws.
Current Outlaw favorite Donny Schatz entered competition with 15 wins in the series. Other Outlaw regulars most likely to hit pay dirt include Daryn Pittman (Friday’s winner), David Gravel and Brad Sweet.
PA Posse members poised to strike first would be Lance Dewease, Greg Hodnett, Doug Esh or Danny Dietrich. Dewease, Hodnett and Schatz are currently among the hottest sprint car drivers in the nation.
Tonight’s Williams Grove winner earns $20,000. An additional $5,000 bonus goes to the Morgan Cup winner, a separate title in memory of deceased track owner Morgan Hughes. With bragging rights on the line, look for a tough night of racing at the Cumberland County oval.
Heat is assuredly going to effect the two-day racing program. I spoke with Doug Esh Thursday about that. Obviously staying hydrated is a must. Esh expects to loose 10-12 pounds over both nights.
Port Royal and Lincoln Speedways are dark tonight because of the Williams Grove program. Bedford Speedway is also dark in preparation for its annual county fair, which starts Sunday. Next Friday Bedford hosts its annual fair racing program, which always draws a large crowd. The track is in its 80th season of racing, the longest tenure of operation by any track in the state.
Selinsgrove Speedway will race tonight with two 360 sprint car feature events scheduled. Last week’s program was rained out after all qualifying events were run. The track will continue with makeup events the next several weeks.
Area 358/360 sprint car driver Eric Parker turned in an outstanding performance last weekend. Parker won heat races at both Williams Grove and Selinsgrove. Parker led 17 of 20 laps at Williams Grove before 358 star Doug Hammaker got by for the win. Parker will start second tonight at Selinsgrove in the makeup race. The Lewistown driver is close to his first win in this class. Parker is a former 305 sprint car champion.
Another driver achieving a milestone last week was Joey Hershey of Chambersburg. Hershey won his first 410 sprint car feature at Port Royal.
David Gravel won Tuesday night’s Silver Cup event at Lernerville Speedway. Gravel earned $25,000 in the month of money event.
Several sprint car drivers are currently racking up wins and money. Lance Dewease has seven wins in 14 events entered. Danny Dietrich managed to pass Dewease last Sunday night at Susquehanna Speedway and Dewease settled for runner up honors. Donny Schatz has 15 wins. Schatz won two races last week, The Brad Doty Classic at Attica, Ohio, and the Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway. Greg Hodnett has won 17 times this season.
Local late model racer Tim Wilson of McClure is taking a break for the second week in a row. Wilson has been searching for speed. I suspect he found it and will be back soon. This car will likely return to the winner’s circle before seasons end.
Concussions are a scary part of many contact sports. Racing has been reminded of that fact in a big way the last two weeks. On the national scene Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be out of action at least the next two races. Earnhardt suffers from symptoms after a number of wrecks. In the meantime Jeff Gordon makes his legion of fans happy by returning to the cockpit subbing for Earnhardt.
Steve “the Kentucky Colonel” Francis is a Lucas Oil dirt late model star who was injured last Friday night in Illinois. Francis’ nose was broken and he received a concussion after a piece of lead came off another race car and fractured his helmet. Francis will be out of action for at least another week.
Eldora Speedway was a busy place this past week. NASCAR’s Camping World trucks took over the facility midweek and another success chapter was written in the track’s history. Kyle Larson won the truck race, which was attended by more than 17,000 fans. Another 1.1 million tuned in on Fox Sports 1. Christopher Bell and Rico Abreu made dirt racers proud finishing behind Larson. Both also ran the Kings Royal sprint car program.
Get out and support area racing during the current warm weather!
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Craig Rutherford writes about motorsports for The Sentinel.