From Port Royal Speedway
Port Royal, PA — (September 6, 2013) — Friday’s Night Before The 50 sprint car race at Port Royal Speedway will be the 14th running of the event that helps conclude the Juniata County Fair.
The Night Before The 50 event is the forerunner to the annual Tuscarora 50 itself, this year celebrating 46 years with its Saturday running.
The 46th annual Tuscarora 50 will give away $12,000 to the winner of the prestigious 50-lap weekend climax event.
Friday’s Night Before The 50 show will include a 30-lap main event paying $5,000 to win and $400 to start.
The All Star Circuit of Champions Sprints will be in attendance for both races with All Stars gunners Tim Shaffer, Dale Blaney, Danny Holtgraver, Caleb Helms and others expected to enter.
The Night Before The 50 began at the oval and fair back in 1998 when Greg Hodnett took a victory and since then Hodnett has become the most prosperous driver in Night Before history as far as wins are concerned.
He took additional victories in 2002 and 2003.
But the best overall record in Night Before The 50 action is Lance Dewease, who just on Labor Day claimed his fourth career Port Royal Labor Day Classic checkers.
Dewease owns a total of eight top-five finishes in the Night Before event including a pair of wins in 2000 and 2001.
In addition Dewease counts a trio of runner-up finishes to his credit along with a pair of thirds and a fifth place finish.
Keith Kauffman is close behind Dewease’s Night Before record, holding seven top fives including a win, a third, two fourths and three fifths.
Dale Blaney of Hartford, OH., became the first bona fide circuit chaser to ever win a sanctioned event at historic Port Royal when he took the Night Before The 50 win last season.
Saturday’s Tuscarora 50 went to Doug Esh.
Saturday’s 46th annual Tuscarora 50 will offer a one-night purse of nearly $42,000 including a paid B Main, $12,000 to the winner and $500 just to start the prestigious event.
Each lap of Saturday’s 50 will pay $25 to lead.
Ramsey’s Car Washes of Mifflintown is the title sponsor of the Saturday night Tuscarora 50.
One provisional will be added to the Tuscarora 50 field on Saturday, awarded to the highest driver in Port Royal points to date who starts the B Main but fails to qualify for the show.
Packer’s Concessions of Centre Hall is sponsoring fast time for both nights, worth $100 to each quick-timer.
Admission to the Juniata County Fair is free both nights of this year’s Tuscarora races on Friday and Saturday.
Adult general admission for Friday’s races that includes a full regular program of super late models is $25 with students ages 12 – 18 admitted for JUST $5.
Adults are priced at $30 for the Saturday Tuscarora 50 with students again priced at JUST $5. Pro stocks are also on the card with a regular program.
Time trials will set the starting grids for both nights’ programs of sprint car racing.
TUSCARORA 50 PRELIMINARY WINNERS
9/11/98 No. 12 Greg Hodnett 30 Laps All Stars
9/10/99 No. 77E Dave Ely 25 Laps All Stars
9/8/00 No. 88H Lance Dewease 25 Laps
9/7/01 No. 88H Lance Dewease 25 Laps
9/6/02 No.12 Greg Hodnett 25 Laps
9/5/03 No.12 Greg Hodnett 25 Laps
9/10/04 No. 88H Fred Rahmer 25 Laps
9/9/05 No. 88H Fred Rahmer 25 Laps
9/8/06 No. 7 Keith Kauffman 25 Laps
9/7/07 No. 88 Todd Shaffer 25 Laps
9/5/08 No. 88 Todd Shaffer 30 Laps
9/11/09 rained out
9/10/10 No. 1 Stevie Smith 25 Laps
9/9/11 rained out
9/7/12 No. 2 Dale Blaney 30 Laps All Stars