Author: Wisemotorsport

THE DIRT TRACKIN’ SHOW IN YORK, PA … A HUGE SUCCESS!
By Bryan Householder and Kirk Wise
The 25th Anniversary edition of the Dirt Trackin’ Show at the York Fairgrounds is in the record books. Every year it seems to get bigger with more fans attending as well as more events taking place, like arm wrestling, a sprint simulation race including heats and a twenty- five lap feature, a performance by the Jazz Me Band, the magic of Pepka, PWE wrestling, a remote controlled race car kid‘s challenge, a Sunday morning worship service with Rev. Dan from Racers for Christ, and a J&J Sprint frame and kit given away by Pancho‘s Racing Parts. This year nearly 150 veicles were on display over the weekend with nearly the same number of vendor spaces being occupied.

As always a group of judges picked the “Best of Show” winners in several categories. There were also “People’s Choice” awards voted on by the fans with the trophies sponsored by Jack Giambalvo Motor Company. In the “Best of Show” awards, the Middleswarth Racing #7 sprint car of Keith Kauffman took top honors in the 410 Sprint Car class. The new paint scheme on the Middleswarth Potato Chip car is very impressive. Using the black and green colors the team has used the past several years, they went a step further this year. Now the lower half of the car and wing appears to be covered in potato chips. In the Super Sportsman/358 Sprint/305 Sprint ranks, the Highlands’ Tire #3 358 sprint of Pat Cannon was the winner, while the Late Model/Limited Late Model honors went to the Seymore Racing #81s Limited Late Model that will be driven by Bobby Beard. The Stock Car Class winner was the number 10 Monte Carlo of Charlie Pennsinger. Pennsinger will move from the xtreme stock car class at Susquehanna to the pure stocks at Hagerstown. The winner in the Micro Sprint/Legends/Midget Class is interesting as well. The car is the raffle car for the Sidewinder Sprint Organization. The car, which someone will win is #08. The Go Kart/1/4 Midget Class winner was the #25H go kart of Troy Hockenberry. In the Vintage/Restored Class, was the newly restored Ed Zirkle #33 Sprint Car.

The People’s Choice Awards were determined by votes from fans attending the show. Each dollar donated was a vote. This year fans donated more the $2300 to the York County Racing Club’s Injured Driver’s Fund, while making their votes. The top five winners were first the #43 limited late model of Jake Jones, second the #18 limited late model of Travis McClelland, third the #10 358 sprint car of Zach Eucolano, fourth the #71 Swope Salvage sprint car of Brian Leppo, and fifth the #1 limited late model of Gene Knaub.

Friday evening included the Ms. Dirt Trackin’ Contest that was sponsored by CarSoup.com and WHP-TV CBS 21, and crowned an extremely attractive young racer from York-New Salem it’s winner by the name of Lindsay Krug. Early Saturday evening at Dirt Trackin’ two drivers Scott Haus and Jason Covert recieved their YCRC Hall Of Fame awards from the recent York County Racing Club banquet, as they were unable to attend that function because of other banquets at which they were also receiving awards.

Kudos have to go the entire Wise Motorsport Marketing group spearheaded by Kirk Wise, for another great production in the Memorial Hall Expo Center this past weekend, as there were more fans, teams, cars, vendors and fun than ever before.

ALLEN OIL SALES… W 36

ALL AMERICAN OUTLAWS… E 83 – 85

AMBASSADOR HOME IMPROVEMENTS…W12

A.R.D.C….W-8

 A.R.C.H….E-128

BATH FITTER … E78

BOWHUNTERS SUPERSTORE…E80

BOWLING GREEN…W 5 (&6)

BRADLEY’S CAR COLLECTIBLES … E 76

BRENAMAN EMBROIDERY…W 51&52

BUCH’S ROCK GARDEN…W 34 & 35 CASTLE HI-TECH CHEMICALS… WEST FRONT ENTRANCE-WAY

CARLISLE EVENTS…E-118

COMBINED INSURANCE OF AMERICA…L. CORRIDOR (SAT. ONLY)

CRUISE THE SEAS WITH LOUISE … E 79

DASAH RACE CAR SIMULATOR…E129 – 134

DELCO SIGNS … W18 (&19)

DIADON ADOPTION…E-61

DORSEY RACING COLLECTIBLES…E102

D.Q.M.R.C….W-33

FAST ACTION MOTORSPORTS ENTERTAINMENT…E 120-126

FLAT OUT MAGAZINE… E 109

JACK GIAMBALVO…WEST BACK WALL

GEARHEAD TOYS… E 102 &103

GLORY DAYS APPARREL…E-98

GRIMM TROPHY…E107

GRINESTAFF RACING… E 65& 66

HAGERSTOWN SPEEDWAY… E 111-113

HEROLD’S MODELS … W-62

J&K TOYS… E 67-69

KALEIDOSCOPE SOUND…STAGE RIGHT

LINCOLN SPEEDWAY… W-37

MARYLAND STOCK CAR RACING H.O.F….E-108

MILLER’S RACING PARTS…E 81(82?)

MONSTER RACING EXCITEMENT… E135 & 137

MONTE’S COLLECTIBLES…E49 & 50

MOTORAMA/TRAILWAY… W 16-17

MOTORSPORT VIDEO PRODUCTION … E 97

NORTHEAST SAFETY… E 104 – 106

NUTMEG COLLECTIBLES – DAVE‘S RACING… W63 – 70

PA LAWN MOWER RACING ASSOC… W 54 & 56

PENN-MAR VINTAGE RACE CAR CLUB…W-7

PENNSINGER/ ARCH CLUB…E 130

PORT ROYAL SPEEDWAY…E 95 & 96

?? PRO-CUT GRAPHICS… (W13&14)

QUARTER ACES DRAG-O-WAY…E-99

R&B RACING APPARREL…E 116&117

RACING LIMOS OF HARRISBURG … E 134-138

RACERS FOR CHRIST…W 20-22

READING SPEEDWAY MUSEUM…E 123-131

REDWELL RACE CARS…W 41 & 42

RENEWAL BY ANDERSON … E 74

RIFE’S RACING COLLECTIBLES … E 75

RINEHART, DEAN… W 44

SABKO/ MAKE-A-WISH … W11

SELINSGROVE SPEDWAY…E 100 & 101

SHIPPENSBURG SPEEDWAY…W 43

BARRY SKELLY…W 53&55

SIDEWINDER SPRINTS…E70 – 73

SPEED DAWG PERFORMANCE APPAREL … W40

SPORTS BAG UNLIMITED … W 9 & 10

SPORTS CARS ETC….W 28-31 & 71-72

SPORTSMAN HI-TECH OPTICAL (SAULS)…W45&46

SPORTS PLUS RACING VIDEOS…E 110

SUNDANCE VACATIONS … LOBBY

SUSQUEHANNA SPEEDWAY PARK…W 39

THE RACE SHOP… W47

VICIOUS CYCLES… E114 & 115

VIRGINIA MOTOR SPEEDWAY… E 77

WILLIAMS GROVE SPEEDWAY… W 38

YORK COUNTY RACING CLUB…MAIN CORRIDOR

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Quality Inn & Suites is offering a $69.99 rate for the Dirt Track Show. Call 717-755-7966 or go on line at www.qualityinn.com/hotel/pa064 to make reservations. This is a high quality Choice Hotel located at 2600  East Market Street in York.

Another Year in the Books…
  
     As another year comes to a close, I have to ask…where did it go? It seems like just last week that the engines were firing at Lincoln Speedway to kick off another season, but now it’s over…or is it? Even though the motors have cooled down at the local tracks, as well as at the super speedways, teams are bustling with anticipation of the upcoming season in 2008. Many changes have been made in drivers, teams and even track programs for next year. Susquehanna Speedway for example is very happy with the way things turned out in 2007, with the track being known for it’s many divisions of stock car racing instead of the winged competition of other facilities around them. Their banquet will be coming up on January 26th in York. Yes, it’s the same weekend as the Dirt Trackin’ show…but the management for both events were well aware of the overlapping Saturday evening…without any conflict between them. The silly season for Nascar in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Grand National divisions (oh boy will nothing stay the same) is so complex that I’m sure it will take until Daytona speed weeks to get all straightened out.
     Speaking of shows…the Area Auto Racing News Motorsports Show and Races will take place again this year January 18-20 in Atlantic City, followed by the 25th Anniversary Dirt Trackin’ Show the next weekend January 25-27 at the York Fairgrounds Expo Center. As usual, the big teams and big bucks displays will be at Motorsports, and the free parking, down home fun of Dirt Trackin’ will include everything from cars to sprint simulators, jazz & blues bands, magicians, and on Saturday night, the PWE wrestlers…lot’s more fun for the dollar…but it’s all in what you like…in fact …if you can afford it…go to both shows! Motorama will take place at the Harrisburg State Farm Show February 16 & 17 only, with Tunerwars going on all day Saturday. Several tracks will also be having shows in their area…which means even more preparation for all the teams. It seems that the final dirt of the season has just been cleaned off the side panels, and the cars are stripped and repainted …waiting for the lettering guy to show up at the garage.
     Kudos have to go to the Hendricks teams, as Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon took it down to the final race of the season in Miami where the points closed, and the Lowes #48 became the champion once again with the Dupont #24 finishing in second. The Craftsman Truck division was also decided in it’s last event with Ron Hornaday driving his Kevin Harvick owned pickup to his third championship in the series. Of course, huge congratulations have to go to cousin Carl Edwards for his wide margin of victory in the Busch series this year after his less than stellar performance in 2006…it looks like the “back flippin’ kid” is back.
     Looking for something special to put under the tree this year? Why not let your race fan actually drive a stock car at Dover International Speedway with Monster Racing Excitement Enterprises! Gift certificate are now available by calling 800-468-6946 or on line at www.monsterracing.com.
 
Have a great holiday this year…and remember the real reason for this season.
Racing with the Wise Guy – Kirk Wise
www.wisemotorsportmarketing.com

It’s Not Over ‘Til The Fat Lady Sings…or at least until the last motor shuts off!

Another season is just about in the bag, but racers and promoters just keep finding ways, even into the snow covered months, to quench their insatiable thirst for racing. Even though Susquehanna Speedway Park has decided their division champions for 2007 including Carl Billet, Paul Morgan, Mike Goodwin, Ed Hollenbach, and Kendra Knaub, there is still one more racing event slated to take place on November 10th called appropriately, the Turkey 200 Enduro Race…plus their banquet that will be held on January 26th. Yes it is the same weekend as the 25th Annual Dirt Trackin’ Show at the York Expo Center, but Todd and I will be working together on the timing to make sure that all goes well for the teams so they don’t miss too much at the show. Other tracks will be hosting flea markets where teams will be swapping out old parts for newer ones, or changing divisions and selling their old car for something more spectacular. Even though it’s not on the same lot…the Silver Spring Speedway Racing Flea market will still pack ’em in at the State Farm Show parking lot in Harrisburg.

Lincoln Speedway crowned Fred Rahmer as it’s track champion this year in the 410 sprints, Cory Haas in the 358’s, Duane Watson in the Thundercars, and Shaun Jones in the Late Models. Their racing flea market is also scheduled on November 10th with their banquet being held at the Holiday Inn in York on November 17th. Congratulations go to all champs of the divisions that run at Trailway Speedway including Todd Hoover, Jerry Lynch, Dwayne Gutshall, Jeff Rohrbaugh, Craig Wagaman, Doug Bennett, Chase Eckert, Joseph Flanary, and Dylan Keim. Their awards banquet is slated for November 10th (don’t look for many racers and fans to be around on the 10th…they’ll be busy somewhere) at the New Oxford Social Club and also hosting the Motorama Show on February 16th and 17th in Harrisburg. William’s Grove Speedway will be crowning Todd Shaffer, Pat Cannon, Frankie Herr, Tyler Hershey, Kory Sites and John Stoll Jr. as the champions for the 2007 season in their respective divisions also on November 10th at the Radisson in Camp Hill.
    Straight ahead racers from South Mountain Dragway will be celebrating the end of the season in January with Ash Senft taking the Super crown, Garrett Suders in the Pro class, Joe Nonemaker in bike/snowmobile, Richard Zeigler in Street Car , Chase Fahnestock as the Junior Dragster champ, Courtney Suders in the Ladies Challenge, Nick Thoman in the High School Eliminator, and John Atticks in Street to Strip. The Mountain will be under new ownership next year, but kudos have got to go to Ron & Ethel Wallace and their team of employeesand partners for sustaining the strip for so many years. Stanley Dye will do a great job at the helm, as he is a real racer with lots of ideas to improve what the Wallace dynasty left him to work on.

The Busch Grand Nationl title will go to Carl Edwards for 2007, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck crown will be won by either Ron Hornaday or Mike Skinner, and the Nextel Cup…well.. barring a total collapse by either Jeff Gordon or Jimmie Johnson, the championship trophy will be in the Hendrick’s stable for another year…but with who’s name on it. When you hear the fat lady sing at the Homestead-Miami Speedway…you and I will know for sure.
Next time I see you…I hope it’s at the track!

Racing with the Wise Guy – Kirk M. Wise

Heard daily on over a dozen radio stations, plus on the web…go to www.wisemotorsport.com for more information. E-mail your team updates to wisemotors@aol.com or call 717-979-0341.

For information regarding the Dirt Trackin’ Show for 2008, go to www.dirttrackinshow.com

Lincoln Speedway for week of July 21st.mp3

LET’S BUNCH ‘EM UP…FOR SAFETY…YEA, RIGHT!

     For any of you racing fans who witnessed yet another restrictor plate race at the Talledega Super Speedway…you have to question the intelligence of the NASCAR officials. How do they possibly think that 40+ cars running at 200 miles per hour, three wide in a pack is adding safety to the sport? The idea was originally to slow down the cars, to avoid injury to the drivers. The same officials have done wonders in making strict rules for the integrity of the cars, and have succeeded in lessening the injuries in those horrific crashes that the drivers have endured already this season. The safer barriers are also a very good idea, as long as they don’t cut down too much on the area in turns at certain tracks that already don’t have a lot of room to carry speeds through the apex to the straightaway. It’s time to call it what it is..a high speed chess match…where a driver can be running in first like Mike Wallace on one lap, and then be in fifteenth the next time they come around due to no drafting help in a vehicle that won’t let you really put the pedal to the metal. The other “so called” safety feature is the smaller fuel tanks…supposedly the crews will have to pit more often thus eliminating the huge bunching of cars. Hello! They all have to pit every time they have a chance so that they don’t get out of synch with the rest of the field. And since they all pit under the many yellows…let’s not go there…there is always a huge bunching of cars at the restart, and with the restrictor plates, the faster guys can’t break away from the field…thus spreading out the huge swarm of cars that are just waiting for the “big one”.  Face it…the television viewer and the fans at the track sit on the edge of their seats just waiting for a multitude of cars smashing into each other…not to see anyone harmed, but just for the spectacle of the happening. I for one, especially after being a car owner for so many years, would love to see a race with no collisions, and just good clean racing. It costs a lot of money to field a team, and there is always a chance for major injury…let’s try to do something about this style of racing that I will guarantee is disliked by virtually every driver in the NASCAR circuit. Then there’s the Car of the Future…oh man…I don’t have enough space to go there…

  We’ve finally had a few nights of racing in our area the past weeks, and it’s great to see close finishes, last lap passes, and guys coming from mid way through the pack to pick up a checkered flag. Saturday night racing is incredible in South Central Pennsylvania with choices including Lincoln, Williams Grove, Susquehanna, Port Royal, Trailway, Selisgrove and Shippensburg just to name a few. Kevin Knouse looks strong in the sprint field, as does Pat Cannon…Frankie Herr continues to be dominate in the Sportsman…Carl Billett always seems to get to the front, and Mike Goodwin, in the stock cars, just plain gets the job done.

   Please check out our ever improving web site at www.wisemotorsprt.com as I love getting questions, comments and information about area racers. Next time I see you …I hope it’s at the track….

Racing with the Wise Guy

Kirk M. Wise
e-mail wisemotors@aol.com

WHERE WILL WE GO THIS YEAR?

As a new racing season begins, many of the teams and fans have to decide which track will be their home for the year. Although many enthusiasts follow tours throughout the area as well as the country, most frequent their one “home” track each and every week. The NASCAR fans actually have reserved seats that they must renew, or giveaway each year, and some of our tracks also have season seats that many have held for decades. The big dilemma this year will be between all the tracks running on Saturday night. Silver Spring had the most loyal fan, and team base that I know of, but that is gone…no I still have not set foot, in or near any of the stores that took it’s place…nor will I in the future. Saturday night for the Sportsman, Late Model, and Street Stocks that graced the Carlisle Pike for so many years will be split between both Williams Grove and Susquehanna Speedway Park this year. Of course, there is the added “competition” of the Sprint tracks like Lincoln, Port Royal, Selinsgrove, and Trailway for the shrinking numbers of racing fans in South Central Pennsylvania. Why are the numbers shrinking for attendance? Several ideas come to mind including the vast array of other activities that families participate in virtually every night of the week, the diminishing slush fund that folks use to pay for their seats and pit passes, and finally…the NASCAR races that have switched also to Saturday nights! Even though you can tape the event to watch later, and believe me …it is much more enjoyable when you can take out the many hours of commercials and worthless commentary contained in each event, it’s just not the same. And God forbid if you go to church the next day, as you know someone will spill the beans as to who went to victory lane.
     It’s tough out there for the racing facilities. They have internal costs sky rocketing, repairs, employees, taxes, and more and more competition…where will it end. I hate to tell you…the Springs won’t be the last to go..but the strong will survive. It’s still the least expensive night out for the family, when you figure that you can hang out for over 6 hours, and that the kids get in at a discount, or for free. Long live the local dirt track!
     O.K. soap box over…how about Daytona 500 winner Kevin Harvick! Had it not been for a flat tire on the restart in California, he probably would have made it two for two this year. Don’t forget how well he was running at the end of last year, finishing in the top of the points in Cup competition, as well as winning the Busch title for 2006. He and his team will be the team to be reckoned with this year. Johnson will be consistent, as will Martin, Gordon, Stewart and Kenseth…but I think “Hap” will be the man this year. Too soon to speculate on this kind of thing…possibly…but that’s why I’m called the Wise Guy!
Next time I see you, I hope it’s at the track,
Kirk Wise
Check out our new web site at www.wisemotorsportmarketing.com, where your comments and suggestion are always welcome.

SHOW ME THE SPONSORSHIP MONEY!      If you had the chance to visit last month’s Atlantic City, or York racing shows…you had to notice all of the logos adorning virtually every vehicle from the most popular sprinter to the youngster’s go-cart. Most have already paid big bucks to have their names on the various cars, track facilities and events for the upcoming season…but there are still more out there. Driver’s and teams should not be ashamed to ask for the green go-juice (cash) from everybody they can think of. This is how teams make it to the end of the season…and it is a great way for a business to promote their company and gain the most loyal of customers…race fans. Face it, why do corporations and little sole proprietorships invest their hard earned dollars in racing? Some may just love the sport and want to help out a fledgling team, but usually it is to gain popularity, exposure, and eventually turn it into more working capitol. Look at all the hubbub going on in the Nextel Cup right now with the buy- out of Cingular going back to AT&T…Burton and Childress want it on their car for Daytona, but Nextel has already promised over 700 million dollars to the sport, and does not want the competition to have their logo racing at their events. Sprint, and Alltel we already there when the transfer from Winston to Nextel took place…but AT&T left….maybe they should sponsor the Busch division next year…hmmmm.
     Speaking of the shows, the Dirt Trackin’ show for 2007 was the best ever in attendance, vendors, and cars. The fans loved the same low price for admission with free parking, and all the added events for no extra charge charge, especially for the family. The WHP CBS-21TV  Ms.Dirt Trackin’ contest was held on Friday night when Alyssa Sharmin was crowned the new queen, and was followed by a live Jazz Me Band performance. Saturday included a drivers arm wrestling tournament won by Jesse Morrison, Aaron Long, and Jason Morrison in their respective divisions, followed by the ever popular PWE wrestlers in the evening. Sunday included an early morning worship service hosted by RFC pastor Dan Laterza with singing by Hearts in Harmony, and a free remote controlled car tournament for the kids in conjunction with Fast Action Motorsports Entertainment in the afternoon. The event ended with the presentation of the Jack Giambalvo Motor Company best in show awards, and various raffle winners being announced. Bowhunters Superstore, A&G Custom Sprints, the Hooters Girls of York, the PA Racing Lawnmowers Association, ands Wise Motorsport Marketing all contributed to help raise nearly $2000 for the York County Racing Club’s injured driver’s fund. Over 200 beautifully prepared racing vehicles, 150 vendors, the Reading Fairground Museum, and even a NASCAR stretch limo all added to the huge show. The 25th edition has already been planned for the York Fairgrounds on January 25, 26, and 27 in the year 2008. Check out the Dirt Trackin 2007 Photos.
     I got my first whiff of racing alcohol burning when the cars fired up their engines at the show…and I can hardly wait for more. Lincoln will kick off the season with the Ice breaker 30 at 2PM for the Super Sprints paying $3500 to win on February 24th…bbbbrrrrr.Next time I see you…I hope it’s at the track!
Kirk Wise – the “Wise Guy”
Checkl out our new website for daily show times, radio affiliates and recorded broadcasts at www.wisemotorsport marketing.com