By Steve Inch
SELINSGROVE, Pa. – Selinsgrove Speedway will present the Third Annual Selinsgrove Ford/United Racing Club Kramer Cup at 7 p.m. this Saturday, May 28, to honor the memory of sprint car racing legend Kramer Williamson of Palmyra. The 30-lap 360 sprint car race will pay $2,573 to win and $273 to start.
Williamson succumbed to injuries he sustained in a sprint car racing accident at the Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown in August of 2013. The tribute race will mark the second event of the season at Selinsgrove Speedway sanctioned by the United Racing Club 360 sprint car contingent.
For most of his racing career, Williamson drove the famous “Pink Panther” No. 73 sprint car and won hundreds of races across the country as well as in Australia and Canada. He clinched sprint car track championships at Selinsgrove Speedway and Williams Grove Speedway, where he also was a former winner of the prestigious Williams Grove National Open. In 2008, Williamson was recognized for his incredible accomplishments in auto racing when he was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Iowa.
At Selinsgrove Speedway, Williamson’s lone championship was in 1978. His first win in a super sprint car at the track was on Sept. 3, 1973, and his last was on Aug. 10, 1981. He is tied with Barry Camp of Beavertown for the ninth spot on the track’s all-time win list for super sprint cars with 25 career victories.
During the latter part of his career, Williamson had been touring on the URC circuit. He scored a single URC win at Selinsgrove on July 8, 1995, which was the last time he won a race at his former home track. In all, Williamson recorded 67 career wins and three championships with URC.
The qualifying format for the Kramer Cup will include heat races (draw for starting positions) and a B-main. The winner of the 30-lap feature will receive a custom pink trophy cup to commemorate the victory.
Joining the 360 sprint cars on the racing card will be the super late models and pro stocks. The super late models will have two features, including the April 30 makeup event. Track gates will open at 5 p.m.
Mark Smith of Sunbury won the inaugural Kramer Cup in 2014, with Robbie Stillwaggon of Burlington, N.J., scoring the prestigious victory in last year’s race.
Members of the Williamson family are expected to be in attendance with one of the Pink Panther No. 73 sprint cars on display at the track. Race fans and teams are invited to wear pink apparel to honor the memory of Williamson.
SELINSGROVE FORD PRE-RACE CAR DISPLAY & MARKET STREET PARADE!
From 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, there will be a race car display on the Selinsgrove Ford lot located at 10 North Susquehanna Trail in Selinsgrove that will be open to the public. In addition, there will be several prize raffles, games, a dunk tank, and a chicken bar-b-q benefitting the Dauntless Hook & Ladder Fire Co. throughout the afternoon courtesy of Selinsgrove Ford.
At 4 p.m., drivers will start their race cars and drive them in the Third Annual Selinsgrove Ford Market Street Race Car Parade that will start at the dealership, proceed through downtown Selinsgrove, and conclude at the speedway.
Race teams interested in participating in the parade need to register with Kelly Long at Selinsgrove Ford at 570.374.8131.
Selinsgrove Raceway Park will run a complete program of go kart racing at 7 p.m. this Friday, May 27. Track gates will open at 5:30 p.m.
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 570.374.2266.
2016 Kramer Cup 360 Sprint Car Purse: 1) $2,573 2) $1,200 3) $900 4) $700 5) $600 6) $500 7) $475 8) $450 9) $425 10) $400 11) $375 12) $350 13) $325 14) $315 16) $285 17-24) $273
Total Purse: $12,057
Tow: $50
United Racing Club Format
Buy-In Provisionals To Be Announced
Adults: $15; Students (12-17) $9; Kids 11 & Under FREE; Pit Passes $30
Also Racing: Super Late Models (Plus April 30 makeup feature) and Pro Stocks
Kramer Cup Rain Date: Saturday, June 4