Gates Open at 5:30
Racing at 7:30
2015 Schedule March- May March 22- Practice 12-4pm *Open to any race car* 27- Steve Buch Memorial- 270 Sprints, Wingless Sprints, Slingshots April 3-270 Sprints, Wingless Sprints, plus ARDC Midgets (TT) 10-270 Sprints (TT), Wingless Sprints, Modifieds, Chargers, 125 Sprints 17-270 Sprints, Wingless Sprints, Chargers, plus Slingshots Tour Race 24-270 Sprints, Wingless Sprints, Slingshots, Xcel 600 Modifieds Tour
May 1- 270 Sprints, Wingless Sprints Iron Cowboy (TT), Modifieds, Chargers, 125 Sprints 8- 270 Sprints, 600 Sprints Twin 15’s, Slingshots, Legends, plus Rookie 270’s 15- 270 Sprints King of the Wing (TT), 600 Sprints, Slingshots, Chargers 22- 270 Sprints, 600 Sprints, Modifieds, Slingshots Twin 15’s, 125 Sprints 29- 270 Sprints, 600 Sprints (TT), Modifieds, Chargers Jonestown Throwdown
Pg 16 Linda’s Speedway Pg 24 Action Track Usa Pg 26 Shellhammers Speedway
The 2016 Atlantic City dates released
Dave Nale catches the Slingshot wreck at Atlantic City
Insurance
“The High Groove” Clyde Martin Memorial Season Preiew
New Slingshot Tracks
Centerfold pictures from Mike Fry and Mike Feltenberger
Pictures from the 2015 mall car shows
Cover Photo: 270 Micro Sprints at Hamlin Speedway (Tim Krysiuk Photo) Index Photo: Pa driver Brendon Bright at the Chili Bowl (Mike Fry)
March 2015~ 5
A simple word might make or break a racetrack or event. Might, is a very important word in that previous sentence. Insurance is something no track wants to have because it means preparing for injury. It is also expensive. However, it is a necessity to have in some way, shape, or form. A race can go smooth with no injuries and insurance is not a thought on anyone's mind as they walk from a track. Nevertheless, on those nights we all dislike when we leave a race track wondering about a driver and their family, my mind often wonders to what will happen going forward. This is where this article can get a little controversial. Often times race tracks cover themselves with a liability policy and that is where it stops. That means you can't sue the track because you were hurt and you will get little to no help from the track or their insurance in medical expenses. On the other side of the pendulum are the tracks that carry a secondary coverage on drivers/crews/fans that help pay medical bills. The secondary coverage ensures (No pun intended) you have coverage if your primary insurance does not cover racing related accidents or you do not have insurance. You will be covered to a certain amount based on different scenarios. The interesting fact that now arises is, with the Health Care Act in place, we as Americans are required to have insurance. Leaving racetracks with the decision of whether it is worth continuing to pay a high premium for the secondary coverage. Do all Americans have insurance? Surely the answer is no, and even those that do will struggle with a racing claim a majority of the time. Is this a track issue though, now with new policies in order? Can improvements be made that before were impossible due to financing, can racetracks lower back gate or raise payoffs based on the new laws? I want to hear from you. Shoot me a tweet, what do you think? Are you racing on your own insurance? 6~ Driven Racing Magazine
Saturday March 21 Trail-way Speedway 270 Micro Sprints, 600 Micro Sprints, Legends Friday March 27 Linda’s Speedway 270 Micro Sprints, Wingless 600 Micro Sprints, Slingshots Saturday March 28 Trail-way Speedway 270 Micro Sprints, 600 Micro Sprints Friday April 3 Linda’s Speedway ARDC Midgets, 270 Micro Sprints, Wingless Micro Sprints Friday April 3 Greenwood Valley Dream at the Green- 270 & 600 Micro Sprints Saturday April 4 Greenwood Valley Dream at the Green- 270 & 600 Micro Sprints French Fry Nation
Volume 2 Issue 2 Customer Service and other information: DrivenMagazine@usa.com Publisher: Michael Batz Copyright 2015 by Mike Co The Inside Track assumes no liability or is not responsible for information contained in advertisements, articles, stories ect. The opinions expressed in this publication reflect those of the individual author and are not necessarily the view of The Inside Track. Reproduction of any content in any form without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Readers should also be made aware that some items listed for sale in advertisements may not be legal on all states.
March 2015~ 7
Photo by PhilMar
1- 22 Erick Rudolph... 320 2- 15 Ryan Flores... 320 3-49 Andrew Jankowiak... 319 4- 13 Ted Christopher ...310 5- 1 Mike Lichty... 275 6- 76 Jimmy Blewett... 272 7- 07 Patrick Emerling... 266 8- 7 Joey Payne... 209 9- 3 Ryan Susice... 196 10-48 Matt Janisch... 194
Erick Rudolph of Ransomville, N.Y. might not have won outright, but via his Atlantic City victory, Rudolph was granted the title over Ryan Flores. Flores shot onto everyone’s radar when the NC driver was in contention for title. Rudolph, Jankowiak, and Christopher were all winners in this year’s indoor action. Mike Lichty again gains a quiet top five in the points.
8~ Driven Racing Magazine
State Senator Judy Schwank presented Speedstr driver Kenny Brightbill an award from the State for his lifelong racing excellence, at the Reading Fairgrounds Racing Reunion on Action Track USA night. Brightbill was inducted into the Reunion Shows hall of fame.
“Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8
March 2015~ 7
2015 Season Preview For Lanco’s Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway I’m coming off a three-week stretch where I worked all kinds of crazy hours at my “day job”, helping to clean up ice and snow during and after numerous storms. And, as I type this column, I gaze out the window and see tremendous mounds of snow at the end of the driveway, along with a nice heavy coating (at least 18” or so?) in the front and back yard. So it’s still hard to believe that most of the area’s speedways will be opening for business in the next three to four weeks…there’s a lot of white stuff that has to go away first, and the ground has to go from rock-solid frozen to muddy-mess thawed to workable, as in race-ready track surface and dried out suitable for parking. Seems like an awful big chore for Mother Nature to accomplish in the next couple of weeks, but we’ll see what she’s capable of… Weather permitting, Lanco’s Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway in Newmanstown, PA is scheduled for a practice night on April 4, and then the 57th season of Micro-Sprint competition is slated to begin on Saturday night, April 11. Jim Harrington, the newly elected Lanco club President, revealed he’s been getting emails from several drivers who say they will, for the first time in their careers, make the Clyde their Saturday night home this season. As was the case in 2014, the Sportsman Class should see the biggest spike in car count although the 270cc and 600cc divisions will also grow, according to the communications received by Harrington. Perhaps the word has spread throughout the Micro-Sprint community that the track has undergone a bit of a face lift; the oval has been re-graded to remove the “shelf” that formed on top of the turns at both ends of the speedway. The track is back to the progressively banked state featured about five years ago, where the bottom is very flat and the banking dishes out steadily – all the way to the guardrail that lines its outer edge. Drivers are salivating over the thought of planting their right-rear tires against the guardrail in all four corners, and thoughts of giant slide jobs are also dancing in their heads as they anticipate what the re-grading will do to enhance the already amazing action on the “biggest little race track in the USA.” Who will be the odds-on favorites to win lots of races and the coveted 2015 point titles? In some classes, it’s hard to bet against the current champions. Like WWE Hall of Famer and multi-time WCW Champ Ric Flair always said, “to be the man, you’ve got to beat the man.”
10~ Driven Racing Magazine
That catch-phrase certainly applies to the 270cc, 600cc, and Sportsman divisions. Mike Rutherford has captured the past three point crowns in the 270cc Class, and as long as he’s paired with car owners Ken and Tony Kaylor, Rutherford is the man to beat for the 270cc title. That division appears to be in the midst of a slow but steady changing of the guard, however, as young lions like Bradley Brown, Kyle Spence, Dave Grube, Dan Lane Jr., Dylan Adams, and Kenny Miller III are consistently running up front and snaring victories. Time will tell if one of them can overtake Rutherford for the championship. Brown is coming off a break-through season in 2014 that saw him record wins in some of the biggest races of the year (Clash at the Clyde and the Clyde Martin Memorial Race). He’s made it clear that his team is looking for more consistency this season and he’ll settle for nothing less than the championship.
In the 600cc ranks, Heath Hehnly has recorded three of the past four and four of the last six point titles, making him the favorite until someone else proves they can unseat the Manheim resident. Hehnly will try to win this year’s crown for a new car owner, as he teams with Gary Hunter. My pick to possibly dethrone Hehnly’s quest for a fifth championship is Jason Swavely, although there are several others (Rutherford, Brent Ely, James Morris, Chris Gerhart, and Jared Esh to name a few) who have the experience and capability to step up and win it all. Swavely notched the Linda’s Speedway wingless title last season, and also won the Tri-Track Challenge in July of ’14. He was a two-time winner at the Clyde and finished third in points; he’s like nothing better than to win the point crown in his RTS Chassis. Curtis R. Miller won the Sportsman point chase in ’14, and he’s got the car and talent to repeat in the upcoming campaign. With the class growing by leaps and bounds, though, you never know who might come out on top in this year’s point standings. Miller’s cousin, Anthony Yerger, finished runner-up in last year’s points and could produce a breakout season in 2015. This is turning into one of the most competitive and fun divisions to watch at the Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway, and predicting a point champion is virtually impossible. The same could be said for the 250cc Four-Stroke Class. Last year’s champ, David Ravel, may or may not return to defend his title. Devin Adams, third in last season’s point chase, is moving to the Sportsman division, so the driver to beat (as long as he remains a Four-Stroke competitor) is probably Kenny Miller III. Miller finished second to Ravel in the standings and led the class with six feature wins last year. The car that has racked up the last three point crowns in the 125cc division will have a new shoe in its seat this season. Justin Harrington will steer Gary Gorski’s No. 29, and Harrington immediately has a bulls-eye on the back of his racing suit due to the past success of his ride. Richie Hartman (twice) and Darren Miller (last year) have driven the No. 29 to the past three championships; now we’ll see if Harrington can win his first Lanco title. He’s definitely title-worthy, finishing seventh in points with a single feature win during the ’14 season.
Dave Grube, coming off a 125cc championship at Linda’s, is primed to capture his first Clyde Martin crown. A three-time winner and runner-up in points last year, look for Grube to finally break through and score his first 125cc point title at the Clyde. He’ll have to contend with Harrington, Chase Gutshall, Kyle and Jas Hehnly, Nick Sweigart, and a handful of others who could easily prove me wrong and win it all, but I’m picking Grube to be the 125cc champ. It’s a long way to September, when we’ll know who wears the 2015 championship crowns. And it will be a fun ride as we watch the ebb and flow of each division’s point chase. And we’ll look back at this column in review and see how right – or how wrong – my predictions might be. March 2015~ 11
The karts are all crossed up in AC Dave Nale Photo Photographers: Supply your Âź Midget or Go Kart pictures for display in the Stars of Tomorrow section of the magazine by sending them to DrivenRacingMagazine@usa.com
12~ Driven Racing Magazine
Dale Nale Photo
2016 Atlantic City Indoor Race Set For January 29 and 30! TRENTON, NJ – Save the date of January 29 and 30, 2016! As has become a tradition for the last weekend in January, Indoor Auto Racing will take over historic Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ for two nights of racing action on that weekend. Racing will get underway on Friday the 29th at 7:30 p.m. and continue that Saturday at 7 p.m. The 2015 NAPA KNOW HOW Atlantic City Indoor Race was a huge success, with Erick Rudolph from Ransomville, N.Y., capturing the prestigious Gambler’s Classic TQ Midget main event on Saturday night in front of a near capacity crowd. With his victory Rudolph also earned the Len Sammons Productions Indoor TQ Midget title. Other winners included Jay Hartman in Lentini Auto Salvage Slingshot competition and Donnie Nall, who triumphed in the Sr. Champ Kart feature. All three divisions are currently slated to return for the 2016 event. Advance tickets will be available through Ticketmaster.com and the Area Auto Racing News office. Those looking to purchase tickets should check the website for more information for the sale date. Tickets for past Boardwalk Hall Indoor Auto Racing events have gone on sale around the Labor Day holiday. For information, visit www.aarn.com.
March 2015~ 13
The “Wreck”
Caught by Dave Nale
March 2015~ 15
Linda's Speedway will have a busy racing season in 2015. The season will kick off with the annual practice day, scheduled to be held on March 22. The season opening Steve Buch Memorial race will follow on March 27. The RTS Chassis sponsored 270 Sprints, Hosier Tire Wingless Sprints, and West Side Auto Body Slingshots will be in action in the opener. April starts with a bang as the speedway welcomes back the American Racing Drivers Club (ARDC) Midgets. The"Groundbreaker" will be run April 3, and serve as the season opener not only for the club, but their newly formed short track series. April will round to a close with both the Slingshots and Modifieds hosting tour events.
The Iron Cowboy Race for the Wingless Sprints has a new place on the schedule and it will kick off the month of May. For the remainder of the month, the wings will go back on the 600 Sprints. The Legends make their first stop May 8. The 270 Sprints will run their first King of the Wing event on May the 15th in a time trial formatted race. The month will close out with the Eash's Towing Chargers taking center stage in their 4th "Jonestown Throwdown" Match Race Event. June unfolds with the Sportsman/250 Stock Micro Sprints making their first start in quite some time at the track. The Earman Fulk Memorial, Mason Dixon Series North/South Smackdown presentd by Interstate Batteries, and Topless Modifieds are a few things going on during the month. The Legends will have a Central PA tour race on June 12. The Chargers will also have twin 12's the shut down the month of June. July explodes the mid-summer run of the racing. July 3rd ARDC is back for the first leg of a double-header weekend with Lanco. The Wingless Sprints kick off the first night of the Tri Track Challenge (Lanco and Action Track USA), and the 270 Sprints will run their Freedom 30 race. The Wingless Sprint/ Sidewinder Challenge is slated for July 17th and will be the series first stop at Linda's Speedway of the year. August begins with Legend Cars competing in a time trail race as they did in 2013. The format will mirror the 270 Sprint time trial format. On August 14 the speedway will celebrate with owner Linda Batz with Linda's Birthday Bash. The following week, August 21, the speedway will host the tribute race to pay homage to "Electrifying" Elvin Felty.
September to Remember! Hall of Fame Race, Lebanon Valley 100, Leon Gruber Memrial 50, and Charger Championship Race all fall in the month of September. Don't forget September 18 the Speedstrs are back in the Lebanon Valley Classic. The month will close out on the 25th of September with the first Fall Brawl race for the 270 Sprints following the match race format similar to last year National Open as well as the Winged 600 Sprint "Power Down" race. October, as always, will hold the Linda's Speedway National Open. The 270 Sprints and for the first time the Wingless Sprints will be in action. Before the National Open ARDC closes out their run at Linda's Speedway for the season and the Lady Chargers return. For the full schedule you can visit Lindasspeedway.com. For more information on the track in full you can visit the web site, Facebook, Twitter, or any of our various social media sites. Linda's Speedway will continue to air racing on Ustream in 2015. March 2015~ 17
Mike Fry shots Mike Boyer’s sharp 41 270 Micro Sprint at the Reading Reunion Car Show
First 5 Events 4:00 – Pits open,
5:00 – Grandstands Open, 6:15 – Hot Laps
Regular Shows: General Admission $12, Senior’s $10, ages 6-12 $5, Fan Zone + $3 Pits $25 w/USAC Membership * Car Reg. $20.00
Monday May 11 PRACTICE **6:30** Open to all Divisions competing at the Action Track in 2015 Wednesday May 13 “Goldie & Elton Meitzler Memorial” **Pit Gates will OPEN EARLY, 3:00** STR, 600’s, Slingshots Wednesday May 20 Inaugural “King of No Wing Shootout” 40 Laps, $1000.00 to WIN (w/gamblers) 600 Wingless Micro Sprints. Winner gets a Guarenteed spot at Linda’s National Open (600’s). Little League Night. Wear your uniform and receive free admission STR, 600’s, Slingshots
Wednesday May 27 KME First Responder Night **Fire Truck on Display w/Demonstrations** **First Responders with ID get in for free** **Keystone Blood Mobile** STR, 600’s, Slingshots, Jr. Slingers
Wednesday June 3 “Flying Farmer 40” – $3000.00 to WIN for SpeedSTR’s **FFA Night with Antique Tractors plus the OLD TIME PLOW BOYS** Best dressed farmers gets pictures in victory lane. STR, 600’s, Slingshots
Alley racing models getting ready to run at Reading MRF Photo
JeffreyHogueRealtor.com Action Track USA proclaims to be "Where the Superstars Race." That slogan was fitting in 2013 and 2014. The tradition will continue into the new season as the Usac championship Speedstrs will return with new and old stars taking to the Kutztown oval. The Wingless 600 Micro Sprints and Slingshots also return to the schedule. The 2015 campaign will start on May 13th with the Goldie & Elton Meitzler Memorial. The regular three classes will be in action. The keep things moving on opening night, the pit gates will open at three. The following Wednesday, May 20th, will be the Inaugural “King of No Wing Shootout” going 40 Laps. The event will be the first of three $1,000 to win events at Action Track this season. The winner is also a guaranteed starter in the Linda's Speedway National Open. In turn, the winner of the Linda's Speedway Iron Cowboy race on May 2nd will be a starter in the "King of No Wing Shootout" on the 20th. It is also Little League Night. May will close out on the 27th with KME First Responder Night (First Responders with ID get in for free). Jr Slingshots join the Speedstrs, 600's, and All Star Slingshots on the 27th. The “Flying Farmer 40” paying $3000.00 to win for Speedstrs kicks off the month of June on FFA Night June 3rd. June 10th the Allstar Slingshots take center stage with the Mid Atlantc Silver race. IT will be Armed Forces Night and also the Jr. Slingshots are back. With the end of the June closing the track for two weeks, the last race is always exciting. The Ronnie Tobias Memorial will be held on the 17th of June with twin 17's for all classes. Six feature events in all (Two for the Speedstrs, 600s, and Slingshots).
Action Track goes into hibernation for two weeks on June 24th and July 1st. July 8th the track swings back into battle with the second annual Tri-Track Challenge. This is another of the $1,000 to win events for the Wingless 600 Micro Sprints. It will also be Checkered Flag Fan Club Night. July 15th will offer something stirring for the fans as the Wingless 600 Micro Sprints will have a wheelie contest. It will also be Boy and Girl Scout Night. July 22nd will begin to see championship battles heat up as the season whines down for the Speedstrs. Drivers will continue their quest for the title with the 600's, Slingshots, and Jr Slingshots on the card as well. The Dutch Classic Nationals presented by Napa Auto Parts for the Slingshots will close out July on the 29th. The race pays $500 to win.
August 5th is the last "regular" Wednesday night program as Pepsi presents Beach Night and the Slingshot Speedweek. Speedstrs, 600’s, Slingshots, Jr. Slingshots are on the bill. The reason we refer to it as the last regular race is Tuesday August 11th kicks off Fair Week and the final races of 2015. On Tuesday August 11th, The Slingshots take the driver's seat for the night with the new fair addition, the Kutztown Komet 100. Quarter Midgets and Karts will also take part. Wednesday of the Fair Nationals gives us the Wingless 600 Micro Sprint $1,200 to win race. The Speedstrs are also race for 60 laps in a National ace. The Slingshots give us a regular full Wednesday night. Return for Thursday, and what was arguably one of the best races of the 2014 fair. The 270 Micro Sprints lose their wings for their Fair Nationals with the winner a guaranteed entry into the Linda's Speedway Race of Champions. The “Daniel Boone 100” Stock Car Race and Blast From the Past & Garden State Vintage Stock Car Club will also be at the track. Saturday will be the "Night of Destruction" Demo Derby. Sunday the fair will be gone, but the atmosphere will continue to be electric. The 3rd annual "Dick Tobias Classic"! 75 laps for the Speedstrs and a hefty $5,000 payday. 600's and Slingshots are also in battle with the champions taking their crowns in all three classes. Rich Tobias and Doug Rose continue to do great things at the Kutztown home of racing. If you haven't been there yet, you are missing out. If you have been in attendance, I suspect you will be back. This is action you just can't miss! March 2015~ 25
April 4th will open Go Kart racing at Shellhammer's Speedway for their 40th season of racing. New for the season is a full time Wednesday Night program for the 270 Wingless Micro Sprints and Slingshots. The Wednesday night series was run last year with high and low results. Many times based off the weather forecast. In all the races run, Jesse Maurer was the only repeat $500 winner in the 270's. Rumors swirled that the 600 Modifieds might replace the Slingshots on the Wednesday nights, but for now the Slingshots will continue to be paired with the Wingless Micros. "Wingless Wednesdays" will open and run until Action Track opens with four races in April and one in May. The break will start after May 6th. A midsummer series of races bring back Wednesday night battles for June 24th and July 1st. Sandwiched in-between in the Summer Spectacular for the Slingshots on the 28th of June. The Spectacular will be part of the three night Kim's Kreations Series. The series will close out with a seven race run from August 19th thru Sept 30th. The seven races run before the second break will total a 14 race program at "The Hammer" in 2015. The racing was close and tight in 2014. With a few teams committed to running the full schedule and a lot of teams looking to try the small track racing, it should be a great year of racing. The speedway will also keep points for the 2015 season crowing their first champion in the 270 class.
Mini Point Series - Pay to top 5
Of Slingshot Racing
Selling raffle tickets to win a brand new Slingshot chassis and inner rails (no swing arm). $20 a ticket and will be drawn at Lanco June 27 March 2015~ 27
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Every year Linda's Speedway invades the Holiday Inn in Grantville to celebrate the champions of the past racing season. Wernersville's Nick Skias claimed the $1,000 prize that goes with being named the RTS Chassis sponsored 270 Micro Sprint point champion. It is Skias' four title in five years at the track. In his acceptance speech, Skias admitted it was the most challenging one to date. Skias also had the championship car on display. Other award winners in the 270 Sprints were Logan Diehl (Rookie of the Year), Brandon Heist (Hard Luck), and Kyle Weiss (Most Improved). For the past two seasons, the 600 Micro Sprint competitors have left the banquet with a lot of hardware. A Winged, Wingless, and Overall championship were awarded again this season. Jason Swavely of Douglassville took the top honors in the Overall and the Wingless point chases. Lebanon driver Steve Whary was the top honoree in the Winged portion of the program. Also honored in overall points were, Kenny Murray, Kayla Stoltzfus, and Dylan Binkley. The Savage Hyundai Slingshots honored a two-time champion Myerstown's Justin Thompson. Thomspon returned to full time competition this season and claimed the championship. The Slingshots also honored Dylan Hoch (Rookie of the Year), Bj Antionio (Most Improved), and Louden Reimert (Hard Luck). The Xcel Modifieds also crowned a two-time champion as Lebanon racer Richie Hitzler picked up the prize for the second year in a row. Joining Hitzler as award winners were Rookie of the Year Charles Bowers, Most Improved driver The Eash's Towing Charger champion Eric Hollenbach took the podium for the third time as the classes title winner. Hollenbach is from Fredericksburg. He also won the championship last year. Denver runner Dave Grube was revered as the Gutshall Automotive 125 Micro Sprint champion. For Grube, it is one of quite a few championships in the class. Devin Adams was horned as the most improved driver. For banquet photos, full point standings, and more information on both 2014 and the upcoming 2015 season, you can visit Lindasspeedway.com. The speedway can also be reached on Facebook, Twitter, or other various social media sites, or in the office at 717-865-5330.
March 2015~ 29
Ms Motorsports Shelby Harper at the Linda’s Speedway booth in the Lebanon Motorsports Mania car show (Bonnie Goshert Photo)
30~ Driven Racing Magazine
Bonnie Goshert shots Lebanon’s Motorsports Mania Car Show
March 2015~ 31
Gary Lileck’s has Motorama ‘15 covered
32~ Driven Racing Magazine
Jen Lileck’s photos from the Reading Reunion Show
March 2015~ 33
When the 2015 Slingshot tour gets underway there will be some new stops that will find many of the teams visiting tracks that Slingshots have never raced at or only visit on occasion for tour races. The first stop in the northeast will be April 12th at Five Mile Point Speedway in Kirkwood, NY. The 1/4 mile banked oval hosts the 1st Empire Region and MA Silver tour race for the season. The Slingshots have been added to the weekly racing program at FMP. The next week the 1/8 mile Airport Speedway in New Castle, DE will be the 1st stop for the MA Gold teams and after a 2014 exhibition there,2 dates were given to Airport with them slotting in for an October 3rd National. Brett Deyo's Short Track Racing Series has included the small car classes for his May 3rd show at Thunder Mtn. Speedway as many teams will be venturing to Center Lisle, NY as this will be the 1st National on the 2015 touring schedule for the east coast point chasers. This race will also be part of the Empire and MA Gold regions. Asphalt racing returns in 2015 as Mahoning Valley Speedway will have a MA Silver regional on April 25th and a national points race on October 24th.The circular shaped speedway saw the Slingshots set some blistering speeds on the 1/4 mile paved speedway near Lehighton, PA. The Button Buck racers have an abundance of dates on their schedule as 9 Great Lakes Region races will be tacked on to their 9 national shows. There is a possibility of some races being added at other local speedways. After FMP's April 12th race, Linda's Speedway who previously has hosted the 1st tour race for many years will slot in with the 2nd tour race for the MA Silver racers. One of the most talked about items over the recent months was Shellhammer's Speedway moving it's annual Memorial Day weekend Spring Spectacular to June 28th as part of a newly developed mini-series with Linda's on the 26th and the 3rd Annual Slide at the Clyde at Lanco's Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway on June 27th.There will be a mini-point fund for the overall best driver after this weekend is over. Many of the tour stops are basically the same weekend as the previous year and the 2015 Speedweeks will be no different as Linda's Speedway will again host then opening night on July 31st.The remaining dates will be Shellhammer's on August 1st,Reading's Nostalgia Nationals on August 3rd,the Wednesday night stop at Action Track USA on August 5th as the 2 closing dates will be slightly different as Selinsgrove has made their 34~ Driven Racing Magazine
August 7th race a national as well as a regional and Speedweeks points race. Hamlin Speedway will round out the 8 day tour as the Smith Family run 1/5th mile has seen the champion decided in this race for quite a few seasons now. The Empire Region racers now have 8 races to crown a champion with Dodge City Speedway accepting their August 28th show and Five Mile Point keeping their Super Dirt Week Small Car Weekend on the calendar October 10th. Tour stops will also be headed to the Greenwood Valley Action Track, Borgers Speedway, Action Track USA, Oakland Valley Dirt Track, Accord and all of the weekly Slingshot tracks. Bridgeport Speedway will again crown a Poker Series champion as well as a regular season champion as the 1/4 mile inner track has numerous Sunday shows along with some Fridays added. New Jersey will be allowing 14 and 15 year olds to compete with younger drivers needing state approval with a waiver issued. Junior racers are not being left off the tour as their season will include 8 races with stops at Hamlin, Shellhammers, Reading, Selinsgrove, Action Track USA, Accord, Borgers and the Fall Jamboree at Grandview Speedway. The Fall Jamboree will be the crowning jewel in the 2015 season as champions weekend will be decided on the high banked 1/3rd mile in Bechtelsville,PA.
The 2014 All Star National Champion, Dylan Hoch will look to repeat in 2015 with the Junior title being left open as 2014 Great 8 Junior Champion Damon Paul will be moving up to the All Star class as well as putting his talents behind the wheel of a SpeedSTR. All tours both regional and national have point funds and the Speedweeks point fund has $1000 spread out over the top 5 drivers.
March 2015~ 35
DDP Potos
If you would like to be feature in the Magazine as the Driver Profile of the month, this is your opportunity. Contact the Magazine or go online at DrivenRacingMagazine.com to get the profile questionnaire.
36~ Driven Racing Magazine
Sds Photography
A heated Gary Hieber begins to climb from his Slingshot in AC
Dave Nale Photo
March 2015~ 41