By Rich Vleck
ROCHESTER, NY, (June 7, 2015)- After a weekend doubleheader run at two totally different race tracks, the Patriot Sprint Tour prepares for a pair of races at two starkly different Pennsylvania race tracks.
On Friday Night, the Patriot Sprint Tour returns to the Penn Can Speedway for the first time since 2007. After what figures to be a big night in Susquehanna, PA, the series will travel in to Central PA for the Joe Whitcomb Memorial at Selinsgrove Speedway. Penn Can would be in the running for the smallest track on the 2015 tour, while Selinsgrove is undoubtedly the fastest track the series visits.
A lot has changed in the sprint car world since 2007, the last year the Patriots, or any 360 sprints for that matter, visited Penn Can Speedway. The series was less than 100 races old, had a different name and ran for a single championship. Today, the rebranded Patriot Sprint Tour is up to 244 races and has split up points between American and Canadian races.
Drivers like Jared Zimbardi did not start winning races until 2007, however one that was is Chuck Hebing. The winningest driver in Patirot history has won four of the five races run at Penn Can. The other winner was Justin Barger, who also could be in the mix on Friday.
Current PST America Point Leader was still a teenage sportsman competitor back in 2007. The Palermo, NY driver will return to his familiar 2015 form of visiting tracks he has never competed on before after running at his home track of Fulton Speedway this past Saturday.
Former Penn Can runner-up finishers Jared Fink and Scott Kreutter will welcome a return to Penn Can, as will Dave Wickham. No driver is more psyched up for a return to Penn Can than George Suprick though.
With his team of EIO Waste Solutions and Back Mountain Coal helping to sponsor the night, along with A-Verdi Storage Containers, Suprick, the 2004 Patriot Champion, has had a tough start to 2015 and Penn Can could prove to be the perfect medicine for the Clarks Summit, PA driver. Despite running at Penn Can for over 30 years, Suprick is looking for sprint car glory at a track he has finished fifth at twice in four Patriot starts.
A wide variety of drivers will invade this weekend, including Merrittville winner Jason Barney, Matt Tanner and Jimmy Stitzel. There will also be drivers who have competed at Penn Can within the last eight years in CRSA competition including Geoff Quackenbush, Thomas Radivoy, Mike Kiser, Jordan Thomas, Joe Kata and many more.
Saturday’s trip to Selinsgrove is the second consecutive year the Patriot Sprint Tour takes on the track regulars for the $2,571-to-win Joe Whitcomb Memorial. TJ Stutts defeated current Selinsgrove Point Leader Mark Smith in last year’s challenge, while other regulars like Davie Franek, Robbie Stillwaggon and Jason Shultz will be sure to factor in once again. The event will feature the rare single car time trial format to help set the lineups.
Defending PST Champion Jared Zimbardi was seventh in last year’s event, while Joe Trenca was ninth after winning his heat race. “Flying Physician” Steve Collins, who is third in the Patriot standings, is salivating at the chance to return to one of his favorite tracks, while Dave and Scott Just look to build on the knowledge they gained last year.
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.
This weekend will bring to a close an 11-race stretch without a weekend off for the PST America Series. For many teams, like Kyle Drum, Steven Hutchinson Jr. and Steve Glover, they will run hard and then take a much needed breath before gearing up for July.
Penn Can Speedway is located just minutes off of I-81 on Route 171. Selinsgrove Speedway is located on Sand Hill Rd just off Routes 11&15. Races on both nights will start at 7:30 P.M. For more information, visit www.PatriotSprintTour.com.
Patriot History at Penn Can:
Races: 5
7/30/2004- Chuck Hebing
7/29/2005- Chuck Hebing
7/21/2006- Chuck Hebing
8/17/2007- Justin Barger (Make-Up Race from 6/8/2007)
8/17/2007- Chuck Hebing
Patriot History at Selinsgrove
Races: 1
6/14/2014- TJ Stutts