June 27, 2010

$10,000 TO WIN MITCH SMITH MEMORIAL PLUS FIREWORKS JULY 2

     MECHANICSBURG, PA -- The Mitch Smith Memorial for sprint cars, one of the season’s major events at Williams Grove Speedway, is set for Friday evening, July 2, at 7:45.
     The winner of the 30-lap feature will earn $10,000.
     Friday will mark the 22nd running of this prestigious event and over the years only the best in Pennsylvania sprint car racing have been able to score a victory.
     Just twelve different drivers have won the 21 previous Mitch Smith Memorials, led by Fred Rahmer and Lance Dewease with four victories apiece.
     Rahmer and Dewease are the career win leaders at Williams Grove.
     Greg Hodnett has three victories and Hall of Famer Keith Kauffman has two. 
     The remaining Mitch Smith Memorial winners include former track champions Don Kreitz, Jr., Todd Shaffer and Steve Smith along with Stevie Smith, Joey Allen, Jeff Shepard, Doug Esh and Daryn Pittman.
     If the race is to have a new winner this year, the best candidates appear to be Brian Leppo and Brian Montieth.
     Both have been close in extra distance races this season and both have become good qualifiers.  Montieth has a fast time award this year and Leppo has two.
     The Mitch Smith Memorial will once again be part of Pennsylvania Sprint Speed Week, which features eight races at seven different speedways over a nine-day period.
     The late Mitch Smith was one of the most spectacular drivers ever to compete in Pennsylvania sprint car racing and was a first ballot inductee into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame.
     There will be no support division for this special sprint car program.
     A spectacular fireworks display has also been planned for July 2.