MIFFLINTOWN, Pa. — One of the most recognizable names in Central Pennsylvania sprint car racing will soon receive a permanent tribute in the community he has proudly represented throughout his legendary career.
On Tuesday, August 18, the Mifflintown community will gather to honor Keith Kauffman, the “Man from Mifflintown,” with a special ceremony and the unveiling of a new sign welcoming visitors to the hometown of one of sprint car racing’s all-time greats.
The new sign will proudly read “Welcome to Mifflintown: Home of Keith Kauffman,” creating a lasting tribute to a driver whose accomplishments on the racetrack helped make the name Mifflintown known to race fans across Pennsylvania and throughout the country.
The celebration will be held at the Mifflintown American Legion Banquet Hall, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. and the ceremony beginning at 7 p.m.
Mifflintown Mayor Roxann McGinnis, who organized the event and spearheaded the effort to make the recognition a reality, will welcome those in attendance and open the evening’s festivities.
Former sprint car racer and current River Church pastor Bob Landis will then offer an opening prayer before sharing some of his own memories and experiences of racing alongside Kauffman.
Several additional guests will have an opportunity to share stories and remarks about the “Man from Mifflintown” and the impact Kauffman has made both on the sport of sprint car racing and the community he has called home.
Following the indoor portion of the ceremony, those in attendance will make their way next door for the official unveiling of the new sign, which will greet motorists entering Mifflintown from the east side of town.
Few drivers have carried the name of their hometown with them quite like Kauffman. Known throughout the racing world as the “Man from Mifflintown,” Kauffman began his racing career in 1970 and went on to collect more than 300 victories across 13 states, along with two victories in Australia.
Much of Kauffman’s greatest success came just a short drive from his hometown at Port Royal Speedway, where he became the most successful 410 Sprint Car driver in the history of the Juniata County Fairgrounds oval. Kauffman amassed 129 career 410 Sprint Car feature victories at the Speed Palace while earning an incredible 13 track championships. His accomplishments at Port Royal also include victories in two of the track’s biggest events, capturing the prestigious Tuscarora 50 in 1978 and 2003.
His success stretched well beyond Port Royal. Kauffman collected 51 victories at Williams Grove Speedway and captured back-to-back track championships there in 1984 and 1985. His career also included championships at Hagerstown and Susquehanna, along with Sprint Car Speedweek championships in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Western Pennsylvania.
Kauffman’s accomplishments ultimately earned him one of sprint car racing’s highest honors when he was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Iowa, in 2004.
Throughout all of those victories, championships and accomplishments, one name remained attached to Kauffman wherever he traveled: Mifflintown.
On August 18 forward, motorists entering the community from the east will be greeted with a reminder of the racing legend who helped put the small Juniata County town on the map:
“Welcome to Mifflintown: Home of Keith Kauffman.”
