The following information is taken from Jerry Reigle’s piece in Area Auto Racing News. The Appalachian Mountain Speedweek would like to thank Jerry for use of his story.
The first year was a success. And the second is guaranteed to be bigger.
The Appalachian Mountain Dirt Late Model Speed Week Series has transcended into a must-see event for fans and a must-attend race for participants.
CenturyLINK was announced as the title sponsor of the series on Monday. As a result, the point fund increased. The winner of seven-race series could receive $4,000, which is more than the winner of the Pennsylvania Sprint Car Speed Week Series. “We felt that this is a good fit for us,” said CenturyLINK Marketing Development Manager Deborah Keyser. “A few years ago, we had a sponsorship at Williams Grove Speedway and we were pleased with the response we received from it. “We also worked with
Bedford Speedway on a few events. Those events were extremely successful for us as a business.” Thanks to CenturyLINK, the Late Model Speed Week point fund will pay the top eight drivers. The champion will receive $4000, with the runner-up to get $2250 and third will receive $1200. Fourth will get $750, with fifth through eighth receiving $600, $500, $400 and $300, respectively. The point fund is contingent on the number of races run during the weeklong series. If weather is a factor for any of those events, the point fund could be pro-rated per the Pennsylvania Speed Week Association.
CenturyLINK’s involvement is just one of several key sponsorship packages for those participating in the series, which begins on June 5 at Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway.
• Hoosier and American Racer will provide a few thousand dollars along with giving away select tires throughout the week.
• Keizer Alumium Racing Wheels will provide $50 gift vouchers to all the heat winners and they will also give the Speed Weeks staff a free wheel to give away at each race.
• Sunoco Race Fuels, through its distributor Insinger Performance Inc., has signed on to be the Official Fuel of the Appalachian Speed Week.
They are supplying a separate $3,000 point fund for cars that will run Sunoco race fuels throughout the week. The drivers will have to say if they want to be eligible and the ones that are will be randomly checked throughout the week by Sunoco representatives. The Sunoco point fund will pay $1000, $750, $500, $400 and $350, respectively.
The seven-race series is held on seven consecutive nights beginning on June 5 at Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway. It continues, in order, at Selinsgrove (Pa.) Speedway, Winchester (Va.) Speedway, Williams Grove (Pa.) Speedway, Lincoln (Pa.) Speedway, Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway and Bedford (Pa.) Speedway. “We are very honored to the title sponsor of the Late Model Speed Week,” Keyser said. “I know last year was the first and we heard a lot of positive feedback from it. Being involved with the series gives us a great opportunity to inform the public about CenturyLink.” CenturyLink is a leading provider of high-quality voice, broadband and video services over its advanced communications networks to consumers and businesses in 38 states. “This is generating a lot of enthusiasm even with our employees,” Keyser said. “We want our employees to come out to the Late Model Speed Week events to see some of the great auto racing action.” Keyser said she plans to be at all the events and CenturyLINK will have a major presence throughout the series.
Josh Richards, who won last year’s championship by one point over Jeremy Miller, received $2,000 for his efforts. Richards was one of 107 different drivers who participated in the series. A total of 15 drivers participated in all five races during the scheduled series. The races at Lincoln Speedway and Port Royal Speedway were lost to rain. Jason Covert, Miller, Richards (two), Steve Francis and Rick Eckert won events. Eckert’s win came in the
postponed race at Lincoln Speedway. All events will pay the standard $5000-to-win purse, but Lincoln Speedway will pay $7000 for the winner of the Charlie Grinestaff Memorial. A $500 Hard Charger bonus and $500 Dash for Cash is also on the Lincoln Speedway card.
Also, the 358 Tri-Track Late Model Championship will run in conjunction with Speed Week. Lincoln Speedway, Port Royal Speedway and Bedford Speedway will have the 358 Late Models as a support class and those events will pay $1000 to win and $100 to start. Credit Connection Auto Sales is the title sponsor for the division and there will be combined points and a point fund for those three races, as well.
Appalachian Mountain Speedweek Sponsors:
American Racer (Lias Tire), Bernhiesel Race Cars, CenturyLINK, Choice Hotels, Credit Connection Auto Sales, Frankland Racing Supply, Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic, Insinger Performance Inc., Keizer Aluminum Racing Wheels, K.R.S. Graphics, Rocket Chassis, Shearer Custom Speed, Sunoco Race Fuels & WRT Speedwerx.
You can keep up with The Appalachian Mountain Speedweek at the Speedweek’s official home on the web at www.lmspeedweek.com.
2010 Speedweek Schedule:
June 5th - Hagerstown Speedway $5,000 to win
June 6th - Selinsgrove Speedway $5,000 to win
June 7th - Winchester Speedway $5,000 to win
June 8th - Williams Grove Speedway $5,000 to win
June 9th - Lincoln Speedway $7,000 to win
June 10th - Port Royal Speedway $5,000 to win
June 11th - Bedford Speedway $5,000 to win
*** June 13th Raindate for Bedford***
