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Article RatingWilliams Grove Speedway will be celebrating its 70th Anniversary when the 2009 racing season begins and it will be doing things a little different.
Fans and race teams have been accustomed to the Grove kicking off its season in late February and ending in late September or early October.
That will change when the Grove opens next year as the first race will be under the lights Friday, March 21. That’s when the 410 Sprints will be joined by the 358 Sprints.
There will be no more early season Sunday afternoon races but the Grove will race until the end of October in 2009.
“We are stepping outside of the box a little bit and starting the season a little later in March and running all the way through October,” said track manager Justin Loh. “We have to do what works for Williams Grove and not worry about what other tracks want to do. It’s always so cold and drivers and fans don’t want to sit out in that all day long for an afternoon race.”
While it will still be chilly during the night events, racing will be much improved over the boring day time shows that are normal at the Grove every year.
Loh said the track plans a special celebration on opening night for its 70th Anniversary.
“We will run the big block late models at the end of the season in October and points will run through the Champions race on October 23rd,” he added.
Williams Grove will also be hosting two Pennsylvania Sprint Speedweek shows in 2009.
Loh is looking to end the 2008 season on a strong note with the upcoming Mickey Hughes National Open, paying $50,000 to the winner.
“Other than the rainouts, Williams Grove consistently drew good crowds this season despite the economy and fuel prices,” he said. “Our crowds have stayed strong and the rain is just something we cannot control. We hope to end the season strong with the National Open and start preparing for 2009.”
Loh also noted that the Saturday Night Series, featuring the Super Sportsman, 358 Late Models, street stocks and 4-cylinders will return again in 2009.
Williams Grove has seven events remaining on the 2008 schedule including three regular 410 Sprint car programs, a Super Sportsman Friday night show, one more Saturday Night Series event, the two-day World of Outlaws sanctioned National Open, two 358 Sprint programs and the season-ending FallFest Saturday, Oct. 11.
Pray for Westbrook
John Westbrook remains in critical but stable condition at Hershey Medical Center following a crash last Friday night during the 358 Sprint car feature.
Westbrook, 23, underwent a long surgery on his neck last Saturday and faces a long road to recovery.
With an injury as severe as his, doctors are just taking it day-by-day to bring him back to good health.
At this point, Westbrook needs support through prayers and cards. Please take a minute to send a card to 15 West Greenhouse Rd., Dillsburg, PA 17019.
A recovery fund has also been set up for fans to donate money to help defray medical expenses. Donations can be made to the John Westbrook Recovery Fund, Members 1st FCU, 5000 Louise Dr., PO Box 40, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055.
All updates on his condition will be posted on his Web site at www.johnwestbrookracing.com.
Westbrook’s car owner Clair Wintermyer and crew chief Kevin Frey will have the No. 3W sprint car in the infield Friday night at the Grove with apparel on sale. Fans will be able to make donations to the recovery fund by dropping money into the fuel cell on the race car. Make sure you stop by and purchase a shirt.
The team originally announced that Scott Geesey was going to drive the car but those plans have been scratched at this time.
Benefit Pig Roast
There will be a benefit pig roast for the John Westbrook Recovery Fund during the Mickey Hughes National Open at Williams Grove Speedway.
The former JEI Appreciation event has been turned into the benefit for Westbrook and it will be held Saturday, Sept. 27 from noon until 5 p.m. in the backstretch camping area right across from the pit entrance.
Organizers Vince and Lisa Magaro have been in contact with Westbrook’s mother about the event and she is thrilled about the support.
Along with the pig roast, there will also be homemade hog maw, hot dogs and sauerkraut, baked beans, deserts and non alcoholic beverages provided. A minimum $7 donation is being asked from fans to enter the pig roast with other donations also accepted. They plan to have a raffle as well with 100 percent of all donations going into the Recovery Fund.
Westbrook’s sprint car will also be on display and the race team will be selling his apparel as well.
Anyone interested in helping out as sponsors for the event may contact the Magaro’s at 717-432-8441.
Pit Stops
Adrian Shaffer won Sunday night’s 358 Sprint Championship at Lincoln Speedway over Frankie Herr, Aaron Ott, Jeff Rohrbaugh and Pat Cannon. Rohrbaugh clinched the 2008 Lincoln track title. Bobby Beard won the Chargin Charlie Grinestaff Memorial for 358 late models over Mike Walls and Tyler Armstrong while Gino Comi topped thundercar action…
Jac Haudenschild cashed in on the big $50,000 paycheck by winning Saturday night’s 55th Annual Gold Cup Race of Champions at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, California. Haudenschild took the lead on Lap 26 when Jason Meyers tangled with a lapped car and held on for the win over Craig Dollansky, Jonathon Allard, Brent Kaeding and Sammy Swindell. Donny Schatz and Joey Saldana had to use WoO provisionals to start the A-Main. Preliminary night winners were Dollansky and Meyers.
The 26th annual Selinsgrove Speedway 410 National Open is on tap this Saturday night. The winner of the 30-lap feature will take home $7,500. Greg Hodnett is the defending National Open champion.
Dale Blaney won for the seventh time in O’Reilly All-Star Sprint car action Saturday night at Fremont Speedway. Blaney’s win strengthened his grip on the points lead with two races remaining this weekend. Points runner-up Lance Dewease finished eighth.
Jesse Hockett will be piloting the Tom Buch owned, Brownstown Motorsports No. 13 sprint car this weekend at the All Star shows in Lawrenceburg, IN. Hockett will also drive the car with the World of Outlaws during several upcoming events as well as the Mickey Hughes National Open at the Grove.
Hagerstown Speedway will feature the 34th annual Hub city 100 sanctioned by the IRS Late Model series Saturday Night. Also on the card will be a 50-lap 358 Sprint car feature paying $3,000 to win.
Gettysburg’s Jeremy Miller picked up the $5,500 payday with his Saturday night win in the King of the Knob at Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex. He defeated Jason Covert, DJ Myers, Keith Barbara and Gregg Satterlee.
Email reaches me at Bvores@aol.com.
