Hodnett Goes For PA Speedweek Repeat At Path Valley

Story By: MANDEE PAUCH / FRED RAHMER PROMOTIONS – SPRING RUN, PA – Fred Rahmer Promotions will once again host the third race of the Pennsylvania Sprint Car Speedweek on Sunday, July 2 at Path Valley Speedway.

The big event will showcase a 30-lap Sprint Car A-Main paying out a hefty $5,000 to the winner plus a $2,000 25-lap 600cc Micro Sprint feature.

Last years Pennsylvania Speedweek winner, Greg Hodnett, is among the drivers looking to take home grand prize.

Hodnett, who ran a hard-fought battle last year over Bryan Clauson and Brent Marks, is looking forward to take on Path Valley and claim the winner’s share of the night’s purse once again.

“I think it’s going to be a really good show,” said the hot shoe from Thomasville, P.A. “Path Valley is sort of an equalizer. It’s not familiar for us; it’s not really familiar for anybody. I think it’s a unique equalizer for outsiders and us Pennsylvania Posse guys. It’s a driver’s racetrack.”

The quarter-mile banked clay oval in Spring Run, P.A. may be small, but it is mighty.

“It’s one of the smaller tracks that we go to that week,” Hodnett noted. “It lends itself to a unique race for us.”

Hodnett mentioned his ferocious battle with Bryan Clauson last year as they battled back-and-forth for the top spot.

“He was hot coming into that night and we knew that small track really lends itself to non-wing guys such as Clauson and Brady Bacon,” he said. “The guys that run really good on short tracks and non-wing can get around there. We knew it was going to be tough. We were fortunate to pass Clauson back and get back out in front and hang on to it. It was a really good race and was intense. I was privileged to be able to race with him.”

The 410 Sprint Cars will once again be the main attraction, competing in a full program of qualifying time trials, heat races and a 40-lap main event.

The 40-lap main event will be $5,000 to win and $600 to take the green. Courtesy of Emory’s Transmission, there will be $500 up for grabs for the 410 Sprint Car quick time. The hard charger of the night will be taking home $500 courtesy of Wayne S. Corini, Certified Public Accountant.

“There’s a lot of things Fred (Rahmer) has done based on his racing experience to make it a premiere event during Speedweek,” Hodnett said. “He’s pretty much used his experience from that towards formatting his races which pay very well. There’s a lot of incentives to do well and race hard from heat race wins to fast qualifier to hard charger. Even though it may not be the biggest racetrack, he’s done a nice job of taking care of the racers.”

New to the program this year will be a “Dietrich Bonus.” A $500 bonus will be rewarded to anyone who can pass Danny Dietrich for the lead and win the race.

“Anytime you can drive by Dietrich is a bonus anyways,” laughed Hodnett. “Add money to it makes it even more special. I think it’s nice. Fred has done a nice job for incentives to race hard and to make the events an event for the racers and the fans.”

Also on the card with the 410 Sprint Cars will be the popular 600cc Micro Sprints competing in a 25-lap main event with a hefty purse of $2,000 going to the winner. All registrations for the micro sprints can be done at the track.

Added to the program will be a $25 bonus award given to all heat and consolation winners in the micro sprint division to all those representing the 2017 Race Chasing sticker on their cars, courtesy of the Race Chasing Gang.

Kameron Morral, who claimed last years 600cc Micro Sprint feature will once again return to Path Valley to battle for the victory.

“The money is a good incentive to come,” Morral said. “It’s so prestigious to be able to run the same night as the 410’s and be in the same pit area and be a part of the same show. The race may be all about the 410’s but it makes us 600 guys feel pretty good too.”

Pit gates will open for the Pennsylvania Speedweek show at 12pm with grandstands gates opening at 2pm. Heat in engines will start at 6:15pm and time trials will get underway at 7pm.

General admission tickets are $20. Children 12 and under are FREE! Pit admission is $30.

Overnight camping will be available at the speedway for those that would like the full experience. There is no fee for camping.

Make sure to mark your calendar for Sunday, July 2 at Path Valley Speedway for some of the tightest wheel-to-wheel action you’ll see during Pennsylvania Sprint Car Speedweek!