MECHANICSBURG, Pa. – Just a month ago, any form of Pennsylvania Speedweek presented by Red Robin seemed unlikely to happen at all.
Fast forward to present day and not only is the nine-race, nine-day swing full-fledged, but it’s shaping up to be the greatest week in series history in terms of size and prize.
Nineteen drivers have either confirmed to SPEED SPORT or announced on social media they are partaking in the whole event, which would be the most in Pennsylvania Speedweek history.
Kyle Larson, Sammy Swindell, Brent Marks, Danny Dietrich, Lucas Wolfe, Freddie Rahmer, and non-winged ace Robert Ballou headline the tentative full-week competitor list.
The most drivers to race the entire Pennsylvania Speedweek in a single year is 14, according to PA Speedweek promoter Alan Kreitzer.
Additionally, the purses are increased for the milestone 30th edition, with a $17,500 point fund and four shows paying out at least $9,200 to win.
The PA Speedweek schedule kicks off Friday, June 26 at Williams Grove Speedway with a 25-lap feature paying $5,000 to win, before moving to Lincoln Speedway on Saturday, June 27 for the 30-lap Kevin Gobrecht Memorial, awarding $9,200 to the winner.
Action shifts to Selinsgrove Speedway on Sunday, June 28, for a 30-lap main paying $5,000 to win – the Jan Opperman/Dick Bogar Memorial.
Monday, June 29 sees the series return to Lincoln for a 30-lap, $7,000-to-win feature before Grandview Speedway hosts the 35-lap, $10,000-to-win Hodnett Cup on Tuesday, June 30.
Wednesday, July 1 takes the tour to Port Royal Speedway for a 30-lap, $7,000-to-win main before Hagerstown Speedway – the lone Maryland stop during PA Speedweek – becomes the site of the Johnny Grum Memorial on Thursday, July 2, with a $5,000 top prize.
Friday, July 3 takes PA Speedweek competitors back to Williams Grove for the 30-lap, $15,000-to-win Mitch Smith Memorial before the nine-day grind is capped off on Saturday, July 4 with the second annual Greg Hodnett Classic, going 30 laps, paying $10,027 to win and highlighting the Independence Day holiday.
The traditional PA Speedweek format will return to test some of the best 410 sprint car racers in the Keystone State and from around the country.
Time trials will be held every race and set heat lineups, but with a twist. The fastest car in time trials will start fourth, with the remainder of the lineups determined in heads-up fashion.
Once heat races conclude and the redraw decides the first however many starting positions for the feature, the rest will be set on heat race and consolation race finishes.
Draw-eligible cars include the fastest car in time trials from each heat that finishes in a transfer position, in addition to heat race winners.
The B-main goes as follows: the fastest two cars from time trials that didn’t qualify through their heat race start on the front row. Every other spot is set heads-up on heat race finish.
Points are paid out every time cars are on track during PA Speedweek. Time trials pay out 40 points to the fastest qualifier, decreasing by five points apiece for second- and third-quick and then by one point per position for every car thereafter.
Heat races pay out 20 points to the winners, regardless of how many cars transfer, decreasing by two points per position back through the last transfer car into the A-main.
The B-main offers eight event points to the winner, dropping by one point per position back through the remaining cars, while the feature gives 125 points to the winner, 100 points for second and then drops by five points per position back through the rest of the field.
The tentative full-week roster includes Logan Wagner, Brent Marks, Dylan Cisney, T.J. Stutts, Robert Ballou, Lucas Wolfe, Rico Abreu, Jared Esh, Anthony Macri, Cale Thomas, Sammy Swindell, Jeff Halligan, Danny Dietrich, Freddie Rahmer, Mike Wagner, Kyle Larson, Ryan Smith, Chase Dietz, Kyle Reinhardt and Kyle Moody.
Meanwhile, notable part-timers during Speedweek that have either confirmed plans or are thought to run at least one event include All Star Circuit of Champions regulars Brock Zearfoss (three races), Cory Eliason (two races) and Aaron Reutzel (zero to two races); as well as Steve Buckwalter (seven races), Robbie Kendall (seven races) and Brian Montieth.
Three-time PA Speedweek champion Lance Dewease, who pocketed the title in 1997, 1999 and 2001, plans to race in six of the nine events aboard the Don Kreitz Jr.-owned No. 69k.
Retired legend Fred Rahmer is the all-time PA Speedweek champion, having won 13 of the 29 prior Speedweek crowns.
He earned his first four Speedweek titles consecutively from 1992-95 and added subsequent championships in ’98, 2000, ’03-’06, ’08, and back to back in ’11 and ’12.
Rahmer’s son, Freddie, is seeking his first PA Speedweek championship again this season.
SPEED SPORT’s PA Speedweek coverage is presented by Diversified Machine Inc., one of the leading machine shops in the Central Pennsylvania region. Through the DMI and Bulldog component lines, Diversified Machine Inc. has grown from modest beginnings to become one of the premier rear end manufacturers in the motorsports industry.
DMI’s vision is to create a relationship with their customers, where they know that not only are they a valued customer, but also a part of the DMI family. They want the customer to know that their successes are DMI’s successes, and they will do everything possible to prove to the customer they made the right choice by entrusting DMI with their safety, providing them a fair value and offering the highest-performing components available in motorsports today and in the future.
For more information on Diversified Machine Inc., visit www.diversifiedracing.com.