By Mike Leone
(Strongstown, PA)…One of the fastest growing Sprint Car divisions in the nation will have a home in western Pennsylvania in 2012. The popular RaceSaver “305” Sprint Cars will be coming to Dog Hollow Speedway on a weekly basis for the 2012 season as track owner Jim Michny has been named the Regional Director.
The RaceSaver Sprints will actually have their first event this year in the season finale at Dog Hollow on Saturday, October 1. Until then, monthly exhibitions will be held on Friday nights to spur interest for the new class.
“I can’t tell you how excited I am to be bringing the RaceSaver Sprints to Dog Hollow,” expressed 14th year Dog Hollow owner Jim Michny. “I’ve wanted to add an open wheel class to our program, and after some conversations and meetings with French Grimes and Tom Worrick, I’m dead set on the program. I’m very confident it’s going to work and the response throughout the 305 ranks has been very positive.”
The RaceSaver Sprint Cars have over 600 registered drivers in the nation amongst its numerous regions. Those regions include the Virginia Sprint Series, PA Sprint Series (central Pennsylvania), Tri-State RaceSaver Sprints (New Jersey), Capital Region Sprint Agency (New York) as well as four different regions in Texas including the Renegade Sprint Car Series, Central Texas, Southern Thunder Sprints, and E.M.S.A. Sprints. For more information on RaceSaver, check out their website at www.racesaver.com.
“Preventing racers from spending their last dollar is nearly impossible, but, RaceSaver rules, nationally proven through 15 years of racing, makes it harder for money to buy a win,” stated founder French Grimes. “RaceSaver rules allow budget racers to be competitive. You can build an engine for less than $5,000 that can compete with engines costing three times as much. We have documented proof of RaceSaver engines producing over 435 hp. using unmodified stock rods, crank, and cast pistons. These engines have raced three or more seasons without an overhaul or failure.”
“The RACESAVER® spec head is the foundation of our rules,” continued Grimes. “We keep heads in stock. All engines must be sealed before they are allowed to compete. The bolts must be drilled for sealing wire on two adjacent cylinder head bolts on each head, two intake bolts, and two timing cover bolts. All logo and trademark stamps must be intact at time of inspection.”
Dog Hollow is no stranger to starting an upstart affordable division. Before FASTRAK came to the Northeast, Michny was already in the planning stages of adding a crate Late Model division as he had been toying with the class amongst his Super Late Model division in 2006. When FASTRAK Northeast was announced in November 2006, Michny signed on Dog Hollow as one of the original four weekly-sanctioned speedways for the inaugural 2007 season. Starting with just two cars, Michny has grown the class to one of the strongest weekly car counts in the nation.
“While I still love our Super Late Models, classes like FASTRAK and RaceSaver make so much sense,” explained Michny. “FASTRAK has allowed so many drivers to either keep racing or fulfill their dream of racing a Late Models. I’ve been very proud of the growth of FASTRAK and already know of six new drivers for the upcoming season at Dog Hollow. I expect the same thing will happen with the RaceSaver Sprints. I’m planning on 10-12 cars starting out in the division next season. The Sprints will be a great addition to my weekly program for the fans and should put on a great show!”
Dog Hollow’s location will allow the opportunity to attract racers to the east that already are part of the RaceSaver program as well as the handful from western Pa. that are already set to go from an attempt late last season and over the winter to bring the class to the region. It wasn’t long ago that Hesston (PA) Speedway had a strong contingent of weekly competitors with full fields plus for their Saturday night program. A half-dozen or so of those racers are already chomping at the bit to race at Dog Hollow.
Sprint Car fans will now have two opportunities in 2011 to see the winged warriors at the Indiana County oval. The previously announced first ever “410” Sprint Car show has already drummed up a lot of excitement as the Sprints will be racing for $2,500 to-win (open tire rule) along with the UFo Late Models for $4,000 to-win and the FASTRAK Late Models for $1,000.
The RaceSaver event on October 1 adds to an already power-packed show that will include the first ever appearance by the BRP Modified Tour for big blocks and the Night 1 of the FASTRAK Late Model Grand Nationals with $1,500 on the line for both divisions. FASTRAK Late Model drivers will be beginning earning points in the first of three-night Grand Nationals, which will award the champion $30,000. This event will have a rain date of Sunday, October 2.
For more information on RaceSaver at Dog Hollow, contact Jim Michny at 814-948-4252. Well-known western Pennsylvania engine builder Mike Ingram of Kittanning has been named the tech inspector for the division. Ingram is also a certified FASTRAK Late Model rebuilder.
Stay tuned for more information on these events as well as the RaceSaver Sprints at Dog Hollow. Dog Hollow Speedway is a 4/10-mile dirt track located three miles north of US 422 on SR 403 then 0.1 miles east at 152 Hamill Rd., Northern Cambria, PA 15714. For more information on Dog Hollow, check out their website at www.dog-hollow.net or call 814-948-4252. The track number on race day is 814-948-6812.