YORK HAVEN, Pa. — One of the most difficult tasks facing dirt tracks across the country is increasing participation in its weekly divisions.
Tracks depend on drivers to take a step up in class and relocate to a new facility.
The management team at BAPS Motor Speedway is helping with this process. Speedway owner Scott Gobrecht and General Manager Kolten Gouse have introduced the Super Sportsman Rental Program, titled “Laps at BAPS,” which allows drivers to rent a super sportsman for an entire practice night.
“We often hear about drivers wanting to get behind the wheel of a car in another division before they purchase one,” Gouse said. “Unfortunately, there really isn’t something like that out there for drivers looking to move up.
“Not only do we offer practice nights throughout the season at BAPS Motor Speedway, we can now offer drivers a chance to get in an open-wheel car and see if they like it.”
This program is only for Wednesday practice sessions at the speedway. According to Gouse, there are 17 available dates on the 2020 schedule.
A driver interested in renting a super sportsman can do so for $750. He or she will be able to test the car multiple times throughout the three-hour session. There will be an additional $750 crash deposit, but it will be returned at the end of the session if there is no significant damage to the car.
Interested drivers will be given top-notch equipment to test. The car will feature parts from Winters Performance Products, ACP Headers, TQ Fiberglass, and Wilwood Brakes, to name a few. Marysville Motor Cars and Blazer’s Body Shop are helping with sponsorship of the program.
“This wouldn’t be possible without the help of the sponsors involved,” Gouse said. “They saw the potential and vision we have for this program and were eager to come on board to help out.
“Not only does this give us a chance to help build one of our core divisions at the track, it gives us a chance to offer a development program for young drivers. It’s a win-win for everyone involved, and we are anxious to launch this program.”
The first practice session is March 7. There will be three more sessions to kick off the season on March 11, March 14 and March 18.
Other dates include April 8 and April 22, May 6 and May 27, June 24, July 8 and July 22, Aug. 26, and Sept. 2 and Sept. 30. There will be three dates to close out the season on Oct. 7, Oct. 15 and Oct. 21.
“The super sportsman division is one of the most competitive classes in central Pennsylvania,” Gouse said. “We are invested in this division, and this is a way to grow it.
“We want the super sportsman division to be a part of BAPS Motor Speedway for years to come. This is just another step in that process.”