By Steve Inch
SELINSGROVE, Pa. – The United Racing Company (URC) 360 sprint cars will return to Selinsgrove Speedway this Saturday, Aug. 10, for an open wheel doubleheader with the track’s weekly 358 sprint cars plus late models and pro stocks at 7:30 p.m. Track gates will open at 5 p.m.
Both sprint car divisions will run a series of heat races and 25-lap features. The late models will compete in a 25-lap main event, while the pro stocks will race in a 15-lap feature.
Speedway and URC officials are coordinating a tribute to honor the memory of popular sprint car driver Kramer Williamson, 63, of Palmyra, who on Sunday succumbed to injuries he sustained in a URC-sanctioned sprint car racing accident at the Lincoln Speedway last Saturday.
Williamson, who was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 2008, raced his trademark “Pink Panther” No. 73 on the Pennsylvania circuit for the better part of his more than four decades in the sport. Fans, team members, and drivers are invited to support a “Pink-Out” at the track by wearing pink apparel as a salute to Williamson’s life and storied career.
For more than a decade, Selinsgrove Speedway was his home Saturday night track, where he won 25 super sprint car races and the 1978 track championship. One of those wins was a prestigious victory against the World of Outlaws in 1980. He also won track titles at Williams Grove Speedway in 1976 and 1978 as well as a super sportsman title at Silver Spring Speedway in 1969 at the age of 19.
In recent years, Williamson toured on the URC circuit. He scored a single URC win at Selinsgrove in 1995, which was the last time he won a feature race at the Snyder County oval. Williamson went on to record 67 career wins and three championships with URC. In all, he is credited with more than 150 career open wheel victories.
This Saturday will mark the second appearance of the season by the URC sprint cars at Selinsgrove. On May 10, Williamson qualified second fastest out of a field of 40 cars for the Jack Gunn Memorial Challenge Race but was sidelined for the night when his sprint car developed mechanical problems in his heat race.
JJ Grasso of Pedricktown, N.J. was the fast qualifier for and winner of this year’s Gunn Memorial. Grasso currently leads the Rislone URC Tour standings by 43 points over Josh Weller of Mertztown entering this weekend’s racing action.
In the A&A Auto Stores 358 sprint car standings, three-time winner Jason Shultz of Carlisle holds a 35-point lead over defending champion and six-time winner Pat Cannon of Etters.
For the latest news, results, and race status, visit selinsgrovespeedway.com or follow us on Twitter and Facebook. The speedway office can be reached at 570.374.2999.
Admission for 8/10/13: Adults $17; Students (12-17) $15; Kids 11 & Under FREE; Pit Passes $30