From Selinsgrove Speedway PR
Selinsgrove, PA — (November 4, 2015) — A tentative deal is in place for a new promotional team to operate Selinsgrove Speedway beginning in 2016, according to an announcement Wednesday evening by Dawayne Betzer, president of the Selinsgrove Fair Association, Inc., which has oversight of the historic Snyder County half-mile dirt track.
Mike Heffner of Hellertown, a successful championship sprint car team owner, will head a group which includes Alan Kreitzer of Mechanicsburg. Heffner said that the group has named Steve Inch of Lewisburg as the track’s new promoter.
“Selinsgrove Speedway has a rich history, which is something I have an appreciation for,” said Heffner, who is the president of Lelands.com, one of the most respected sports memorabilia auction houses in the world. “Everyone involved in this effort believes Selinsgrove Speedway has a lot of potential. We didn’t want to see another one of the great historic tracks close its gates for good.”
Kreitzer operates Lincoln Speedway in Hanover with Don and Bob Leiby, and previously promoted Silver Spring and Williams Grove Speedways.
Inch has served as track announcer and publicity director at a number of area race tracks over the last 25 years.
“I feel very fortunate that Mike and Alan and a dedicated group of associate sponsors are behind the speedway going into 2016,” said Inch. “This is an exciting opportunity for me to promote the track where I grew up as a race fan.”
“We look forward to working with Mike, Steve, and the new promotional team,” said Betzer. “I believe the racing community will be as excited as we are to work with this group to continue the great racing tradition at Selinsgrove Speedway.”
“I would like to thank everyone for their patience over the last couple of months,” continued Betzer. “The Fair Association would also like to thank Charlie Paige and his family and staff for all of their work over the last 15 years to help renovate the speedway for future generations of race fans to enjoy.”
At this time there are no plans to make any major changes to the speedway’s traditional Saturday night programs. The 360 sprint cars, super late models, pro stocks, and roadrunners will share most of the 2016 racing cards with other divisions being considered for special events.
The season will tentatively open with the big block modifieds on Saturday, March 19.
The 410 sprint cars will be at Selinsgrove Speedway for the PA Speedweek finale on Sunday, July 3 (raindate: July 4), and the 34th Annual Jim Nace Memorial National Open Saturday, Sept. 17 (raindate: Sept. 18). Additional 410 sprint car shows will likely be added to the schedule.
Go kart racing will be the main attraction at Selinsgrove Raceway Park, the one-fifth mile track located inside of Selinsgrove Speedway’s half-mile oval, for the 16th straight year.
The first race at Selinsgrove Speedway was held on July 20, 1946, and was won by Hall of Fame driver Bill Holland, who went on to win the 1949 Indianapolis 500. Following a brief closure in the early 1960’s, the speedway reopened in 1963. The upcoming 2016 season will mark the 54th consecutive year of motorsports excitement on the superspeedway of dirt track racing!
For a complete schedule when it becomes available, the latest news, results, and race status, visit selinsgrovespeedway.com or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.