By TODD HEINTZELMAN
Sports correspondent
PORT ROYAL — It will be another busy summer of dirt track racing at Port Royal Speedway and other tracks in the mid-state.
Port Royal is in action Saturday night at 7 with Appalachian Mountain Late Model Speedweek. The 410 sprints, and limited late models join the program.
Hall of Fame driver Rick Eckert dominated last Saturday’s late model feature and is the point leader headed into Speedweek, which will bring a large, competitive field of cars to the Speed Palace in Juniata County.
Eckert, 57, of York, has been very consistent all season at Port Royal, but last week was his first trip to victory lane and the 14th of his career at the track. He’s the 2011 World of Outlaws Late Model Champion and spent most of his career on the road before settling back in the last few seasons picking and choosing the higher paying races, which includes the $4,000 to win weekly late model races at Port Royal.
Other late model winners have included Dillan Stake, Gregg Satterlee, Drake Troutman and Michael Norris.
The following Saturday night, June 17, at Port Royal will be the USAC Eastern Storm featuring the USAC National Sprint Cars, the USAC Silver Crown Cars and the Port Royal 410 sprint cars in a blockbuster program.
Port Royal is idle on June 24 as the 33rd edition of Pennsylvania Sprint Car Speedweek will be in action at Lincoln Speedway. Speedweek for the sprint cars begins Friday, June 23 at Williams Grove Speedway. More money is on the line this year than ever before during Speedweek.
Port Royal’s Speedweek schedule is different this season. The track’s first race will be Saturday, July 1 and will be the Greg Hodnett Classic. The track will host the Speedweek finale this year with the Keith Kauffman Classic on Monday, July 3.
Brent Marks is the defending Speedweek champion. Danny Dietrich won in 2021 and Kyle Larson dominated the series in 2020.
Washington State native Devon Borden leads the Port Royal sprint car standings with two wins on the season, including last Saturday night. Borden continues to improve in the Shuttlesworth Stehman Racing No. 23 as he closes in on one full year with the team. Other winners have included: Mayor Dylan Cisney on Opening Day, Lucas Wolfe on April 1, Blane Heimbach on May 6, Anthony Macri on May 27 and Lance Dewease in the Bob Weikert Memorial Finale on May 28.
Williams Grove Speedway hosts Fan Appreciation Night Friday night. Fans purchasing general admission tickets will be permitted into the pit area prior to the races for about 45 minutes. Candy and chips will be given away as well. The 410 and 358 sprints are on the schedule beginning at 7:30.
Third-generation racer Freddie Rahmer is up to seven sprint car wins this season. He’s won five at Lincoln Speedway and two of the last three at Williams Grove.
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