Saturday, May 21 - We decided to venture down to Bridgeport Speedway tonight for the first time this year and we asked my brother, Bob, if he wanted to go along. So we arranged to meet at Sam Balliet Stadium in Coplay, Pa where the championship baseball game of the Lehigh Valley Conference (LVC) was taking place between Nazareth and Parkland. Bob and friend, Mike Wenner had attended the two semi-final games starting in the morning and then the championship game in the afternoon. A full day in the sun left Bob a little worse for wear but he was still ready to make the trek south into New Jersey. We arrived at Bridgeport at 6:15 for the scheduled 7 PM start on this warm, partly cloudy day in the 80’s with black clouds to the east. With all the rain this week track prep was behind schedule and racing did not begin until 7:30.

On the dance card tonight were the rookie crate modifieds (5) who would start out the evening of racing with their 6 lap feature event. The outlaw stocks ran two, 4 lap heats for their 15 car field before the ARDC midgets came out on the 1/4 mile oval located in the front part of the masssive infield in front of the grandstands. Three heats were run for their 25 car field and the heats were close and competitive. The fourth division of the card was the Bridgeport modifieds (crate engines) with 30 cars in attendence. It was 8:40 when all the heat racing was over. The fifth division of the night was the sportsman which run every other week here with six in town to run a 15 lap main event which they moved right into. Fifty five year old Mike Lyons fended off Marc Herman for the win here. The 15 lap outlaw stock feature was next up with Pat Conaway scoring his 40th career win at Bridgeport. The only division which needed a consie was the Bridgeport modifieds and the Elvis impersonator, Tom Miller won this one. A thirty minute intermission followed during which the track crew worked on the racing surface as the corners were quite wavy or lumpy whichever term you like better.

It was already after 10 PM when the first of the two remaining features came trackside with the green waving on the 25 lap ARDC midget feature at 10:09. What followed was a race with 11 cautions with the need to cut the distance to 20 laps in order for the Bridgeport modifieds to be able to start their feature before the 11:15 curfew time. So after 41 minutes this horrendous race was mercifully checkered with young college student, Alex Bright, scoring his first career ARDC win. We are both huge midget fans but when you see a stinker you got to call it such. We discussed the night of racing on the way home and came to the conclusion that the 1/4 mile at Bridgeport is not wide enough and not banked enough to produce good racing for the midget race cars. Well, we still had the 25 lap Bridgeport modified feature to go with the green waving at 10:59. As long as the race is started before the curfew time they are allowed to finish that race. This one was not an artistic success either as seven cautions slowed this one on the big 5/8 mile track. When it was all said and done at 11:31 Jack Hartnett stood in victory lane for the second time at Bridgeport and we have witnessed both of his wins. He held off Chad James, son of the track owners, and current point leader, Travis Hill at the finish.

As I mentioned earlier as we rode home we analyzed the night of racing to try to understand why it took 4 hours to run the program that they presented. One thing we realized upon checking the times we jot down is that the three ARDC heats took over a half hour to complete with minor problems. The reasoning we came up with was two fold in that they only had three trucks to push off the midgets and due to the rain they were forced to drive around a swampy area off the backstretch of the 1/4 mile before entering the racing surface off turn four. Add that half hour to the hour and twenty one minutes it took to run the two main division features and we realized why it was a long and disappointing evening of racing at Bridgeport. There’s nothing you can do about the wet conditions or wrecking race cars but you can make sure you have at least a dozen push trucks when a open wheel division comes into town.

Wednesday, May 25 - It was a solo trip for me tonight as Pat had an evening business meeting so I was glad that I was only treking 45 minutes to Grandview Speedway for tonight’s racing. It was the opening race of the six night Keystone Cup Central Pennsylvania 410 sprint series with a slim field of 22 sprinters on hand but the other division for the evening, the 358 modifieds, brought out 36 strong to race. Things got underway just 10 minutes off the scheduled starting time of 7:30 with time trials for the 410 sprinters. Sixteen minutes later Brian Leppo stood in victory lane after setting fast time around the 1/3 mile high banked dirt oval with a time of 11.926 seconds being interviewed by Thunder on the Hill announcer, Jeff Alhum. The 358 modifieds took to the track for their three qualifying heat races and produced some very good heat racing. The sprint cars on the other hand had problems especially in the first heat when two drivers flipped. First, former modified ace, Frank Cozze, did a single end over end after contacting the boiler plate in turn three and he was OK. The second flip was nasty as Brent Marks also slid into the boiler plate fencing in turn three taking numerous tumbles ending up against the inside rail where Justin Henderson made heavy contact with him as the car laid on its side. Henderson tried everything to try to miss the flipping Marks but was unable to do so. Luckily no one was injured in this one either. The first heat ended up with only three cars completing the 12 lap distance. The next two heats ran quicker but the close, tight racing was not there yet. Only the 358 modifieds needed a consie and that one was in the books by 9:38.

Now it was feature time with the 410 sprint cars appearing first on stage for their 35 lap main event. Brian Leppo got the jump on the initial start from second over first starting Daryn Pittman and led through lap 1 when J.R. Berry brought out the first of three cautions by spinning in turn three. On the restart they completed two more laps before Tyler Walker who started tenth and was up to sixth lost the handle in turn two and spun. The third green saw Leppo retain the lead and they ran fast and furious until lap 12 when the boiler plate in turn three claimed another victim when Stevie Smith slammed the wall and flipped hard landing on his wheels. At this point it was decided to go to an open red to allow refueling now rather than later so the cars could go the rest of the way without further delay. The last caution appeared on lap 21 when Tyler Walker again spun this time in turn three. All this time Leppo continued to lead but Fred Rahmer was closing the gap and within striking distance now. On the last restart Leppo jumped up top and looked to have the lead in control but on the white flag lap he came down low through turns one and two allowing Rahmer to dramatically close the distance and almost beat him to the wire. Coming home third in the chase was Texan Sam Hafertepe Jr. driving the local Pancho Lawler #93 advancing from 14th with Daryn Pittman dropping to fourth and Lance Dewease rounding out the top five.

The 358 modified feature was the last race of the evening and even though it had one more cautin than the sprints it was a very similar race in comparsion. Jeff Strunk started the Norm Hansell #357 first and took off. He was never seriously challenged but there was some good racing taking place behind him. Mike Gular, who ran strong all evening, locked down the second position with Ryan Godown fourth from ninth and Duane Howard advancing from 17th to 5th at the end similar to the run of Hafertepe. The final checker waved at 11:03, a tad too late for a midweek program but all in all an enjobable night of racing on top of the hill in Bechtelsville.

Friday, May 20 - The weather was once again a factor for today so we scanned the forecast on weather.com (which I feel is the most accurate weather forecaster out there) to determine where we would be heading tonight. The choice was made easier as Big Diamond, Penn Can and Accord threw in the towel. We watched the weather patterns for the Harrisburg area and found that the rain was passing on each side of Mechanicsburg but in the next six hours was not passing over the Williams Grove Speedway. So we placed a phone call to Jeff Alhum, the Bridgeport Speedway announcer, when we realized that Little Bridgeport had also called it quits. He called his friend, Russ, and we arranged to all meet at the park and ride off I-78 in Hellertown and by 6:15 we were off and running in Russ’ Lincoln Towne Car toward the Grove. Several times we ran through areas of rain sometimes heavy but two calls to the Grove repeated the message that they were still running. We arrived under partly sunny skies and found a soggy parking lot but they were running and that is all that mattered. In fact they started three minutes early at 7:57 as we all gathered underneath the stands to go forward and find a seat. I watched the first 358 sprint from the steps with Chad Trout passing Amy Ott late in the race to secure the heat victory. A seat was not a problem as the crowd was way down due to the uncertain weather.

Two more closely contested 358 heats were spun off for the 24 car field followed by three heats for the 23 car 410 sprint field. All heat racing was completed in just 33 minutes. With the fields being down in number no consies were needed and after a half hour intermission the 25 lap 410 sprint car feature was ready to go. And go they did for 25 non-stop laps completing the distance in only 7 minutes!!! Fredon, New Jersey’s Ryan Bohlke took the early lead from his number one starting spot but as they exited turn four to complete lap two fourth starting Mark Smith was in the lead. We all felt that Smith was the man to beat and might have been except for mechanical problems that reared their ugly head on lap six as he limped down the backstretch and into the infield. Bohlke inherited the lead at this point and began to pull away. Doug Esh from eighth broke out of the pack and began to reel in the high flying youngster from the Garden State. Esh closed as the pair of Cory Haas (6th starter) and Brian Montieth (10th starter) cut into the margin of the two front runners. Montieth caught Haas when they went to pass the lapped car of Nichole Bower and moved into third. The battle now brewed between Esh and Montieth with each exchanging slide jobs on each other. Montieth caught and passed Esh as the white flag waved and took off after Bohlke. He did not have enough time to make a serious run for the top spot and at 9:07 Bohlke flashed under the twin checkered flags for his second career win at Williams Grove and his first in almost three years (6/2008). Esh came home third with Cory Haas fourth and Chad Layton rounding out the top five. Postions six through ten were filled by Greg Hodnett (14th), Fred Rahmer (12th), Lance Dewease (11th), Aaron Ott (5th) and Tyler Walker (18th). It was a good race and a good night for the kid from Fredon.

We stilled had a 20 lap 358 sprint car feature to go and unlike previous years the majority of the crowd stayed to watch these guys and gals as their racing has only gotten better and better. In fact this one overall had more passing than the 410 sprint feature which might have been because it had three yellows and one red for a flip by Chad Trout, the first heat winner, in turn three. The ageless veteran, Rich Eichelberger, took the early lead from Amy Ott as the green waved. Connecticut youngster, Michael Ruttkamp, was the next contender in the picture as this kid gets better every passing week. Another young gun, Logan Schuchart, was making some big gains advancing from his 9th starting position to the top three by lap six. Schuchart, the grandson of former sprint car great Bobby Allen, made a grand outside charge through turns three and four to the top spot on lap 7. Even though after he gained the lead two cautions appeared Schuchart was gone on the restarts. His impressive run was in a brand new car and in victory lane at 9:50 he praised the car builder and his crew for providing him with such a rocket. It was Schuchart’s first career win at Williams Grove and if that run was any indication he has plenty more to come. Michael Ruttkamp kept Pat Cannon at bay for the rest of the 20 laps to finish second with Cannon third from 12th with Eichelberger fourth and Scott Geesey fifth after starting tenth.

It was a good night of racing and we snuck one in as the only other area track able to run was Trailway Speedway with Chris Eash winning his first race in the 358’s there. Stayed tuned for tomorrow night’s report as we follow the ARDC midgets into New Jersey for their racing action.

Friday, May 13 - The weather prediction for the weekend was for rain to move in late Friday night and to remain in the area the entire weekend. Our only chance to get in a race was Friday night and we chose to go to Big Diamond. Normally we go to Williams Grove on Friday night but when the World of Outlaws are in town we go elsewhere. With the change of management at Big Diamond they went back to their old starting time of 8:15, which was always fine with me. This means we can actually get to a race prior to the start. The trek to Big Diamond is about 40 minutes less then Williams Grove and there was a time when this was our normal Friday night stop. I actually got home early and Bruce and I set out at 6:00 and arrived on the grounds at 7:20. It was gray, chilly and a light drizzle was falling.

The car count in the pits was a bit light I thought. There were 25 modifieds, 26 sportsman and 16 road runners. Racing started promptly at 8:15 and the heats were run off one after the other. Big Diamond put new clay on the track since last year and I must admit the surface was better then I have seen it in years. The eight qualifying heats were run off in 45 minutes and they only ran one consolation race and that was for the sportsman. At 9:07 it was intermission. There was some minor track preparation and then the 25 car modified feature lined up on the homestretch.

Tonight the feature was 35 laps instead of the normal 30 laps. It was Friday the 13th and this race was called Freaky Friday and the winner would receive $3,000. Big Diamond lines up the feature with a handicapping system. The top 6 qualify in the heat and the top 5 are handicapped in the feature. This assures that if the top guys want to win they need to pass cars. The green dropped on the field at 9:34 and it looked like the Big Diamond of old. There was plenty of exciting racing and passing. But from the drop of the green there was one car that looked like a hot knife through butter, Craig Von Dohren. On lap 8 Von Dohren took the lead from Billy Pauch Jr. and started to drive away. The race went green until lap 20 when Rick Laubach came to a halt in turn two. This bunched up the field and for the next 15 laps Pauch Jr. became Von Dohren’s biggest nightmare. He was all over Von Dohren like white on rice. It was a great show to watch as Pauch tried the inside and outside but could not manage to get by the 1C of Von Dohren. Top gun, Duane Howard was in third when he pulled the #4 in the pits on lap 26. While the battle for the lead was going on Mike Gular and Jeff Strunk were in a battle for third. In the end it was Von Dohren picking up win number 70 at Big Diamond with Pauch second. Strunk got by Gular on the final circuit for third and Michael Weinert finished fifth. Weinert will be celebrating his 16th birthday this week. The modified faeture was over at 9:58 and I was surprised at how few fans left.

The roadrunner 20 lap event was next and these guys really run hard. Three wide racing is not unheard of for this bunch. Even though Kody Sites lead all 20 laps it was a good race. Jeremy Becker was second with Elvin Brennan III in third. The time was now 10:23 and the wind picked up, it got considerably cooler and a drizzle started to fall. I watched up to the third caution and then called it quits. Bruce stayed for the remainder of the 20 lap event that saw the caution wave 6 times. When these guys run good they are very good but when they are bad they are very very bad.

Still the complete show was over by 10:58. The surface was virtually dust free up through the modified feature and it was also smooth throughout the entire night. We also saw some real good racing. It was a pleasant surprise and we just might visit the Minersville coal region more often.

Sunday, May 8 - We spent the night at a Best Western in Johnson City, New York and the next morning left around 10:45 to make the trek back up Rts. 26 and 21 to the Broome-Tioga Sports Center. This large facility is located on both sides of Rt. 79 west of Center Lisle. Our directions were not very good and we traveled about 10 miles out of our way in searching for the complex. As you approach Broome-Tioga on the right side is a large motocross track which had many riders on hand along with many motorhomes for the participants. On the left side going west was the next part of the complex which consisted of a demo derby pit and a 1/7 mile dirt off-road course. We arrived around 12:50 and paid our $10 admission which allowed you to visit both tracks. We walked over a nice bridge built over the stream and walked toward three sections of metal bleachers with wooden planks as seats. Lo and behold in the center section near the top row sat long time trackchaser, Rick Schneider from Long Island, staking claim to another new race track. We sat with Rick and chatted the entire time we were there after not having seen him for close to two years.

The autocross and demo derby were scheduled to begin at 1 PM but it was 1:25 until things got underway. There would be two heats for the six car autocross field and one demo derby for the five vehicles entered. The first group of heat racers were given one slow lap to check out the contour of the track which consisted of a short straight leading into the first corner with the first jump shortly thereafter. They then proceeded uphill where they encountered two more jumps before reaching a tractor tire filled with hay. There the descent began to another tight, wet corner and into the final jump which was also the finish line. Each heat races was three laps in distance with the feature being four laps in length. The two heats were entertaining and were spun off quickly. The announcer with his stout announcing system stood in front of us and kept us informed and stirred up the crowd to make noise and have fun. His best statement was “we are not here for a long time, just a good time” and he was indeed correct has the entire program took just a little over an hour to complete. After the heats were run the demo derby was contested. After the demo derby was finished they cleaned up the smashed cars from the pit area surrounded by concrete barriers before venturing into the autocross main event. The feature went green at 2:25 and just five minutes later Jerry Harman, one of the heat winners, stood in victory lane with his trophy and check as winner. We all went out into the parking lot and Rick and us swapped stories for the next hour until we finally bid farewell and headed to the exit. It was an enjoyable day in the sun and hoping that the promoters can drum up more cars to be built and brought out as it was entertaining and would be more so with 12 to 18 cars racing.

Saturday, May 7 - The last time we went to Thunder Mountain Speedway in Center Lisle, New York it was over 10 years ago. I know that because Amy Lou the family Beagel was with us and she crossed over the Rainbow Bridge more than 10 years ago. We decided to come because Bruce wanted to go to an off road autocross just down Route 79 from Center Lisle and we were going to make a weekend of it. On the way up we passed cars, that normally run at Five Mile Point, coming back down Interstate 81 and that prompted up to call the Point. They were rained out. Next we called Thunder Mountain and they were still running and there was no rain, just scattered showers. We arrived at 6:20 for the 6:30 start and the drivers meeting was underway. I thought that warm-ups had not taken place yet but I was wrong. At 6:45 the first heat pulled onto the track and they ran them off one after the other with little interruption. There were two heats for the 16 sportsman, three heats for the 20 street stocks, two heats for the 12 pure stocks, two heats for the 12 modifieds and two heats for the 14 road bandits (mini stocks). By 7:35 all was complete and we were heading into a 40 minute intermission. The streets, pure stocks and road bandits did not stir up much dust but the sportsman and modifieds had the dust rolling and mostly onto us. They came out and watered the track during intermission but you could see it was not going to mean all that much.

At 8:15 the 25 lap sportsman feature took to the track and 7 cautions and 25 minutes later it was over. Billy Spoonhower was the winner followed by Justin Andrews and Eddie White. The street stock feature had an equal amount of cautions with 5 less laps. Butch Green took this event with Louie Gordinier and Jason Beebe in tow. I thought this was the most competitive race of the night as positions 2 and 3 battled, with the second place spinning and both cars sent to the rear, with three laps to go. Pure stocks were next and ran a clean race with only 2 cautions with Matt Sisenstein taking the checkered with Chuck Culberston in second.

The headline division is the modifieds and they ran 30 laps. The race was spun off in 10 minutes with only 1 caution. Unfortunately the dust during this event was so bad you had a hard time watching the event. Justin Holland was the winner with sportsman winner Billy Spoonhower in second. Nick Rochinski, Brent Wilcox and Mike Nagel Jr. rounded out the top five.

It was only 9:35 but we, as well as many other fans, decided to throw in the towel and go back to the hotel to catch the the end of Darlington. We were totally covered in dust similar to cement dust. It was awful. Although the fans did not seem to mind. Maybe I am getting old but this dirt was more then I want to sit through. This is where my story ends. My mom always said if you cannot say anything nice do not say anything at all.

Saturday, May 7 - The last time we went to Thunder Mountain Speedway in Center Lisle, New York it was over 10 years ago. I know that because Amy Lou the family Beagel was with us and she crossed over the Rainbow Bridge more than 10 years ago. We decided to come because Bruce wanted to go to an off road autocross just down Route 79 from Center Lisle and we were going to make a weekend of it. On the way up we passed cars, that normally run at Five Mile Point, coming back down Interstate 81 and that prompted up to call the Point. They were rained out. Next we called Thunder Mountain and they were still running and there was no rain, just scattered showers. We arrived at 6:20 for the 6:30 start and the drivers meeting was underway. I thought that warm-ups had not taken place yet but I was wrong. At 6:45 the first heat pulled onto the track and they ran them off one after the other with little interruption. There were two heats for the 16 sportsman, three heats for the 20 street stocks, two heats for the 12 pure stocks, two heats for the 12 modifieds and two heats for the 14 road bandits (mini stocks). By 7:35 all was complete and we were heading into a 40 minute intermission. The streets, pure stocks and road bandits did not stir up much dust but the sportsman and modifieds had the dust rolling and mostly onto us. They came out and watered the track during intermission but you could see it was not going to mean all that much.

At 8:15 the 25 lap sportsman feature took to the track and 7 cautions and 25 minutes later it was over. Billy Spoonhower was the winner followed by Justin Andrews and Eddie White. The street stock feature had an equal amount of cautions with 5 less laps. Butch Green took this event with Louie Gordinier and Jason Beebe in tow. I thought this was the most competitive race of the night as positions 2 and 3 battled, with the second place spinning and both cars sent to the rear, with three laps to go. Pure stocks were next and ran a clean race with only 2 cautions with Matt Sisenstein taking the checkered with Chuck Culberston in second.

The headline division is the modifieds and they ran 30 laps. The race was spun off in 10 minutes with only 1 caution. Unfortunately the dust during this event was so bad you had a hard time watching the event. Justin Holland was the winner with sportsman winner Billy Spoonhower in second. Nick Rochinski, Brent Wilcox and Mike Nagel Jr. rounded out the top five.

It was only 9:35 but we, as well as many other fans, decided to throw in the towel and go back to the hotel to catch the the end of Darlington. We were totally covered in dust similar to cement dust. It was awful. Although the fans did not seem to mind. Maybe I am getting old but this dirt was more then I want to sit through. This is where my story ends. My mom always said if you cannot say anything nice do not say anything at all.

Sunday, May 1 - Originally there were six of us scheduled to make the trip north to Five Mile Point but over the course of the week the number was pared down to two, myself and Jeff Ahlum. We met at the park and ride in Palmer Township, Pa. at 1 PM and headed north first on Rt. 33 followed by I-80, I-380 and finally I-81. We pulled into the parking lot at Five Mile Point at 3 and already the fans were making their way in. We had talked with Joe Perrotto earlier and his son, Steve, and Joe would be saving us some butt space. Steve Perrotto is headed out soon to basic training for the Air Force and his dad and him made one last racing weekend together visiting some of their favorite tracks. We want to extend our good luck wishes and safe times for Steve as he ventures into the armed forces of our country.

On tap today at Five Mile Point was the 18th running of the Southern Tier Open for the modifieds with a 40 lap feature paying $2500 to win. Also on the racing card were the lightning cats with two features, sportsman and street stocks. Car counts are as follows: modifieds(25), sportsman (23), street stocks (30) and lightning cats (21). The scheduled starting time was 4:30 and I was pleased and surprised to see the heldover 15 lap lightning cat feature from 4/10 pull onto the track at 4 PM. These guys and gals ran a good race with teammates Andy Brigham and Andy Colwell finishing one/two with just three cautions in the event. After the feature track maintenance was performed from 4:20 to 4:38. Then it was time for the sportsman heats and their racing was good also. The street stocks needed four heats for their 30 car field and they ran the best I believe I have ever seen them at the Point. The modifieds spun off three competitive races and then the lightning cats blistered off three heats in eight minutes with all heat qualifying was over by 5:29, an incredible time of 47 minutes. Only the street stocks needed a consie and that was over by 5:40.

Now a second track maintenance session was needed lasting 30 minutes. First off let me say that I enjoy the tight racing action at Five Mile Point but I still don’t understand why you need to work on your racing surface three times during the course of the day adding over an hour to the length of the show. After watering and running the track in it should not peel off in a short period of time like peeling paint off a house. I am not an expert on clay but I do know that at other dirt tracks such as Lincoln and Williams Grove the track does not peel off and throw the amount of dust that Five Mile Point does. Therefore maybe the problem is the quality of the clay used on the surface. This track would be such a delight to witness racing at if the dust problem could be conquered. The racing is close with multi-grooves and much passing but it is difficult to enjoy when you are being showered by dust. I’m just trying to be honest and give some constructive criticism here. It is not meant to be a bashing of the track but an observation that if I feel this way I know others must also and I am only trying to address the matter so maybe some good can come out of writing about this problem.

Let’s get back to the racing as the 25 lap sportsman feature was first up and though there not much passing up front there was good racing outside the top five. Joel Batzel scored an emotional victory, his first in 6 years, as the tears flowed in victory lane. Utica Rome invader, Matt Janczuk, finished second as a group of his fans sat in front of us and enjoyed his finish. Eddie White came home third with Jim LaRock fourth and Jeff Crambo cracking the top five after starting 16th. Twelve minutes and two cautions made for a good race. The second lightning cat feature was run with Andy Brigham scoring a double on the day. The third track maintenance was performed before the modified feature for another 17 minutes.

At 7:27 the green waved on the 40 lap Southern Tier Open with Accord runner, Danny Tyler, taking the early lead. Defending track champion, Stewart Friesen, started fourth and caught Tyler between turns three and four coming around for lap 7 for the lead. He held the lead until lap 16 when Brett Tonkin spun in turn one with Friesen slamming into the spun Tonkin. Stewart headed pitside and returned but you could tell the front end was not right. In fact Friesen spun in turn one on lap 18 and returned to the pit area to try to make some quick repairs. Danny Creeden was now the top gun now and he would not relinquish the lead the rest of the distance. Tyler came home second best with rookie Jamie Batzel taking the last podium position. Billy VanPelt came home fourth with Justin Holland rounding out the top five after starting tenth. Stewart Friesen started at the tail of the field after pitting and returning to the track on lap 18 and bent front end and all managed to work his way back up to 7th at the checker. This guy is some racer!! It was now 7:44 and I persuaded Jeff to skip the street stock feature and head back south into Pennsylvania and eventually home. It was a good day of racing even with the dust.

Saturday, April 30 – It was night two of the All Star Sprint’s Eastern swing and the action would be taking place at the Port Royal Speedway in Port Royal, Pennsylvania. I am always awe stricken by the scenery during the drive north on Rts. 22/322 toward Port Royal where first you see the Susquehanna River and then you border the Juniata River with the Tuscarora Mountains rising high behind the rivers. Today there was a flood warning for both the rivers and they were indeed swollen with many low lying areas already under water with trees sticking up out of the water. We ventured north of Port Royal past Lewistown to visit a large antique store where we spent several hours before heading back south to the Rt. 75 exit. As you approach a crest in the road sitting before you is the quaint town of Port Royal with its metal bridge spanning the Juniata River. Also from this vantage point you can graze down upon the Juniata County Fairgrounds and the large aluminum grandstand reflecting the sunlight. It is an iconic sight to behold.

We pulled onto the fairgrounds around 4:30 and already a large amount of vehicles were parked haphazardly in every nook and cranny that could be occupied. After laying down our blanket we wandered around a bit before returning to the car where we read for a while. Around 6:30 we purchased some food and ventured into the grandstands to prepare for the evening of racing. Thirty two sprint cars, sixteen sidewinder sprints and thirteen pro stocks graced the pit area located outside of turn four. At 7:05, just five minutes off the scheduled starting time the first sprint car was pushed off for time trials. When it was all said and done forty five minutes later Greg Hodnett had set fast time of 16.708 seconds on the half mile dirt oval. There was 37 minutes of downtime while the sprint heats were determined (and 2011 track champion, Chad Layton, made an engine change). The four heat races were collectively good with the first one the best of the lot with Fred Rahmer failing to qualify through the heat race. Two sidewinder heats and two pro stock heats followed and heat qualifying was finished by 9:35. They bring the top six from time trials that qualified highest in their heats to draw for positions for the dash down on the homestretch. Youngsters from the crowd are assigned to each driver and draw their starting numbers for them. The finish of the dash determines the top six starters in the main event. They still needed to run a B main for the sprinters with Tim Shaffer winning in that one. It was already 10 PM when all the preliminary qualifying was over.

It was another half hour before the green flag dropped on the 24 car starting field in the sprint car feature. It was the Bob Weikert Memorial and the Weikert family gave away ten bicycles to the kids and numerous meat packs along with a giant outdoor grill. Also the Jesse Keen #17 driven by Tyler Walker was repainted to look exactly like the famous red, white and blue #29 driven by many of the best in the sprint car business. Would an All-Star finally break the drought here at Port Royal where they have never win or not. Dale Blaney and Kerry Madsen were the highest starters making up the fourth row and we were about ready to find out the answer. Stevie Smith and Fred Rahmer brought the field to the green with Smith the early leader. Rahmer challenged and passed for the lead around lap seven. He pulled away from the field until the first caution waved on lap 12 for Smith who slowed with a flat tire. He was able to change it and return at the end of the field. On the restart fourth starting Greg Hodnett passed Rahmer in turn two for the lead. Four laps later Rahmer slowed with a flat, pitted and returned to the field. Hodnett continued to pace the field through the middle stages of the race but Dale Blaney was on the move taking second on lap 20 and closing the gap from his 8th starting spot. On lap 22 while battling for seventh current Port Royal point leader, Ryan Taylor, banged into Kerry Madsen on the backstretch with Madsen climbing the right rear tire of Taylor and climbing the backstretch guardrail before flipping out of the ball park onto the town street running parallel to the backstretch. Shortly thereafter he was spotted climbing back over the fence to the fan’s relief. The ambulance crew was searching for him outside the track as we walked back toward the pit area. Hodnett took off on the ensuing restart and put some distance between himself and Blaney. Ten laps later Hodnett flashed under the checkered flag winning for the first time this year and 22nd time lifetime at Port Royal placing him 13th on the all-time win list. Blaney turned in a good run but the All Star drought continued. Mike Wagner advanced from 6th to 2rd at the end with 12th starter Justin Henderson fourth and 17th starter Lance Dewease rushing into fifth at the end. Stevie Smith who had the early flat rebounded for 8th at the finish. It was already 11:06 with two features still to run but we decided to exit stage right and make the 2 ½ hour tow back to eastern Pennsylvania. We both thought the racing was good but the length of the program left something to desire. There was still one more race on the dance card on Sunday and I will bring that to you soon.