Sidewinders A Hit For Chad Hough

Sidewinders A Hit For Chad Hough

By Brad Vores April 10, 2008

Len Cobosco Photo

Chad Hough circles Trail-Way Speedway enroute to his first Sidewinders sprint win.

Len Cobosco Photo

During the off season, Chad Hough made the decision to race with the Sidewinder Micro Sprint group for the 2008 racing season.

After two years of 600cc micro competition, the 18-year-old Mechanicsburg racer made the switch into Central Pennsylvania’s newest racing division, the 1000cc micro sprint class and so far so good.

After just three races, Hough captured his first win which came Saturday night at Trail-Way Speedway and currently sits on top of the Sidewinder point standings.

“I feel like we accomplished something with the win,” said Hough, a first year student at Harrisburg Area Community College. “I know we might not be getting quite full fields just yet but every night, there are at least 12 guys that can win the feature. So it’s something to be proud of when you can beat a group of great racers like we have in the division.”

Hough, a one time winner last season at Path Valley Speedway Park in 600cc competition feels the Sidewinders are the way to go for many reasons.

“They are cost effective, they use spec tires, they tech multiple cars every week, they run at higher speeds, they have a great point fund and a great group of sponsors,” Hough said about the division that competes at Path Valley and Trail-Way Speedway’s. “I really enjoy the press they do each week and if a team has sponsors, it’s a good way to get their name out there. I want to thank Rohan (Beasley) and Jason (Morrison) for making this vision a reality and Mike from Hyper Racing for sponsoring the series.”

Hough started third in the 20 lap feature at Trail-way and quickly went out front. He managed to keep the rest of the field at bay before capturing the big win.

“Even though I got the lead early, I knew the big guys were right there and coming so I knew I had to hit my marks each lap,” he added. “Trail-Way did a real nice job with the track and the lapped cars gave me lots of room. I owe a lot to my Mom and Dad for sacrificing a lot to make this a reality for me and to Sean Seroskie for all of the work he and my father do on the race car. It was a great night all around.”

Hough will find the going somewhat tougher in the Sidewinders’ return to Path Valley tomorrow night. Should he transfer through his heat race, the best he can start will be 12th.

“I think the Sidewinder Sprints are the way to go and the class is growing and seems to be a hit so far,” Hough added. “For just their second year, they already have 40 teams signed up and we expect a few more this year so it can only get better. Plus it’s very family oriented since we only race one night a week, it gives the family a chance to come to the track plus it gives guys who aren’t able to race more than one night a week a chance to win a championship.”

For more information on Hough and the Sidewinders, visit www.sidewindersprints.com.

LIGHTING CEREMONY ON TAP
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Williams Grove Speedway will be as bright as Beaver Stadium during a primetime Penn State football game on Friday night.

The new Musco lighting system is scheduled to be turned on during the racing program and those in attendance will be taking home a symbolic momento from the night.

“We are planning on a lighting ceremony during the races when we will turn off the front stretch lights and turn on the new Musco lights,” said Justin Loh, general manager of the speedway. “It will be the first time in 60 years that the lights at Williams Grove have been changed so I know everyone will be looking forward to it.”

The lighting along with new aluminum grandstands are part of the over half million dollar facility upgrade at Williams Grove this season.

“With the increased television coverage and the National Open Live on SPEED this year, we are excited for people all across the country to see Williams Grove and hopefully want to come out and visit at us sometime in the future,” he added.

The new lighting features nine galvanized steel poles with 70 new light fixtures and 1,500 watt bulbs. It will save the track over 50 percent energy compared to its existing lighting system and will feature 50 percent less glare and spot shadows.

Representatives from Musco were scheduled to be at the track on Wednesday to make final preparations for the big night.

WHATS HAPPENING
It will be another big weekend on the local racing scene kicked off Friday night with 410 Sprints and Late Models while the 358 Sprints and stock cars will attempt to kick off the Friday night racing season at Trail-Way Speedway.

Path Valley returns with the 305 sprints, Sidewinders, 600 and 270 micros on Friday night.

After a several week hiatus, the 358 Sprints are back at Lincoln Speedway on Saturday joining the 410 Sprints and thundercars while Port Royal Speedway is back with another regular program of 410 Sprints, late models and pro stocks.

Selinsgrove Speedway is back in action Saturday with the 358 sprints, late models and stock cars while it will be another regular night of late model racing at Hagerstown Speedway on Saturday.

Susquehanna Speedway opens its gates for the first time this season on Saturday night with the first of many stock car Saturday night programs headlined by the 358 late models.

Micro Sprint action will once again be on the program Saturday at Trail-Way as well as Shippensburg Speedway.

MEYERS IS A HOT OUTLAW
Jason Meyers is the hottest thing going so far on the World of Outlaws sprint car tour.

For the third time this season in just five races, the California driver raced to victory lane this time in Saturday night’s WoO A-Main at Missouri’s I-55 Raceway.
Meyers started eighth in the field but raced his way by leader Craig Dollansky on lap 32 and went onto the $10,000 win.

Dollansky was second over Joey Saldana, Tim Shaffer and Jac Haudenschild. Mechanicsburg’s Lucas Wolfe finished in the 18th spot.

The Outlaws will be in action Friday and Saturday at Tony Stewart’s Eldora Speedway.

PIT STOPS
Path Valley Speedway used a Sunday night raindate for its Friday night show as Gene Knaub made it a two win weekend in 358 late model action. Knaub beat a short field of seven late models. Tim Fedder and Randy Burkholder followed. Other Path Valley winners on Sunday included Mike Rutherford in the 270 micros, Tyler Walton in the 600 micros, Leroy Long in the mini stocks, Geremey Sheaffer in the Legends and Buddy Smith in the thundercars. Ben Murphy finished 10th and Timmie Barrick 16th in 600 action…

Billy Moyer continued his hot streak on the World of Outlaws late model tour with a $20,000 win Saturday night in the Illini 100 at Farmer City Raceway. Moyer’s win was his third straight and came over Shannon Babb, Steve Francis, Tim McCreadie and Wes Steidinger. York’s Rick Eckert was seventh…

Williams Grove Speedway will host the second annual Ollie’s 360 Challenge on Kasey Kahne Foundation Night on Tuesday, August 19th. Kahne along with Tony Stewart and Dave Blaney will be in competition as will many of the area’s top 360 and 358 sprint car stars. Tickets are on sale now by calling the speedway…

Due to the Ollie’s 360 Challenge, Grandview Speedway’s 5-25’s Features program originally scheduled for August 19th has now been moved to Tuesday, August 12th to avoid any conflicts for both big racing events. Kudos to Thunder on the Hill promoter Bob Miller on making a change with his race date. The first Thunder on the hill series event will be the May 21st Keystone Cup 410 Sprint car series event…