Modifieds making return to Susquehanna Speedway on July 31

For the first time since 2009, the rumble of Modifieds returns to Susquehanna Speedway Park on Sunday, July 31.

The Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP visits the Newberrytown, Pa., oval, bringing smiles to the faces of Northeast race fans who have long awaited Modifieds at the facility. The absence will end July 31 (rain date: Aug. 7) when the STSS Velocita South Region invades for a 50-lap event offering $5,000 to the winner, the sixth of seven events on the STSS South Region schedule

he Short Track Super Series event is the second day of the York County Nationals to close out the month of July at Susquehanna.

The last small-block Modified special at Susquehanna took place on June 14, 2009, an event won by veteran Meme DeSantis. The powerful big-block Modifieds raced last at Susquehanna under a Super DIRTcar Series sanction on June 15, 2006 with Jimmy Horton the victor.

Big- and small-block engine combinations will be welcomed at Susquehanna via the STSS rule structure.

Last fall, Scott Gobrecht purchased Susquehanna Speedway Park, hired Kolten Gouse as general manager and began a series of facility and surface upgrades that have continued through today. A complete overhaul of the facility has included fresh clay, new lighting, new grandstands, pit area and infield improvements, reworked kitchens and bathrooms and much more.

The STSS Velocita South Region has visited five fa- cilities already in 2016, with five different winners: Anthony Perrego (Georgetown, Del.); Wade Hendrickson (Bridgeport, N. J.), Ryan Watt (Big Diamond, Pa.); Stewart Friesen (Delmar, Del.) and Billy Pauch Jr. (NewEgypt, N. J.). Friesen currently leads the standings with just Susquehanna and the finale Aug. 30 at Georgetown Speedway left to run. Many of the top running local talents will be entered.

Aside from the STSS Modifieds, Sportsman will now have their chance to shine at Susquehanna. The Sportsman division will now be featured as the second class on the program in the ‘Susky Sportsman Showdown’ with $1,000 guaranteed to the winner and $100 to take the green flag.

To learn more, visit the official website at www. susquehannaspeedway.net.

*** NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr., Ryan Newman and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will participate in a youthdriven autograph session during the Pennsylvania 400 race weekend at Pocono Raceway July 29-31.

The autograph session will take place on the stage in Fan Fair at 2 p.m. on Friday, July 29.

Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 88 Axalta Chevrolet, completed the Pocono sweep in 2014 and finished second in the Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400 in June at Pocono Raceway. Stenhouse Jr., driver of the No. 17 Sunny-D Ford, was the Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year in 2013 and the NASCAR XFINITY Series Champion in 2012. Newman, driver of the No. 31 CAT/ Kalahari Chevrolet, was in the final four of the Chase for the Sprint Cup in 2014.

A limited number of wristbands will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis to children ages 14 and under accompanied by at least one adult. Wristbands will be distributed at the stage of Fan Fair beginning at 11 a.m. on July 29.

*** Last Tuesday’s rainshortened events at Grandview will be completed on July 26th. Rain has not been a friend to Thunder on the Hill and last Tuesday night was no different as the Pennsylvania 410 Sprint Speed Week Series invaded the Grandview Speedway for event one-hundred and twenty of the NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series presented by Pioneer Pole Buildings. Feature race leader Ryan Smith made contact with another car sending him spinning into the first turn infield on lap fifteen. At the same time, the light mist of rain opened to a down pour. The sprint cars returned to the pits to wait out the shower. The amount of rain that fell over the twenty-five minute delay, was just too much for even the Grandview Speedway track crew to correct. As a result, the event was postponed with the completion of this show to take place on the Tuesday night, July 26.

The remainder of the event – a 410 Sprint car feature starting at lap 16 and a 30-lap Modified feature will be run, along with a complete show for both divisions. The complete show, includes the 410 Sprint Cars in the 2nd Annual Thunder Cup, a 35-lap, $5,000 to win feature plus a 30-lap, $3,000 to win NASCAR 358 Modified main event.