May 16, 2010

AFTER A 6-WEEK ABSENCE THE HANDICAPPING SYSTEM RETURNS MAY 21

     MECHANICSBURG, PA -- It’s been a long time since the handicapping system was used to line up the sprint car races at Williams Grove Speedway, but it will be back on Friday evening, May 21.
     The first heat is scheduled to start at 8:00 and the limited (358 c.i.) sprints will also be on the card.
     The sprint car drivers haven’t been handicapped according to their earnings average since April 16.  During that six week period time trials were used to set the lineups for a bevy of special races.  But the fan friendly handicapping system, which forces the most successful drivers to start at the rear of their qualifying heats and mid-pack in the feature, will be in use on May 21.
     The last time the lineups were handicapped 5-time track champion Lance Dewease won the 25-lap feature and charged from the ninth starting position to score the 72nd sprint car victory of his career at Williams Grove.
     A bonus system, which is in effect for all handicapped features, helped push Dewease’s payoff to $4190 on April 9.
     With a base winner’s share of $3600, a driver could earn more than $4700 depending upon his starting position and when he took the lead.
     There will be no time trials on May 21, but they will be used to determine the sprint car lineup on May 28, which is the date when the annual Keystone Cup Series comes to Williams Grove.
     The Keystone Cup event is part of the Goodyear  Diamond Series that carries a separate  set of points  and a separate point fund from the Lawrence Chevrolet point standings, which determines the track champion.  Lawrence  Chevrolet points are awarded at every sprint car race and the championship team will receive $20,000 at season’s end.