FRANLIN, PA (May 8, 2024): Tri-City Raceway Park moved its opening night to Sunday, May 12, due to rains that swept over the track last week. The program will be the same as it was intended to be on the original date. So, after celebrating the day with Mom, bring her out to the track for some high speed entertainment, and a little extra treat, courtesy of new owners Josh and Kyrsten Shiffer. All mothers in attendance will get some free ice cream and the kiddos will get a free bag of popcorn!

The FAST on Dirt Sprint Car Series also had the date available, so the traveling stars will be on hand to compete with the Krill Recycling LLC 410 Sprint Cars. Joining the fun will be the 358 Modifieds racing under the new banner of 21st Century Energy Group. For the fans of full-fendered racing, the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks and the 4 Your Car Connection Mini Stocks will complete the program.

Tim Shaffer, from Aliquippa, PA, won the FAST Series opener back in March, and former FAST champion, Nate Dussel, won round two. The tour will make a stop at Wayne County Speedway, in Ohio, before crossing the border to come to Tri City for this much anticipated contest.

Zane DeVault, from Indiana, currently sits atop the point standings, but he has close competition from area favorite Dale Blaney, of Hartford, OH, and last year’s titleholder, Brandon Spithaler of Evans City.

Other top talents expected to invade Tri-City include Cole Duncan, Danny Sams, III, Lee Jacobs, Jeremy Weaver, Ricky Peterson, Gregg McCandless, Mitch Harble, and Jack Sodeman, Jr.

They’d better be ready, because Western PA’s finest will be there to defend the home turf. Leading the way will be two-time and defending track champion, A.J. Flick. Others expected include Bob Felmlee, Carl Bowser, Brent and Brandon Matus, Andy Cavanaugh, Andy Priest, and many more.

Young Ayden Cipriano will be ready to start his journey toward a second track championship in the 358 Modified ranks, as will another teen, Tyler Wyant, in the Pro Stocks. Matt Urey will be ready to take on all comers in the Mini Stocks.

“The extended forecast looks good for racing on Sunday,” said Josh Shiffer. “We are excited to get started, and we are proud for the fans and competitors to see the changes that we have made since taking ownership of this great facility.”

Kyrsten echoed his thoughts, “it hurt us to lose the opener last week, but the extra time has helped us to get ready for this big event.” “Our family and our loyal staff have been working hard for this,” she added.

The Pit Gates will open at 2 p.m., and the spectator gates will open at 4 p.m. Practice sessions and qualifications will get started at 5 p.m., with racing to follow at 6 p.m.

The ticket prices for this event will be just $15 for adults. Seniors (ages 62 and up), military, and students (ages 11 to 16) will be admitted for $13, all with proper I.D. The children (ages 10 and under) will be free, as always. The Pit Passes will be $35, except for the children under two years of age. They will be allowed into the Pits with their parents or guardians for just $15.

Remember that current information about Tri-City Raceway Park can be obtained from the Facebook page, at Tri City Raceway Park. Please do not consult the old webpage, as it will be replaced soon.

Tri-City Raceway Park is located just a few miles north of Franklin, PA, at 3430 State Route 417 in Oakland Township. Professional auto racing will be presented in a family friendly atmosphere most Sunday evenings from May through Labor Day weekend.

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA (May 8, 2024): David Gravel continued his hot streak on the World of Outlaws Sprint Car tour at the Fabulous Lincoln Speedway. His sixth victory of the season was his third in his last four outings, and he stretched his points lead over Donny Schatz to more than fifty counters entering the weekend’s action at the Williams Grove Speedway.

“I started on the pole and I didn’t know what kind of pace to be running, or where to run. If I was running third, I would have been searching around. I started low and went to the middles for two laps in (turn) one and two, and then I went to the top and I was able to carry some speed.” Gravel was challenged in the middle part of the race by Carson Macedo, but as the race wore on, Gravel’s dominance became apparent.

Second place finisher, Giovanni Scelzi, gave props to Gravel and company. “They are really fast right now. There’s no excuses from me,” he added. “We flat out got beat.”

Macedo, who eventually finished third, observed, “I was good early in the feature, I was pacing myself, but then I had a bad restart, and Gio got by me.” Macedo overlooked the fact that Anthony Macri also passed him in the later stages of the race, but Macedo was able to recover his position before the restarts switched to single file for the final ten laps of the contest.

Gravel and Macedo occupied the front row as a result of their performances in the Dash. Gravel noticed that Macedo’s team was changing torsion bars before the Dash. “They were looking for something,” he said. “I was comfortable with my car though,” and he was able to make the pass in the final thirty yards of the Dash.

Behind them were Buddy Kofoid and Scelzi. Kody Hartlaub and Macri made a PA third row. They were followed by Schatz and Chase Dietz. Bill Balog and Troy Wagaman, Jr. shared the fifth row. Lucas Wolfe and Sheldon Haudenschild were in row six.

With the exception of hometown Outlaw Logan Schuchart, the second half of the field was reserved for the PA Posse. Stuck back there were Kyle Moody, in thirteenth, Freddie Rahmer, Jr., in seventeenth, his brother Brandon, in twenty-first, Devon Borden, in twenty-second, and Danny Dietrich, in twenty-fourth.

Gravel led Macedo into turn one on the opening lap, with Kofoid, Scelzi, Macri, Hartlaub, Dietz, Schatz, Wagaman, and Balog following. Thigs remained unchanged until Gravel raced into lapped traffic on lap eight. At that point, subtle changes started to take place in the top ten.

Scelzi slipped by Kofoid for third. Soon thereafter, Kofoid was under attack from Macri. Dietz was hot on his heels. Schuchart reached into the top ten, as did Wagaman, but they were not able to remain there.

In the middle stage of the thirty-five lapper, Macedo closed in on Gravel and he made a bid for the lead in turn one. Gravel rallied, and kept the challenger behind him.

The first caution of the contest was shown on lap twenty-three, when Moody slowed to a stop on the front straight. On the ensuing restart, Macri picked off Kofoid. Scelzi was hounding Macedo, and he took over second on lap twenty-four. Macri was working on Macedo when the race was halted for a flip by Balog, who crashed out of the top ten. Balog’s car also caught fire, but the safety crew quickly doused the flames. Balog was not hurt, but his car was substantially damaged.

The field logged two more laps before the next red flag appeared. This time, It was Hartlaub who went over at the exit of turn two. Wolfe, Rahmer Jr., and Chad Trout were also involved. Hartlaub and Rahmer Jr. were unable to continue.

Despite these distractions, Gravel remained in control. He led the final seven laps without further incidents. Scelzi, Macedo, and Macri held their positions as well. Schatz moved up to fifth in the final laps. Haudenschild, Kofoid, Wagaman, Danny Dietrich, and Dietz completed the top ten.

Dietrich was the hard charger, passing fifteen cars during the race.

The four heat winners were also the night’s four fastest qualifiers. They were Schatz, Gravel, Macri, and Macedo. The quick time was registered by Schatz, at 13.487 seconds. The B Main winner was Brandon Rahmer, who dropped from his heat while running in second position, which would have made him eligible for the Dash. So, instead of locking into the first eight, he was relegated to twenty-first on the grid.

Lincoln Speedway will not race on Saturday evening. There will be a car show and exhibition racing for vintage cars in the afternoon. There will also be an auto thrill show in the evening. A 410 and 358 Sprint Car double header will be held on May 18 as part of the Fallen Firefighters Memorial program. May 25 will be the Don Leiby Memorial, which will have ARDC Midgets and Late Models added to the 410 Sprint Car staple.

MECHANICSBURG, PA (May 3, 2024): Lance Dewease scored career win 115 in the 410 Sprints at the Williams Grove Speedway, but it was his first in several important categories. The $6,000 victory was his first with car owner Barry Shearer, his first of the season, and his first with a new car.

Also scoring a first victory of the season with a new car and a new car owner was Doug Hammaker in the 358 Sprint division.

“We only raced here one day,” Dewease observed. “We wrecked a car last week. This was a new car,” he added. Dewease thought that he got some breaks on his way to victory lane. “Putting the 2D (of Chase Dietz) back for jumping helped.” But, the biggest break came when leader Chad Trout got hit with a double dose of bad luck. After being told that Trout got a flat left rear after dominating the race, Dewease commented, “I thought that he ran out of fuel when he came down (in turn one with two to go).” Dewease then noted “you don’t always win when you have the best car.”

Dewease explained that “there was never any doubt” about continuing his Hall of Fame career after parting ways with Don Kreitz and Davey Brown and ride hopping through the end of the 2023 season. “Things like last week put a hurt on me and it takes a while to come back from it.” He said that it is important for him to have fun racing and “when it stops being fun, I’ll be done.”

Despite a collapsed top wing, Chad Trout won the dash to earn the pole for the twenty-five lapper. Next to him was the driver with the most wins in the country, Anthony Macri. Chase Dietz and Danny Dietrich slotted into row two, with Troy Wagaman, Jr. and T.J. Stutts behind them. Dylan Cisney and Dewease made up row four, and Freddie Rahmer, Jr. and Cameron Smith had row five. Kyle Moody and Cullam Williamson were paired in row six.

The initial start was called back because Stutts spun in turn two. After a quick trip to the pit area for adjustments, Stutts returned for the second attempt to get the race going.

On the second try, Trout again got the jump on Macri and he swept into the lead. Trout ran the high side, and Macri tried the low groove, but he could not make any headway. Dietz, Wagaman, Dewease, Dietrich, Cisney, Rahmer, Smith and Devon Borden followed.

Dylan Norris brought out a caution five laps into the contest. At that time, the top five remained intact, but Cisney had worked by Dietrich, and Moody knocked Borden from the top ten. After the restart, Dietrich lost a couple of positions, but the running order was otherwise unchanged.

Williamson spun in turn four on lap eight and flattened his right rear in the process.

On the ensuing restart, Dewease picked up a position. He would move up two notches shortly thereafter. Macri dropped out just before the next caution, on lap ten, for Ryan Taylor. As the field was being realigned, Dietz was penalized two positions for jumping the previous restart. That moved Dewease into second place for the next green flag.

Trout set a blistering pace on the restart, but Dewease picked up speed late in the eleven lap run. He closed the gap on Trout and he was close enough to execute a successful slider in turn three to take the lead away. However, Cisney brought out the final caution when he slowed to a stop after his top wing collapsed. That nullified Dewease’s pass.

Trout led Dewease into turn one when the action resumed. Dewease dove low, but Trout had the momentum and he retained the lead. On the next trip around, Trout entered turn one on the low side, trying to take the line away from Dewease. Dewease moved up into the middle and the leaders came off turn two side by side. Dewease pulled away racing down the back stretch.

Trout was off the pace now, and Wagaman went by him coming off turn two on the final lap.

At the checkers, it was Dewease by 2.472 seconds over Wagaman. Dietz, Borden, and Rahmer completed the top five. Trout held on for sixth despite his flat. His social media also reported that he ran out of fuel as well. Dietrich, Logan Wagner (in a rare Williams Grove start), Aaron Bollinger, and Justin Whittal were sixth through tenth.

Stutts, Wagaman, and Dietz scored the heat wins. Norris captured the B Main. Macri was the evening’s fastest qualifier with a lap of 16.766 seconds.

Kyle Reinhart took a spill in qualifications, but repairs were made and he transferred into the A from the B Main.

In the 358 Sprints, Doug Hammaker drew the pole, with Nat Tuckey to his right. Cole Young and Justin Foster were in the second row, with Kyle Spence and Chase Gutshall in the third. Cody Fletcher and Adam Carberry occupied row four. Then came Wyatt Hinkle and Matt Findley, followed by Frankie Herr and Derek Locke.

Hammaker blasted into turn one on the opening lap and he was never headed. Tuckey, Gutshall, Foster, Young, and Carberry followed. After a couple of early cautions, Hammaker continued to lead Tuckey, Young, Gutshall, and Carberry.

In the second half of the race, Hammaker stretched his lead. At the checkers, he was 6.846 seconds over Tuckey. Young closed in on second in the final laps, but he could not make the pass. Gutshall was fourth and Carberry was fifth. Fletcher, Spence, Locke, Seth Schnoke, and Foster completed the top ten.

“They got me rolling pretty good,” Hammaker said. “The wing cylinder broke and the wing slid forward when I slowed down. I didn’t know how far out front I was.”

Logan Rumsey, Carberry, and Spence prevailed in the heat races. Rumsey lost his engine as he crossed the finish line and he was unable to start the A Main. Preston Lattomus won the B Main.

Kruz Kepner flipped in his heat race but was not hurt.

Williams Grove Speedway will host the World of Outlaws on May 10 and 11. The Morgan Cup will be decided on Saturday.