By Michael Batz
SELINSGROVE, Pa. Saturday Night marked the eighth time Jeff and Cathy Kurtz of Jeff’s Auto Body & Recycling Center in Paxinos along with Selinsgrove Speedway hosted Driver & Fan and Appreciation Night.
After all the qualifying was completed for a strong field of 360 sprint cars, super late models, pro stocks, and a makeup feature for the roadrunners from June 4, a surprise rain shower hit the speedway and halted the action at about 9:30 p.m.
Right as the track was ready for racing to continue, a second rain storm hit the speedway and the call was made to cancel the event. Then a third, much harder, rain storm hit soon after. With all the qualifying completed and the fields set to run the feature races, rain checks will not be honored. The four features will be rescheduled over the next couple of weeks. .
Saturday night’s 360 sprint car feature will be the first to get rescheduled for this coming Saturday, July 23, as part of a special night of racing that will also be highlighted by a regularly scheduled 360 sprint car race on Sunbury Eagles Club Night, plus the Moon Shine Camo Route 35 Challenge Series for super late models, the first-ever appearance by the Mid-Atlantic modifieds, and pro stocks at 7:30 p.m. Track gates will open at 5:30 p.m.
In the makeup feature for the A&A Auto Stores Roadrunners, Keith Bissinger used a late race restart to go by race long leader Ryan Leister to take the top spot. Bissinger held off Leister in a last corner battle for the win. It is his second win in a row. Leister came home in the second spot just ahead of Jason Zook. Smith Cope and Miranda Minium rounded out the top five finishers.
Heats for the 24 360 sprint cars were won by Mallie Shuster, Eric Parker, and Eric Tomecek. Qualifiers for the 20 super late models went to Tony Adams, Danny Snyder, and Gene Knaub The pro stock heats were won by Jake Buck and Matt Wilson.
Thanks to Jeff’s Auto Body & Recycling Center, ten lucky fans left with $100 cash prizes, kids participated in a Chinese auction with many great giveaways, and the first 100 fans that entered the grandstands received a free concession item. A total of $2,500 in additional purse money was sponsored for the night’s four divisions of racing by Jeff’s Auto Body & Recycling Center.
Saturday, July 30, will be the 16th annual Mach 1 Chassis 360 Sprint Car National Open plus the late models and pro stocks. The National Open is part of a big weekend of racing for the 360 sprint cars with stops at Williams Grove on Friday, July 29, and the Utica Rome Speedway on Sunday, July 31.
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.