By Bob Burbach
Marysville- The cars and stars of the Hunt Magneto Wingless Sprint Car Shootout will invade Paul and Kathy Hawes’ Marysville Raceway Park on Saturday June 18th.
After being pummeled by the weather lately, the track will turn on the lights for this thrilling traditional sprint car series. Many observers would tell you that the Hunt Series presents sprint car racing as “it should be”, with no wings. Scrapping the giant airfoils makes this series very interesting. While the cars may be a tick slower the drivers must pitch them into the turns “sideways”. If you’ve never seen this form of alcohol burning, wheel-to-wheel sprint car action, you are in for a treat. It is downright scary with no wings.
The division’s finest “wingless warriors” will be at MRP on the 18th. Defending champion of the series Terry Schank aboard Roger Gleeson’s gleaming red hot rod will be there with a host of other wingless championship drivers. Since the advent of this series the best drivers in the class have gravitated to the Hunt series.
Another interesting twist this season is the participation in this series of 3 time USAC National Dirt Car Champion Jimmy Sills. Sills who operates a sprint car driving school at MRP is atop the championship point standings. Sills has won 2 of the 4 events presented in the 2011 edition of this entertaining series. Some $50,000 is up for grabs this season.
Marysville Raceway Park’s regular “Wingless Warrior” drivers will be in the house as it’s also an MRP 2011 championship point race. Point leader Johnny Reeves and the winner last time out at MRP, Jeremy Hawes will be challenging the travelers. Brett Youngman, Ray Benkowski, lady racer Janna Spear and Dave Sprigg will also test the traveling show. The unique, very quick “Flyin’ Ford” of Joel Giusti will also be in the field. Giusti is a 2-time Mini Stock champ at MRP, but has been unbeatable lately in the Pro 4 Sprint Car series. It will be interesting to see how the 1st year contender in the wingless series does against the visitors.
MRP Performance Auto Supply Winged Sprint Car point leader Billy Wallace will dust off the family wingless sprint car and take a shot at the victory. Second only to Schank in wingless victories at MRP in the last 3 years Wallace will be a serious contender.
It will be a 100MPH “sling ‘em sideways” night at the raceway that celebrates it’s 43rd consecutive year of operation. This will be the 1st of 3 visits to MRP this season.
The aforementioned Pro 4 Series will also be presented along with the BCRA Midget Lites. Fendered classes will include the incredibly popular MRP Mini Stocks. The newly formed MRP Hobby Stocks will also be on the card.
The pit gate opens at 3pm and the front gate opens at 5. 1st race will go off around 6:30 after hot laps.