3/2/2008

Sprints/Modifieds Will Open Selinsgrove Season
by Dino Oberto

   Selinsgrove Speedway’s March 14-15 season opening weekend is building up to be one of the most anticipated in years.
   Promoter Charlie Paige has put together two very good events. Friday night kicks off the year with the traditional 410 sprint car feature. The following evening there will be modified stock cars which are returning to the track for the first time since 1982.
   Without question Selinsgrove is at the forefront when it comes to sprint car action. While the 358 sprints are the weekly top billing, Paige has always incorporated the more potent 410s on his schedule for several events and in doing so has customarily been able to draw a host of top talent.
   “The 358 class has grown every year since I’ve been there and it looks like that will again be the case. This year they are also getting an increase in their payout and they’re already paid more than any other 358 track,” said Paige.
   “With the 410s you have a lot of drivers who use to race here all the time and they keep telling me that they want to continue to race here. There are a lot of 410 drivers who really like Selinsgrove. Greg Hodnett is very supportive. Todd Shafer really likes it. Lucas Wolfe definitely does too,” said Paige.
   Although the 410 sprint race is always well attended, the following night’s modified feature has been gaining just as much hype. Since it was announced that the Race of Champions (RoC) Dirt Modified Tour will be racing, the buzz has been nonstop.
   “From everything we heard at our mall show it’s definitely going to be a good race,” said Paige. “A lot of my Selinsgrove fans have asked for a modified show.”
   “Everything has been going good leading up to it. They (RoC) have been working real close with Joe Kaminski, my race director. He comes from a modified background and he’s been the go-between for me and the RoC guys. Joe’s been working on a lot of the sponsor money too.”
   The Insinger Race Fuels RoC Icebreaker 50 is the first race in the Race of Champions Dart Dirt Modified Tour South Region for 2008. The neutral race track has many racing teams excited about the chance to race for the first time ever at Selinsgrove.
   As an incentive to lure some of the sprint loyalists to come back for Saturday’s mod race there will be a special practice session included in Friday’s program to give them a sampling of what they’ll see. Discount ticketing is also being offered.
   “There’s going to be a discount for the fans also. Anyone that’s there for the 410 race and the practice will get a discount the next night for the modified show. We hope that will entice people who are strictly there for the 410 race that after they see the modifieds practice then they’ll come back the next night,” said Paige.
   As the RoC Icebreaker 50 nears, the pot is also taking shape and a hefty payday will be up for grabs. If one driver gets very lucky on the day and sweeps the racing program along with winning a majority of the special awards, he could leave Selinsgrove with at least $7,000 in cash and prizes for only 50 laps of work.
    “I’ve met my goal of making sure that every racer who supports this show is going home with something in their pocket,” stated Race Director Joe Kaminski. “I’m still not stopping as we have a few weeks to go and I’m working on getting more money for the racers who support this show.”
   It’s going to be the best of both worlds for dirt track fans with the sprints and modifieds. While the sprints continue to hold their own as the track’s staple division, Paige feels with the addition of the special modified show there will be potential for progression.
    “I do see this becoming a yearly thing and it all depends on how well the modified drivers like the track. It’s going to be up to them and if the crowd is good. If we get a lot of drivers and everything goes well there’s potential for maybe even another race later this year,” said Paige.
   7:30 pm will be the start time for the sprint program while the mods roll out at 4:00. If need be, Sunday March 16 will be the rain date for the modified race.