By Shawn Brouse
Port Royal – Port Royal Speedway will present the timeless classic, the 60th annual Labor Day Classic for sprint cars coming up on Labor Day Monday, September 5 at 1 PM.
Presented by Foss Jewelers of Mifflintown and Lewistown, also on the rare afternoon card is late model, pro stock and sidewinder sprint racing as part of the 157th annual Juniata County Fair which runs through the 44th annual Tuscarora 50 on September 10.
The first Labor Day Classic was held back in 1952 when Earl Bryner took the win. Since then names like Sherm Greenaway, Eddie McCardle, Toby Tobias, Leroy Felty, Bobby Weaver, Bobby Davis Jr., Don Kreitz Jr, Jeff Shepard and Mike Erdley have taken wins.
But no driver has been more successful in the Labor Day Classic for sprints than Millerstown’s Todd Shaffer, who owns six victories in the prestigious race.
Shaffer first took the win in his own No. 11 back in 1987 before repeating in 1990 and 1991. He then returned for wins in the Beam No. 88 in 1995, 2004 and in 2008.
Following Shaffer closely on the Labor Day win list is retired veteran Lynn Paxton, who not only won five in his career but did it in back to back style from 1976 through 1980.
Ex-outlaw Daryn Pittman, a native if Owasso, OK., is the defending Labor Day Classic champion aboard the Michael Heffner-owned No. 27.
The 2011 Diamond Anniversary event will pay $3,500 to win the 25-lap feature.
Adult general admission is $15.00 with students ages 12 – 17 just $10.00.
Previous Labor Day Classic Winners: 9/1/52 No. 1 Earl Bryner, 9/7/53 No. 57 Sherm Greenaway, 9/6/54 No. 9 Eddie McCardle, 9/5/55 No. 3 Eddie McCardle, 9/3/56 No. 33 Bill Foust, 9/2/57 No. 11 Hal Hoose, 9/1/58 No. 80 Elmer Drum, 9/7/59 No. 6 Dick “Toby” Tobias, 9/5/60 No. 77 Leroy Felty, 9/4/61 No. 6 Dick “Toby” Tobias, 9/3/62 No. 15 Frankie Thompson, 9/2/63 No. 77 Ed Dunkle, 9/7/64 No. 1 Dick “Toby” Tobias, 9/6/65 No. 7 Leroy Felty, 9/5/66 No. 6 Dick “Toby” Tobias, 9/4/67 No. 35 Bobbie Adamson, 9/2/68 No. 66 Johnny Grum, 9/1/69 No. 66 Johnny Grum, 9/7/70 No. 5 Mitch Smith, 9/6/71 No. 66 Johnny Grum, 9/4/72 No. 99 Jan Opperman, 9/3/73 No. 29 Kenny Weld, 9/8/74 No. 8 Bob Weaver, 9/2/75 No. 5 Smokey Snellbaker, 9/6/76 No. 1 Lynn Paxton, 9/5/77 No. 1 Lynn Paxton, 9/4/78 No. 1 Lynn Paxton, 9/3/79 No. 1 Lynn Paxton, 9/1/80 No. 1 Lynn Paxton, 9/7/81 No. 56 Smokey Snellbaker, 9/6/82 No. 461 George Ferguson Jr., 9/5/83 No. 29 Bobby Davis Jr., 9/3/84 No. 80 Dave Wickham, 9/2/85 No. 29 Doug Wolfgang, 9/1/86 No. 69N Don Kreitz Jr., 9/16/87 No. 11 Todd Shaffer, 9/5/88 No. 19 Stevie Smith, 9/4/89 No. 77 Stevie Smith, 9/3/90 No. 11 Todd Shaffer, 9/2/91 No. 11 Todd Shaffer, 9/7/92 No. 69K Don Kreitz Jr., 9/6/93 No. 69K Don Kreitz Jr., 9/5/94 No. 461 Lance Dewease, 9/4/95 No. 88 Todd Shaffer, 9/2/96 No. 461 Lance Dewease, 9/1/97 No. 77 Fred Rahmer, 9/7/98 No. 69K Don Kreitz Jr., 9/11/99 No. 1 Jeff Shepard, 9/4/00 No. 88H Lance Dewease, 9/3/01 No. 69K Don Kreitz Jr., 9/2/02 No. 7 Keith Kauffman, 9/7/03 No. 7 Keith Kauffman, 9/6/04 No. 88 Todd Shaffer, 9/5/05 No. 35 Alan Cole, 9/4/06 No. 11 Mike Erdley, 9/3/07 No. 22 Greg Hodnett, 9/1/08 No. 88 Todd Shaffer, 9/7/09 No. 55 Mike Wagner, 9/6/10 No. 27 Daryn Pittman
PRS 2011 – Racing into a new decade with a new attitude!
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