Early Start Time Set For Georgetown Speedway Opener

Story By: BRETT DEYO / GEORGETOWN SPEEDWAY – GEORGETOWN, DE – The 2017 Northeast opener for dirt Modifieds remains a “go” this weekend at Georgetown Speedway.

The Delaware half-mile oval is set to host the Melvin L. Joseph Memorial in memory of the speedway’s founder, auto racing pioneer and First State business icon this Saturday (March 11).

The event is headlined by the opening round of the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By VP Velocita-USA South Region, a 49-lap big-block/small-block Modified main offering $4,900-plus to win, $1,000 for 10th and $490 to take the green flag.

Due to cooler forecasted temperatures, there have been changes announced for the Saturday time schedule.

The updated March 11 schedule is as follows: pit gates open at 11 a.m., grandstand gates at noon, hot laps at 1 p.m. and racing at 2 p.m.

Joining the STSS Modifieds on the Saturday program are the Crate 602 Sportsman paying $1,000 to win and $100 to start plus Southern Delaware Vintage Stock Cars, Little Lincolns, Delmarva Chargers and Delaware Super Trucks.

Adult grandstand admission is $20. Seniors (ages 65 and up) and Students (ages 13-17) pay $16. Kids 9-12 pay $10 and Children eight and under are FREE. Pit admission is $35 (ages 13 and up), $10 (ages 6-12) and $2 (five and under).

The Friday night (March 10) practice session will go on as scheduled, with pit gates opening at 4 p.m. and on-track activity 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Overnight camping will be permitted on site and teams may leave their haulers in the pit area from Friday to Saturday.

The recently remodeled Quality Inn (formerly Comfort Inn) just north of the speedway on Route 113 in Georgetown, is offering the following discounted rates for the Melvin L. Joseph Memorial on both Friday and Saturday nights: $98.10 for Double Beds; $89.10 for a King Size bed; $107.10 for a Suite. Call the Quality Inn directly at 302.854.9400 and mention Georgetown Speedway to receive the discount.

Georgetown Speedway, originally constructed by Melvin L. Joseph in 1949, is located at the intersection of Route 113 and Speedway Road in Georgetown, Del., just miles from the Delaware beaches and less than a 40-minute drive from Ocean City, Md.

A website is live for the speedway at www.thegeorgetownspeedway.com. Like Georgetown Speedway on Facebook, follow @thegtownspdwy on Twitter, e-mail georgetownspeedway@gmail.com or contact the race day information line: 302.563.GTWN (4896).

To learn more about the Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP or BD Motorsports Media LLC, visit www.shorttracksuperseries.com or www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com, call 845.728.2781 during business hours, e-mail bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com, “like” Short Track Super Series on Facebook or follow @ShortTrackSS on Twitter.