Memorials highlight local holiday events

Along with celebrating our nation's birthday this weekend, many area racetracks are honoring various members of the motorsports community.

Big Diamond Raceway presents the 30th Annual Georgie Stevenson Memorial this evening for the modifieds, sportsman and roadrunners with larger paying purses for each division's longer distance features.

The modified winner will collect $4,000 for their 40-lap feature, while the sportsman race for $800 in their 25-lap main event and the roadrunner 20-lap feature will pay $250 to the winner.

Big Diamond presented the first Stevenson Memorial in 1980, honoring the memory of young Georgie, who lost his battle to cancer at the young age of 12. Until his untimely passing, Georgie worked hard to raise money for cancer research and his family still carries on his purpose today; aiding sick and terminally ill youngsters through their Memorial Fund.

Gates open at 5 p.m. tonight with racing action to begin at 7:45.

Williams Grove hosts the sixth leg of the 19th Annual Pennsylvania Sprint Car Speedweek, presenting the $10,000-to-win, Mitch Smith Memorial 30-lap event. Mitch Smith's drives against fellow Pa. sprint car drivers and the touring USAC group are legendary during the 1960's and '70's, as 'the Grove' pays tribute to the Hall of Fame shoe. Gates open at 5 p.m. with time trials at 7:45. Fireworks will round out the program at the Mechanicsburg oval.

Selinsgrove Speedway hosts a doubleheader weekend, presenting the 8th Annual Firecracker 30 for the 358 sprint cars tomorrow night, as the late models, pro stocks and roadrunners join the card. Swinging back into action on Sunday night, the Snyder County oval will honor the Original Outlaw, Jan Opperman, presenting the final leg of the Pa. Sprint Car Speedweek event. It will feature the 410-sprint cars along with the pro stocks. Gates open each night at 5 p.m. and racing begins at 7:45, while fireworks are also part of the program on Saturday night.

Action at Port Royal Speedway Saturday night finds the seventh leg of the Pa. Sprint Car Speedweek on tap as the pro stocks join the action, with racing set to start at 7 p.m.

Williams Grove's Saturday night program has an off night this weekend, but Lincoln Speedway hosts the 358 sprint cars, winged super sportsman and limited-late models at the Hanover-based oval, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Hagerstown Speedway hosts the 44th Annual Johnny Roberts Memorial for the super late models tomorrow night along with the late model sportsman and pure stocks with a huge fireworks show.

In local drag racing, Numidia Dragway has a very active three-day slate of events for the holiday weekend, beginning today with a $2,000-to-win super pro points event followed by street legal drag racing tonight. Saturday finds high dollar Summit Series point races along with the spectacular KC Jones jet cars and fireworks show, while Sunday is another high dollar Summit Series points event.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star and 2000 Williams Grove Speedway 410 Sprint Car season opener winner, Kasey Kahne has announced along with Ollie's Bargain Outlet, the "Battle at the Grove" charity race on Wednesday, August 5 at Williams Grove Speedway. All net proceeds from the event will be donated to charities designated by the Kasey Kahne Foundation and Ollie's Bargain Outlet.

"We've hosted several benefit races at Williams Grove Speedway because of the great fan support," Kahne, a 10-time winner on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, said. "Ollie's has also been a great supporter of these events and of short track racing in general, so teaming up on this event again to give back to the community just makes sense."

Advance tickets are on sale through August 3. Cost is $25 for adult general admission at www.battleatthegrove.com with discounts available for children. Advance ticket buyers who purchase by July 21 will be entered into a drawing for an exclusive 100-person autograph signing session with Kasey Kahne and select drivers. A portion of the net ticket proceeds will be donated by the Kasey Kahne Foundation to support the Ronald McDonald House Charities in nearby Hershey and in Charlotte, N.C.

As in past events sponsored by Ollie's Bargain Outlet in cooperation with the Kasey Kahne Foundation at Williams Grove, URC-sanctioned 360/358 sprints will be the main feature of this year's race. The super late model class will also be a major attraction, expected to include several NASCAR drivers, including Kyle Busch and David Stremme. The 24-year-old Busch has already won 52 races within NASCAR's top three touring series, including 15 wins in the top Sprint Cup Series. Additional drivers will be announced as the event approaches. Driver line-up is subject to change.