The New York-based Race of Champions Dirt Modified Series kicked off a three-race swing through Pennsylvania, Wednesday night at Penn Can Speedway in the northern part of the state with the $10,000-to-win "Clash at the Can."
That will be followed by Tuesday nights' Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships "School's Out Shootout" at Selinsgrove Speedway and the "Battle at Lincoln Speedway" on Wednesday night.
The "Clash at the Can" was the largest purse ever paid out for a feature event in the track's history and a packed grandstand and pit area at the 3/8-mile oval was a welcome site for event promoters Brett Deyo, Reed Miller and Al Wilcox.
58 RoC modifieds attempted to qualify for the event, with some surprises among the non-qualifiers, including Alan Johnson, Billy Decker, Tim McCreadie, Ronnie Johnson and Jerry Higbie Jr..
Danny Johnson drove to the lucrative payday, followed by Ryan Godown, Jeff Strunk, Billy Pauch Sr., Ryan Watt, Joey Grammes, Larry Wight, Matt Sheppard, Stewie Friesen and Jimmy Horton in the top ten. Most of these drivers are expected to be in action on Tuesday at Selinsgrove.
The "School's Out Shootout" at Selinsgrove Speedway has many extra bonuses included for the RoC drivers, along with the winner's check of $4,000 in the 35-lap feature event.
Geared toward the end of the school year, all students are welcome to take a ride around the track and through the pit area on a school bus driven by sprint car standout Phil Walter. Gates open at 5 p.m. and racing action begins at 7:30.
The RoC Tour then heads to Lincoln Speedway the next night for the "Battle at Lincoln, Round 2," a 60-lap affair paying $5,000 to the winner. New Jersey's Ryan Godown was victorious in last year's event. The Mach 1 Chassis 358/360 sprint car 25-lap challenge is also on the card at the Hanover area facility.
Action around the area tonight finds Big Diamond hosting its three division show of modifieds, sportsman and roadrunners along with the vintage modifieds. Williams Grove Speedway presents a double open wheel program of 358 and 410 sprinters.
Action across the area Saturday night has Selinsgrove Speedway paying respects to the memory of a fellow racer as it hosts the 9th annual Joe Whitcomb Memorial for 358 sprint cars, along with the late models, pro stocks and roadrunners.
Whitcomb lost his life due to injuries suffered in an accident at the Snyder County oval on June 21, 2003. A winner in the 358 division at Selinsgrove Speedway as well as Williams Grove and Bridgeport Speedways, the Millersburg driver was well liked by his fellow competitors and was voted the Sportsman of the Year in 2001.
Previous winners of the Whitcomb Memorial include Nate Snyder of Halifax (2004); Kevin Nagy of East Brunswick, N.J. (2005); Blane Heimbach of Selinsgrove (2006, 2007, 2008); Pat Cannon of Etters (2009, 2010); and defending winner TJ Stutts of Liverpool.
Lincoln Speedway hosts the Glenn Gohn/Darryl Gohn Memorial Saturday night for the 410 sprint cars, along with the 305 sprint cars and thundercars; Williams Grove host its three division Saturday Night Series of super sportsman, limited late models and street stocks; Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville presents a three division show of modifieds, limited late models and sportsman; The World of Outlaw Late Model Series visits the Hagerstown Speedway, and Port Royal hosts the 410 sprint cars, late models, pro stocks and enduro dash cars.
In drag racing action, Maple Grove hosts the June Bug Classic Saturday for Volkswagen enthusiasts, and Sunday is Pontiacs at the Grove Day.
The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series returns to action this weekend with the 12th annual Ford Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol (TN) Dragway, the tenth of 23 events on the 2012 schedule.
(Kaminski covers auto racing for The News-Item)