By Steve Inch
SELINSGROVE, Pa. – September is the month for big money races at Selinsgrove Speedway.
Following this month’s National Open races for the World of Outlaws Late Model Series and the 410 sprint cars in the Jim Nace Memorial, which paid $10,000 and $12,000 to win respectively, Selinsgrove Speedway will round out its trio of Opens with the 13th Annual Mach 1 Chassis National Open for 358-360 sprint cars at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, paying $8,000 to win.
For the first time in the event’s history, the National Open for 358-360 sprint cars will be co-sanctioned by the United Racing Company (URC) and Empire Super Sprint (ESS) 360 traveling sprint car contingents.
The purse for this year’s 358-360 sprint car Open will exceed $36,000, with $5,000 being posted to finish second, $1,000 for a 10th-place finish, and $500 just to start the race. Time trials, double heats (points will be awarded), and B-mains will be the qualifying format for the 35-lap A-main.
In 358-360 sprint car Open history at Selinsgrove Speedway, 12 races have produced eight different winners since 2001.
In last year’s race, Pat Cannon of Etters became the first three-time winner of the 358-360 sprint car Open, having also won the event in 2007 and 2008. Last Saturday night (Sept. 14), Cannon became only the third driver to win three consecutive 410 sprint car National Opens at the track.
Logan Schuchart of Hanover drove to an impressive victory in the 2011 Open in a 360 cubic-inch powered sprint car. In 2010, Daryn Pittman of Owasso, Okla., was awarded the win when Cannon’s race car was under the legal weight during the post-race inspection.
Blane Heimbach of Selinsgrove won the 2005 Open and the rain-postponed 2009 edition of the Open that was run in the spring of 2010.
TJ Stutts of Liverpool won the inaugural event in 2001 and returned to Victory Lane in the 2003 race. Adrian Shaffer of Hallam was the Open champion in 2002, while Nate Snyder of Halifax took the victory in the 2004 race. Phil Walter of McClure took home the trophy in 2006.
The sprint car race will be an open tire event with a 1475 lb. weight rule. Both 358 and 360 sprint car legal wings will be permitted (interchangeable). Sprint cars racing with vacuum oil pans will be permitted with a 1525 lb. weight minimum (no bolt-on weight).
Joining the 358-360 sprint cars on Sept. 28 will be the pro stocks in an open competition event. Pro stock entries must have 2 barrel 4412 carburetors and MSD rev-limiters. Selinsgrove Speedway weight and tire rules will be in effect for the pro stock race.
>From 9:30 a.m. until approximately 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, Selinsgrove Speedway will be present at the 35th Annual Market Street Festival in downtown Selinsgrove. Teams are invited to put their race cars on display prior to the evening’s National Open. Please email publicrelations@
The National Open rain date, if needed, will be 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29. Track gates will open at 4 p.m.
Race sponsor Mach 1 Chassis, located at 10 North Frederick Street in Mechanicsburg, engineers and builds race car chassis that are known for safety, strength, durability, and performance. In addition to chassis fabrication and repair, Mach 1 Chassis also manufactures front and rear bumpers, nerf bars, front axles, wing posts, and wing trees. The Middleburg IGA will sponsor the National Open trophy.
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.
2013 358/360 Sprint Car Open Purse: 1) $8,000 2) $5,000 3) $3,400 4) $3,100 5) $2,550 6) $1,600 7) $1,450 8) $1,300 9) $1,225 10) $1,000 11) $650 12) $600 13) $550 14-25) $500
Admission Sept. 28, 2013: Adults $18; Students (12-17) $14; Kids 11 & Under Free; Pit Passes $30
Rain Date: Sunday, Sept. 29, 6 p.m.