FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 4, 2011

SSP’s Saturday Night Season Opener on This Saturday, April 9 with an Open Wheel Doubleheader on Sunday, April 10

Newberrytown, PA (April 4, 2011) – The 2011 season opener of Stock Car Saturday Night will be on Saturday, April 9, with the Late Models, Street Stocks, Xtreme Stock Cars and the PA Sprint Series. All point championships for each class starts on April 9. The pit gates will open at 3:30 p.m. Grandstand gates will open at 4:00 p.m. Warm-ups begin at 5:30 p.m. with qualifying races at 6:00 p.m. followed by consolation races and feature events.

General Admission Grandstand ticket prices for the Season Opener special event on Saturday night are Adults (ages 18-59) $15.00; Young Adults (ages 11-17) & Senior Adults (60 & Older) $13.00; Children (10 & under) are free. Pit pass prices are $25.00 with a reduced price of $20.00 for all pit competitor license holders. The minimum age requirement to purchase a pit pass is 12 years of age with a copy of a birth certificate is required for all ages 12 to 14.

Then on Sunday night, April 10, the Super Sprint Cars will return to SSP for the 2nd Annual Sprint Car “King of the Hill” Spring Classic. They 410 cubic inch powered cars will be joined by the wingless ARDC midgets. The pit gates will open 3:30 p.m. Grandstand gates will open at 4:00 p.m. Warm-ups begin at 5:30 p.m. with qualifying races at 6:00 p.m. followed by consolation races and feature events. Last year, Don Kreitz won the thrilling 25-lap Sprint Car feature event over Tyler Walker.

The King of the Hill series will be unique in that the headline division's starting lineups will be determined by a set of one-on-one two lap match races in which the "King of the Hill" will earn the pole position of the event. The match races will be single elimination. Depending on car count, there will be either 8 or 12 participants that will qualify for the match races through their heat races. The "King of the Hill" will also earn $500.00. The Sprint Car feature will pay $3,500-to-win as a clean sweep of the match races and feature win could net a driver $4,000. Non-qualifiers for the A-Main will receive a complimentary entry fee for the Final Showdown to be held at SSP in November.

For the Super Sprint Cars, mufflers WILL NOT be required and an open tire rule on all four corners will be in place. All other rules will follow the generally accepted rules for Sprint Cars at local weekly Central PA Sprint Car tracks. The pit gates will open 3:30 p.m. Grandstand gates will open at 4:00 p.m. Warmups begin at 5:30 p.m. and racing action at 6:00 p.m.

General Admission Grandstand ticket prices for the Sunday night are Adults (ages 18-59) $18.00; Young Adults (ages 11-17) & Senior Adults (60 & Older) $15.00; Children (10 & under) are free. Pit pass prices are $25.00. The minimum age requirement to purchase a pit pass is 12 years of age with a copy of a birth certificate is required for all ages 12 to 14.

The final pre-season Test & Tune for any type of racecar will be on Wednesday, April 6. The gates will open at 5:00 p.m. with practice sessions rotating for each class from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The cost is $12.00 per person for pit passes and a $20.00 fee for each racecar entering the pit area ($32.00 per car & driver combination). Each session will be 6 – 8 laps per session. The grandstands are open free to the public. Each class will receive 4 to 5 rounds of 6/8 laps each or more if time permits. The fuel pumps from Miller’s Racing Parts will not be open. Anyone needing fuel should contact Miller’s Racing Parts directly at 717-766-0181. The main concession stand will be open throughout the night.

Also on Wednesday night, there will an open practice session for quarter midgets and karts at the Outback Track from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. under the lights. The gates will open at 5:30 p.m. with open practice from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The cost will be $20.00 per driver with no charge for anyone else entering the grandstand and “cold pit” areas. All Outback Track participants should enter the pits from the Kise Mill Road entrance behind turn 2 of the “Big Track.”

During the season, SSP will also host Wednesday Night Test & Tune Sessions on April 20; May 4; May 18; June 1; June 15; June 29; July 20; August 3; August 17; August 31; September 14; September 21; October 19 and October 26. All Wednesday night practices will run from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. as well.

The Susquehanna Speedway Park is located midway between Harrisburg and York off I-83 to exit 32, then 1.4 miles NW on SR382 to York Road, then 1.3 miles south. For more information, contact the speedway offices at (717) 292-1696 or visit online at sspracing.net. On race day, use the track phone at (717) 938-9170 for up-to-date information at the “Big Track” and (717) 932-1608 for the “Outback Track.”

Previous Winners of SSP Season Openers (54):
1954 (May 23): Buzzy Wilson (Stock Cars*).
1955 (April 10): Junie Taylor (Stock Cars*).
1956 (April 22): Charlie Boone (Stock Cars*).
1957 (March 31): Bobby Hersh (Stock Cars*).
1958 (April 13): Troy Funck (Stock Cars*).
1959 (April 5): Bobby Hersh (Stock Cars*).
1960 (April 10): Gary Wolford (Stock Cars*).
1961 (April 9): Johnny Mackison Sr. (Stock Cars*).
1962 (April 8): Bobby Hersh (Stock Cars*); Fred Putney (Limited Stock Car).
1963 (March 31): Leroy Felty (Stock Cars*).
1964 (March 29): Johnny Crawford Sr. (Stock Cars*).
1965 (April 4): Mitch Smith (Stock Cars*); Charlie Weirman (Late Models).
1966 (March 27): Bobby Abel (Stock Cars*); Ed Spencer (Late Models).
1967 (April 14): Kenny Weld (Stock Cars*); Ray Fanning (Late Models).
1968 (March 29): Kenny Weld (Super Sprint Cars); Ray Fanning (Late Models).
1969 (March 16): Mitch Smith (Super Sprint Cars); Marvin Isanogle (Late Models).
1970 (March 15): Tommie Spriggle (Super Sprint Cars).
1971 (March 21): Mitch Smith (Super Sprint Cars); Skip Emlet (Sportsman).
1972 (March 12): Ed Zirkle (Super Sprint Cars); Gary Wolford (Sportsman).
1973 (March 25): Smokey Snelbaker (Super Sprint Cars).
1974 : No races held.
1975 (??????): Rich Eichelberger (Super Sportsman); ????? (Late Models).
1976 (May 15): Bill Clouser (Late Models); Ken Saunder (Mini Mod).
1977 (April 30): Ed Hake (Late Models); ??? (Midgets).
1978 (April 8): Kenny Weaver (Late Models).
1979 (April 15): Lynn Paxton (Super Sprint Cars); Kenny Weaver (Late Models); Bob Clouser (Mod.
Stock).
1980 (April 6): Dale Kerstetter (Late Models); Mike Zeigler Sr. (Mod. Stock).
1981 (April 19): Brad Doty (Super Sprint Cars); Don Commerer (Late Models); Butch Richcreek Sr.
(Mod. Stock).
1982 (April 24): Jay Jones (Late Models).
1983 (April 30): Bobby Gerhart Jr. (Modified); Smokey Frye (Late Models).
1984 (April 20): Rich Eichelberger (Super Sportsman); Ed Jones (Late Models); Pat Beard (Semi-
Lates).
1985 (April 14): Richard Lupo Sr. (Super Sprint Cars); Ed Ellis (Semi-Lates); Raymond Ulrich (Mini
Mods).
1986 (April 20): Keith Kauffman (Super Sprint Cars); Pat Beard (Semi-Lates).
1987 (April 26): Stevie Smith (Super Sprint Cars); Craig Wagaman (Semi Lates).
1988 (April 10): Jim Nace (Super Sprint Cars); Jeff Leiphart (Late Models); Jeremy Miller (Semi-
Lates); Gary Guise (Thundercars).
1989 (April 2): Stevie Smith (Super Sprint Cars); Bernie Beard (Semi-Lates); Larry Baer
(Thundercars).
1990 (April 22): Dave Kelly (Super Sprint Cars); Carl Billet (Late Models); Rick Reinhoehl
(Thundercars).
1991 (April 28): Joey Kuhn (All Star Super Sprint Cars).
1992 (April 5): Julie Daum (Super Late Models); Pat Beard (Thundercars).
1993 (April 17): Richie Tobias (Small Block Modifieds); Jack Zeigler (Street Stocks); Larry Hughes
Jr. (Thundercars).
1994 (April 9): Randy Fortna (Small Block Modifieds); Tom Umbenour (Street Stocks); Criag
Donmoyer (Daredevils).
1995 (April 15): Kenny Brightbill (Small Block Modifieds); Jack Zeiner (Street Stocks); Gene Dively
(Daredevils).
1996 (March 23): Kenny Brightbill (Small Block Modifieds); Tom Brennan (Street Stocks); Franny
Pursell (Sportsman Modifieds); Greg Updegraff (Daredevils).
1997 (April 20): Kenny Brightbill (Small Block Modifieds); Scott Thunberg (Street Stocks); Randy
Strickler (Sportsman Modifieds); Mike Lehman (KARS 358 Sprint Cars).
1998 (March 29): Craig Von Dohran (Small Block Modifieds); Scott Thunberg (Street Stocks).
1999 (March 27): Kenny Brightbill (Small Block Modifieds); Scott Flammer (Sportsman Modifieds).
2000 (April 2): Jim Bernheisel (Super Late Models).
2001 ?????
2002 (July 7): Jamie Mills (Small Block Modifieds); Les Hare (Late Models).
2003 (April 27): Craig Von Dohran (Small Block Modifieds).
2004 (April 18): Lance Dewease (Super Sprint Cars); Butch Brough (Legends Cars); Michael
Goodwin (Xtreme Stock Cars). Original Opener of Thursday, April 15 was postponed by rain.
2005 (April 14): Jason Johnson (Super Sprint Cars); Butch Brough (Legends Cars); Jerry Blauch
(Xtreme Stock Cars).
2006 (April 13): Fred Rahmer (Super Sprint Cars); Ronnie Dunstan (Legends Cars); Gene Knaub
(Xtreme Stock Cars).
2007 (April 14): Steve Fannasy (Super Sportsman); Scott Richwine (Late Models); Eric Walker
(Street Stocks).
2008 (April 12): Bud Witmer (Late Models); Eric Walker (Street Stocks); Ray Broderick (Xtreme
Stock Cars); Randy Monroe (ARDC Midgets).
2009: (April 11): Jake Jones (Late Models); Eric Walker (Street Stocks); Mike Zeigler Jr. (Xtreme
Stocks); Steve Buckwalter (ARDC Midgets).
2010: (April 10): Chris Knopp (Late Models); Doug Bennett (Street Stocks); Donnie Broderick
(Xtrme Stocks); Travis Horan (XSC Elite); Mark Watkins (PASS Sprints).
2011: To be determined on Saturday, April 9, 2011

* - Stock Cars were the main division in the area at the time and eventually evolved into Sprint Cars. They were referred to as Super Sprint Cars beginning in 1968.