Area sprint car fans will have plenty of choices this weekend, as the touring World of Outlaws invade Williams Grove Speedway for a two-day show, the United Racing Company (URC) challenges Selinsgrove's best Saturday night in the Jack Gunn Memorial and Lincoln Speedway hosts a special Sunday night show with the 358 and 410 sprint cars.
Joey Saldana (three wins) in the Kasey Kahne Racing sprint car leads the Outlaw point standings heading into tonight's program followed by Tony Stewart Racing teammates, Steve Kinser (four wins) and Donny Schatz, while 2010 WoO Champion, Jason Meyers, and Jason Sides (two wins) complete the top five positions.
Qualifying action begins both nights at 7:30 p.m., as time trials, qualifying heats and B-mains will set the starting field for both feature events. Fans will also be treated to a huge fireworks display both nights.
A new program has been added this year, with the inaugural Morgan Cup Challenge. The cup is named in honor of Morgan Hughes, the former owner of the speedway, and will pit the top five Outlaw and top five Pa. Posse finishers of last season's National Open held at the Mechanicsburg oval.
The rivalry between the Pa. Posse and the Outlaws is legendary, as the winner of the 12-lap challenge event will earn bragging rights for his team.
"I think anything new is great," said Meyers, who will be at the head of the Outlaws team that includes Jason Sides, Paul McMahan, Donny Schatz and Kraig Kinser. "It's really neat that places like Williams Grove are stepping up and putting on something a little bit out of the ordinary. I think the fans will love it, and I know we're looking forward to it, especially starting on the front row. We look forward to going in there and winning it for the World of Outlaws."
The Pa. Posse team will be led by Lance Dewease, Stevie Smith, Brian Montieth, Darryn Pittman and Greg Hodnett. The 12-lap event will conclude the activities Saturday night.
Selinsgrove Speedway presents the NRG Controls North 31st Annual Jack Gunn Memorial URC/358 Sprint Car Challenge Saturday evening, paying $3,500 to the winner of the 30-lap feature. Time trials and qualifying heats and B-main will determine the starting spots for the sprint car spectacular. The late models and pro stocks are also on the schedule, with a 7 p.m. starting time.
The URC will include stars such as JJ Grasso, Curt Michael, Kramer Williamson, Becca Anderson and others, pitted against Selinsgrove's best Pat Cannon, Blaine Heimbach, Larry Kelleher, Phil Walter and Jason Schultz.
Trevor Lewis won the past two Gunn Memorials for the URC side, but since he is taking some time away from racing, Oklahoma star, Shane Stewart will be driving the potent Scott McClaren No. 21 at the Snyder County oval. Mark Smith of Mach 1 chassis is also expected to be looking to earn the big paycheck.
With the Outlaws running Saturday night at 'the Grove', Lincoln Speedway will not run, but is set to present a special show on Sunday night featuring the 358 sprint cars and 410 sprinters to benefit the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing.
Gates will open at 5 p.m. and time trials will begin at 7 for the 410 sprint cars which will include current World of Outlaw stars Cody Darrah and Lucas Wolfe of Pennsylvania, along with Kasey Kahne, who will be racing at Dover earlier in the day.
Other racing action throughout the region includes Big Diamond Speedway presenting a $3,000-to-win, 35-lap modified feature, along with the sportsman and roadrunners tonight at 8:15; Port Royal is off this weekend; Grandview Speedway will carry its two-division show of modifieds and late models Saturday night, and Hagerstown Speedway will host a four-division show of late models, late model sportsman, pure stocks and hobby stocks Saturday night.
Numidia Dragway will present another active three-day weekend of drag racing action with street legal drags tonight, a flea market/swap meet and test 'n' tune session Saturday, while Sunday will feature the Summit Series points program along with the MANDRA (Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Drag Racing Association) and nostalgia front engined dragsters.
A quick reminder to Harley fans, the second annual Liberty Nitro Nationals presented by Vreeland's Harley Davidson returns next weekend with the 230-plus MPH top fuel bikes and various other all Harley classes. Fans can visit the Quaker Steak and Lube's Bike Night on Wednesday, May 18, to check out some of the bikes and win prizes and tickets for the show.