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Big Pittsburgher 100 Weekend at PA Motor Speedway

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Steve Skarupa Photography

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

Dietz Doubles at Lincoln

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Photo: Paul Arch

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA (March 6, 2026):  Chase Dietz has figured out the combination to get around Lincoln Speedway in the daylight hours. This time he made a power move in turn three to grab the lead from Freddie Rahmer, Jr. following a lap nineteen restart. And, like a week before, a caution soon followed, ensuring that the York pilot would get away cleanly for the remaining ten laps of the contest. This victory, his second of the young season, added another $6,000 to Dietz’ coffers.

“It was very tricky yet again,” Dietz remarked. He explained, “it got slicked off in (turns) one and two. I tried to be patient and run the middle. I think I showed Freddie the bottom too soon. But I found something off two and I got a run on him and I just drove through the holes.”

“I was trying to watch the track and it just worked out,” Dietz added.  “It’s been a great start and I will try to keep it going,” he concluded.

Second went to Kyle Moody, who drove under his brother-in-law, Freddie Rahmer, Jr. late in the race. After a brief challenge from Brock Zearfoss, Moody came to life. “I’ll take it,” Moody said unabashedly. “The first couple of laps didn’t work out. Typical Lincoln. They watered it and I thought I could make it work, but it didn’t work out.” So, Moody fell back to third, a position that he held until lap twenty-three.

Zearfoss was stalking Moody for most of the second half of the race, but he could not make the pass. “I knew he was going to stick to the bottom on the restarts. I found something (coming off turn two) and I thought I could make it around him on the outside, But, I hit the ruts wrong and that got me unsettled.” Despite his difficulty with Moody, Zearfoss recovered at the end of the race to overtake Rahmer for third.

The second event of the season in the Pigeon Hills had Ramer Jr. and Moody paired up in the front row. Dietz joined T.J. Stutts in row two, followed by Brandon Rahmer and Zearfoss. Danny Dietrich and Matt Campbell occupied row four. The fifth belonged tp teammates Steven Snyder, Jr. and Troy Wagaman, Jr.  Western PA driver Jacob Begenwald and Aaron Bollinger were in row six.

Rahmer Jr. led the field into turn one on the opening lap. Moody slid up the track, opening the inside line for Dietz. Moody fell in line in third. Stutts and Brandon Rahmer made up the early top five.

Billy Dietrich brought out the first caution on just the second lap when he came to a stop at the exit of turn four.

Dietz took a look inside Rahmer Jr. following the restart, but he opted to ride along in second place. Moody continued in third, with Zearfoss moving up a couple of notches. Stutts and Danny Dietrich battled for fifth for several laps before Dietrich locked up the position before the halfway mark.

Dewease slowed on lap nineteen for the second caution.

Rahmer Jr. again led the field into turn one following the restart, but Dietz remained close in turns one and two. Dietz moved up a half lane through turn two and that enabled him to rocket off the corner. Dietz had plenty of momentum entering turn three and he dove to the inside to pass Rahmer for the lead.

Dietz, Rahmer, and several others completed the lap before Bollinger spun in turn one.

On the ensuing restart, Dietz led Rahmer Jr. to the inside line in turn one. Zearfoss went to the high side to try to pass Moody for third, but he could not get by. Moody picked up some speed after that threat and, on lap twenty-three, he scooted under Rahmer Jr. in turn two for the second spot. Despite the successful maneuver, Moody could not challenge Dietz for the lead.

After his failed venture on the high sude, Zearfoss moved to the bottom in the closing laps. He was able to catch and pass Rahmer Jr. on lap twenty-six.

Dietz, Moody, and Zearfoss took the checkers before two cars tangled in turn four on the final lap. Danny Dietrich and Snyder both flipped. The resulting red flag froze the balance of the field.

Split lap scoring was employed once again. Rahmer Jr, was credited with fourth and Wagaman fifth. Positions six through ten went to Stutts, Tyler Ross, Logan Rumsey, Campbell, and Cameron Smith. Dietrich and Snyder were scored in sixteenth and seventeenth, respectively.

Three heats were contested for the twenty-eight car field. The wins went to Snyder, Danny Dietrich, and Brandon Rahmer. Smith won the B Main.

Next week. Lincoln Speedway will move to its regular Saturday night slot. Starting time will be 6 p.m. The 358 Sprint Cars will provide support to the 410s for the first time in 2026.

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Dirt Racing

Dietz Does It Again

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Photo by Paul Arch

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA (February 28, 2026):  For the second straight year, Chase Dietz won the Icebreaker 30 at the fabulous Lincoln Speedway. The young veteran from York, PA chased down Danny Dietrich and used some lapped cars to gain the advantage in turns three and four on lap eighteen. Dietz scooped up $6,000 for his first victory of the 2026 season.

“The traffic got Danny (Dietrich) and Cameron (Smith) moving around,” Dietz observed. That enabled him to close the gap on them quickly. He added, “the lapped traffic made it interesting. I went low, it had some ruts, but it seemed to be the fastest way around.”

Dietz, who had a very maneuverable car the entire race, commended the track preparation by Fred Putney just before the feature started. “I knew it was going to have some hot characteristics to it. Fred did such a great job. The top came in. I went up there a little early and I fell back, but I was able to come back up.”

“I was  very fortunate to start the season like we did there,” he summed.

Dietrich, who led some laps in the middle of the event, remarked that he was pleased with second, “especially the way (turns) three and four were.” He joked that, in previous years, he probably would have wadded up the car trying to get more speed in those corners. “I was happy to be able to race with him (gesturing toward Dietz) there. I thought I could compete with him after the yellow (on lap nineteen), but he was really good.”

Third place finisher, Freddie Rahmer, Jr., thought that his car was better than Dietz’ “at different parts of the race.” He conceded, though, “maybe he was better at moving around.” He cited as an example, “he found the top sooner. I went up there, but I wasn’t as good.”

An Ohio invader, Zeth Sabo, drew the pole for the opener in the Pigeon Hills. To his right was Lance Dewease, making his debut at the controls of Rich Eichelberger’s potent machine. Row two paired Cameron Smith and Danny Dietrich. They were followed by Freddie Rahmer, Jr. and Chase Dietz. Logan Rumsey and Steven Snyder, Jr. occupied row four. Chad Trout and Billy Dietrich comprised row five, with Rick Lafferty and Matt Campbell next in line.

Sabo started his second race at Lincoln somewhat unexpectedly. He popped a wheelie coming off turn four. When he gathered it back up entering turn one, he slid high, forcing Dewease out of the groove. That opened the inside line for Smith, who took advantage of the opportunity to grab the early lead. Sabo and Dewease followed, with Danny Dietrich, Snyder, and Rahmer in hot pursuit.

Smith started to get some separation in the first few laps, but a caution for Tyler Ross on lap six brought Smith back to the fold. While the cars were pacing under the yellow, Dewease pulled to the top of turn three with a brake problem. He retired from the race at that point.

On the restart, Smith began to assert himself once again. Sabo got up on two wheels coming through turn two, losing five spots in the process. That moved Danny Dietrich and Freddie Rahmer into second and third, respectively. Rumsey and Dietz rounded out the top five.

Within a few laps, Smith reached the slower cars at the rear of the field. His pace slowed considerably, and Danny Dietrich went on the offensive. By the halfway mark, Dietrich was closing rapidly on Smith, who was still being cautious attempting to lap the slower cars.

Dietrich got a good run coming off turn two and he moved to the outside of Smith and the lappers. Dietrich sailed into turn three with the lead.

However, his time out front was brief. Dietz was on the move, and he closed in on Dietrich in just a lap or two. Dietz made his bid for the lead on lap eighteen, dropping to the rough inside line to take the lead by passing Dietrich and two lapped cars coming through turn four.

Dietrich remained close, but could not mount a counterattack at the opposite end of the track.

Hayden Miller flipped in turn one on lap nineteen to cause the final stoppage of the event. He was not hurt.

Dietrich began plotting a different strategy for the remaining eleven laps. However, Dietz had a clear track and a better car.

Dietz got to some lapped traffic in the final circuits, but he was able to pick off the slower cars with ease. He took the checkers just over three seconds ahead of Danny Dietrich. After the leaders took the final flag, Bitty Dietrich spun in turn four, and the rest of the field completed the race under yellow.

The split lap scoring had Freddie Rahmer, Jr. in third, followed by Rumsey and Smith. Troy Wagaman, Jr. passed his teammate, Snyder, in the closing laps to get the sixth spot. Sabo was seventh, with Campbell and Trout rounding out the top ten.

The three heat victories went to Dewease, Dietz, and Danny Dietrich. There was no B Main.

After the crowd dispersed, Speedway officials announced that Sunday’s conclusion to the Icebreaker weekend was cancelled due to forecasts of colder temperatures and rainy conditions. Racing will resume with a pair of afternoon shows next Saturday and Sunday, with 3 p.m. starts each day.

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Dirt Racing

PA Posse Series Announced

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File Photo: Paul Arch

After much speculation and anticipation, the creation of the PA Posse 410 Sprint Series was announced just before Thanksgiving. The timing of the announcement, along with some sketchy plans for the ambitious undertaking, gave area fans and competitors much more to chew on than their traditional holiday feasts.

The new series will consist of 47 races spread across eleven tracks, from March until November. Each race will pay a minimum of $6,000 to win and $600 to start, with several shows paying higher purses, although the schedule did not specify which events will pay the premiums.

The series uses the highly successful PA Speedweek concept and expands upon it greatly.

The cornerstone of the series is the commitment that the participating tracks will not book any 410 Sprint Car race to overlap with a series contest. However, tracks are free to host races for other classes whenever series events are scheduled elsewhere, and the possibility does exist that participating tracks will still compete against one another on dates when the series has no scheduled races. So, the historic conflict between Lincoln Speedway and Port Royal Speedway will continue, albeit on a smaller scale, and the budding battle between Williams Grove Speedway and Selinsgrove Speedway will also survive the birthing of the new series.

The busy series schedule will not overlap with any of the area events sanctioned by either of the national touring series or the eastern swing for the resurrected All Stars Circuit of Champions. Because some of the participating tracks have yet to release their own schedules, it is possible that more than sixty high-dollar events could be held over the course of the 2026 season.

Comparison of the series schedule to those of the national series shows that there may be some conflicts outside the region. For example, two of the series events fall during the Knoxville Nationals, in August. When the World of Outlaws releases its entire schedule, there may be some other dates that interfere with the new series schedule.

As one might expect, the PA Posse 410 Sprint Series will draw heavily upon the three major tracks in the region for support. Williams Grove Speedway and Lincoln Speedway will each hold ten races. Port Royal Speedway checks in with nine of them. BAPS Motor Speedway and Selinsgrove Speedway have signed on for four events apiece. Clinton County Speedway, Path Valley Speedway, Bedford Speedway, and Bridgeport Speedway will each host two contests. Hagerstown Speedway and Grandview Speedway retained their traditional Speedweek dates, respectively.

Conspicuously absent from the series line-up are Big Diamond Speedway and the Action Track at Kutztown. It is unknown at this time whether these venues were overlooked or whether they declined to participate.

Action will commence on March 21 and 22, with races penciled in for Port Royal and Williams Grove Speedways. Port Royal will hold the next two events, weather permitting, of course. The schedule does not include any make-up dates for any events that are lost to weather.

Unlike PA Speedweek, the new series does not have a consistent format. Most races will use time trials, or possibly timed hot laps, to set heat race line-ups. Series announcements have not specified whether cars will time individually or in some group arrangement. Similarly, it has not been determined yet whether heat races will be heads up, with the exception for the fastest car being slotted into fourth position, as per the Speedweek format. Nor has it been disclosed whether any of the transfer cars will be eligible for a re-draw to obtain the preferred starting positions for the feature events. Neither of the series announcements thus far mentions any dashes as part of any series program. Tracks are free to use pill draws to set heat race lineups for some events, such as daytime shows, or others that present special circumstances due to weather, track conditions, and the like.

Otherwise, tracks will use their own rules and procedures for conducting and scoring the series events.

Unfortunately, series organizers did not take the opportunity to resolve any discrepancies in rules for the race cars. So, for example, some events will allow one cockpit-adjustable shock per car, while others will not permit any of them. Individual track rules will need to be consulted to determine what will or will not pass tech.

It is assumed, but unstated, whether Hoosier tires will be mandatory on all four corners for the series.

The series does boast a $200,000 point fund, with a quarter of it, $50,000, allocated for the champion. Points payouts will be available for the top fifteen racers. However, it is interesting to note that the posted payouts do not add up to $200,000! There is $30,000, or possibly more, that is not accounted for.

It is unclear where the point money will come from. Although the series announcements do not mention it, some chatter about the series has mentioned a $4,000 per race sanction fee. If so, that would amount to $188,000 if all scheduled races are held. Series announcements have not addressed the possibility of point fund reductions if any races are eliminated from the schedule for one reason or another. It is reasonable to assume that some of the funding to close any gaps may be derived from contributions from Hoosier Tire, or possibly other sponsors.

The point structure will be relatively simple. The winner will receive 70 points, second place 65, and third 62. Each position then drops by two points, down to 20 points for last place. Racers that do not make the A Main will receive 10 points. There is no mention so far of any provisionals or promoter’s choices.

It is assumed, but not stated, that racers will not be allowed to “borrow” a car number to earn points for any racer that is absent from a series race for whatever reason.

Racers will be allowed to “drop” three races for the purposes of calculating points. These races could be eliminated for poor finishes, or races that are not attended. So, if a racer elects to forgo the two mid-August series races to go to Knoxville, those could be two of the “drops.” The announcements do not indicate if the “drops” will still come into play if the racer does not attend all remaining series events.

There is no mention of any required minimum number of races to be eligible to receive any point fund distributions. Also, announcements so far do not suggest the possibility of reduced point fund distributions for any racers who do not have perfect, or near-perfect, attendance. There is no mention of any secondary distribution of any forfeited point money to other racers.

No statements have been released by the series or by any participating track regarding the impact of the new series upon any existing point championships at any participating tracks. Likewise, Williams Grove Speedway has yet to announce whether the Diamond Series will continue now that it  is a key player in the new series. So, it is unknown if a series race will also count toward any track or mini-series championships that survive the creation of the new series.

There has been no mention of any membership or registration fees for participating racers. Likewise, series announcements have not addressed any entry fees.

Another area of concern relates to streaming rights for the series events. While not entirely clear, it appears that participating tracks will retain their own streaming rights and arrangements. A new streaming platform announced by Lincoln Speedway may step in to fill the gaps for any tracks that presently lack established streaming arrangements.

While it is obvious that much time and energy have gone into the creation of the new series, it is obvious that there still are some unresolved issues and areas for improvement. Nonetheless, despite any of these shortcomings, early reactions have been positive, and best wishes are extended to all of the tracks and the racers for success in the new venture.

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