Two fallen racing heroes were to be honored this weekend.
Big Diamond Speedway was to present the 2nd annual Andy Fayash Memorial for the sportsman class Friday night, but rain forced the event's postponement until next week.
At Selinsgrove Speedway, the 11th annual Joe Whitcomb Memorial for the 358/360 sprint cars is slated for tonight.
The program at the Minersville oval will honor the likeable Fayash, who lost his life in his race shop while working on a race car.
The 30-lap feature event winner will receive a whopping $3,000 paycheck along with various other special awards and payouts planned for the event. Included will be a bonus Cash Dash of $500 from former racer Mike Radocha.
Selinsgrove Speedway will once again honor Whitcomb. The former sprint car driver passed away in June of 2003 while racing at the half-mile track. Tonight's show will include the first-ever visit by the New York-based Patriot Sprint Tour. The Selinsgrove regulars and the invaders will battle for the $2,571 paycheck for the winner of the 30-lap feature. Time trials and qualifying events will set the starting lineup for the sprint feature.
Also on the card will be the super late models and pro stocks, and just as a reminder, the gates open at 5 p.m., but the new starting time now 7:30 p.m.
The University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions returned to the area this weekend for its second tour of the 2014 campaign, with stops at Williams Grove Speedway last night and Lincoln Speedway tonight. Many of the top stars of Western Pennsylvania and Ohio are expected to be in action against the Pennsylvania Posse, including Dale Blaney, Danny Holtgraver, Jac Haudenschild, Tim Shaffer and Chad Kemenah.
The 358 sprint cars will be in action at Lincoln.
Other racing action around the area this weekend includes the Williams Grove Speedway Saturday Night Series of the winged super sportsman, limited late models and street stocks. ... Grandview Speedway hosts the NASCAR 358 modifieds, sportsman and limited late models along with the Blast from the Past vintage stock cars. .., Mahoning Valley Speedway presents a special 50-lap feature paying $1,200 to win for the dirt modifieds, along with a full program of modifieds, late models, street stocks, pro 4 cylinders and hobby stocks. .., Port Royal Speedway is offering a unique promotion, with free general admission for its seven features-only show Saturday night. On the schedule at the Juniata County oval will be two 410 sprint car features, two super late model features, two 305 sprint car features and an extreme stock car feature. General admission is free, but a pit fee is required for entrance.
Tuesday night's Clash at the Can, Race of Champions dirt modified event at Penn Can Speedway, may have been slightly off on car count numbers, as only 33 modifieds competed, but it was quality over quantity. The 60-lap feature kept the fans happy, and the checkered flag finish will have fans talking for a long time.
One of the legends of modifieds, Danny Johnson took the green flag from the pole position, and looked to have another win to add to his Hall of Fame career. But plenty of racing and dicing was playing out behind him with plenty of three-abreast racing. 2013 Penn Can track champion Kevin Hartnett methodically worked his way to the front, settling into the runner-up spot by lap 30. Action was scattered throughout the top 10, and the final 32 laps were run caution-free. With two laps remaining and Johnson trying to find the fast way around the lapped cars in front of him, Hartnett was on his rear bumper, looking for a way around him for the $5,000 winning paycheck.
Hartnett made his move as the two drivers exited the fourth corner, coming to the checkered flag and crossed the finish line in what RoC and Penn Can officials deemed a dead heat. The drivers were announced as co-winners and fans are still debating who won on the various Internet chat boards. Ryan Watt (2013 Clash Winner), Anthony Perrego, Tyler Dippel, Matt Shepard, Stewart Friesen, Nick Rochinski, Rick Laubach and Eric Rudolph completed the top 10 rundown.
Moving over to the local drag racing scene, area racers were successful at Numidia Dragway. Tom Harhart of Elysburg was the Friday night Street Outlaw winner; Brandon Cox, a 2014 Southern Columbia graduate, won the Street Eliminator on Saturday, named in memory of his great uncle, Bob Mackey. Jeff Krushinskie of Shamokin was runner-up on Sunday in the Super Pro class.
The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series returns to action this weekend in the rolling hills of Bristol, Tenn., with the 14th Annual Ford Thunder Valley Nationals. Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Erica Enders-Stevens (Pro Stock) are the points leaders in their respective professional classes as they head into the 10th of 24 events on the 2014 schedule.
ESPN2 will provide two hours of qualifying action tomorrow at 6 p.m. and two hours of eliminations coverage on Sunday at 11 p.m. Steve Torrence (T/F), John Force (F/C) and Roger Brogdon (P/S) are the 2013 event winners.
(Kaminski covers auto racing
for The News-Item)