PITTSBURGH, PA — The 2013 racing season at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway will kick off on Saturday, April 13th as we present the 2013 Blastoff Action Event featuring the Diehl of Robinson Super Late Models, Precise Racing Products RUSH Pro-Late Models, Sunoco Race Fuels Late Model Sportsman, Miley BP Carwash Hobby Stocks and the Imperial Heights Garage Young Guns.
“We were very happy with the turnout at last Saturday’s Test and Tune session and are excited to get the new season underway,” commented track owner Matt Miley. “The long range forecast looks good and hopefully our decision to move the April shows to the afternoon means that warmer temperatures will greet the race teams and the fans as we kick off the 2013 season.”
The quest for the 2013 PPMS Points Titles will also get underway this weekend. Third generation racer Michael Norris of Sarver, PA, will be back to defend his title in the Diehl of Robinson Super Late Models. Norris will battle fellow Butler County residents Alex Ferree and John Garvin, Jr. as well as veterans Lynn Geisler, Steve Baker and Jim Stephans for the 2013 title. The 2012 divisional champion Michael Davis will also challenge Norris as the Rayland, OH driver has returned to action following a one year hiatus.
The Precise Racing Products Pro-Late Division is now sanctioned by the RUSH Series and will likely see a new titlist; as the 2011 and 2012 champion Colton Flinner will be travelling more in 2013 than he has the past several years. Flinner is expected to be in action at “Dirt’s Monster Half Mile” when his schedule permits. Former Knoxville Nationals Champion and Aliquippa, PA driver Tim Shaffer made his Pro-Late debut at last Saturday’s “Test and Tune” and will return to PPMS to compete with the likes of Kyle Lukon, Mike Pegher, Jr., Beau Glemba and Mark Moats when he is not competing with the All Star Sprints.
The Late Model Sportsman Division title is also “up for grabs” as four time champion Jake Simmons has sold his car to Joe Anthony. Simmons is building a new car but indicated a few weeks ago that it will not be ready for several more weeks. Wayne Carbo, who captured three victories in 2012, and Nick Kocuba appear to be the early season favorites in the Sportsman class. Other top Sportsman competitors include Jenn Barker, Dave Slade, Brian Huchko, Vince Laboon and Joey Koteles.
The Miley BP Carwash Hobby Stocks and the Imperial Heights Garage Young Guns will round out the weekly racing card at the Imperial, PA oval. Joe Podolinsky of nearby Oakdale, PA will be in competition defending the Hobby Stock title but he will face the challenges of Gary Smith, Chase Evans, Ed Wiser and Hannah Ramsey. Chartiers Valley High School student Logan Crewl will lead the teenage competitors in the Young Guns Division as he attempts to earn his second consecutive divisional title. Roman O’Neill and Michael Jackson were among the other Young Guns competitors gaining valuable track time at the “Test and Tune.”
Race teams and fans are reminded that the Pit and Grandstand Admission Gates open at 12:00 noon with the first green flag waving at 2:00PM during the month of April.
Admission prices for the weekly Action Events are as follows: Adult Grandstand Admission $15.00. Seniors, Ages 60 and Over, are admitted for $14.00 with Juniors, Ages 13 to 16, priced at $10.00. Admission for Children aged Six through 12 is $5.00 and Children Under Age Six will be admitted Free. In addition, all children aged Six through 12 will receive a free gift when they present their admission ticket at the PPMS Gift Shop.
Pit Admission for Saturday’s event is $30.00.
PPMS has also ventured into the social media site Pinterest. The address for this new social media site is: www.pinterest.com/pamotorspeedway. “As society becomes more fixated on the visual aspects of social media we thought the time was right to launch this new site,” commented Miley. “The PPMS Pinterest site is also a great way for our fans to interact and share their experience at the speedway with long time fans as well as those who are new to the sport.”
PPMS staff have already set up several pinboards on the site and will be adding more as the 2013 racing season progresses. In addition to action and victory lane photos we are looking for ‘behind the scenes’ photos showcasing the gamete of emotions that can occur on raceday as well as all of the hard work that goes on throughout the evening in the pit area. The PPMS staff would also like to encourage fans to submit photos of fans enjoying the racing action. Please submit your shots to Marcie Barlow at Marcie@ppms.com.
Fans are advised that glass bottles and alcoholic beverages are not permitted to be brought into the speedway. In addition coolers are limited to 14 inches or smaller in size. Don’t forget that the Checkered Flag Food Court has a great variety of amusement park munchies like monster chicken wings, juicy hamburgers and hot dogs, grilled chicken sandwiches and cotton candy at “fan friendly prices.”
Fans are also encouraged to sign up for free race day text messages to get the latest information on weather or traffic delays that may impact the racing action by clicking on the “Rained Out” logo on the speedway website, www.ppms.com.
Additional information is also available on the speedway website: www.ppms.com or by contacting the speedway office at (412) 279-RACE (7223). Race fans can follow Pittsburgh’s PA Motor Speedway at www.twitter.com/PAMotorSpeedway and http://www.facebook.com/Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway.
Join us this Saturday, April 13th as we “blast off” the 2013 racing season at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway.