Port Royal Season-Opening Doubleheader Set For This Saturday

Story By: SHAWN BROUSE / PORT ROYAL SPEEDWAY – PORT ROYAL, PA – Port Royal Speedway will tray again to get the 2018 racing season started, coming up this Saturday, March 17 at 5 pm.

The original opener was weathered out on March 10.

On the opening day racing card this week will be the Weikert’s Livestock 410 sprints and the River Valley Builders super late models.

The super sprint cars will race in a 25-lap main paying $4,000 to win while the super lates compete for $2,200 to win.

If the weather permits, the late model event will be one of the first of the season anywhere across the region.

Adult general admission gates will open at 3 pm for the 2018 lidlifter with racing action slated for 5 pm.

Adult general admission is $16 with students ages 12 – 18 admitted for just $7.

The first 600 adults through the main general admission gate will receive a FREE 2018 schedule magnet courtesy of Juniata Beverage.

Last year, Iowa invader Lynton Jeffrey turned away all challengers in the sprint car main to record a popular upset victory at “The Speed Palace.”

The 2017 opening day late model victory went to Jason Covert of York with a last lap pass.

Names that dot the prestigious Port Royal Opening Day sprint car win list include Eddie McCardle, Al Chamberlain, Dick Tobias, Jan Opperman, Mitch Smith, Jay Myers, Keith Kauffman, Lynn Paxton, Steve and Stevie Smith, Bobby Davis Jr., Doug Wolfgang, Jeff Swindell, Lance Dewease, Fred Rahmer, Joey Kuhn, Dave Blaney, Mark Smith, Chad Layton and Greg Hodnett among many others.

No one owns more Port Royal openers than Todd Shaffer of Millerstown, who scored six of the events during his career, coming in 1995, 1996, 1997, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Port Royal returns to action on Saturday, March 24 at 5 pm with the ULMS Chiller Thriller for super late models, paying $3,000 to win.

Also on the March 24 card will be the 410 sprints and a Mason Dixon Shootout event for 358 late models also on the program.

March 31 will find the track hosting Asher’s Chocolates Kids Easter Night featuring a free Asher’s chocolate treat to the first 200 youth through the main general admission gate.

Racing to close out the month will be the 410 sprints, super late models, econo late models and the xtreme stocks.