Following the recent DIRTcar modifieds, World of Outlaws late models and sprint car events completed in Florida, all eyes will now focus on the Northeast racing scene.
Historically, the first track to kick off the winter blues, Abbottstown's Lincoln Speedway, hosted the Central PA 410 sprint car opener last Saturday. Adam Wilt scored the 30-lap main event victory, with 28 sprinters in the pit area on a blustery afternoon.
Once again, Lincoln is slated to host a complete program of qualifying and 25-lap feature for the 410 sprinters Saturday, with action beginning at 2 p.m. 358 sprint cars and thundercar practice is also on the program.
Opening days for the area speedways vary. Selinsgrove Speedway kicks off with a 410 sprint car and pro stock program Sunday, March 11.
The following Saturday, Port Royal Speedway hosts an open wheel doubleheader at 6 p.m., featuring the 358 and 410 sprinters at the historic Juniata County Fairgrounds half-mile.
Williams Grove Speedway drops the green flag for an open practice session on Sunday, March 18, while the season opener for the 358 and 410 sprint cars will be on Friday, March 23.
Later, Hagerstown Speedway kicks off its season on Saturday, March 24, with a full program of late models, late model sportsman, pure stocks and hobby stocks, while Grandview Speedway will begin its 50th anniversary season with an open practice on March 31, followed by the season opener for the 358 modifieds, limited late models and sportsmen on April 7.
Schuylkill County's Big Diamond Speedway kicks off an aggressive season with its test and tune day March 25, with the season opening 358 modified, sportsman and roadrunner program on Sunday, April 1 at 2 p.m.
"Beaver Bob" McCardle, owner of Beaver Springs Dragway, will be hosting his annual racers' preseason meeting this Sunday at the Middlecreek Community Center (located just off of Route 522 before the turn off to the track) at 10 a.m.
McCardle once again has a very ambitious schedule slated for his quarter-mile facility, which will open for test and tune sessions on March 24-25 and 31, as the first Summit ET Series Points race begins on April 1.
Various special shows include two visits by Bob Motz and his 200 MPH-plus jet truck (May 25 and Aug. 31), the 11th annual Gasser Reunion (June 8-10), the 9th annual York US30 Nostalgia Nationals (July 14-15), the popular Flashback Friday Showdown (Aug. 10) and various other special shows along with the weekly racing programs.
Bob Dimino and company will have big shoes to fill following last season's highly successful campaign at the Columbia County strip.
The National Hot Rod Association is divided into seven divisions. Numidia Dragway is part of the Northeast Division (Canada, Delaware, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia), which includes Maple Grove Raceway, Old Bridge Township Raceway Park (Englishtown), Cecil County and Virginia Motorsports Park as part of the 18 facilities that make up Division One.
At the recent division banquet, many accolades were bestowed upon the racers of Numidia. Jim Young Jr. was awarded the ET Driver of the Year; while the National Dragster Team Spirit Award, NHRA Summit Racing Series Team Championship and Dragstrip of the Year honors were presented to the track.
Test and tune sessions and Friday night street legal drags dot the early April calendar, leading up to the first Summit Series points race on Sunday, April 15.
The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series kicked off a few weeks ago with the 52nd annual Winternationals in Pomona, Calif. Don Schumacher Racing teammates battled for the top fuel title, as Spencer Massey defeated Antron Brown in the finals. In funny car final round action, John Force claimed his 134th career victory, defeating teammate Mike Neff, and Greg Anderson defeated Jeg Coughlin Jr. in pro stock action. The second race of the season at Firebird International Raceway was a battle of teammates in each of the three professional class final rounds of the 28th annual Arizona Nationals.
Antron Brown defeated Tony Schumacher in top fuel; Robert Hight stopped Mike Neff in the all Force Racing funny car final and Jason Line beat Greg Anderson in the battle of the Summit Pro Stock cars.
Heading into next weekend's 43rd annual Gatornationals at Gainesville, Fla., Brown, Neff and Anderson are the points leaders in their respective classes.
Dirt track racing fans looking for something to do tonight and to help out a good cause may want to head out to the Selinsgrove Hotel in downtown Selinsgrove. Being billed as "Race Fever Friday," the Selinsgrove Hotel will be hosting race drivers bartending for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
The festivities begin at 8 p.m., with many local drivers tapping your favorite beverages from 9-10:30.
Scheduled to tend include "Flyin' Phil Walter, Nate Snyder, Brett Schadel, Tony Adams, Mike Erdley, Kyle Bachman and a few others.
Great food, great times and some cool door prizes are on tap at the racer's bar.
(Kaminski covers auto racing for The News-Item)