July 4, 2010

HANDICAP RACES PROVIDE PASSING - AVERAGE WINNER’S SHARE $4060

     MECHANICSBURG, PA -- An open wheel double header is planned for Williams Grove Speedway on Friday evening, July 9, featuring the Grove’s premier sprint car division and the 358 c.i. sprints.
     The first heat is scheduled to start at 8:00 and the speedway’s handicapping system will be used to set the lineup in both divisions.
     Once considered “weekly shows” the sprint car/358 programs have become special events this year since fewer have been scheduled.  Only five have been run to date in 2010.  But they have truly become special because these handicapped programs have provided some of the best racing action of the year.
    Some examples from the last three handicapped events.
     On May 21 Mark Smith came from the eleventh starting position to win the sprint car feature and Pat Cannon came from 12th to win the 358 feature.
     On June 18 Danny Dietrich took the lead from Brent Marks on lap 22.  Marks then took it back before Dietrich made a last lap pass to get his first career win.
    Cannon won again from the 12th starting spot in the 358 feature.
     Then on June 25 Lance Dewease started eleventh and went on to win the sprint car feature over a fast-closing Greg Hodnett, who started 15th.
     In the 358 feature Cory Haas started 10th and held off Cannon’s last corner charge to get the win.
     Not only has there been plenty of passing to create excitement for the fans - the average starting position for sprint car winners in handicapped races has been eighth - but the races have been profitable for the winners as well.
     From Stevie Smith’s low total of $3630 on March 20 to Dewease’s high of $4290 on June 25, the winner of a handicapped sprint car race at Williams Grove this year has averaged $4060 including lap prize and bonuses.