In a rare appearance, the super late models will be throwing rooster tales at Schuylkill County's Big Diamond Speedway tonight as the kickoff event of the Appalachian Mountain Late Model Speedweeks 2012 series.
Consecutive race nights finds the Series heading to Hagerstown, Winchester, Va., Roaring Knob, Dog Hollow and Lincoln Speedways. Each feature winner will collect $5,000 per event.
Many of the area's top stars including Jeff Rine, Scott and Andy Haus, Jim and Dylan Yoder, Steve Campbell and others will compete against touring pros such as Josh Richards, Rick Eckert, Jimmy Mars and Vic Coffey. More than 40 drivers are expected to compete for qualifying spots for the 40-lap main event.
The weekly 358 modifieds and roadrunners will share the card will the full bodied stockers. Gates open at 5 p.m. and racing starts at 8:15.
Mention the word "storm" to a race fan and he quickly shakes from the thoughts of a rainout, but this coming week the "Eastern Storm" is a welcome addition to the race calendar, as the stars of the USAC AmsOil Sprint Car National Championship Series will be making their annual trek through the east coast.
Series' points leader Jon Stanbrough heads a talented group to the east, as Levi Jones, Robert Ballou, Jerry Coons Jr., Casey Shuman, Bobby East and last week's Indy 500 rookie Bryan Clauson and many more will thrill fans with their wild, non-stop action.
The tour kicks off Tuesday at Grandview Speedway with the Jesse Hockett Classic 40 along with the ARDC midgets, with a rain date of Wednesday. New Egypt (N.J.0 Speedway hosts the wingless sprinters and big block modifieds on Thursday. The Storm hits Big Diamond on Friday night, June 8 along with the modifieds and roadrunners; with the finale being the next night at Port Royal Speedway.
Williams Grove hosts a two-day weekend. The United Racing Company (URC) sprint cars visit the Mechanicsburg oval tonight, joining the 410 sprint cars on the racing card. Tomorrow's Saturday Night Series will be the Bill Heckert Memorial for the Super Sportsman class along with the limited late models and street stocks.
In other area action this weekend, Selinsgrove Speedway will present a show of 358 sprint cars, late models, pro stocks and roadrunners; Port Royal will host the 410 sprint cars, late models, pro stocks and Enduro dash cars; Grandview swings back into action following last week's rainout with a how of 358 modifieds, limited late models and sportsman class; and the Lincoln Speedway slate includes the 410 sprint cars, 358 sprinters and thundercars.
The 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series will visit the Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J., for the ninth of 23 events on the season schedule this weekend.
The 43rd Annual Toyota Supernationals will begin qualifying action today with professional sessions at 3:45 and 6:15, and continue through tomorrow (noon and 2:30), setting the fields for Sunday's eliminations, which begin at 11 a.m.
Defending event winners are Spencer Massey (Top Fuel), Mike Neff (Funny Car), Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Bike).
Massey is the current T/F points leader in the Full Throttle World Championship points chase. Robert Hight leads the F/C battle, Greg Anderson tops the P/S cars and New Jersey native Eddie Krawiec leads the P/S Bike contingent.
ESPN2 will provide qualifying coverage at 4:30 Saturday and two-and-a-half hours of elimination action on Sunday afternoon at 4:30.