Local Racing
Sheppard and Eckert Share Victory Lane at Georgetown
GEORGETOWN, DE(October 31, 2020): A pair of veterans earned their first career victories at Georgetown Speedway during the Mid-Atlantic Championship weekend. Matt Sheppard scored in the Short Track Super Series Modifieds and Rick Eckert prevailed in the United Late Model Series.
“It’s fitting that I got the win coming from the back,” Sheppard said. He had pitted just six laps into the fray to replace a flat right front tire and then he chased down the Northeast’s winningest Modified pilot, Stewart Friesen. “It’s been a tough year, so to get win number twenty is really good,” Sheppard added.
Friesen and the Quaker Shaker, Rick Laubach, were on the front row for the 44 lap contest. Brandon Grosso and Anthony Perrego were in the second row. Billy Pauch, Jr. lined up next to Mike Maresca in the third, with J.R. McGinley and Andy Bachetti behind them. Richie Pratt, Jr. and Sheppard were in row five. Matt Peck and Mike Gular were in the sixth row. These starting positions were based on the luck of the draw.
While everybody expected Friesen to grab the early lead, Laubach had other ideas. Scooby surged ahead coming off the fourth turn and Friesen fell in behind when the duo reached turn one. Perrego and Maresca came next, with Pauch, Bachetti, and Pratt following.
The first ten laps were puntuated with four cautions. Through it all, Laubach maintained control, although Friesen did make several strong challenges for the lead. Perrego and Pauch were also fixtures in the top five. P5 changed hands several times, though.
Near the end of the longest green flag run, eleven laps in distance, Friese powered past Laubach for the lead. Perrego and Pauch were figthing for third during this interval. Ryan Krachun nailed down fifth. However, Tyler Dipple was advancing quickly. After taking a provisional to start in the twenty-seventh position, he clawed his way to sixth.
Yellow fever set in again, as seven cautions were displayed over the second half of the race. Friesen continued to lead, but he had a new pursuer. Sheppard passed Laubach for second on lap 24. Laubach would go pitside for a flat three laps later, and Pratt was next to pit a few laps later.
Sheppard reeled in Friesen and the two talents put on an exciting show for the fans. Sheppard had a run on the outside of turn two, but Friesen drifted a bit high and there was minor contact. Both drivers were able to maintain control. On lap 31, Sheppard tried the outside line coming off turn two again, and this time he was able to make it past Friesen without incident.
On a lap 36 restart, Friesen got out into the loose stuff in turn one and le lost four or five positions. Among the drivers to benefit from this rare mistake was Pauch, who needed to gain positions if he had any hope of overtaking Friesen in the quest for the Series Southern Division point title. While Pauch was able to climb into second, Friesen got back on track. He rallied for fourth, which was enough to preserve his points lead over Pauch.
At the finish, it was Sheppard, Pauch, Perrego, Friesen, and Dippel. Although Pauch lost out in the series points chase, he was able to claim the track championship. he took a jab at his famous father in the post-race interview, noting that he was the first member of the family to win a title on Delaware soil. Pauch also remarked that he was “the only guy in the top five with a real job.”
Danny Creeden, Laubach, Gular, Ryan Watt, and Matt Stangle completed the top ten.
Heat wins were scored by Perrego, Bachetti, Friesen, and Sheppard. The B Mains went to Watt and Tyler Siri.
In the 40 lap Late Model event, Mike Maresca led the field to the start, but Rick Eckert took control of the race as they thundered off turn two. Mark Pettyjohn, Max Blair, Donnie Lingo, and Kyle Hardy trailed. A quick yellow brought a moan from the crowd, as they feared another caution plagued race.
However, the racers redeemed themselves, completing fifteen more circuits before the next caution was displayed. While Eckert led the way, Max Blair was giving chase. He took the lead briefly coming off the second turn, but Eckert came charging back atthe opposite end of teh track.
Eckert and Blair began to separate themselves from the rest of the pack.Soon they were trading the top spot. Blair took charge just before the halfway mark, but Eckert stayed within shooting distance. Aided by a caution on lap 26, Eckert found a good line in turns one and two and he used it to regain the lead on teh restart.
“I was getting lazy, and then I picked the wrong lane for a restart and (Blair) got by me,” Eckert noted. “Then, he switched lanes, and I got back by him.”
Eckert added that he was “able to find a line that I could use to make up time in one and two.” Though he claimed to struggle in turns three and four, Eckert explained that Blair was having trouble down there also.
Eckert led the remainder of the race without challenge from Blair, who did finish second. Third went to Hardy. Maresca was fourth, followed by Ross Robinson. Jason Covert was sixth after running as high as second briefly. Amanda Robinson was next. Gary Stuhler, Danny Snyder, and Trevor Collins completed the top ten.
Heat winners were Eckert, Blair, and Pettyjohn. Eckert turned in the fastest lap in qualification runs at 18.050 seconds. There was no B Main.
Justin Grosso topped Joe Toth, Tim Hartman, Jr., Anthony Tramontana, and Tanner Van Doren in the 602 Crate Sportsmen. Steve Kemery, Robert Dutton, Tramontana, and Grosso were victorious in their heats. Greg Humlhanz and Greg Reed won the B Mains.
Georgetown Speedway officials announced that there will be one more race at the half mile in 2020. The Saturday after Thanksgiving, November 28, the Gobbler will be held, with Big Block Modifieds topping the card. Support divisions have yet to be determined.
MECHANICSBURG, PA (May 9, 2026): David Gravel, the two-time World of Outlaws champion and current points leader, dominated the finale in the fifteenth running of the Morgan Cup at Williams Grove Speedway. Gravel’s win, the tenth of his career at the venerable speedway, secured possession of the perpetual trophy for the World of Outlaws for the eighth time. Moreover, the win gave the touring stars a two-to-one edge in the win column for the three-race Pennsylvania swing.
Gravel seized control of the race on the opening lap and he was never challenged during the course of the thirty lapper. The only threat to Gravel during the non-stop affair was a bumping incident when he was lapping Brent Shearer. Shearer’s right rear wheel contacted Gravel’s left rear. Fortunately, the two cars quickly separated and both drivers maintained control as they rocketed toward turn one. Gravel expressed concern that he might have gotten a flat tire from such contact, but he said that the double bead locks on the left rear of his car probably saved the day.
“From the rain this morning, that grip up high was there. They patted it down with the push trucks and water trucks. It just launched really good, and actually my motor was really cold. It didn’t run good for the first five or six laps, but it had enough horsepower to beat him (Kasey Kahne) going into (turn) one. He didn’t try to slide me. It looked like he backpedaled and tried to run the bottom, but that was obviously the winning move of the race.”
Gravel added that it was important for him to control the pace of the race. “You just don’t know, this could’ve been ten cautions or green-to-checkered. Luckily, it went green-to-checkered. Maybe I was getting a little complacent down here in (turns) three and four. Maybe should have moved up. Those guys said the 67 (Justin Whittall) was coming, so. It’s just so hard to lead these races. Lincoln, here, it doesn’t matter where it is. When you’re up front, you know, the track changes and people can judge you, behind you. I feel like I got through the lapped cars pretty good.”
Justin Whittall was making just his second start in his new joint venture with Rod Gross Motorsports. The first outing was a disappointing seventeen in the preliminary night program. He gave props to his crew for working late on Friday night and early on this race day to get more speed in the car. He was able to close in on the leader in the closing laps, but was several car lengths behind him when the checkers waved. “I saw David (Gravel) struggling with the lapped car. He finally got him. That was when I really started to catch him.”
Third place went to defending track champion and current points leader, Troy Wagaman, Jr. Wagaman’s podium finish stretched his points lead over Lance Dewease, who failed to qualify because he was plagued by mechanical problems all night long. Wagaman explained that he put together a complete night. “I felt good. I timed good, I had a good heat race, and a good dash. I had speed in the feature.”
For the second night in a row, Kasey Kahne started on the front row for the A Main. This time, he had the pole as a result of his dash victory. But the difference in lanes may have been his undoing. David Gravel had the outside position, which was clearly superior for the start of the event. Freddy Rahmer lined up third, with Whittall as his running mate. Wagaman and Sheldon Haudenschild were in row three. The last pair of preferred starters were Ashton Torgerson, aboard Kyle Moody’s machine, and Chad Trout. Then came Carson Macedo and Bill Balog, followed by Emerson Axsom and Danny Dietrich.
Gravel and Kahne raced wheel to wheel into turn one, but Gravel had the better line through the corner. He emerged from turn two with the lead and never looked back. Kahne followed closely in the early going, but, with each successive lap, Gravel added to his lead. Whittall, Wagaman, Rahmer, Haudenshild, , Torgerson, Trout, Carson Macedo, and Balog made up the balance of the top ten during the opening laps.
The first five–consisting of Gravel, Kahne, Whittall, Wagaman, and Haudenschild–raced in order through the first half of the event.
Soon after the midway signal, Whittall begal to stalk Kahne. On lap nineteen, Whittall rode the rin in turns three and four to reach second spot. Wagaman and Haudenschild soon followed suit.
Whittall trimmed Gravel’s lead in the closing laps. As he was doing so, Haudenschild was applying some pressure to Wagaman for third. A few spots back in the running order, Rahmer and Carson Macedo were battling for sixth.
At the checkers, it was Gravel over Whittall, Wagaman, Haudenschild, and Kahne. Carson Macedo was sixth, with Rahmer, Torgerson, Dietrich, and Balog completing the top ten.
Carson Macedo was named the hard charger, advancing three positions. Several others also passed as many cars but they were all behind him in the finishing order.
The four heat wins went to Gravel, Kahne, Whittall, and Trout. Daryn Pittman won the B Main. Gravel set the fast time, at 16.431, to top Group A. Whittall was the best in Group B with a time of 16.897.
Williams Grove Speedway will be back in action on Friday, May 15, with a Sprint Car doubleheader. The 410s and 358 Sprints will do battle on York County Racing Club Night. There will be no racing on May 22 , but the American Flat Track Motorcycles will compete on May 23.
IMPERIAL, PA (May 9, 2026) – Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway (PPMS) is cancelling their Saturday night program after heavy overnight rains and cloudy skies throughout the morning forced track officials to make the difficult decision.
“After evaluating conditions throughout the property Saturday morning, speedway officials determined that the amount of water absorbed overnight created conditions that would not allow for a practical or enjoyable event experience for fans, teams, and staff” the Speedway announced in a statement.
Fans who purchased advanced tickets for tonight’s event have already had their refunds processed automatically..
Next Saturday PPMS will host a ‘Night of Champions’, which will honor 2025 track Champions and those who finished in the top 10 in points in the respective divisions.
“We’re ready to get this season rolling in a big way and hopefully Mother Nature starts working with us soon,” said Tyler Harris, PPMS Operations Manager. “We know fans, racers, and teams are anxious to get back to the speedway, and we appreciate everyone continuing to stick with us through a difficult start to the year.”
Dirt Racing
Lernerville Speedway and Tri-City Raceway Park hoping to get seasons started Friday night
Lernerville Speedway and Tri-City Raceway Park are hoping Mother Nature cooperates so they can get their 2026 seasons started on Friday night.
Lernerville is planning on Fab 4 Racing with the McConnell Memorial on top. Sprint Cars, Late Models, Modifieds and Pro Stocks are on the card this evening.
Pits open at 4 p.m. with spectator gates opening at 5 p.m. Hot Laps begin at 6:15 p.m. followed by racing at 7:30 p.m.
Four weather-related postponements have delayed opening night at Tri-City Raceway Park, who are preparing to drop the green flag Friday night with their regular 4 Star Racing show on its half-mile oval.
410 Sprint Cars will be competing for a $3,000 winner’s purse. Joining the 410’s on tonight’s card will be the Pro Stocks, with the winner taking home $700!
The RUSH Sprint Cars are set to compete in their 40th race at the Venango County speedway. Tonight’s winning will get $600 for taking home the checkered flag.
The RUSH Stock Cars round out the evening as they return for their second season. Tonight’s winner will take home a $300 top prize. The racing starts at 7 p.m.
Gravel Grabs the Morgan Cup
Christian Lundgaard wins the Sonsio Grand Prix at IMS
Connor Zilisch tracks down best friend for NASCAR O’Reilly win at The Glen
Watkins Glen not kind to Kris Wright and McAnally Hilgemann Racing
Kaden Honeycutt outduels Connor Zilisch for first NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win
Alex Palou wins Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach; Scott Dixon finishes 3rd
Tyler Reddick keeps the magic alive with overtime NASCAR Cup win at Kansas
Felix Rosenqvist wins Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach pole position
Taylor Gray wins eventful NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Kansas
