Free Schedule Magnets, an Easter Egg Scramble and Extra Cash also up for grabs
Port Royal – A couple of Port Royal Speedway opening day sprint car champions will greet young fans as they enter Port Royal this Saturday for the 2013 season opening event, which is also Kids Easter Night at the oval.
Previous opener winners Greg Hodnett and Lance Dewease will be on hand along with late model champion Tim Wilson, handing out free chocolate Easter rabbits to the first 200 youth who arrive.
Joining the trio of pilots will be the Easter Bunny himself who although kept very busy this time of year will be making time for an appearance.
Hodnett is the defending opening day champion aboard the Trone No. 39 sprinter.
His win in the 2012 opener was his first in the event before he went on to notch seven more victories at the track last year.
Dewease is a two-time opening day winner, dating back to 1994 when he took his first of the pair for car owner Walt Dyer.
He followed that up with his second opening day triumph in 2003 for owner Al Hamilton.
Wilson opened his season strongly last year at the track, taking two wins in one night early on in the year.
Aside from Hodnett and Dewease, other previous opening day sprint car winners expected to be in the field this time around include Blane Heimbach, 2011; Rick Lafferty, 2010; Chad Layton, 2009; and Keith Kauffman, 2002, 1993, 1985 and 1981.
Along with the sprint cars and late models, pro stocks are also on the Saturday racing program that gets underway at 5 pm with gates opening at 3 pm.
In addition to chocolate for the kids, the first 400 adult fans passing through the general admission gates for the opener will take home free 2013 Port Royal schedule magnets courtesy of Juniata Beverage located just north of the oval along Rt. 75.
A kids Easter Egg Scramble will be also be held in the infield immediately following warm ups. Age groups will be 0 – 3, 4 – 7 and 8 – 12.
Dippery’s Evergreens of Reedsville will offer increased winner’s shares for the sprints and late models in the opener.
Sprint cars will race for $3,300 to win while late models will vie for $1,500 to win. Features, set by draw, will be 25 laps and 20 laps, respectively with pro stocks going 15 laps in distance.
The March 30 season opener will be the debut of double file, “Delaware” style restarts for the super late models at Port Royal.
General admission is $15 for adults and $5 for students ages 12 – 18.