From Steve Inch
Selinsgrove, PA — (January 20, 2011) — Selinsgrove Speedway and Raceway Park officials released the 2012 schedule of events today featuring 35 race dates at the Snyder County half-mile oval and 31 events at the fairground’s one-fifth mile track this year.
Throughout the speedway’s 67th year, fans will have the opportunity to take in a variety of motorsports racing programs. A weekly Saturday night show will consist of 358 sprint cars, late models, pro stocks, and roadrunners, with special appearances by the 410 sprint cars, 360 sprint cars, super sportsman, and modifieds. Selinsgrove Raceway Park will feature go kart and micro sprint car racing for the 12th consecutive year.
The first race of the season will feature the 410 sprint cars and pro stocks at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 11. Track gates will open at 12 p.m. The 410 sprint cars will also compete at Selinsgrove in the Keystone Cup/Ray Tilley Classic May 27, Jan Opperman Memorial PA Speedweek Finale July 8, and the Jim Nace Memorial National Open Sept. 15.
Following the sprint car opener, the Fifth Annual Race of Champions-sanctioned Icebreaker Weekend for the 358 modifieds and big block modifieds will be held Friday, March 16, and Saturday, March 17. To commemorate the fifth annual running of one of the northeast’s premier modified shows, the purses for both events have been increased for 2012.
Friday night’s 25-lap 358 modified feature will pay $2,200 to win and $300 to start, while Saturday afternoon’s Icebreaker 40 for big block modifieds will pay $5,000 to win and $300 to start this year. The modified rain date is Sunday, March 18, at 2 p.m.
A second date for the Race of Champions big block modifieds has been set for Tuesday, June 19, as part of the “School’s Out” special mid-week event.
Five 360 sprint car races dot the 2012 schedule as part of the Mach 1 Chassis Mid-Atlantic 360 sprint car championship series, with the first event slated to unfold at 4 p.m. Saturday, March 24, and the finale scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 1, in the 12th Annual National Open for 358-360 sprint cars.
The 358 sprint cars will be the track’s weekly open wheel headline division for the 12th consecutive year and will have a number of special events, including the Jack Gunn Memorial Challenge Race May 12, Joe Whitcomb Memorial June 16, and Firecracker 30 June 30. The 358 sprint cars will start the season on March 31.
The late models will make their season debut on April 7. This year the late models will compete in two championship events plus two $5,000-to-win races in the Late Model Open Aug. 4 and the Fall Classic on Oct. 6.
The pro stocks and roadrunners will each take the spotlight in their annual championship events in the Pro Stock 20 May 5 and the Roadrunner 20 May 19.
Selinsgrove Raceway Park, the one-fifth mile track located inside of Selinsgrove’s half-mile oval, will open the season with a practice session for go karts and micro sprint cars at 12 p.m. Sunday, March 18.
The go kart season opener is slated for 7 p.m. Friday, March 30. The micro sprint cars will join the weekly Friday night programs beginning April 6. The Pennsylvania Dirt Karters Series (PDKS) will make stops at the track on Sunday, April 22, and Sunday, July 29. The 6th Annual All Star Championship Race for 270cc micro sprint cars will be run on Sunday, Sept. 23.
Next up for track officials will be the annual Selinsgrove Speedway Motorsports Show at the Susquehanna Valley Mall in Hummels Wharf running Sunday, Feb. 19 through Saturday, Feb. 25. Race teams interested in placing their car on display in the show should contact Steve Inch at publicrelations@selinsgrovespeedway.com or 570.523.8420.
Season reserved seat tickets will be available to purchase at the mall Mon.-Fri., 6:30-9 p.m., and Sat. 1–7:30 p.m. The season kickoff ceremony will be in the mall’s center court Saturday, Feb. 25, at 7:30 p.m.
For a complete schedule, the latest news, results, and race status, visit selinsgrovespeedway.com or follow us on Twitter and Facebook. The speedway office can also be reached at 570.374.2999.