NEWBERRYTOWN, Pa. — "You ready to race your final race on this track? Go out and have fun," said a father to his son right before the final feature race at the small track behind BAPS Motor Speedway.
This weekend, the Susquehanna Quarter Midget Racing Association raced their final time around their home track before it becomes a micro track.
Unfortunately, it rained on their parade and they were only able to get in half of the features, but that didn’t diminish all of the memories and friendships made over the last five years. For one final time, drivers strapped in and raced. It was a mix of emotions for the families that came to race and be apart of the SQMRA, as the track will soon be reconfigured to race mircos.
“It’s heartbreaking because it’s something that the kids love to do, and this is their home track," said a parent of two drivers, Gina Noble, of Seven Valleys.
“We started this club with like 30-some kids, and now we have around 60, and I’ve watched a lot of these kids, their first time ever in a car and to get to where they’re now. That’s the most rewarding part," said Josh Henise, President of SQMRA.
On a typical race day, SQMRA has over 100 cars racing through 14 different divisions. Quarter midgets are a good way to start kids as young as 5 years old, just like Carson Horan.
“Quarter midgets are definitely a good thing to start racing, if you want to drive a big car. Like I want to do. Quarter midgets is definitely one of the good things to start getting used to racing," said Horan.
These kids had a place to race so close to home. They came to this track every weekend to give it their all, but most importantly, create unforgettable bonds.
“Since the beginning, I love racing here," said Jase Henise, quarter midget driver. "It’s a fast track, I like racing with friends, making friends and make memories."
“I’ve met so many good people here," said Leila Steuernagle, quarter midget driver. "The whole community is so amazing. Everybody’s friends. Everybody’s family. I’ve made some of the best friendships and relationships just sitting on the bleachers, waiting in the food truck line or coming off the track, after a bad race, and people coming up and giving you a fist pump, telling you good job. People you’ve never met before."
For now, if they want to continue racing quarter midgets, teams will have to travel. The closest tracks are in are Hagerstown, Maryland, and Phoenixville, Chester County. With one final victory lap and a celebration, hopefully the future is still bright for SQRMA, as they search for a new home track.
“We’re going to try to keep this going," said Josh Henise. "We’re actively looking for a new home and to keep this club growing and progressing the way it has for the last five years. Just excited. It’s a little bittersweet, but it is what it is right now."
As of right now, the future is unknown, but the president of SQRMA did say they have made progress in to a possible new location.
Reinhardt wins at Bridgeport
To some action, it's Sprintoberfest weekend at Bridgeport. It was a great battle between Kyle Reinhardt and Justin Peck. Reinhardt won the feature back in his home state in New Jersey for $15,000.
In the spirit of Halloween, a hearse paces the field at Path Valley. Craig Perigo made the winning move in one and two for the wingless super sportsman feature win. Cameron Morrell raced hard with Jimmy Young. Morrell did the same thing. He likes the bottom to make the move. Cole Dewease did the opposite and went around the outside of Young to steal second as Morrell picked up the 600cc win.