2008 News Jan. 24, 2008

With not much going on in the racing world this off season, we will just have random news and notes making up this column.

Motorsports 2008 presented by VP Racing Fuels was another huge success last weekend in Atlantic City as thousands of fans flocked into the Convention Center to take in the first racing function of the season.

One of the highlights of the show was the crowning of a new Ms Motorsports which was won by 18 year old Tiffany Skias. Skias comes from a racing family as her father Pete is an accomplished racer and her brothers are also micro sprint racers. Her boyfriend is 410 sprint car driver Cody Darrah.

It was her first time in the contest as she also won the top prize for Best Swimwear. She won over $2,000 along with many other great prizes.

Mike Tidaback was the winner of the Gambler’s Classic indoor race on Saturday night at Boardwalk Hall. He earned $5,000.

Carlisle’s Frankie Herr took first place honors for best appearing open cockpit car with his always immaculate No. 99 Super Sportsman machine.

The RAACE Foundation booth was named best Race Car Booth, equipped with Stevie Smith’s sprint car and Kyle Weiss’ modified car.

Motorsports 2009 is already in the planning stages for January 17-19. However many rumors circulated that the future of the Convention Center is not certain so I guess we will have to wait and see what transpires on that front.

Back on the local racing front, according to car owner Sandy Kline, the No. 22 sprint car driven by Greg Hodnett will be a regular at Port Royal Speedway on Saturday night in 2008. The team will hit the early season races and the bigger paying races at Lincoln Speedway but will made Port their Saturday night home. That’s a big loss for Lincoln Speedway.

This is old news now but Lance Dewease is taking his show on the road in 2008 competing for the All Star Circuit of Champions title as well as racing in a good chunk of Pennsylvania shows and World of Outlaws events. It will be the first full season for Dewease in the Catoctin Motorsports sprinter. That is another car from the weekly racing shows at Lincoln.

According to his 2008 schedule, Chad Layton will be a Saturday night regular at Lincoln Speedway in Pete Postupack’s YTI sponsored No. 25. Layton has run well at Lincoln in other rides but the No. 25 has always been a Port car. Lincoln officials certainly will welcome that race team.

The annual York Dirt Trackin’ car show is on tap this weekend at York Fairground’s Expo Center. The show kicks off Friday night and runs through Sunday night. Many local race cars will fill the expo center.

One of the cars on display this weekend will be the Doug Esh driven, Leach Brothers Motorsports/Panchos Race Products No. 30 sprinter. The top wing of the car will be promoting Adoption Night to be held later this season at Williams Grove Speedway. Children available for adoption will be featured on the car.

Selinsgrove Speedway will have another big season this year kicking off on Friday, March 14 with 410 Sprint cars. Of course the 358 sprints and late models are the weekly headline divisions on Saturday and will have some big races during the year. The URC/358 Sprint Challenge , the Joe Whitcomb Memorial, the Firecracker 30 and the Selinsgrove National Open are some of the big races for the limited sprints.

Alexander Family Dealerships has come on board with the Jeff and Missy Creasy owned sprint car team for the 2008 season. The Dealership is based in Montoursville. The team will concentrate on Selinsgrove Speedway once again. Heimbach is still on the mend following a broken leg suffered late in the season at Williams Grove.

Thanks to supporters and friends, look for some much needed improvements at Port Royal Speedway this season. The first big improvement will be renovated restrooms in the infield.

The Kasey Kahne Foundation race at Williams Grove is not official yet but it looks like it will take place in mid August.

Look for Davey Sammons to debut his Pat and Kathy Palladino Motorsports sprinter at the Lincoln Speedway opener on February 23. The team will run select 410 shows and a full URC season.

Lincoln Speedway has been busy during the off season laying freshly sifted clay all around the 3/8th’s mile oval. Lincoln had some track surface setbacks in 2007 but word is that Fred Putney has the place race ready and everyone is looking forward to a fast season in the Pigeon Hills.

The 30th annual Motorama Races and Shows is coming up February 16 and 17 at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg. Check out www.motoramaevents.com for more information on the show.

And finally, for those who aren’t counting, and I know that’s not too many, Lincoln Speedway’s opener is just 30 days away and 31 days until Williams Grove.
Until next time.