Short Track Super Series adds new top sponsors
Sun, fun and the Velocita-USA South Region of the Bob Hilbert Sportswear of Boyertown Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco go hand-in-hand.
So it’s only appropriate that Design for Vision/Sunglass Central have joined the STSS as season-long partners during the 2019 big-block/small-block Modified South Region kicking off on March 15-16 at Del.’s Georgetown Speedway with the Melvin L. Joseph Memorial.
The eight-race ’19 STSS Velocita-USA South Region will now be presented by Design for Vision/Sunglass Central.
Both Design for Vision and Sunglass Central are owned and operated by the Manning family. Modified fans are familiar with the Design for Vision/Sunglass Central No. 414 driven by Roger Manning on the clay ovals of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.
Design for Vision/Sunglass Central will have an expanded presence at three series events: the ‘Speed Showcase’ at Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway Sunday, March 24; ‘Dirty Jersey’ at New Egypt (N.J.) Speedway Thursday, May 23; and ‘Blast at the Beach’ at Del.’s Georgetown Speedway Tuesday, August 27.
Design for Vision is the premier eye care center and supplier for all eye glasses, sunglasses and contacts in Bucks County, Pa., with locations in Morrisville/Trenton, Levittown/Langhorne, New Hope/Lambertville, Newtown/Richboro and Jamison/Doylestown. Design for Vision is on the web at www.designforvision.com. Sunglass Central was developed out of the need for quality, properly fit sport and prescription sunglasses. Sunglass Central carries all major sunglass brands such as Oakley, Maui Jim, Costa del Mar, Ray-Ban, Wiley X, Smith and many more. Check out their locations in Newtown, Jamison and New Hope or shop online at www.sunglasscentral.net.
Early-arriving fans will have the opportunity to take home free sunglasses at these events by stopping by the Design for Vision/ Sunglass Central displays in the grandstand area. Topfinishing drivers will also take home eyewear from Ray-Ban, Oakley or Wiley X.
Drivers, owners, crew members, fans and track employees filled the Bridgeport Fire Company’s Social Hall recently to celebrate the 2018 season champions.
For the third consecutive year Boyertown’s Ryan Watt and his Ron Roberts No. 14w Racing Team dominated the Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modifieds, capturing six wins and finishing no worse than third in any of the Big Block action on the 5/8th mile track.
“I just really want to thank Ronnie and Fay for giving us what we need to race every week,” the veteran driver said. “It’s hard to believe, but the 2019 season will be our 10th year together.”
Watt originally came to Bridgeport as a driver for car owner, Chad Sinon’s BPG operation. When a blown motor late in the season, threatened to bring an end to Watt’s season, it was Roberts who offered him a power plant to complete the season. Watt was always willing to help another team out and it was that level of sportsmanship that prompted Roberts’ offer to help. And as they say, the rest is history.
Legendary dirt racer Billy Pauch raced to three wins during the 2018 season and was Watt’s closest competitor. Sam Martz, Richie Pratt Jr. and Wade Hendrickson each won a single feature during the season.
Jim Britt, Tommy Beamer and Neal Williams trailed Watt and Pauch in points to complete the top five. Pratt, Hendrickson, Roberts, Martz and Bucky Kelly finished sixth through tenth.
Watt was also crowned as the 2018 811 Dig Safely Poker Series Champion sponsored by Colonial Pipeline. Watt’s pair of Aces (2 wins – 60 Over Special and King of the Big Blocks) gave him the best Poker Series hand over Jimmy Horton who had a pair of nines and Jim Britt with a pair of sevens. Jeff Strunk received an award for the worst hand in this year’s Poker Series events.
Steve Kemery took the 811 Dig Safely Poker Series for the 602 Crate Sportsman, winning twice in the final three races of the season. Wayne Weaver’s pair of Queens placed him second to Kemery’s pair of Aces. Chris Jenkins finished third with Frank Dorry winning the prize for the worst hand in the 2018 811 Dig Safely Poker Series.
Tom Wills, Jr. win in the final 811 Dig Safely Poker Series race of the season gave him his third Poker Series Championship. Opening day winner, Rich Stinson finished second with Jeramy Doerr taking third.
Sammy Martz, Jr. was crowned as the 2018 DA’s Auto Body & Repair Rookie Champion. Seth Spayd finished second in points with one win. Danny Buccafusca, who had a Rookie win on both the 3/8th and 5/8th mile tracks and Parker Guldin tied for third in points. Guldin was the only Rookie to win a 602 Crate Sportsman feature event this year. David Hartman finished fifth
A Pre-Season Point Series was conducted with three races scheduled to be run on the 3/8th mile track early in the season. Two races were run with the third race falling to the weather.
With two wins – including his first win in the Short Track Super Series – Jeff Strunk won the Pre-Season title in the Hyneman No. 126. Ryan Godown finished second with Duane Howard and Rick Laubach tied for third. Matt Stangle finished fifth.
Could this be the future of motorsports? The allnew Nissan LEAF NISMO RC, an electric race car with more than double the maximum power and torque output of its predecessor, was unveiled Thursday in Tokyo.
The car was developed by Nissan’s racing arm, NISMO. It will make its track debut Dec. 2 at the annual NISMO Festival at Fuji International Speedway, appearing alongside Nissan’s new Formula E electric race car.
With dual electric motors, all-wheel drive and an aggressive, restyled body shape, the purpose-built car demonstrates how Nissan’s electric vehicle technology can deliver exciting yet quiet, zero-emission power, according to the company. The model is equipped with advanced battery technology and drivetrain components from the Nissan LEAF, the world’s best-selling electric car.
Nissan plans to build six LEAF NISMO RC vehicles to deploy around the world.
Powering the all-new Nissan LEAF NISMO RC are two electric motors at opposite ends of the chassis. The motors produce 240 kilowatts combined and an 472 lb-ft of instant torque to the wheels. Nissan more than doubled the maximum power and the torque output of the previous LEAF NISMO RC, which was introduced in 2011. Drivetrain technology sourced from the new Nissan LEAF include the high-capacity lithium-ion battery and inverters.