By Steve Inch
SELINSGROVE, Pa. – Selinsgrove Speedway & Raceway Park will present four straight nights of racing over the upcoming Independence Day holiday weekend July 3-6.
Selinsgrove Raceway Park, the one-fifth mile oval located inside of Selinsgrove Speedway’s half-mile track, will host two nights of go kart racing this Thursday, July 3, with the Middleswarth Potato Chips Firecracker Special for go karts and Friday, July 4, featuring the Snyder County Showdown for karts. Both racing programs will start at 7 p.m.
The racing excitement moves from the small track to the big track at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 5, with the 30-lap late model summer championship paying $2,000 to win and $200 to start plus 360 sprint cars, pro stocks, and roadrunners. Track gates will open at 5 p.m.
On Sunday, July 6, the 24th annual PA Speedweek Series for 410 sprint cars will roll into the Snyder County oval for the 30-lap Jan Opperman Memorial paying $5,000 to win and $400 to start out of the $24,000 purse. Joining the 410 sprint cars on the open wheel tripleheader will be the super sportsman and 305 sprint cars. Track gates will open at 5 p.m.
Sunday’s race will mark only the second appearance of the season by the 410 sprint cars. In the March 23 opener, Greg Hodnett of Thomasville took the checkered flag. Hodnett is the defending PA Speedweek champion.
Since 2005, the Opperman Memorial has been run in conjunction with the PA Speedweek Series for 410 sprint cars. Last year’s race was rained out. The inaugural Opperman Memorial was won by Todd Hestor of Middleburg in 2002.
Selinsgrove Speedway is where Opperman won the most races—19 in a sprint car—and where he clinched his only track championship in 1973 driving the Bogar No. 99. In 1974 and 1976 he qualified for the Indianapolis 500 and then returned to Pennsylvania to race sprint cars. He suffered a career-ending injury in a URC-sanctioned sprint car race in 1981 at the Jennerstown Speedway. Opperman died in 1997 at the age of 58.
Selinsgrove Speedway will take a summer hiatus Saturday, July 12, and will return Saturday, July 19, with the popular Jeff’s Auto Body & Recycling Center Driver & Fan Appreciation Night featuring 360 sprint cars, late models, pro stocks, and roadrunners.
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.
Admission for Saturday, July 5, 2014: Adults: $15; Students (12-17): $10; Kids 11 & Under: Free; Pit Passes: $25
Purse for 2014 PA Speedweek/Opperman Memorial for 410 Sprint Cars: 1) $5,000 2) $2,000 3) $1,700 4) $1,500 5) $1,400 6) $1,300 7) $1,200 8) $1,100 9) $1,050 10) $1,000 11) $900 12) $750 13) $600 14) $500 15) $450 16) $425 17-24) $400
Admission for Sunday, July 6, 2014: Adults: $20; Students (12-17): $10; Kids 11 & Under: Free; Pit Passes: $30