Big Diamond, Grandview part of Tri-Track Series
A version of the Tri-Track Series, last held in 1996, is returning to the local motor sports scene in 2022.
Big Diamond Speedway in Minersville, Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville and BAPS Motor Speedway in York Haven have teamed up for a six-race Pennsylvania Tri-Track Modified Series, it was announced Friday.
The series will begin Sunday, May 1, at BAPS Motor Speedway. Big Diamond will host the next two races, Friday, May 13, and Friday, June 3. The following two races will be held at Grandview on Tuesday, June 14, as part of the Thunder on the Hill Series, and on Tuesday, June 28, with the 410 Sprint Pennsylvania Speedweek. The final race will be Saturday, Nov. 12, at BAPS.
Each race will pay at least $3,000 to win; the races at Big Diamond and BAPS will pay $3,500 to the winner.
Drivers who participate in all six races will compete for the series championship. The top 10 drivers will earn money, with the champ getting $1,500.
“We’ve hosted modified races at BAPS the last few years and have heard fans talking about that series,” Kolten Gouse, BAPS Motor Speedway general manager, said in a statement. “That was a popular deal, and it got us thinking about doing something similar.
“This is a chance to not only bring back what was a popular group of races in a smaller capacity to start, but also promote the spec modifieds in central Pennsylvania.”
The Tri-Track Series ended in 1996 with the closing of Penn National Speedway in Grantville.
It consisted of weekly races at Big Diamond (Friday), Grandview (Saturday) and Penn National (Sunday).
Now it’s back in an abbreviated form, at least to start.
“We look forward to working with some of the local tracks in Pennsylvania,” Big Diamond Speedway promoter Jake Smulley said in a statement. “This should help build up the PA spec small block deal in the region and eliminate the need to travel far for special spec races.
“Hopefully, it will lead to bigger things down the road for the fans, racers and the racetracks.”