Historic Selinsgrove Speedway becomes family business

When fans arrived at the Selinsgrove Speedway season opener last month, they should have immediately noticed some changes. The biggest of which are the names of the promotional team.

Stephanie Baker and her sons, Ethan and Reece Stutts, took over the promotional duties at the track, which is celebrating its 77th birthday this year.

“We didn’t get the keys until Jan. 6 so there are a lot of things we want to do that we just couldn’t because of weather,” said Baker before the opening a month ago. “We steam-cleaned all the buildings and recently have been working on the track surface so it’s nice and smooth for the modifieds.’’

Selinsgrove opened Saturday, March 18 with the Short Track Super Series with the modifieds racing for $5,000. The 602 Modifieds also joined the program racing for $1,500.

“The biggest change the fans will see during the season is that when we race the 305 Sprint Cars, Limited Late Models and Roadrunners the admission price will be $10 with students and children getting in free.” Baker said. “When we have races with smaller purses, we want to make it more affordable for the fans.”

“Another change for the fans will be the concessions. We will keep all the traditional racetrack favorites like the pizza and sandwiches but will be adding soups and salads throughout the year. We want to offer more healthy options.” Baker continued.

“Michelle Bitting from Newport will be running the concessions and she will be adding pierogies and ice cream and will add some other specials throughout the season.”

Another change in the concessions will be in the pit area.

“Blane Heimbach will have his food truck out there for the drivers.”

“The first turn concession stand will be offered to different community groups to operate as a way for them to raise some money and of course Crystal Nace will continue to operate the popular souvenir stand.”

Baker said that, after the modified race, the plan was to tear down the infield tower and move the scoring and timing up to the first-turn suites.

The bottom part of the infield structure will stay the same and be remodeled for race central for the infield kart track known as Selinsgrove Raceway Park.

Another noticeable change is the voice on the PA system. John Krall will replace the longtime announcer Steve Inch. Krall raced at the speedway in the 70s and most

Selinsgrove Speedway

Layout: Half-mile semi-banked clay oval

Location: Penn Township at the intersections of Routes 11&15 and Route 35, Snyder County

Racing Divisions: 410 sprint cars, 360 sprint cars, 305 sprint cars, super late models, limited late models, roadrunners, on a rotational basis

Track phone: 570-374-2266

Website: selinsgrovespeedway.com

Email: publicrelations@selinsgrovespeedway.com

Twitter: @RaceSelinsgrove recently handled victory Lane at the Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown.

Another Lincoln alum will be Donny Leiby who will do track prep. Leiby is the son of former Lincoln promoter Don Leiby.

“Warren Alston and Micah Mosey will be the flagmen with a lot of the guys from years gone by working the corners so there will be some familiar faces around,” she said. “There still are a lot of details being worked out” for the other upcoming changes.

What is known is that Sunday Aug. 20, Tony Stewart’s All Star Circuit of Champions will return for the first time in several years. The 410 Sprint Car series will be joined by the 305 Sprint Cars for the Annual Kramer Cup in honor of Kramer Williamson, the speedway’s 1978 Champion.

The All Stars will be one of seven races for the popular winged sprint cars, including the May 14 Ray Tilley Classic, the July 2 Opperman-Bogar-Heintzelman Memorial PA Speedweek and the season-ending Jim Nace Memorial.

First appearing in the 1960s and then known as semilate, stock car racing has evolved into super late models and will be on the card a total of five times this season.

The super late models will be featured June 18 in the revived Appalachian Mountain Late Model Speed Week’s Paul Long Memorial.

The United Racing Club 360/358 Sprint cars will appear four times including the Jim Nace Memorial. Other divisions including the IMCA Modifieds and Sportsman will also appear during the season.