As is often the case when the local racing season kicks off during the winter months, last weekend’s area shows were missed due to Saturday’s snowstorm.
However, that does not mean that the races will not continue. In fact, this weekend things get a lot better.
Three days of local racing are planned and several car classes will have their first tests on local ovals this year.
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This week’s racing action is scheduled to begin at Williams Grove Speedway on Friday night. After losing its opener to snow last weekend, the Cumberland County track will get another chance this Friday. For Friday’s show, the 410 speed cars will be joined by super late models from the United Late Model Series.
No fewer than five tracks will be in action on Saturday night. Lincoln Speedway in Adams County returns for its third show of the season, this time featuring all 410 sprint cars and the first race of the season for all 358 sprints.
Lincoln is also changing its start time to 6:00 pm this week for its first night show of the year.
Port Royal Speedway in Juniata County is set for its second show of the season on Saturday.
The Port will feature the 410 sprint cars, the ULMS super late models and the limited late models. The start time this week at the Port is at 4:00 p.m.
BAPS Motor Speedway in northern York County will also open its gates for racing on Saturday. BAPS is scheduled for a 4 pm opening with the super athletes, the latest limited models and the Legends. For each of those classes, it will be the season opener.
Selinsgrove Speedway in Snyder County will also open on Saturday with the Short Track Super Series modifications as its core class.
The STSS have had several shows in the South earlier in the season, but will make their Northern debut at the 2pm Selinsgrove show. Modified 602 crate sportsman will also compete.
Path Valley Speedway in Franklin County is also scheduled to open its season on Saturday.
Wingless supercars headline the show, which also includes 600cc and 270cc microsprints, thundercars and strictly stocks.
Port Royal returns on Sunday at 4pm with a special show featuring STSS modifications and super late ULMS models.
That gives the latest ULMS models a full three-day weekend in the area, while the STSS has a two-race weekend.
Time for Hall of Fame nominations: However, before the weekend’s racing arrives, the York County Racing Club will host a general membership meeting on Wednesday night in the club room at Zions View.
Those interested in the YCRC Hall of Fame should note that this meeting is where they can nominate racing personalities deserving of Hall of Fame consideration.
The guest speaker for this month’s YCRC meeting is third-generation driver Derek Locke. Last season, Locke won all 358 sprints at Williams Grove Speedway to secure his second straight points title there. Locke also raced 360 sprint cars last season.
His grandfather, Fred Locke, was a winning supercar driver, and his father, Howie Locke, won numerous supercar races and points titles. Howie Locke also won a 358 sprint title at Williams Grove and a 410 sprint race at Lincoln.
Third Sunday Round Table: If all those racing activities aren’t enough, Sunday will also feature the Third Sunday Roundtable discussion at the Museo del Este de Automovilismo.
This month’s theme is the Reading Fairgrounds.
Veteran race official Mark Garman will be the master of ceremonies and drivers Kenny Brightbill and Meme DeSantis will join Vince Valinano on the panel.
Indoor action from last weekend: The winter indoor racing series wrapped up last weekend in Syracuse, New York, with Scott Kreutter winning the series title by three points over Tim Buckwalter.
Ryan Bartlett won the Syracuse race inside the new building at the fairgrounds that once hosted Super Dirt Week at their now-defunct “Moody Mile” oval track.
Kreutter is a New York State 360 dirt track sprint driver and also operates an indoor go-kart track for the public. Kreutter actually sponsored the indoor race in Syracuse.
Buckwalter, who fell short of the title, has competed in nearly every form of dirt track car in the area and is a member of the long-standing Eastern Pennsylvania racing family. Last year he won the modified points title at Big Diamond.
Contact Bryan Householder at [email protected] or on Twitter at @ydsports.