RALEIGH, N.C. — Western Pennsylvania’s Jennerstown Speedway has claimed the $50,000 prize as winner of the Advance My Track Challenge, a community engagement-based program led by Advance Auto Parts — the entitlement sponsor of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series (NAAPWS).
Jennerstown secured the most fans votes out of six NAAPWS tracks participating in the final round of voting.
Opened in the late 1920s as a dirt oval, the speedway was paved in 1987. Officially measuring as a half-mile track, Jennerstown hosts NAAPWS racing and other racing series from April to October on an annual basis.
Jennerstown will be able to use their grand prize for capital facility enhancements and efforts to support the local community.
“Jennerstown is a true gem of the grassroots racing scene in Pennsylvania, and we’re proud to celebrate their team and community as winners of the Advance My Track Challenge,” said Jason McDonell, Advance’s executive vice president of merchandising, marketing and eCommerce. “Fans have supported racing at Jennerstown for generations and winning this challenge is a great example of their passion and dedication for their local track. We’ve enjoyed seeing how Advance My Track has been embraced by the racing community and we look forward to advancing grassroots racing in the years to come.”
Jennerstown will also host an Advance Auto Parts theme night for race fans during an upcoming weekend of racing.
As part of the Advance My Track Challenge, Advance also awarded $15,000 to the track finishing with the second-most votes, Alaska Raceway Park in Palmer, Alaska. The track finishing in third — Adams County Speedway in Corning, Iowa — received $10,000.
“It’s great to see a historic track such as Jennerstown win the Advance My Track Challenge in their return to the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series family,” said NASCAR Senior Vice President of Racing Development and Strategy Ben Kennedy. “We know Jennerstown will use this award to continue to elevate the track and grassroots racing within the community and we appreciate Advance’s continued dedication to supporting these facilities. Additionally, we’re looking forward to Alaska Raceway Park and Adams County Speedway taking advantage of their opportunity to build upon their strong foundation in their regions.”
The Advance My Track Challenge began April 5, with 21 NAAPWS tracks across the United States and Canada represented in the program’s first round of voting. Fans were allowed to vote up to three times daily in the first round, which concluded May 6.
The six tracks receiving the most fan votes then took part in the final round of voting, which stretched from May 9-13.
More than 130,000 total votes were tallied during this year’s challenge.
Advance promoted the program through its partnership with the Team Penske organization and its driver Ryan Blaney, a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series race winner. He raced the No. 12 Advance Auto Parts Ford Mustang with Advance My Track Challenge branding at the Martinsville Speedway race on April 9 and at Darlington Raceway on May 9.
“First off, I’m excited for the team at Jennerstown,” said Blaney. “It’s a track that has meant a lot to my family. My grandfather raced there for many years, so it’s neat to see them win the Advance My Track Challenge. This is such an outstanding program, and I think it’s great what Advance is doing to support local race tracks. These tracks are all so important to their communities, and for local race fans, there’s no better value than visiting your local NASCAR track on a Saturday.”