Williams Grove Speedway

April 14, 2006

- HODNETT PUTS THE 77 IN VICTORY LANE ON AL’S 77TH BIRTHDAY

- MECHANICSBURG, PA – Al Hamilton’s family planned a surprise birthday bash for him Friday night at Williams Grove Speedway, but his driver, Greg Hodnett, put the proverbial icing on the cake with a win in the 25-lap sprint car feature.

- It was a special day for Hamilton who turned 77 Friday, matching the car number he made one of the most famous in all of sprint car racing during a career which has spanned nearly 40 years. His family provided 3000 vouchers for free pizza, 150 door prizes and a spectacular fireworks display to honor the patriarch, but it was Hodnett who brought him a chart-topping 88th victory as a car owner at Williams Grove.

- Hodnett lined up 8th on the original start and was up to third by the second lap. He drove by Brook Weibley on lap nine and began to run down early leader Ryan Bohlke.

- Still a few days shy of his 21st birthday, Bohlke, a Grove rookie, kept H.odnett at bay until his car slowed to a stop less than four laps from the finish.

- From that point Hodnett cruised to his 31st career victory at Williams Grove.

- Lance Dewease, who started 12th, nipped Weibley at the line for second place and increased his lead in the Cindy Rowe Auto Glass point race.

- Fred Rahmer charged from the rear of the field to finish fourth and Don Kreitz, Jr. completed the top five.

- Brian Leppo, Brian Montieth, Mike Erdley, T, J, Stutts and Chad Layton finished in positions six through ten respectively.

- Sprint heats were won by Bohlke, Kyle Purks and Weibley. Josh Wells won the consolation race.

In the limited (358 c.i.) sprint feature, defending champion Corry Haas made it two for two this season as he charged from 11th starting position to win the 20-lap event.

- Travis Keeney, Jimmy Layton, Aaron Long, and Nate Snyder completed the top five.

- Limited heats went to Snuyder, Jason Shultz, Kyle Purks and Kevin Nagy. Consolation races were won by Nouse and Chad Trout.

- Sprint cars and late models will be featured on April 21.

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- Williams Grove Speedway Feature Finishes – April 14, 2006

Sprint Car Feature – 25 laps – 1. Greg Hodnett, 2. Lance Dewease, 3. Brook Weibley, 4. Fred Rahmer, 5. Don Kreitz, Jr., 6. Brian Leppo, 7. Brian Montieth, 8. Mike Erdley, 9. T. J. Stutts, 10. Chad Layton, 11. Niki Young, 12. Mark Coldren, 13. Ken Carberry, 14. Chris Knopp, 15. Josh Wells, 16. Kyle Pruitt, 17. Ryan Bohlke, 18. Chris Meleason, 19. Mark Freeland, 20. Rick Lafferty, 21. Doug Esh, 22. Todd Shaffer, 23. Justin Collett, 24. Craig Keel

Limited (358 c.i.) Sprint Car Feature – 20 laps – 1. Cory Haas, 2. Travis Keeney, 3. Jimmy Layton, 4. Aaron Long, 5. Nate Snyder, 6. Pat Cannon, 7. Kevin Nouse, 8. Adrian Shaffer, 9. Nate Hammaker, 10. Kevin Nagy, 11. Dale Hammaker, 12. Kyle Purks, 13. Billy Johns, 14. Chad Trout, 15. Davie Franek, 16. Frankie Herr, 17. Keith Prutzman, 18. Kyle Pruitt, 19. Matt Boland, 20. John Westbrook, 21. Chad Criswell, 22. Jake Raudabaugh, 23. Jason Shultz, 24. Nathan Berwager (DNS)

RAHMER TAKES THRILLING SSP OPENER



Newberrytown, PA (April 13, 2006) - Fred Rahmer won the Opening Night Sprint Car feature at Susquehanna Speedway Park after a thrilling 25 lap event. In other action Ronnie Dunstan pulled out a last lap victory in Legends competition, Gene Knaub was the Xtreme Stock winner, and Brent Fogelsanger topped the Rookie Rumble.



For much of the 25-lap Sprint Car feature, sixth place starter Rahmer had the best seat in the house for a heated battle for the lead. Rahmer watched from third spot as second and third starters Greg Hodentt and Lance Dewease battled continuosly for the lead. Hodnett was credited with leading all but one of the first 20 laps, but Dewease was right there. So was Rahmer, who made quick work of first Dewease then Hodnett to take over the top spot on the 21st lap. Rahmer went on to score the $3,500 victory for his 29th career SSP win.



Hodnett had to settle for second spot, with Chad Layton coming from ninth to take third. Dewease and Eric Stambaugh completed the top five. Blane Heimbach, Michael Carber, Alan Krimes, Cory Haas and Bobby Weaver completed the top ten. Heats went to Dewease and Carber



Ronnie Dunstan vaulted from the fifth starting spot to the lead on the first lap of the 15 lap Legends feature, but yielded the top spot to team mate Jason Rochelle on lap seven. Dunstan hounded Rochelle throughout the event, and regained the lead on the final turn. The win was Dunstan’s sixth Legend’s win at SSP moving him into a tie with Tim Tomson for the top spot in that class. Dunstan also owns 12 SSP Late Model wins, and four SSP Midget wins. Rochelle, Lawrence Garrison, Randy Kissinger, and Josh Morrow rounded out the top five.



Gene Knaub came from mid pack to challenge Larry Hughes for the lead in the 25 lap Xtreme Stock feature event. After numerous laps of bumper to bumper and door to door racing, Knaub took over the lead on the 18th lap and went on to score his seventh career division win. Hughes finished second followed by defending track champ Mike Goodwin, Daryl Beakler, and Travis Horan.



Brent Fogelsanger also came from midpack to track down early leader Rich Lomman on the 11th of 15 laps in the Rookie Rumble. Lomman had to settle for second followed by Andrew Frye, Brian Shue, and John Chamberlain.



The Sprint Cars return to SSP on Thursday night, April 20 with the Great American School Buses and Xtreme Stock Cars.

Motorcycle Flat Track Racing
Sat. April. 22 6:30 P.M.
Pit Gates Open At 3 P.M.
Sat. Sept.. 30 6:30 P.M.
Pit Gates Open At 3 P.M.
Sun. Oct. 1 6:30 P.M.
Pit Gates Open At 3 P.M.
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AMA Flat Track Racing
Some of the Best Amateur And Professional
Racers in the East.
Quad And Motorcycle Racers
from 4 to 60 years old.

Heat Races Start At 6:30 P.M.
Practice Starts At 5:00 P.M.
Covered Seating, Free Parking, Food & Concession Area, 6 Pack Coolers Only, No Glass Bottles, No Pets Allowed, Group Rates, Rain or Shine, No Ticket Refunds. Advance Reservations For Camping Are Suggested.

Motorcycle Flat Track Admission
Adult $10.00
Child (7-12) $6.00
Child (6 & under) FREE
Senior Citizen $9.00
Pit Pass $10.00

All Times, Prices, Events, Etc. Subject To Change Without

Unretired Shaffer gets 32nd Grove victory

Veteran sprint ace Todd Shaffer of Millerstown picked up the sprint win at Williams Grove Speedway on Friday night in a makeup feature held over from March 31. Shaffer's win at the Mechanicsburg oval was his 32nd at the track and it tied him with legendary Steve Smith Sr. for 10th on the oval's all-time win list.

Shaffer picked up his first win of the year anywhere at Port Royal Speedway on April 1 for his new car owners, Jim and Laura Allebach of Souderton. After nearly retiring over the winter, Shaffer took the lead Friday from Brian Leppo of Spring Grove with seven laps to go. His last Grove victory was March 25, 2005.

"This 5W is something," said Shaffer of his mount Friday. "I want to thank Jim and Laura for giving me a shot at this. I'm tickled to be here. Right now, I wouldn't quit for a minute. I hope she keeps rolling like this and I can give these guys a run for their money."

Shaffer's mechanic is retired Central Pennsylvania sprint driver Randy Wolfe.

o

With rain forcing both the Port Royal and Lincoln speedways to cancel their Saturday night programs, Selinsgrove Speedway was the only local track to face the spring cold with racing action Saturday night.

Defending sprint champion Blane Heimbach of Selinsgrove drove to his second win in as many races at the track, wiring the field from the pole in the 25-lapper aboard the Jeff Creasy owned No. 12. It was the young sprint star's 13th career win at the track which he took by a whopping 6.16-second margin over Kevin Nouse of Lewisberry. Heimbach is second on the track's 358 win list to Chad Layton, who has 25 checkered flags.

"They said I was pretty good at the end but I didn't feel that good," said Heimbach. "On the restart he (Nouse) put a nose under me and he's a smart racer and I knew he wanted to overhaul me pretty bad."

Jeff Rine of Pillow free-wheeled around the oval to blast around the top of leader Jeff Smith of Blain in the late model feature to take his 30th oval victory. "That was cool but this is cold," quipped Rine of his move for the win and the temperature in which he took the win by 3.38 seconds.

The 15-lap pro stock feature was exciting and packed with controversy as it ended.

Gary Beward of Thompsontown had won all three feature events held to date at the track entering the event and started 11th. He worked his way into second and drove to the outside of defending track champ Troy Miller for the lead on the last lap only to be driven into the fence coming off of the fourth turn for the checkered flag by Miller. Otherwise, Beward would have been four for four.

As Beward cracked the outside wall, turned sideways in front of the storming field and then walloped the inside fence, it appeared at first as if Miller had won. But speedway officials did the right thing in stripping Miller of the victory based on rough driving and awarding it to A.J. Stroup of Evendale. Beward ended up fifth with a badly damaged racer.

After setting lineups by luck of the draw for the first two regular Saturday programs, Selinsgrove will begin using handicapping procedures to set the fields this week.

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After breaking his collar bone in a violent first-turn crash at Selinsgrove Speedway in March, Tower City sprint driver Mark Smith will visit with doctors early this week and hopes to be back racing the Zemco No. 1 sprinter this weekend.

Zemco mechanic Tommy Karl has been helping out Elizabethville driver Mike Erdley for the last several weeks and Erdley has felt the effects with a stronger machine.

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In addition to its Friday sprint doubleheader of 410s and 358s, Williams Grove returns to action Saturday night with the first of 13 Saturday shows this year for the displaced Silver Spring Speedway super sportsman, late models and street stocks plus the rained out sportsman feature from April 7.

Johnson engulfed in flames April 9th, 2006

Johnson engulfed in flames Every racers fear was a reality tonight for the Lousianan born Sprintcar driving sensation Jason Johnson. Whilst leading the Gulf Southern ASCS event at Houston Raceway Park in Baystown, Texas with only three laps to run the 11 car erupted into flames. Johnson was taken to the burns unit for treatment to the entire lower part of both legs.

Speaking to Johnson by telephone he explained that he had that terrible cold feeling that every racer fears, methanol on his legs. He stopped the car as quickly as possible and threw his belts off but it was too late.

The car was engulfed in flames. Johnson threw himself out of the car as his wife and parents looked on. Fire crews extinguished the flames in what seemed like an eternity for Johnson.

"They have given me drugs for the pain and are dressing the burns, it ain't real good at this stage it looks like huge blisters. It's extremely sore, I guess we are lucky it's only from the knees down" explained Johnson.

At this early stage we wait to hear more of the extent of the burns and treatment to follow.

We wish Jason well and a speedy recovery.

All well wishes can be sent via his web site www.jasonjohnsonracing.com

MAXATAWNY, Pa. -- This week, the "CarQuest Gasoline Alley Gang" kicks off its second season on WALN with a notable night, which includes a pair of young, up-and-coming central Pennsylvania sprint car chauffeurs, who'll talk about their early season success stories.

The guests for this weeks show include T. J. Stutts, who has scored 2 early season victories at the Selinsgrove Speedway aboard the Gary and Patty Beam owned No. 88 410 sprint car. The lad out of Liverpool, PA., will discuss his move full-time to the 410 central Pennsylvania sprints and what he is looking for with the '06 season underway.

We will then talk with another youthful driving talent on the 358 sprint car circuit, Blane Heimbach, as the 24-year-old throttle-jockey out of Selinsgrove, PA., talks about his career to date, his success at Selinsgrove and his '06 opportunities to steer a 410 sprint car, among other topics.

Finally, we will chat with Mark Lowery, a very talented young Afro-American racer, who'll talk about his budding career and the difficulties he's had to face on his climb up the racing ladder towards a goal of NASCAR Nextel Cup racing.

This will be a great show. Make sure to listen in.

The CarQuest Gasoline Alley (TV/Radio/Internet) Show continues with its new programming "live" every Monday night on WALN Cable Radio FM 92.1, “live” every Monday on the Internet (www.polkas.com/waln) and also "live" weekly on Service Electric Digital Cable TV channels 222 and 137. A tape-delayed rebroadcast program can be seen on channel 50 and heard on the Internet, starting at 11 o'clock on Monday evenings.

Monday night, April 10, at 6 P.M., begin your week with the Pados Brothers (Ed and Steve) and Area Auto Racing News weekly columnist Randy Kane with their well-documented, very informative and extremely funny CarQuest Gasoline Alley Racing Show, which runs for a full two-hours and is known, simply, as the fastest racing show on the airwaves.

Joining the “Gang” also is Orange County Fair Speedway big block modified star, Bruce Kline, who gives the listeners a look at racing from inside the cockpit.

Join the fun and excitement each week, as the “Gasoline Alley Team” brings you all the up-to-date racing news and results for the listeners in a totally unique and very refreshing concept for the local and International racing communities.

Should you have any comments or questions, on how to be a part of the program through advertising or appearances, please contact Steve Pados at 610 217 8774 or Ed Pados at 610 739 0391. Randy Kane is available at 610 682-6273 and the WALN studio number is 610 791 1818. You may also e-mail the program anytime directly at racewriter@enter.net or try steveswp@netzero.net with your comments.

April 7, 2006

Passion fuels life back into area speedway
By Shawn Wood
For The Daily Item

MINERSVILLE — When Fritz Roehrig decided to shut down his love of auto racing for the past 34 years, the Big Diamond Raceway, following an Enduro race in late September, seemed like another blow to the economically depressed coal mining region of Central Pennsylvania.

But three businessmen with long standing histories in auto racing, Buddy Biever, Barry Bashore and Dave Dissinger, combined their fervor for the sport and on Dec. 16 gave the racing community an early Christmas present.

The trio announced its group, BDR, LLC, had agreed to terms with Fritz and Krista Roehrig on a multi-year deal to promote racing for the upcoming 35th season on the three-eighth-mile oval.

It was Biever who initiated the call to Roehrig in September to see what interest he had in either leasing or selling the track. Roehrig was interested in leasing, but there was a time in early November when, according to Biever, the deal appeared to be dead.

"Talks resumed around Thanksgiving," he noted, and "everything that is happening at the race track is because of the good weather. A lot of what the fans will see when they come into the track I think will blow their minds. The new structures could not have happened without the great folks from Pioneer Pole Buildings."

Biever would not disclose the actual length of the lease agreement but added, "We're trying to get into the entertainment business so that families will want to come to Big Diamond Raceway and that they will enjoy it. It's clean and it's not the stereotype of what short-track racing has been."

Major improvements include a corporate suite/scoring and announcing tower, a novelty and ice cream stand housed below it, new bathrooms, a new concession stand and a pavilion for families to eat.

There will be new clay added to the track in the corners for 2006 in hopes of creating two- to three-wide grooves of racing.

The group's goal of attracting more fans and having competitive racing is reflective in the 2006 schedule for the weekly divisions of small block modifieds, sportsman modifieds and roadrunners. Thirty-one dates are set from April 2 to Sept. 30, including a race on Easter Sunday, The Georgie Stevenson Memorial on July 7, the Race of Champions Dirt Modified and Sportsman Tour on Tuesday, June 6, and Tuesday, July 25, and the ARDC midgets on June 16 and July 21. One new twist is for the sportsman modified division: when they have car counts of more than 40, they will race two separate features based on odd and even point standings but will have on-track time equivalent to heat races.

The Pioneer Pole Buildings Coalcracker weekend is set for Friday, Sept. 1, with the Sportsman Championship and Sunday, Sept. 3, with the Modified Championship.

The one loss for 2006 will be the annual stop during the Pennsylvania Sprint Car Speedweek tour.

"We would love to have a sprint car race here and if something can happen, we may even try something yet," noted Biever. "Our grandstands are big enough to run the National Sprint Tour or World of Outlaws but that is something we are looking to in the future as to how we can increase our stands.

"We are going to look into some dates for the 410s, but I think next year we will definately go after a Speedweek date again."

Name:Wanikiya David Young
Nicknames:Niki,Indian Outlaw
Birthdate:8/18/76
Hometown:East Berlin,Pa

Marital Status:Married to Kelly
Children:Cole,Chase

Occupation:Utz Quality Foods
Siblings:Brothers Choya,Wovika
and sister Naylin
Parents:Dave and Donna

Favorite Drivers:Jay Drake and Danny Lasoski
Favorite NFL Team:Pittsburgh Steelers

Weekly racing programs can be traced to 1947 when regular midget racing shows were held at the Mifflin County Speedway in the “Lumber City” section of Reedsville. Central States Racing Association (“CSRA”) sanctioned 12 races on the 1/5-mile track. Prior to that time local fan exposure to midgets and their larger cousin the “big cars” was limited to occasional appearances at the Mifflin County and Juniata County Fairs or after a long drive to Williams Grove Speedway near Mechanicsburg.

In 1948, four midget races were sanctioned by the American Automobile Association (“AAA”) at the 1/5 mile Reedsville Speedway. Many other midget races were scheduled at the Reedsville Speedway this year, but cancelled for various reasons. There were no regular weekly racing programs held at Reedsville Speedway in 1949.

By 1949, stock car or “jalopy” racing is beginning to gain popularity in the area. In 1950, weekly racing returns to the Reedsville Speedway, but the midgets are replaced by stock cars and the track is enlarged to 1/4 mile. As the year begins, the Penn Mar Racing Association of Conowingo, Maryland, sanctions four races in June. Then the Lebanon Valley Stock Car Racing Association promotes two July races. Beginning on Saturday evening, July 22, 1950 the Penn Central Racing Association sanctions and promotes the remaining racing programs at Reedsville Speedway. Twelve races are completed and two rained out from the end of July through late October 1950. Local drivers are becoming more competitive as Eddie McCardle, Guy McCardle, Elmer Gray and Jake Troxell win feature races.

Penn Central Racing Association promotes its first race at the 1/2-mile Port Royal Speedway on Saturday, November 11. 1950. In 1951 Penn Central Racing Association sanctions sixteen racing programs at Reedsville Speedway, eight programs at Port Royal Speedway and four at the Ebensburg Fairgrounds Speedway. In 1953 Penn Central sanctions twenty-three racing programs at Reedsville Speedway and ten at Port Royal Speedway. This is the final year for racing at the Reedsville Speedway.

Penn Central Racing Association continued to sanction weekly races at Port Royal Speedway through the 1963 season. From 1964 to the present the racing at Port Royal Speedway has been promoted by the Juniata County Agricultural Society by an annual election of a racing committee.

SHAFFER, CAMPBELL, GARMAN & EBY WIN SEASON OPENERS AT PORT ROYAL SPEEDWAY

For Immediate Release:
April 2, 2006

Port Royal, PA, Todd Shaffer left everyone know his short lived retirement is over Saturday night at Port Royal Speedway. The Millerstown, PA speedster won the 2006 season opener and served notice he will be a force to be dealt with in Central PA Auto Racing. Shaffer's win and strong showing by teammate Lucas Wolfe left no one doubting the Allebach Racing stable has their best equipment ever as they begin the new year.

Bill Brian started on the pole and led the first ten laps while Shaffer stayed close at the beginning. Wolfe started tenth and moved into fifth spot on lap one. He advanced to fourth on lap two by passing Shaffer and was third one lap later. " I was riding along and figured I'd be ok", said Shaffer. " When Lucas got by, I figured I had to go if I was gonna get there." The race was under yellow with five laps complete when Kevin Scheaffer of Kittanning, PA stopped his car on the frontstretch. Scheaffer restarted the race and finished 15th. At lap six Wolfe was second and pressing Brian. Brian held the lead until lap ten when Shaffer passed both Brian and Wolfe to take the lead. Wolfe's night hit a sour note when he was forced to the pits with a flat tire on lap 17. Wolfe returned to action and finished 12th. The race resumed and was again under yellow on lap 18. Three cars had problems in turns one and two. Keith Kauffman was forced to the pit area with a flat tire. Kauffman returned to finish 13th. Judi Bates and Clark Simonton were towed to the pits and out for the night. They were scored in 18th and 22nd positions respectively. Shaffer cruised to victory by a comfortable margin over second place finished Mike Wagner of Harrisonville, PA. Wagner started 12th. Lance DeWease of Fayetteville, PA came from 11th spot to finish third. T. J. Stutts of Liverpool was fourth. Alan Cole of Berwick finished fifth. Sixth through tenth were Brian, Rick Lafferty, Dan Shetler, Michael Carber and Cliff Brian. Heats for the 30 car field were won by Mark Freeland, Shaffer and Wolfe. Craig Keel won the consie. " Shaffer thanked mechanic Randy Wolfe and Jim and Laura Allebach for their support following the event.

Nine out of ten times if Scotty Haus of Hamburg, PA were to start on the pole for an opening night Late Model event, most would conclude the race is over before it starts. The tenth time came. Haus led the first 16 laps despite heavy pressure from Thompson, PA driver Dan Stone. Stone went to the top of the speedway to pressure Haus. Defending Champion Steve Campbell stayed close while racing on the bottom through much of the event. Campbell shocked everyone when he drove under Stone for second place on lap 14. He repeated the move in turns one and two to wrestle the lead from Haus on lap 16. Campbell
stayed in front to record the win. Haus finished second with Stone third. Tim Gray and Scott Flickinger completed the top five. Rounding out the top ten were Tim Wilson, Jason Miller, Bobby Stokes, Jere Wierman and Matt Parks. Heats for the 22 car field were won by Haus and Gray. Jeff Bryner received the Service Mart of Mifflin Hard Charger Award for advancing the most spots in the feature. Bryner started 19th and finished 11th.

Derrick Garman won his first ever Pro Stock feature over Jason Davis. Jim Palm finished third with Terry Wagner fourth. Bill Powell was fifth. Sixth through tenth were Steve Stitt, Scott Spahr, Mike Rowles, Jason Schmidt and Terry Naugle. Heat races were won by Powell and Davis. Palm led the first two laps before giving way to Davis on lap three. Garman took the lead on lap 12 to record the win. The youngster thanked his grandfather, Kenny Garman, for helping make the win possible.

Todd Eby won the 30 lap Pizza and Sub Shack Enduro race. Eby just made it to the checked flag. " I wouldn't have made it if we would have had one more lap. I only had 15 lbs. of oil pressure left." Eby's racer was smoking most of the event. Adam Yetter started second and led the first nine laps. Alan Noss led from lap 10-27 and it appeared the race would be settled between Noss and Eby. Disaster nearly struck on lap 19 when Eby who was running second at the time, was nearly wiped out by another racer on the backstretch. Eby dropped from second place to sixth before regaining the second spot on lap 24. Noss's night was done after he was removed from the track for excessive oil smoke which produced near zero visibility. Eby went on to record the win. " This is the best this car has run, " said Eby. " I thought I was done over there on the backstretch and I didn't think we were gonna make it. But with one lap left you gotta try." Yetter was second with Bill Powell third. Craig Imes and Neil Foust followed. Also in the top ten were Steve Harlan, Steve Berry, Jon Chamberlain, Gary Cekovich and Mark Krone.

Up next at Port Royal is a four division show on April 8. Scheduled to compete are the Aumiller & Associate Sprint Cars, Ramsey's Car Wash/AB Auto Glass Late Models, Stong's Auto Parts Pro Stocks and Parson's Auto Salvage/Casner Service 4 Cyl. Stock Cars. Gates open at 5:00 P.M. with racing at 7. More information may be obtained from the speedway office or website, www.portroyalspeedway.com.