DRUMS, Pa. – Pennsylvania Sprint Car Speedweek presented by Red Robin featured some great racing and the worst weather in the history of the event.
It was the 33rd year for PA Speedweek and there were 10 nights of racing scheduled to be run over 11 days. When it was all finished, six of the 10 events were completed with four being rained out. That’s the highest number of races lost to weather in Speedweek history.
Lincoln Speedway managed to complete its two events, while Williams Grove, Port Royal, BAPS and Hagerstown each ran one show. Races at Selinsgrove Speedway and Grandview Speedway were canceled due to rain. One of the Lincoln Speedway dates was moved and the Speedweek finale at Port Royal Speedway was delayed one day due to wet conditions.
The rain seemed to be a problem almost every night, either canceling the event before it started, delaying the show or causing the cancellation of a program that was already in progress. I believe only BAPS Motor Speedway and Hagerstown Speedway escaped the rain entirely.
Anthony Macri came away with $5,000 as the Speedweek champion by 163 points over runner-up Brent Marks. Marks was the 2022 champ.
Macri won three of the six features and also earned the $4,000 Selinsgrove Ford Ten for Ten Bonus for finishing in the top 10 in every race. Macri actually finished in the top two in all six races, which is a remarkable feat.
Macri and Marks both received the Lelands.com Knock Out Bonus during the week. With heat race wins at BAPS and Hagerstown, Macri earned a $500 bonus and knocked another driver out of the redraw. Marks scored the $500 bonus money at Lincoln Speedway with a heat race win.
Seventy-one drivers, representing seven states and three foreign countries, participated in this year’s edition of PA Speedweek. Fourteen drivers competed in all six races, with each receiving point fund payouts.
The 14 drivers and their winnings: 1. Anthony Macri, $5,000; 2. Brent Marks, $2,500; 3. Justin Peck, $2,250; 4. Freddie Rahmer, $2,100; 5. Kyle Reinhardt, $2,000; 6. Dylan Norris, $1,600; 7. Danny Dietrich, $1,500; 8. T.J. Stutts, $1,400; 9. Devon Borden, $1,300; 10. Lucas Wolfe, $1,225; 11. Cameron Smith, $1,150; 12. Ryan Smith, $1,100; 13. Austin Bishop, $1,050; 14. Eddie Lumbar, $975.
PA Speedweek would not be possible without support from Red Robin, C&D Rigging, Lelands.com, Selinsgrove Ford and Long Hollow Cattle Co. At each race $850 was distributed to the first five non-qualifiers from the B main courtesy of Long Hollow Cattle Co.
There are additional tracks in central Pennsylvania that would like to host a PA Speedweek show, but with 10 nights already on the schedule, it may be difficult to expand.
The three tracks (Lincoln, Williams Grove and Port Royal) that host two nights, I don’t believe would give up one of those nights. It gives them a back-up for a rained out night, plus Speedweek crowds are some of the best of the year.
PA Speedweek is always a great show and a must-see event for any sprint car fan. More information is available at paspeedweeks.com.
The 34th edition of Pennsylvania Speedweek is scheduled for June 28-July 7, 2024. The full schedule will be released later.
This story appeared in the August 16, 2023 edition of the SPEED SPORT Insider.
