Stevie Smith scored a popular victory in the first race of the Eastern Swing for the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series in Wednesday night's Gettysburg Clash at Lincoln Speedway.
The Outlaws and the Central Pennsylvania 410 sprint car drivers, known as the Pennsylvania Posse, have a spirited battle for bragging rights each time the travelers come east. In last season's final visit, the Williams Grove Speedway's National Open, retiring Hall of Fame driver Fred Rahmer scored a storybook win, claiming the first National Open victory of his long career.
In Wednesday's event at Lincoln, Rahmer's personal playground for his career as the track's all-time leader in wins and track titles, played into the veterans hands in his new title as a car owner.
With his retirement last season, Rahmer became a car owner for both his sons, Brandon and Freddie Jr., along with supplying a ride for special shows to second generation driver Smith.
In only his fourth time behind the controls of Rahmer's No. 51, Smith claimed the $10,000 paycheck in turning back the Outlaws in the 35-lap event at the Hanover oval. Greg Hodnett, Darryn Pittman, Jac Haudenschild and fast timer Paul McMahan completed the top five. Of note, Fred Rahmer Jr. qualified for the main event in his first WoO race; brother Brandon elected not to compete.
"In all honesty, obviously the National Open was the biggest thing that happened to me in racing up until my kid qualified for his first outlaw race," Rahmer said. "Stevie winning is just icing on the cake. He deserves it. I know how great a driver he is - he just needed a good opportunity."
The Outlaws are slated to compete in a two-day show at Williams Grove Speedway.Tonight's show is 25 laps paying $8,000 to the winner, and Saturday is a 30-lap feature event with a $12,000 payday to the winner. Both shows will feature time trials and qualifying events to determine the starting line-ups.
The Outlaws head to Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, N.Y., and New Jersey's New Egypt Speedway on Tuesday night for the first Eastern Swing.
Heading into tonight's action, Joey Saldana, McMahan, Donny Schatz, Pittman and Kerry Madsen are the top five in the series points battle.
In other racing action throughout the weekend, Big Diamond Speedway hosts a three-division show of the DIRTcar 358 modifieds, sportsman and roadrunners tonight at the Schuylkill County track. Meme DeSantis, modifieds; Tim Fitzpatrick, sportsman; and Jeremy Becker, roadrunners are the point leaders in their respective classes.
Saturday, Selinsgrove Speedway hosts the touring Lucas Oil Empire Sprint Series along with the late models, pro stocks and roadrunners. The Mach 1 Chassis Shootout for the 360 cubic inch sprint cars will pay the winner $3,000 in the 25-lap feature event. Gates open at 5 p.m. and racing begins at 7.
Mahoning Valley Speedway presents Pocono Raceway Night tomorrow. Track reps will be on hand at the Lehighton asphalt oval, with some lucky fans winning free tickets to the ARCA series, NASCAR series and IndyCar Series events at the Pocono facility. The modifieds, late models, street stocks, dirt mods, pro four cylinders and hobby stocks are in action....Grandview returns to action with the three-division show of NASCAR modifieds, sportsman and limited late models. ... Hagerstown Speedway has a busy schedule with the late models, late model sportsman, pure stocks, four- cylinder stocks and hobby stocks. ... Lincoln and Port Royal Speedways are off Saturday night.
The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series returns to action this weekend for the 7th of 24 events on the 2014 schedule, at the Atlanta Dragway for the 34th annual Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals.
Heading into this weekend's show, Antron Brown (top fuel), Robert Hight (funny car) and Erica Enders-Stevens (pro stock) are the points leaders in their respective classes.
ESPN2 will provide two hours of qualifying action tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. and three hours of eliminations on Sunday, starting at 7.
2013 event winners were Brown (T/F), Johnny Gray (F/C) and Mike Edwards (P/S). Gray and Edwards retired from active driving at the end of the 2013 season.
(Kaminski covers auto
racing for The News-Item)