SELINSGROVE - Selinsgrove Speedway is set to host the fifth annual Icebreaker Weekend Friday and Saturday, March 16 and 17, with a Sunday rain date.
The half-mile dirt track, which opens for the season on Sunday, March 11, is historic for its sprint car and late model stock car racing, but the Icebreaker has proven to be a successful annual event attended by modified racing's biggest stars from throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and Canada.
The event was created by Joe Kaminski Jr., who serves as race director at Selinsgrove, and also as promoter for the Icebreaker. The Mount Carmel resident has long been a modified fan, and convinced Selinsgrove promoter Charlie Paige to give that form a racing a shot at Selinsgrove in 2008.
The once-a-year visit by modifieds has become one of the most popular events for both small-block and big-block modified competitors.
Friday's racing is exclusively for small-block modifieds as they compete in a 25- lap feature that will pay at least $2,200 to win. The show includes heat races and a non- qualifiers' feature.
Saturday's main event is a 40-lap big-block feature in which the small-block modified drivers (who will be allowed a weight advantage to make up for horsepower) are also welcome to participate. It will pay at least $5,000 to win, up $1,000 from last year. Heat races and a non-qualifiers feature are also part of Saturday's lineup, as is a three-lap Middleswarth Potato Chips Cash Dash.
Both Friday and Saturday events are under the banner of the Race of Champions (RoC) Tour. A driver's best finish of the two nights will provide points toward the RoC season championship.
A weekend sweep of features and a majority of the special awards could earn more than $13,000 for one driver.
Recently joining a long list of sponsors already on board was Andrew's Aquatics, a firm out of Mount Ephraim, N.J., across the river from Philadelphia, which will give $100 to the winner of Friday night's non-qualifiers feature.
"This sponsorship just proves just how popular this weekend has become," Kaminski said. "Mr. (Andrew) Senlick is a big race fan who has traveled from his home the past few years to attend this event, and he wanted to get involved."
The success of the Icebreaker had led RoC to schedule a second date at Selinsgrove this year. The Tuesday, June 19, event precedes a visit by the touring group the next night at Lincoln Speedway.
For more information, call Kaminski at 274-0404, RoC at 607-775-5555 or Selinsgrove Speedway at 374-2999.
On the Net: www.rocdirt.com; www.selinsgrovespeedway.com