Friesen & Sheppard Latest Drivers To Enter Selinsgrove’s Modified Icebreaker 40 Saturday

Story By: SHAWN BROUSE / SELINSGROVE SPEEDWAY – SELINSGROVE, PA – Selinsgrove Speedway will present its 2020 season opener, the Icebreaker 40 for combined modifieds, coming up this Saturday, March 21 at 2 pm.

The event will mark the first race for modifieds at Selinsgrove Speedway since they last competed at the track in 2013 under small block specs with Duane Howard taking the victory.

Speedway officials are continuing to monitor the international COVID-19 situation and will do so throughout the week and will follow any directives from state and federal governments. As of March 15, preparations are underway to open the track for this weekend’s modified showdown.

The Icebreaker 40 will be a combined small and big block, non-sanctioned modified race offering a $24,625 purse that will be run under rules and specifications that mirror those of the Short Track Super Series.

Also on the March 21 racing program will be the crate 602 sportsman modifieds in a $1,000-to-win 20-lap feature.

The Icebreaker 40 will pay $5,000 to win for the combined mods.

Drivers in both divisions will draw for heat starting positions before a redraw sets the front few starting rows for both main events.

The champion of the Icebreaker 40 will be a guaranteed qualifier for the October 3, 35th Anniversary Outlaw 200 at Fulton Speedway in Fulton, New York.

The most recent confirmed entries for the big event include Waterloo, New York’s Matt Sheppard and multi-talented driver Stewart Friesen of Niagra-on-the-Lake, Ontario who has proven his talents in not only mods but in sprint cars and on the NASCAR truck circuit as well.

Grandstand and pit gates for the big event will open at 11 am with qualifying slated for 2 pm.

Adult general admission is set at $20 with grandstand reserved seats priced at an additional $2. Student general admission for ages 12 – 17 is just $15. Kids ages 11 and under will be admitted for free. Pit Passes are $40.

Previous Big Block mod winners at Selinsgrove Speedway have been Danny Johnson in 2009 and in 2011 while single wins have gone to Ryan Godown, Dave Kelly, Rick Laubach, Billy Pauch and Matt Sheppard.

Small block winners have been Duane Howard with victories in 2012 and 2013 and Pat Ward with wins in 2009 and 2010. Jeff Strunk owns a single victory.

Selinsgrove Speedway will swing back into action to close out March on Sunday, March 29 at 2 pm with March Mayhem for the Modern Heritage 410 sprint cars and the super late models.

The show will be the first of the season at the track for the super powered machines in both divisions with the sprints racing for $4,000 to win and $375 to start in a 25-lap main while the late models race for $2,000 to win and $275 to start.

A heat draw and feature redraw will be used to set the lineups for the main events on March 29.

For a complete 2020 schedule, the latest news, results, and race status, visit the speedway’s official website at www.selinsgrovespeedway.com or follow the track on Twitter and Facebook.

The speedway office can be reached at 570.374.2266.

Purse for Northeast Modified Icebreaker 40 – Saturday, March 21, 2020: 1) $5,000 2) $2,500 3) $2,000 4) $1,500 5) $1,400 6) $1,300 7) $1,250 8) $1,200 9) $1,100 10) $1,000 11) $800 12) $600 13) $500 14) $450 15) $425 16-24) $400

Purse for Crate 602 Sportsman Modifieds (20-Lap A-Main): 1) $1,000 2) $600 3) $400 4) $300 5) $250 6) $225 7) $200 8) $170 9) $160 10) $150 11) $145 12) $140 13) $135 14) $130 15) $125 16-24) $120

Grandstand & Pit Gates Open: 11AM
Drivers’ Meeting: 1PM
Practice Laps: 1:30PM
Qualifying: 2PM

Admission for Saturday, March 21, 2020: Adult GA $20; Student GA (12-17) $15; Kids 11 & Under FREE GA; Pit Passes $40