Rahmer, Hodnett, Schatz & Pittman Race Within The Races At Williams Grove Open
Four drivers vie for Grove and World of Outlaws point titles in 51st National Open this weekend
Mechanicsburg – This weekends 51st annual World of Outlaws National Open races at Williams Grove Speedway mean much more than just the fact that tons of sprint car cash is on the line in the two-day event.
The races will mean a whole lot more to four men in the field as the events will play a vital role in determining just who will be crowned 2013 king of the outlaws and Williams Grove Speedway.
For the locals, the two-day affair that will offer the toughest field of the season at Williams Grove will see that battle for the Grove track title be waged within between Greg Hodnett and Fred Rahmer.
Hodnett of Thomasville is the defending track champion but he just took over the season point lead for the first time at the track last Friday, September 27, and he now leads by a scant 35 markers.
Rahmer of Salfordville, now nearing the final race of his career ever with retirement looming after just a few more events, lost the point lead after dropping out last week only after holding sway for his ninth oval title all season long.
And performances in the National Open often put the icing on the cake for a Williams Grove champion for the competition is so tough that to make the field each night in itself is a feat but then the disparity that can be seen in a field so stacked is yet another dimension.
This will be no weekly field for either driver and if they make it into the mains both Friday and Saturday, it will be far from easy to bypass the other cars on the track in an effort to keep each other in sight.
And then there’s the fight to be World of Outlaws champion between defending titlist Donny Schatz, who drives for Tony Stewart Racing, and former Pennsylvania regular Daryn Pittman who is seeking his first circuit title while driving for Kasey Kahne Racing.
Entering the Williams Grove two-race weekend, Pittman is up by just 52 points in the season long title chase with only five races left on the outlaws season including the Williams Grove events.
Schatz is the defending National Open champion and he is hot at the Grove right now as well as on the circuit after just slicing 18 markers off of Pittman’s lead last weekend with a win in Ohio.
That win for Schatz in Ohio continued to build his career-best season tally, now standing at 21.
And on top of that, Schatz is undefeated at Williams Grove this season, taking both shows that have been run along with the last show of 2012 for National Open laurels.
Although a regular at Williams Grove for several seasons leading up to 2013, Pittman has not had much outlaws luck at all at the track despite recording numerous wins during his local career.
Overall this year, Pittman has eight wins on the traveling WoO circuit but his desire is hotter than ever to become an outlaws champion.
And just as it is for Hodnett and Rahmer as locals, this Williams Grove field will be no walk in the park for the traveling duo.
There is no field anywhere that the World of Otulaws compete against as stout as the one in Pennsylvania and at Williams Grove Speedway.
So keeping each other within striking distance within the races themselves will be more than a chore for Schatz and Pittman.
So who will it be?
Tune in and see!
Saturday’s National Open action and Friday action begins at 7:30 pm.
Fireworks displays will be a part of both National Open races.
Adult general admission for Friday is $30 with youth admitted for just $15.
Admission prices for Saturday’s National Open are $35 for adults and $15 for youth.
Keep up to date on all the latest speedway news and information by visiting the oval’s official website at www.williamsgrove.com or by visiting the oval on Facebook or via Twitter