From Selinsgrove Speedway
Selinsgrove, PA — (June 10, 2013) — Selinsgrove Speedway will honor the memory of sprint car driver Joe Whitcomb with the 10th annual running of the Joe Whitcomb Memorial for 358 sprint cars at 7:30 p.m. this Saturday, June 15. Track gates will open at 5 p.m.
The 30-lap sprint car feature, a tribute to honor the late open wheel racer from Millersburg who succumbed to injuries sustained in a sprint car racing accident at the track on June 21, 2003, will pay $1,771 to win and $225 to start. Time trials, heat races, and a B-main will be the qualifying format for the special event.
A&A Auto Stores will be the title sponsor of Saturday’s four division show, which will also feature late models, pro stocks, and roadrunners. Returning this season as the 358 sprint car point fund sponsor, A&A Auto Stores are located throughout central and north eastern Pennsylvania, including a store just north of the speedway on Routes 11 & 15 in Selinsgrove. Visit aaautostores.com to browse inventory and find additional locations.
Previous winners of the Whitcomb Memorial include Nate Snyder of Halifax (2004); Kevin Nagy of East Brunswick, N.J. (2005); Blane Heimbach of Selinsgrove (2006, 2007, 2008); Pat Cannon of Etters (2009, 2010); and two-time defending winner TJ Stutts of Liverpool.
Whitcomb, a dedicated racer most of his life, began his career in go-karts at the age of seven. He won hundreds of races in karting and was a three-time national karting champion. A highlight during his karting career was an appearance on ESPN.
In 2001, Whitcomb became a regular competitor at Selinsgrove in the 358 sprint car, driving his trademark blue and yellow number 71 racer. That year, Whitcomb became Selinsgrove Speedway’s Sportsman of the Year.
Whitcomb won his first sprint car race at Selinsgrove on June 8, 2002, ending the five-race winning streak of champion Chad Layton. Whitcomb also won sprint car races at Williams Grove and Bridgeport Speedways during his racing career.
There will be no racing on the half-mile track Saturday, June 22, as Selinsgrove Raceway Park will host the PA Elite Dirt Karters Series event June 22-23 on the one-fifth mile track.
The speedway will round out of the month on Saturday, June 29, with the 12th running of the Middleswarth Potato Chips Firecracker 30 for 358 sprint cars plus late models, pro stocks, and roadrunners.
Selinsgrove Raceway Park will present a program of go kart and micro sprint car racing at 7 p.m. this Friday, June 14.
For 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.
Purse for 2013 Whitcomb Memorial for 358 Sprint Cars (June 15): 1) $1,771 2) $1,000 3) $750 4) $650 5) $500 6) $450 7) $425 8) $400 9) $375 10) $350 11) $300 12) $290 13) $280 14) $270 15) $260 16) $250 17) $240 18) $230 19-25) $225
Admission Fees for June 15: Adults $14; Students (12-17) $12; Kids 11 & Under Free; Pit Passes: $25