By Tyler Altmeyer
INDIANAPOLIS (August 17, 2016) – After a two week standstill on the schedule, allowing teams to prepare for and participate in the 56th Annual Knoxville Nationals in Knoxville, Iowa, Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions competitors will return to action in a big way by traveling to areas of Central Pennsylvania and Upstate New York for a four-pack of programs at four different facilities. All four venues will feature Arctic Cat All Star competition for the first and only time in 2016, launching a busy August/September stretch comprised of 11 events from now until September 24.
The upcoming four-race swing will jump start with three consecutive events in Central Pennsylvania, joining the notorious and competitive “Pennsylvania Posse” at Grandview Speedway, Williams Grove Speedway, and the “Fabulous” Lincoln Speedway on Thursday, August 18, through Saturday, August 20. Each event will feature a complete Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions program, awarding $5,000 to each main event winner.
The Arctic Cat All Stars are certainly no stranger to these areas of Central Pennsylvania, visiting Williams Grove Speedway and Lincoln Speedway in 2015. In competitive fashion, the “Pennsylvania Posse” prevailed on both occasions with Greg Hodnett winning at Williams Grove Speedway and “The Edge” Brian Montieth earning top honors at Lincoln Speedway. Grandview Speedway, the only Central Pennsylvania destination that does not host 410 sprint car competition on a weekly basis, has been away from the Arctic Cat All Star campaign since 2000; a near-16-year absence.
The Lebanon Valley Speedway in West Lebanon, New York, will conclude the upcoming Arctic Cat All Star four-pack, hosting competition on Sunday evening, August 21, for the first time in series history. The Arctic Cat All Stars will face-off against a select number of New York competitors during their Empire State invasion, as well as a contingent of “Pennsylvania Posse” regulars. As an added bonus, the West Lebanon, New York, visit will award a $7,000 top prize, guaranteeing $1,000 to start the main event. Those who do not qualify for the main event will be awarded $500. A rain date of Monday, August 22, will be utilized if necessary. More details to follow.
As the current Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions points leader, Alvada, Ohio’s Chad Kemenah will lead the charge into Central Pennsylvania and Upstate New York, holding 50-point margin in the title chase over fellow Ohio native Dale Blaney. The pilot of the Seneca Energy/Hunter Racing/No. 10H has one victory on the year during Arctic Cat All Star competition, earning 23 top-ten finishes in 30 feature starts, 19 of which inside the top-five.
Defending series champion Dale Blaney will enter the four-race stretch with six Arctic Cat All Star main event victories on the season, leading all full-time competitors on the tour. The “Low Rider” has shown success in Pennsylvania in 2016, winning an event against the “Pennsylvania Posse” at Port Royal Speedway in late April.
Five-time main event winner Sheldon Haudenschild is currently third in the Arctic Cat All Star title chase, followed by Cap Henry and “Downtown” Danny Holtgraver. Kraig Kinser, T.J. Michael, Caleb Helms, Lee Jacobs, and Andrew Palker round out the top-ten, respectively.
The Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville, Pennsylvania, will open pit gates at 2:30 pm on Thursday, August 18. A mandatory drivers meeting will be conducted at 6, followed by hot laps at 6:40 pm. Those seeking more information should visit Grandview Speedway live on the Web at www.grandviewspeedway.com.
Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, will open pit gates 5:00 pm on Friday night, August 19. A drivers meeting will be conducted at 6:30, with hot laps scheduled to begin at 7:10. Additional information can be found online at www.williamsgrove.com.
The Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, Pennsylvania, will open pit gates at 5:00 pm on Saturday, August 20, followed by the Arctic Cat All Star drivers meeting at 6:30 and hot laps at 7:10. More news and updates can be found on the Web at www.lincolnspeedway.com.
Lebanon Valley Speedway in West Lebanon, New York, will open pit gates at 3:00 pm on Sunday, August 21. The mandatory drivers meeting will be conducted at 5:30 with hot laps to follow at 6:15. Please visit www.lebanonvalley.com for additional detials. A rain date of Monday, August 22, will be used if necessary. More information to follow.
Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions Standings (August 17, 2016):
1. Chad Kemenah: 3532
2. Dale Blaney: 3482
3. Sheldon Haudenschild: 3446
4. Cap Henry: 3326
5. Danny Holtgraver: 3306
6. Kraig Kinser: 3230
7. T.J. Michael: 3196
8. Caleb Helms: 3046
9. Lee Jacobs: 3032
10. Andrew Palker: 2830
Additional Arctic Cat All Star Series Info:
Those seeking additional information regarding the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions should visit their official online home at www.allstarsprint.com. Series updates and breaking news will be posted regularly on the official Twitter account of the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions: https://twitter.com/ASCoC. Find full text results from each and every event, as well as an up-to-date schedule, online at www.allstarsprint.com/schedule/.
About the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions:
All Star Enterprises, LLC, wholly owned by Tony Stewart, d/b/a the All Star Circuit of Champions, is a winged sprint car series. The All-Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car Series is one of the oldest traveling 410 sprint car organizations and is a staple of grassroots, open-wheel racing. Formed in 1970 by Bud Miller, the series has largely been considered the first ‘outlaw’ Sprint Car organization of the modern era. After a 10 year stint as owner of the All Stars, Miller passed control of the series to Bert Emick in 1980; a reign that would continue through 2002. Guy Webb then purchased the series from Emick in the summer of 2002 and served as the series President for the next 12 years. Motorsports entrepreneur Tony Stewart agreed to terms with Guy Webb to become the sole owner of the original winged sprint car tour in January of 2015.
About Arctic Cat:
The Arctic Cat brand is among the most widely recognized and respected in the recreational vehicle industry. The company designs, engineers, manufactures and markets all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), side-by-sides and snowmobiles, in addition to related parts, garments and accessories under the Arctic Cat® and Motorfist® brand names. Arctic Cat Inc.’s world headquarters is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Its common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “ACAT.” More information about Arctic Cat and its products is available at www.ArcticCat.com.