2/23/2020
Georgetown Speedway
Georgetown Speedway Fires Up 2020 Season with Saturday Practice
GEORGETOWN, DE – The 2020 season at Georgetown Speedway
fired to life – quite literally – on Saturday
afternoon.
The half-mile
clay oval hosted 37 race teams for a three-hour open practice to kick off the
fifth season under the BD Motorsports Media LLC banner. Near perfect track
conditions greeted competitors, many of whom were turning their first laps of
the new season.
A variety of
different divisions took advantage of the Open Practice which was added to the
schedule by the speedway just five days earlier.
The L&J
Sheet Metal Modified contingent drew a mix of local and traveling teams.
Notably, Marshall Hurd towed five hours, one way, from his Whitney Point, N.Y.,
home to gain track time prior to the Melvin L. Joseph Memorial event March 6-7.
Pipersville,
Pa.s Danny Bouc shook down a pair of Craig Pondish-owned No. 6 Modifieds in
advance of the season, as well.
A Georgetown feature
winner last season – Richie Pratt Jr. of Woodbury Heights, N.J. – was at the
controls of the Dannys Pizza Pizzazz No. 51.
Among the
First State entrants were the Brian Hitz No. 32 (driven by Dylan Swinehart),
Carson Wright with a pair of cars, Kyle Fuller and Ryan Riddle.
Sunoco Super
Late Models included Ross Robinson, Amanda Whaley, Donald Lingo Jr., Rob Massey
and Robbie Emory.
Samantha
Muller was another “long haulâ driver. The Verbank, N.Y., driver was among the
Chesapeake Paving/J.W. Brown Trucking Crate 602 Sportsman competitors on hand.
Other
divisions taking part in the practice were RUSH Late Models, 305 and 360 Sprint
Cars, Southern Delaware Vintage Cars, Outlaw Stocks and a strong contingent of
Delaware Super Trucks and Delmarva Chargers.
The next
on-track activity at the speedway is set for Tuesday, March 3 with a second
Open Practice. Gates open at 5 p.m. with cars hitting the speedway at 6:30 p.m.
Three hours of track time will be allotted. Pit admission is $25 for Adults,
$10 for Kids (ages 6-12) and $2 for Children 5 and under.
Attention
then turns to the fifth edition of the Melvin L. Joseph Memorial on
Friday-Saturday March 6-7.
Friday night
(March 6) gets the weekend underway with a Small-Block Modified (max 370 cubic
inches) main paying $4,049 to win for 30 laps. Also on the docket: RUSH Late
Models (20 laps, $1,049 to win), Delmarva Chargers and Delaware Super Trucks
both going 12-lap distances.
STSS
Modifieds and Crate 602 Sportsman will take part in practice rounds with the two
drivers recording the fastest laps in each division guaranteed into Saturdays
Beyea Custom Headers redraws.
On Friday,
pit gates open at 4 p.m., grandstand gates unlock at 5 p.m., with hot laps 6:20
p.m. and racing gets underway at 7:15 p.m.
Friday grandstand admission is $25 (Adults); $20 for
Seniors (ages 65 and up) and Students (ages 13-17); $10 Kids (ages 9-12); and
Children 8 and under FREE.
Friday pit admission is $35 (ages 13 and up). Kids (ages 6-12) pay $10. Children
5 and under pay $2.
On Saturday
(March 7), the Velocita-USA South Region presented by Design for Vision and
Sunglass Central opener is set for the STSS big-block/small-block Modifieds.
The 49-lap main offers a whopping $10,049 plus bonuses and $490 to take the
green flag.
STSS Crate
602 Sportsman competitors kick off their STSS South Region in a 25-lap feature
paying $1,490 to the victor. Southern Delaware Vintage Stock Cars, Delmarva
Chargers and Delaware Super Trucks, each running 12-lap features, complete the
program.
Auto racing
icon Ken Schrader will be on hand serving at the Grand Marshal for the Melvin
L. Joseph Memorial.
Pit and grandstand gates unlock at 2 p.m. on
Saturday. Hot laps hit the track at 4 p.m., with racing at 5 p.m.
Saturday
grandstand admission is $25 (Adults); $20 Seniors
(ages 65 and up) and Students (ages 13-17); $10 Kids (ages 9-12); and Children
8 and under FREE.
Saturday pit admission is $40 (ages 13 and
up). Kids (ages 6-12) pay $10. Children 5 and under pay $2.
Melvin L.
Joseph Memorial weekend passes are available at $45 (Adult Grandstand), $35
(Senior/Student Grandstand), $15 (Kid Grandstand) and $70 (pit area ages 13 and
up).
Georgetown
Speedway, originally constructed by Melvin L. Joseph in 1949, is located at the
intersection of Route 113 and Speedway Road in Georgetown, Del., just miles
from the Delaware beaches and less than a 40-minute drive from Ocean City, Md.
A website is
live for the speedway at www.thegeorgetownspeedway.com. Like Georgetown Speedway on
Facebook, follow @thegtownspdwy on Twitter, e-mail georgetownspeedway@gmail.com or contact the speedway hotline at
302.563.GTWN (4896).