PENNSYLVANIA, USA — Pennsylvania Speedweek, which challenges the best of the best in sprint car racing to 10 races in as many days, has begun.
The festivities kicked off on Friday evening at Williams Grove Speedway and will continue at seven different race tracks through Sunday, July 7. The money up for grabs is also unprecedented. All 10 races guarantee a minimum $10,000 prize for the winner, along with other bonus payoffs, totaling more than $350,000.
"Ten races in 10 days is unheard of," said Troy Wagaman Jr., the #27 driver for Heffner Racing. "We're running for 10 grand every night [which] is crazy. It's awesome for the track to put up this type of money. The prestige [of this event] goes back for years and people have been doing it for a long time."
The very first Pennsylvania Sprint Car Speedweek was held in 1991 with 237 races held at 12 different tracks heading into this year. Eleven different drivers have won the Speedweek championship, with Fred Rahmer holding the record of 13 titles.
This year, races will be held at Williams Grove Speedway, Lincoln Speedway, BAPS Motor Speedway, Grandview Speedway, Hagerstown Speedway, Port Royal Speedway and Selinsgrove Speedway.
"Pennsylvania has the best drivers in the country so [when] you come to all these Pa. tracks you're going to get the best show in the world," said Zachary Ream, a sprint car racing fan from Millersburg, Dauphin County. "Everything about Speedweek is just exciting. The fans, the drivers, everything, it's just special."
So special that fans from around the world are doing everything they can to make it to as many races. Some even plan to hit up all 10 races.
"You'll see me at every single race," said Jeffrey Prawdzik, a Littlestown sprint car racing fan. "You got great drivers, the best racers in the whole US."
It's a level of dedication that the teams taking part in Pennsylvania Speedweek do not take for granted.
"When drivers from around the country talk about passionate fans, it's always Pennsylvania fans," said Don Kreitz Jr., owner and former driver of Don Kreitz racing. "People love coming here because of that. It's a packed house every night."
Speedweek is a reflection of just how tightknit and special the sprint car racing community really is in Pennsylvania.
"The racing community is a family [with] everybody cheering everybody on whether you've been here forever or are a newbie," said Chelsea Jackson, wife of #88 driver Tony Jackson. "I think all the support, whether it's the community, the sponsors or the fans, it gives the drivers a great opportunity."
Pennsylvania Sprint Car Speed Week Schedule:
- Friday, June 28 at 7:30 p.m. - Williams Grove Speedway
- Saturday, June 29 at 7 p.m. - Lincoln Speedway
- Sunday, June 30 at 7 p.m. - BAPS Motor Speedway
- Monday, July 1 at 7:30 p.m. - Lincoln Speedway
- Tuesday, July 2 at 7:30 p.m. - Grandview Speedway
- Wednesday, July 3 at 7 p.m. - Port Royal Speedway
- Thursday, July 4 at 7:30 p.m. - Hagerstown Speedway
- Friday, July 5 at 7:30 p.m. - Williams Grove Speedway
- Saturday, July 6 at 7 p.m. - Port Royal Speedway
- Sunday, July 7 at 7 p.m. - Selinsgrove Speedway