SELINSGROVE, Pa. – The opening race in the inaugural Mach 1 Chassis Mid-Atlantic 360 Sprint Car Championship Series will get the green flag at 4 p.m. Saturday, March 24, at Selinsgrove Speedway. Drivers representing the 358, 360, and 410 sprint car divisions are expected to compete in the first of the six-race, $120,000 series in 2012.
The March 24 race at Selinsgrove will feature the 360 sprint cars in a 25-lap A-main paying $2,500 to win and $250 to start out of a purse totaling more than $15,000. Joining the 360 sprint cars on the racing card will be the pro stocks. Track gates will open at 2 p.m.
At least six drivers from the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprint (ESS) organization have expressed their intentions to compete in the series opening event at Selinsgrove, including defending ESS champion Chuck “The Cobra” Hebing of Ontario, N.Y., who recorded six wins last year driving the Northcoast Performance No. 45.
In addition, former three-time ESS champion Steve Poirier of St. Mathieu del Beloeil, Quebec; 2010 Rookie of the Year Kevin Ward Jr. of Port Leyden, N.Y.; Michael Parent of Granby, Quebec; Patrick Vigneault of Trios Rivieres, Quebec; and Steve Collins of Belfast, N.Y., are expected to be in the field representing ESS.
Defending Selinsgrove Speedway 358 sprint car champion Blane Heimbach of Selinsgrove, who competes regularly in a Mach 1 Chassis, will also be a favorite to take the series opener, along with Pat Cannon of Etters, who was last year’s leading winner at the track with five victories in 358 sprint car competition and a prestigious win in the Jim Nace Memorial National Open for 410 sprint cars.
Mach 1 Chassis Mid-Atlantic 360 Sprint Car Championship Series Event Payoff for March 24: 1) $2,500 2) $1,500 3) $1,200 4) $1,100 5) $1,000 6) $925 7) $825 8 ) $725 9) $650 10) $600 11) $500 12) $400 13) $300 14) $275 15-24) $250