The Susquehanna Speedway celebrates its 50th year
NEWBERRYTOWN, PA (May 18, 2004) – The Susquehanna Speedway celebrates its 50th year of operation this Thursday night, May 20. Along with a few surprises, the night will feature the 410 Sprint Cars, the Xtreme Enduro Stock Cars and the Penn Mar Vintage Club in action on the 1/2–mile Newberrytown oval. Last week found three new winners for the season in victory lane that includes Greg Hodnett from Memphis, TN in the 410 Sprints, David Wilhelm from Perryville, MD in the Xtreme Stock Cars and Wellsville’s John Stoll Jr. in the PA Four Cylinders. The Xtreme Stock Car Pepsi Challenge will feature Wilhelm along with Ronnie Thomas of Gettysburg, Matt Smith from Carlisle, XSC points leader Charlie Pennsinger of Shippensburg and Manchester’s Raymond Repp. Pennsinger picked up the “double money” purse when he finished fourth from the back in last week’s feature. The return of the Rock It Pizza School Bus Challenge will also continue with some special guests of the 50th Anniversary Celebration. Bud Bricker Jr., the son of the late Bud Bricker who built and promoted the first race at Susquehanna Speedway in May of 1954, will be on hand as the honorary starter for the evening’s activities. New traditions have also begun at SSP which include all children 12 and under being able to visit victory lane after the 410 Sprint Car feature to have their picture as a group with the winning driver. A picture from last week’s event can be found on www.sspracing.net under May 13 photos. Gates open in the pit area at 4:00 p.m. with the grandstand gates opening at 5:00 p.m. Warmups begin at 6:30 p.m. with racing action beginning at 7:30 p.m. Race fans can expect a fast paced 2 ½ hour program each and every night (and as coined by a local reporter "Done by 10."). Grandstand ticket prices are Adults (18 & older) $10.00; Teens (13-17) $6.00; Children (6-12) $2.00; and Children (5 & under) are free. Pit pass prices have been reduced to $20.00 with a reduced price of $18.00 for all track license holders. A track license is $25.00 for the year. The Trail Motors 358/360 Open Comp Sprint Car Challenge will be featured on Thursday Night, May 27 paying $1200 to the winner. As a bonus, every entrant in the May 27th show will be eligible to win $1500 at the August 12 Trail Motors 358/360 Open Comp Show only if they enter the May 27th event. If they only compete in the August 12 show, then they can win $1200. All drivers will declare which rules they are competing under as they enter the pit gate and must abide by those rules. An open tire rule is in effect except for those competing for points under their declared organization. Also on the racing card are the ever-popular Xtreme Enduro Stock Cars and the Central PA Legends Cars. Also, with the huge amount of interest for the June 10th Great American School Bus Race, SSP will be selling advance tickets at a discounted rate of $10.00 per ticket. At the gate, the general admission price will be $12.00. Ticket may be purchased at intermission during Thursday night racing events or by calling the SSP office at (717) 292-1696. The Susquehanna Speedway Park is located off I-83 to exit 32, then 1.4 miles NW on SR382 to York Road, then 1.3 miles south. For more information, contact the speedway offices at (717) 292-1696 or email toddafish@aol.com. 2004 SSP Point Standings - 410 Sprint Cars RankCar #Driver NameHometown, StateTotal Points 188hFred RahmerSalfordville, PA371 269kDonnie Kreitz Jr.Sinking Springs, PA365 377Lance DeweaseFayetteville, PA359 412Greg HodnettMemphis, TN350 54Eric StambaughEast Berlin, PA341 659Jim SiegelNew Oxford, PA332 723Todd ZinnGlenville, PA270 817TJeff TaylorCherry Hill, NJ268 939T.J. StuttsLiverpool, PA234 106wJosh WellsYork, PA222 1197Billy DietrechAspers, PA216 1235Brian BossingerMifflintown, PA192 1329KBrent KlugeFallston, MD192 1425Jeff ShepardUpperco, MD191 151zMark SmithNewville, PA176 166KChris KnoppDelta, PA170 1771Brian LeppoSpring Grove, PA152 1833Scott LutzFredericksburg, PA148 1964Rick HornDover, PA118 2017cKeith AndersonHockessin, DE109 2122Darren EashIjamsville, MD91 2225Kevin NouseMechanicsburg, PA88 2322Kenny JacobsHolmesville, OH86 247cDave CordierShoemakersville, PA84 25U1Chad LaytonHarrisburg, PA82 2621Brian MontiethPhoenixville, PA80 2721Jerry ParrishHampstead, MD76 2821Scott ZellersYork, PA76 2934 1/2Billy KimmelMechanicsburg, PA72 3058Aaron LongDillsburg, PA72 3198Chad McClellanStoystown, PA72 3228Bill Heltzel Jr.York, PA72 3341Scott GeeseyWellsville, PA68 341aWilliam Cale ReigleNewport, PA68 3557sTony StrineDover, PA64 3688JRory Janney 64 3794Glenn ForsytheEast Berlin, PA50 3829Joe Ross 50 39I07 Mark ColdrenEtters, PA50 4051Karl BakerYork, PA0 418Craig KeelWeedsport, NY0 4288Danny DietrechAspers, PA0 2004 SSP Point Standings – Xtreme Enduro Stock Cars RankCar #Driver NameHometown, StateTotal Points 110* Charlie PensingerShippensburg, PA376 23GMike GoodwinWellsville, PA360 31 / 25Allan MillerCarlisle, PA343 441 / 4* Matt SmithCarlisle, PA342 569 / 4JLarry Hughes Jr.York Haven, PA341 657* Raymond ReppManchester, PA338 754 / 17Karl WindishHarriburg, PA335 8XR7Jerry BlauchGrantville, PA 330 911Samuel RialWindsor, PA319 1007Rickey Hippensteel Jr.Newville, PA303 11169Jerry RunkleDover, PA300 1237Tom SlankerDover, PA284 134aShawn ArndtYork, PA275 1454 jr.Bobby GlassYork Haven, PA275 15181Tony TumasElkton, MD241 1627Matt WamplerDover, PA241 1733Bryon SipeHamburg, PA230 1871Adrian BarnhardtHanover, PA225 1991Tom JohnsColumbia, PA184 2021* RonnieThomasGettysburg, PA172 217Gerald BarnesBaltimore, MD150 2242Jim GrossCarlisle, PA150 2335Curtis NicholsAberdeen, MD150 2440* David WilhelmPerryville, MD100 25181Darrin Williams 78 2632Steve ClemensLebanon, PA78 2725Rick Hippensteel, Sr.Newville, PA75 2851Samuel HenryWellsville, PA75 2951Jesse HenryDover, PA75 3027Rick RussellYork, PA75 3154Eric SmokeFleetwood, PA75 3238Brian SandersMechanicsburg,PA75 335Kevin BurreyLancaster, PA75 34166Wayne Eurich Franklintown, PA75 351HBrian LommanManchester, PA50 361HDale FryeYork Haven, PA50 3741Daryll DavisParadise, PA50 3866Matt ShellyManchester, PA50 * = Driver’s eligible for the “Double Purse” Xtreme Stock Car Pepsi Challenge May 20, 2004 - Thursday Night Thunder Time Schedule (50th Anniversary Celebration) (Subject to Change – More events may be added) 4:00 p.m. Pit Gates Open: Pit Passes: Members - $18.00; Non members - $20.00 5:00 p.m. Grandstands Open: General admission: Adults - $10.00; Teens (13-17) – $6.00; Children (6-12) - $2.00; Children (5 & under) – Free Display Vintage Cars at Grandstand Gate 6:30 p.m. 410 Sprint Car Driver’s Meeting (Mandatory) - A random role call will be taken. Failure to report to the driver’s meeting may result in disqualification for that night. 410 Sprint Cars (Heat in Engines) 6:40 p.m. Xtreme Enduro Stock Cars & Penn Mar Vintage Club Driver’s Meeting (Mandatory) - A random role call will be taken. Failure to report to the driver’s meeting may result in disqualification for that night. 6:50 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. Practice Begins (all divisions in the following order) - THIS IS NOT A RACE! Rotation: 410 Sprint Cars Penn Mar Vintage Club Xtreme Enduro Stock Cars 7:20 p.m. Welcome – Introduce VIPS (Bud Bricker Jr. and others) Invocation and National Anthem 7:30 p.m. Qualifying Events: 410 Sprint Car Heat Races - (10 laps) Penn Mar Vintage Club Heat Races - (6 laps) Xtreme Enduro Stock Car Heat Races - (5 laps) 410 Sprint Car Consolation Race - (10 or 12 laps) – if necessary Rock It Pizza School Bus Challenge – Retired SSP Drivers Xtreme Stock Car Pepsi Challenge – (4 laps) Top 5 from previous week Pre-stage all 410 Sprint Cars on the frontstretch for introductions 8:30 p.m. Feature Events - Victory Lane @ Finish Line for Top 3 in each division. 410 Sprint Car A-Main - (25 laps) Penn Mar Vintage Club A-Main - (12 laps) Xtreme Enduro Stocks Cars A-Main - (20 laps) 10:00 p.m. Racing Completed 11:00 p.m. Pit Area Closes (Lights out) Time is a factor! All cars must report to the grid area on time for their races. Late arrivals may not be permitted on the track. Please be early! RAIN DATE FOR THIS EVENT – SUNDAY, MAY 23, 2004 INCLEMENT WEATHER / CANCELLATION OF AN EVENT: In the event of rain or other conditions, it may be necessary for the SSP management to adjust the order of the event schedule, length of races, practices and qualifying sessions, or to stop the program completely. Should this occur, the SSP management shall make every effort to resume the schedule in a timely fashion if conditions improve. It is their sole discretion as to what decision they make and their decision is final. Rain Check Policy (Pits): Cancellation or delay of an event will be the speedway management’s decision. No money will be refunded for tickets or pit passes purchased. The armband with the appropriate numbers shall be used as the rain check. In the event that an event is canceled, rain checks will only be honored if all qualifying races for all divisions have not been completed. All races completed will be scratched and will not be rescheduled (EIRI – special events). Rain checks for the pits will be honored for one of the next two events of equal or lesser value. If the rain check is used for an event of greater value, then the holder will be responsible for making up the difference in value. If the event is rained out or canceled after one feature race for any division has been completed, then the remaining feature events will be run at a later announced date. This date will probably be the next race event scheduled and the make-up features will be first on the program (before any qualifying heats scheduled for the regular event). Only cars qualified for the canceled event will be eligible for the make-up feature. Rain checks will not be issued for events when the make-up features are held. One lap past the halfway point in a feature shall constitute a complete race in the event a race is stopped due to bad weather. If a race is stopped by use of the red flag and is ruled complete (no matter how many laps are complete), the finishing positions will be paid according to the last officially scored lap by the leader prior to the red flag. # # #