(Jennerstown, PA) This Saturday, the Race of Champions Modified Tour stops at the Jennerstown Speedway Complex for the first time in history, to compete in the Hunter Truck Sales 100. It has been more than eleven years since touring Modifieds have circled the venerable paved oval.
As the Jennerstown Speedway stop on the tour leads up to the 67th annual Race of Champions (RoC) season finale, fans are eager to see the”RoC brand of racing for the first time in the Laurel Highlands.
“Jennerstown’s half mile configuration is now 50 years old, so it’s hard to believe that the Race of Champions Modifieds are visiting for the very first time,” said Jennerstown Promoter Mike Lysakowski. “As the Race of Champions concept approaches its’ 67th anniversary, iI am reminded of legendary competitors from our region like Blackie Watt and Clate Husted, who were winners at Jennerstown, and Race of Champions participants as far back as the 1960’s. It’s only natural that two long respected entities in motorsports -Jennerstown Speedway and the Race of Champions – would finally come together this Saturday.”
Expected on the Hunter Truck Sales 100 starting grid, are two drivers whose fathers have won at Jennerstown. In 1987, Jan Leaty won the first Modified race ever held on Jennerstown pavement. His son Mike (of Williamson, NY) is currently fifth in the Race of Champions point standings for 2017. Tony Hirschman, a winner of multiple Modified events at Jennerstown is the father of the Race of Champions’ tour most recent winner, Matt Hirschman, who lives in Northampton, PA, several hours east of Jennerstown. The last Modified event contested at Jennerstown was won by Connecticut’s Ted Christopher, on June 13, 2006.
“These race cars are the most stunning looking machines on the planet,” Lysakowski continued. These low, sleek Modifieds appear and sound so mean, with extra-wide tires that are taller than the cars themselves. The speed and deep-engine tones that these gorgeous cars will display is simply breath-taking.”
Time trials for the Hunter Truck Sales 100 will occur at 5:00pm Saturday, followed by heat races at 6:00pm which will determine the starting order for the 100-lap feature race. Race of Champions teams will have a practice session for the Hunter Truck Sales 100 at 2:30pm. Also on the agenda for the night, are heat and feature races for Martella’s Pharmacies Late Models, and feature races for the Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modifieds, J&J Truck Equipment Street Stocks, Famers Union Co-Op Chargers and Somerset Trust Company Fast ‘n Furious 4-Cylinders. Learn more by visiting jennerstown.org.