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INCLEMENT WEATHER PUSHES HAGERSTOWN OPENER TO APRIL 6TH

By Doug Watson

Hagerstown MD, (3/30/24)- It would be a valiant effort, but at the end mother nature prevailed for the second time in as many weeks as the planned season opener was canceled due to rain. The original season opening date of March 23rd was a complete washout, but this event would be lost at 5:30 after a spirited attempt by the Hagerstown staff to get the show in. “Well, we tried but mother nature had other plans.” Were the words from track prep ace Brian Jones. “I guess we’ll come back and try again next week.” Next weekends event will be the Spring Championship featuring the Late Model Sportsman, Crate Late Models, Semi Lates and Pure Stocks offering double-points in all classes.

Notes-

Prior to the rain canceling the event 28 Late Model Sportsman, 19 Crate Late Models, 16 Semi Lates and 18 Pure Stocks singed in for the show. Dawson Pa’s Braeden Dillinger made the lengthy three hour tow with his Rocket no.14D to compete with the Crate Late Models…Defending LMS champion Devin Hart had planned on racing at his hometown track of Port Royal (PA) but they also canceled their show due to weather. With the weather in Hagerstown not looking much better, Hart and company left their Rocket no.33K in the teams shop…Former LMS champion Kyle Lear was on hand with his Ray Ciccarelli owned Rocket, but the car sported Lear’s familiar no.151 on its doors…Youthful Treyton Lee was set to make his his Crate Late Model debut with his Dougie Timmons prepared Rocket no.2T. Treyton’s brother, Kyle, is a former Late Model and Late Model Sportsman champion at Hagerstown…Pure Stock driver David Thompson was on hand with his beautiful no.12 that mirrored the car of former division standout Tony Stoneberger…Greg “Spike” Moore who has Hagerstown feature wins in the Late Model Sportsman and Semi Late divisions was on hand for the show, but as a spectator. Moore stated due to the increased cost to run a competitive Late Model style car, he will focus his efforts with the E-Mods for 2024…Multi time Winchester (VA) Limited Late Model champion Jonathan DeHaven plans on being a Hagerstown regular this season with his Swartz chassis no.13D…Defending Semi Late champion Jasen Geesaman was on hand for the show with his beautifully prepared Bernheisel race cars no.81. This car, that raised many eyebrows during the off-season, will utilize a crate power plant…Gunnar Walls was also set to make his Hagerstown debut with the Late Model Sportsman with his Rocket no.85. With 12 track titles and 150-plus track feature wins, the soft-spoken teenager will have plenty of help getting acclimated to the speedway once the season starts.

RAIN & WIND FORCE CANCELLATION OF SEASON OPENER

Rain throughout the morning, high winds and cold temperatures forced Hagerstown Speedway officials to cancel the 2024 Season Opener for March 23rd.

Hagerstown Speedway will attempt again at the Season Opener next Saturday, March 30th featuring the Late Model Sportsman, Crate Late Models, Semi Lates & Pure Stocks.

𝐑𝐔𝐋𝐄 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒

𝑺𝑨𝑭𝑬𝑻𝒀 𝑰𝑵𝑺𝑷𝑬𝑪𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵𝑺 – When drivers arrive for pre-race tech inspections, all safety equipment (fire suits, helmets, gloves, belts, etc.) must be brought to tech to be checked and documented.
𝘾𝙍𝘼𝙏𝙀 𝙇𝘼𝙏𝙀 𝙈𝙊𝘿𝙀𝙇 𝙏𝙀𝘾𝙃 𝙍𝙐𝙇𝙀𝙎 – 2024 Hagerstown Speedway Crate Late Model rules are open to any sanctioned 602 or 604 Crate series (RUSH, Fasktrak, American All Stars, etc.) When claiming sanctioned series rules, 𝗔𝗟𝗟 specs (suspension, tires, etc.) must be followed. Any violation of claimed series rulebook may result in disqualification, suspension and/or other penalties.

𝐅𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐘 𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍

Get your phones ready, the new race season is quickly approaching! With the upcoming 2024 season, MyRacePass Fantasy Racing will be returning with weekly and season prizes for top fantasy racing teams!

On race nights through the MyRacePass app, you can create your fantasy team and pick your favorite drivers to collect points. The team with the highest points at the end of the night will win a $15 gift card that can be used towards Pit Pass, General Admission or Concessions.

Play along weekly for the chance to become the Fantasy Racing Season Champ! The top teams in Fantasy points at the end of the season will receive:

𝟭𝗦𝗧 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗖𝗘 – 2025 Season Pass + Hagerstown Speedway apparel + 2 free MRP Fantasy Shirts and a promo code for 1 year free on the All-Access plan to the MyRacePass app.

𝟮𝗡𝗗 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗖𝗘 – $50 gift card + Hagerstown Speedway apparel + 2 free MRP Fantasy Shirts and a promo code for 1 year free on the All-Access plan to the MyRacePass app.

𝟯𝗥𝗗 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗖𝗘 – $25 gift card + Hagerstown Speedway apparel + 2 free MRP Fantasy Shirts and a promo code for 1 year free on the All-Access plan to the MyRacePass app.

Weekly winners will be announced the Monday following an event via Social Media and our website. Weekly winners may claim their prize at the “Press & Credential” window at the speedway office. Winners will be asked to provide photo ID to verify identity.

More information on MyRacePass Fantasy Racing can be found here: https://www.myracepass.com/experience/fantasy

Congratulations to our 2023 Fantasy Racing Champion:
𝑺𝘼𝑴 𝑪𝘼𝑹𝘼𝑽𝙀𝑳𝙇𝑶

HOOSIER ADDS ADDITIONAL TIRE TO NLMT PROGRAM

As noted in a recent press release, Hoosier announced that it will be adding one additional compound to the National Late Model Tire (NLMT) Program for the 2024 season.

Hoosier has agreed to add the NLMT2.25 compound for the upcoming season. This addition will be a harder tire than the current NLMT2 and will be specifically designed to fill the gap between the NLMT2 and NLMT3.

The new Hoosier NLMT2.25 compound will be permitted at Hagerstown Speedway during the 2024 season in the Late Model Sportsman and Semi Late classes. Race specific tire rules will be posted at a future date for Super Late Models.

Refer to www.hagerstownspeedway.com/rules for exact Tire Rules.

HAGERSTOWN HAND SCORER INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME

By Doug Watson

Mechanicsville, MD- A crowd of nearly 200 drivers, sponsors and track representatives assembled for the 66th annual “MARF” Banquet this past Saturday at the Mechanicsville Moose Lodge. The highlight of the evenings festivities were the annual MARF Hall of Fame inductions that were given out to seven different people.

1992 Potomac Street Stock and 1998 Late Model Champion James Adkins Jr. headed 2023’s induction list that included, National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame and Auto Racing Club of Hagerstown inductee Rodney Franklin, former Winchester (Va) Speedway Semi Late and Roadrunner champion Steve Payne, current Winchester (Va) Speedway owner and promoter Greg Gunter, the husband and wife duo of Potomac Speedway’s Calvin and Linda Wright and the current head scorer at Maryland’s Potomac and Hagerstown Speedway’s Holly Watson.

It was an impressive list indeed, but one person in particular stood out to this writer among all the others, Holly Watson. Yours truly joined the staff of Potomac Speedway back in 1990 and five years later, my sister Holly joined the staff as well. Her first season consisted of running the tracks scoreboard but by 1996 she was soon under the guidance of Lisa Cameron Mann who was Potomac’s head scorer and track promoter Pete Cameron’s daughter at the time. A few years later Lisa stepped away from the sport and Holly graciously filled the role and the rest is history. Holly has also filled in at the Pennsylvania ovals of Bedford and Trail Way and many sanctioning bodies like, The World of Outlaw Late Model Series, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, the United Racing Club Sprint Cars, the ARDC Midgets, The Central Pennsylvania Sprint Car Speedweeks, the RUSH Dirt Late Model Series, the Mid Atlantic Modifieds, the Steel Block Bandits Late Model Series and the old Mid Atlantic Championship Series (MACS) Late Models.

Actual hand scoring is slowly being replaced by electronic scoring, but she feels there is still a place for it. “Sometimes computers crash, and what happens then?” She offered. “Hand scoring is more of a back up these days to the electronic systems, but I feel it is a necessary tool to ensure the accuracy at any event, in any class.”

The Hall of Fame honor was very unexpected but well deserved. With scoring at any type of event that necessitates it, there’s not much room for error, but Holly takes it all in stride. “This award is truly an honor and something I will cherish forever.” With me, it was well deserved as Holly and I travel to the races every weekend together from March to October and our time together to me is priceless….congratulations big sister!!!