Marysville Raceway kicks off with 5-division show Saturday
The excitement of local dirttrack racing is back at Marysville Raceway this season, and on Saturday night, fans will be treated with a stellar fivedivision show with the winged 360 sprint cars, wingless sprints, hobby stocks, IMCA Sport Mods and Super Stocks set to take to the quarter-mile clay oval.
The winged 360 championship is shaping up to be a battle between multiple drivers. Jeremy Hawes is the current leader, but guys like Tyler Seavey, Brad Bumgarner, Mike Monahan and Korey Lovell all have their sights on the leader.
The sprint car main events have produced some exciting times and memorable finishes. Last week, 61-year-old Monahan won the race and proved that there is always room for veterans in our sport. Usually, it is the young guys grabbing the headlines.
Phillip Shelby won the IMCA Sport Mod main event and is now the current point leader. Howard Law had a rough night and slipped back to second. Jeff Bye Jr. and Shane Devolder are tied for third.
The wingless sprints are back on tap on Saturday night. Gary Paulson has been the most consistent performer this year and leads Cody Spencer by a mere one point. Bruce Morrow holds down the third spot.
Local hero James Castleberry leads the Super Stock surge into Saturday night’s racing action. Castleberry is a champion and will be tough to beat in 2017. Rod Oliver and Mike Walko are the two drivers able to challenge Castleberry for the championship.
Brian Compton has a 14-point advantage over young Cy Cooper in the Hobby Stock division. Last year’s champion, Anthony Doubledee, is only one point behind Cooper. The Hobby
Stocks have seen a resurgence this season with 20 drivers having already earned at least one championship point.
The pit gate will open at 3 p.m. while the front grandstand gate opens at 5 p.m. Starting Saturday, the pit meeting is being moved from 5:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. in hopes of getting the competitors on the track earlier for wheel packing and hot laps.
Adult general admission is $13 into the grandstands. Seniors, juniors and military with ID are $10 each, children ages 6-11 are $6, and children 5 and under are free. A family pass is available for $40 and consists of two adult tickets, two junior tickets or three kids tickets.
For more information about the track, visit www.marysvilleraceway. com.