Local Racing
Big Pittsburgher 100 Weekend at PA Motor Speedway

IMPERIAL, PA (Pittsburgh Racing Now) – A huge weekend of racing is on tap this at Pittsburgh’s PA Motor Speedway with the 31st Annual Pittsburgher 100, the Bill Hendren Memorial and Betsy Kriegisch Memorial.
The racing gets underway on Friday with six divisions of racing taking to “Dirt’s Monster Half-mile” including the Diehl Automotive RUSH Late Model Dirt Touring Series, the RUSH Sportsman Modified Dirt Series, the PPMS Pro Stocks, the Keystone Coach Works Hobby Stocks, the Four Cylinders, and the Young Guns.
In addition to those divisions Friday will also see the qualifying events (heats & dash) for the RUSH Late Model Dirt Series Bill Hendren Memorial and the RUSH Sportsman Modified Dirt Series Betsy Kriegisch Memorial.
Saturday, October 5, will feature the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series with a full program including the 100-lap 31st Annual Pittsburgher 100. The single-day event for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will include a complete program of Miller Welders Time Trials, Heat Races, and B-Mains – highlighted by a 100-lap, $20,000-to-win feature event.
Saturday will also feature the 40-lap Bill Hendren Memorial for the RUSH Late Model Dirt Series, and the 2nd Annual Betsy Kriegisch Memorial for the RUSH Sportsman Modified Dirt Series.
Bill Hendren, the patriarch of the Hendren family and founder of Hendren Racing Engines, had the foresight to begin building his affiliation with crate racing. As many of his open engine customers looked to crate racing as an opportunity to continue racing, Bill began offering free advice via the well known 4M.net message board. As the concept grew throughout the country, his generosity and expertise were rewarded as many of those who had utilized his knowledge, in the beginning, utilized him as their engine rebuilder as their needs arose. Bill passed away on March 19, 2011, but his legacy and dedication to crate racing lives on through his sons, Steve and Mike, as the Hendren’s are recognized throughout the entire country as a leader in this specialized form of racing as they continue to operate Hendren Racing Engines.
“I look back to several years ago to a surprise phone call I received from Steve Hendren expressing interest in having a memorial event for his late father Bill Hendren in conjunction with a RUSH Touring event,” explained RUSH Director Vicki Emig. “Although I never knew Bill Hendren personally, I certainly was well aware of his pioneering spirit and great success in the world of GM Performance crate engine racing. And now to have the Hendren Family allow us to hold their patriarch’s ‘only’ memorial event of the year under the RUSH banner is truly an honor!”
“My family and I are looking forward to returning to Pittsburgh for the ninth annual ‘Bill Hendren Memorial’,” stated Steve Hendren. “This year will mark the first time that my mother Bettie will be able to attend this event in Pittsburgh, and it will be the first time she’s been able to attend a RUSH event as well. As a family, we decided to move all future memorial races to the RUSH Racing Series, and we hope to continue our bond with PPMS as well. The professionalism of RUSH, PPMS, and the racers in the RUSH series is second to none. We would like to thank all of our sponsors for this event.”
“The Miley Motor Sports family is honored to host the Bill Hendren Memorial during the Pittsburgher 100 weekend again,” expressed Matt Miley. “Bringing back the Pittsburgher was a dream of Red Miley’s when he founded Miley Motor Sports. He always strived to make the Pittsburgher bigger and better and we’re again taking the event to another level, honoring another man who made a difference in our sport, Bill Hendren. I’m sure both are smiling down upon us.”
Daryl Charlier has won the last two “Bill Hendren Memorial” races at PPMS, while John Mollick won the event in 2016. Charlier and Mollick will be two of the favorites trying to stop Kyle Lukon, who has won both of the PPMS Sweeney Tour races this year including “Manufacturers Night” presented by MSD Performance and the “Jook George Steel City Classic”. Lukon’s wins accounted for more than $13,600!
Betsy Kriegisch, the mother of RUSH Sportsman Modified racers Chelsie and Jessica Kriegisch, passed away after an extended illness on February 21, 2018, at the age of 57. She was a strong supporter of both her daughters’ efforts and by their side as they rose to prominence in the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds. Both girls quickly became competitive and fan favorites. A memorial event as a Hovis Weekly Series show was put together and held last year at Pittsburgh that attracted an all-time Pittsburgh record count of 26, and was won by Rocky Kugel.
“This is going to be a tremendous weekend for RUSH,” said Emig. “To have both RUSH classes share the spotlight with the Lucas Oil Late Models is tremendous via the $5,000 to-win ‘Bill Hendren Memorial’ for the Late Models and the ‘Betsy Kriegisch Memorial’ for the Sportsman Modifieds. Through the gracious donations of so many people, we’ve been able to grow this event into the richest Sportsman Modified race in the history of the region. We have to thank Miley Motor Sports for allowing us to showcase our division at one of the region’s biggest events, and this will also be the RUSH Mods first-ever Tour race at the ‘Monster Half-Mile’.”
The pit gates at Pittsburgh’s PA Motor Speedway will be open from at Noon on Friday and all day on Saturday. The general admission gates are set to open at 5:00 p.m. on Friday and 3:00 p.m. on Saturday. A Dirt Racing Outreach service is scheduled for 3:30 p.m., followed by a driver’s autograph session at 4:30 p.m on Saturday. The on-track action will begin at 6:00 p.m. both Friday and Saturday.
Two-day tickets are available for both the grandstands and pits, as well as, a one day ticket for Friday or Saturday only. Visit PPMS.com for pricing and tickets.
Dirt Racing
Rahmer and Norris Get Second Wins of the Season at Lincoln Speedway in Fallen Firefighters Memorial

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA (May 17, 2025): A brief delay for a passing shower did not dampen the spirits of those attending the Fallen Firefighters Memorial at the Fabulous Lincoln Speedway. Freddie Rahmer, Jr. fought off a desperate late race charge from Chase Dietz to bank $6,000 for the 410 Sprints. Dylan Norris rebounded from a disappointing run in that race to capture the 358 Sprint finale, collecting in excess of $1,500 for his efforts. For each driver, it was their second victory of the season in the Pigeon Hills.
Rahmer had no idea that Dietz was closing until he saw the nose of car a split second before he lost the lead at the scoring loop. However, Rahmer rallied to regain the lead in turn three heading for the white flag. Dietz wasn’t quite finished, though, as he dove low off turn four heading for the checkers. Rahmer nipped him at the line to score the exciting win.
Rahmer, who rode the rim for most of the race, said that he was starting to struggle with the lapped cars. So, when the field aligned for teh final restart with six laps remaining, he decided to move to the bottom groove. He thought that there would be some clean rubber there. However, he added, “it slowed the pace down too much.” Then, after Dietz charged by on the insdide, Rahmer moved up to the middle of the track, picking up enough speed to drive by on the back stretch so he could close the door at the entry to turn three.
Dietz, who came so close to picking up his second win of the weekend, commented that he waited too long to move back to the top after passing Rahmer for the lead.
With the starting line-up determined by PA Speedweek procedures, Rahmer was fortunate to draw the pole position. He was flanked by Aaron Bollinger. Matt Campbell and Kyle Moody were in row two. The last driver in the re-draw, Tyler Ross, was inside of row three, with Ashton Torgerson as his runningmate. Cameron Smith and point leader Troy Wagaman, Jr. made up row four. The fifth belonged to Ryan Newton and Brandon Rahmer. Then came Chad Trout and Chris Frank.
Rahmer, Jr. claimed the early lead over Bollinger, Moody, Campbell, Torgerson, Ross, Wagaman, Smith, Brandon Rahmer, and Frank. While the first three ran in single file formation, Torgerson, Campbell, and Ross were battling for the fourth spot. Torgerson took iy moments before the first caution, on lap four, for a spin by Dallas Schott to turn four.
Campbell regained the position soon after the race resumed. When the leaders entered lapped traffic, Campbell began to gain on them.
He moved into third by lap eighteen, the midpoint of the race. After another brief stoppage, on lap twenty-one, Campbell moved into second. Although he got within a car length of Rahmer, Jr., Campbell could not make a move for the lead.
Campbell was not the only racer making progress in the event. Dietz, who started thirteenth, was running in the middle of the pack through the first half of the contest. In the second half, though, his car came to life, and he began to move ahead.
He was sitting eighth for the restart on lap twenty-one, and he cracked the top five by lap thirty, when the final caution was displayed.
When the green light came on again, Dietz was ready. He picked off Moody and Bollinger almost immediately. Soon thereafter, be shot past Campbell. The excitement built as he closed in on Rahmer. As the lead duo crossed the scoring loop for lap thirty-three, Dietz was a nose ahead of Rahmer, Jr. Dietz cleared him in turn one, but Rahmer fought back. Rahmer got a good run down the backstretch and he was able to shut the door on Dietz entering turn three,
Rahmer stayed in the middle groove and Dietz went back to the top. He built some moementum on the final lap and turned under Rahmer coming through the final corner. Dietz came up short in the stretch run by .045 seconds.
Campbell crossed in third, followed by Bollinger, and Moody. Torgerson, Wagaman, Ross, Smith, and Newton rounded out the top ten.
The three heat winners were Moody, Campbell, and Bollinger. They each picked up $100. Kody Hartlaub won the B Main. He also earned a $500 bonus as the evening’s fastest qualifier with a lap of 14.430 seconds. Dietz was the hard charger, good for an extra $400.
In the nightcap for the 358 Sprint Cars, Ayden Hare and Bo Gordon drew the front row. Jude Siegel and Seth Schnoke were in the second row, followed by Aistin Reed and Ashley Cappetta. However, a multi-car tangle in turn one on the opening lap substantially altered the remainder of the line-up.
When the race got going, Hare led Gordon, Cameron Merriman, Cappetta, Siegel, Dylan Norris, Andy Best, Frankie Herr, Jayden Wolf, and James Roselli. Merriman quickly moved into second and took over the point on lap four. Norris followed into third.
Cautions on laps seven, nine, and ten interrupted the flow of the race, but they did not dter the advancement of Norris into second position.
Norris charged past Merriman on lap eleven and was never headed.
Merriman held on for second and Hare for third, followed by Gordon and Cappetta. Siegel, Wolf, Best, Herr, and Steve Owings completed the top ten.
The four heat wins, with an undisclosed bonus for each winner, went to Tyler Ulrich, Herr, Austin Reed, and Norris. Chase Guttshall won the B Main. Owings received the $200 hard charger bonus.
Next week, Lincoln Speedway presents the Bob Leiby Memorial for 410 Sprint Cars joined by the Limited Stocks. On May 31, the Steve Smith Tribute Race will be held for the 410 and 358 Sprints. The revived All Star Circuit of Champions will roll into town on June 7. They will be accompanied by the 358 Sprints. That will be the Elijah Hawkins Memorial.
Local Racing
Autocross for a cause as FastTrackPGH accelerates to cure Huntington’s Disease

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 12, 2025) – Gearheads in Pittsburgh have a chance to strap on a helmet and Autocross to help raise awareness and funds to cure Huntington’s Disease.
FastTrackPGH is holding their 18th annual Autocross event on Sunday May 18 at the North Park Swimming Pool parking lot.
Proceeds of the event will go towards finding a cure for Huntington’s Disease at UPMC’s HDSA center of excellence and provide funding for youth scholarships to send young people to the HDSA’s annual national convention, happening this year in Indianapolis..
Huntington’s Disease is an incurable neurodegenerative disease that results in the progressive loss of control of both the mind and the body.
Morgan McLane created the even in honor of his Aunt Barbara, who was diagnosed with Huntington’s Disease in December, 1999.
“Barbara led quite a normal life, getting married and having two daughters,” explained McLane. “In her 40’s her life changed forever, beginning with subtle changes in her personality and physical capabilities. We now realize this was the beginning of her disease. In 2005, Aunt Barbara was placed in a nursing home, confined to a wheelchair, and began having difficulty speaking and swallowing.”
Approximately 30,000 people in the US are living with Huntington’s Disease, with another 200,000+ assumed at risk. Each child of an affected parent has a 50% chance of inheriting the disease.
“HD is an especially difficult condition because it robs the affected person not only of their health and independence, but also the memories of family, friends, and a lifetime of experiences,” said McLane. “In April of 2010 my aunt lost her battle with HD.”
To date FastTrackPGH has raised over $250,000 and last year’s event raised over $31,000. Organizers are hoping to top the amount this year.
Racers can do their part by trying to beat the clock around the course and should register early.
If you don’t want to try your hand behind the wheel, you can enjoy a day of competition, prizes, food, and fun. Winners do not need to be present to win one of the gift baskets!
Tickets and registration prior to the event are easy by using this link: https://www.motorsportreg.com/events/nhscc-points-event-4-hdsa-north-park-swimming-pool-lot-hills-sports-car-club-801569
The event will take place rain or shine and they will be accepting cash or card.
Donations are also being accepted online by clicking here.
For more information about FastTrackPGH click this link.
Dirt Racing
Kofoid Takes Gettysburg Clash

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA (May 7, 2025): Buddy Kofoid captured the Northeastern opener for the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series at the Fabulous Lincoln Speedway. Although Kofoid led all thirty-five laps, he did lose the lead briefly to Chase Dietz in turn four following a lap eight restart.
Kofoid admitted that he did not anticipate Dietz’s move. After Dietz slid him at the entry to that corner, Kofoid deftly turned back under Dietz coming off the turn to regain the lead before the duo reached the scoring loop. Hence, there was no official lead change recorded. “I just could cut the middle,” Kofoid noted of his unexpected path to recovery. “As the leader, you don’t know until you know.”
Kofoid explained that his car was very maneuverable. “I could move around pretty good. But, I was good enough to stay on top.”
Track conditions favored his lane choice. He explained that the top was not very difficult in turns three and four “because it is a little wider. (Turns) one and two got kinda slick and I needed to be careful. I cut it down through one and two.”
Dietz, who has one win so far this season, said that he was “sick and tired of finishing second.” He added that his car was a “little tight on the top.” Nevertheless, “right at the end, I got closer (to Kofoid) But I couldn’t do a slider.”
Anthony Macri came on strong at the end of the race as well. He made up considerable ground on David Gravel and made a last lap pass to reach third. “There was rubber off (turn) two and I got my wing back and I had a good run down the straight. He (Gravel) got hung up behind some lapped cars.”
Kofoid earned the pole position by dominating the Dash. Gravel, the top winner on the Outlaws circuit so far this season, was his running mate. Skyler Gee and Danny Dietrich made up teh second row, with Lucas Wolfe and Dietz in the third. The final two Dash participants, Macri and Giovanni Scelzi, occupied row four. Then came Kyle Moody and Hunter Schuerenberg. Carson Macedo and Bill Balog lined up in row six.
Kofoid snatched the lead, with Gravel and Gee in hot pursuit. Dietz held fourth. Dietrich, Scelzi, Wolfe, Macri, Schuerenberg, and Haudenschild followed. In the early rounds.
A caution was displayed on lap four for the two-car tangle of Ryan Smith and Parker Price Miller in turn four. Although only one more trip around the speedway was completed before the next interruption, it was a productive lap for Dietz, who edged Gravel for second at the scoring loop moments before the pace was slowed.
The second caution came when Wolfe went around in turn one collecting Freddie Rahmer, Jr. and Cole Macedo. Conner Morrell was also involved.
On the restart, Gee and Gravel swapped positions a couple of times. Dietrich, who was watching that action just ahead of him, but he faded out of the top ten before stopping at the entry to turn three with a flat right rear tire. Dietrich got new rubber and returned at the rear of the field.
The remaining twenty-seven laps spun off with no other incidents. Dietz brought the Lincoln faithful to their feet with his slider in turn four, but Kofoid reclaimed the lead, disappointing the crowd.
Kofoid built his lead again as the race progressed. Dietz, Gravel, Gee, and Macri made up the top five for much of that long run.
Just after the halfway mark, Macri began his march to the front. He took fourth by lap twenty. His final five laps were masterful as he chased down and passed Gravel for the third position.
Sheldon Haudenschild was fifth, followed by Carson Macedo, Gee, Scelzi, Logan Schuchart, and Dietrich.
Schuchart was named the hard charger for advancing eleven positions.
Dietz, Dietrich, Gee, and Scelzi won their respective heat races. Matt Campbell took the B Main and Brandon Rahmer was first in teh C Main. Dietz was the fastest qualifier of the night, topping Group A with a lap of 13.344 seconds. Gee paced Group B with a lap of 13.521 seconds.
Lincoln Speedway will be dark on Saturday, May 10, in consideration of the Outlaws event at Williams Grove Speedway. Lincoln will return to action on the seventeenth with the annual Fallen Firefighters Memorial featuring the 410 and 357 Sprints. Two more memorial events will close out the month. The Bob Leiby Memorial will be on May 24 with the 410 Sprints and Stock Cars on tap.
The Steve Smith Tribute will go on May 31 for the 410 and 358 Sprints.