Williams Grove Speedway facts for kids
| The Ascot of the East | |
|---|---|
Sprint Cars in 1985
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| Location | 1 Speedway Dr., Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 |
| Time zone | EST UTC -5:00 |
| Owner | Kathleen Hughes |
| Operator | Justin Loh |
| Opened | 1939 |
| Architect | Roy Richwine |
| Major events | World Of Outlaws USAC Silver Crown Pennsylvania Speedweek |
| Dirt Oval | |
| Surface | Clay |
| Length | 0.5 mi (0.804 km) |
| Turns | 4 |
| Race lap record | 0:16.111 (Shane Stewart, Indy Race Parts, 2020, 410 Sprint Car) |
Williams Grove Speedway is a famous half-mile dirt racing track. It is located in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, USA. The track first opened on May 21, 1939.
Williams Grove Speedway has hosted many important national racing series. It also holds some of the most exciting races in the country. The speedway has been running for over 75 years. Races happen every Friday from March to October. There are also special events, like the big $56,000 National Open for sprint cars. This race is part of the World of Outlaws series and takes place in October.
History of Williams Grove Speedway
Early Years: 1930s-1940s
In 1937, a car owner named Emmett Shelley had an idea. He convinced Roy Richwine, who owned Williams Grove Park, to build a race track. The track was built across the street from the park.
The first race at Williams Grove Speedway was on May 21, 1939. Tommy Hinnershitz won that very first race. In its early years, the speedway held "big car" races. These were under the American Automobile Association (AAA) rules. They also had American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Pro Flat track motorcycle races.
Racing stopped in 1942 because of World War II. It started again in 1945. In 1947, the speedway got some big upgrades. They added lights for night racing. A tunnel was built for people to walk under the track. They also built the "famous" bridge across the backstretch. In 1949, a major championship race came to the track. Johnny Mantz won that race, and many people came to watch.
- Notable Drivers: Tommy Hinnershitz, Ted Horn, Joie Chitwood
The 1950s: New Types of Cars
The 1950s brought a change in racing at Williams Grove. There was a shift from open-wheel cars to cars with fenders. "Big cars" were still popular on some Sunday afternoons. But "Jalopy Stocks" became the main weekly race on Fridays.
Stock cars also raced often. The NASCAR Grand National division even visited in 1954. For open-wheel racing, the rules changed in 1956. The new United States Auto Club (USAC) took over from AAA. Champ Cars raced at the speedway every year until 1959. Motorcycle races and Midget car races were also common.
- Notable Drivers: Tommy Hinnershitz, Johnny Thomson, Dick Tobias
The 1960s: Sprint Cars Evolve
The 1960s were a time of big changes for dirt track racing in Pennsylvania. Older cars gave way to "Modified" stock cars. These cars had more powerful engines. Drivers like Bobby Hersh and Johnny Mackison Sr. won many races.
By 1963, Modified cars kept changing. They became lighter and faster. In 1964, the first "Super Modifieds" appeared. These cars had custom bodies and were very light. Soon, the modern "Sprint car" design was created. This design is still used today in racing.
On October 20, 1963, a very important race began. It was called "The National Open." Gordon Johncock, who later won the Indianapolis 500 twice, was the first winner. Ray Tilley set a record that still stands today. He won 17 races in 1965 and then 21 races in 1966. By the late 1960s, Sprint cars became the main weekly race.
- Notable Drivers: Ray Tilley, Mitch Smith, Bobby Hersh
The 1970s: New Ownership and Touring Series
In the 1970s, modern Sprint Car racing and Late Models were the weekly races. Midgets and Street Stocks also raced often. In 1970, Jack Gunn was in his third year of promoting the speedway. He helped bring the best drivers to race each week. Many of these drivers decided to stay in Central Pennsylvania.
In 1972, the speedway got new owners. Morgan Hughes bought the park and the speedway. The Hughes family is only the second family to own this famous track. The 1970s also saw the start of new Sprint Car racing series. These included the All-Star Circuit of Champions and the World of Outlaws. These series brought even bigger races to Williams Grove.
- Notable Drivers: Kenny Weld, Mitch Smith, Smokey Snellbaker, Bobby Allen, Lynn Paxton
The 1980s: The Pennsylvania Posse
The 1980s saw many talented drivers move to the area. The local drivers were very strong. Each week, the races featured top sprint car drivers. The new World of Outlaws series started racing regularly at Williams Grove. They claimed to have the best drivers. This led to a rivalry.
The term "Pennsylvania Posse" was created for the local sprint car drivers. It showed that they were tough competitors. Drivers like Steve Kinser and Sammy Swindell were famous nationally. But local drivers like Lynn Paxton, Bobby Davis Jr., and Keith Kauffman were just as good.
The 1980s also brought new rules about engine sizes for sprint cars. A new weekly race, for 358 sprint cars, was added in 1989. The World of Outlaws also started a Late Model series in 1988. The first race was held at Williams Grove.
- Notable Drivers: Lynn Paxton, Keith Kauffman, Doug Wolfgang, Bobby Davis Jr.
The 1990s: A Youth Movement and Speedweek
The 1990s brought new, younger drivers to the speedway. Names like Kreitz, Rahmer, Shaffer, and Dewease started winning races almost every week. Sprint car racing became very popular. Fans wanted more races. So, the season started earlier, in late February or early March. This allowed more drivers from other areas to come and race.
The strong local talent led to the creation of Pennsylvania Speedweek in 1991. This was a week-long series of races with bigger prize money. It was a way to show off the best drivers in the region. Williams Grove held the first race on July 3, 1991. Steve Smith won that race. The 358 sprint cars became a popular division. They helped develop new drivers for the 410 sprint cars.
- Notable Drivers: Don Kreitz Jr., Lance Dewease, Keith Kauffman, Fred Rahmer
The 2000s: Breaking Records and New Ownership
In the 2000s, many track records were broken. Cars were getting faster. Also, drivers like Fred Rahmer, Lance Dewease, and Don Kreitz Jr. were winning so many races. They started to pass older legends on the all-time win list.
In 2006, the speedway started racing two nights a week. This was because Silver Springs Speedway closed. Williams Grove took on some of their racing divisions. The "Saturday Night Series" officially began on April 15, 2006.
In 2007, the speedway owner, Morgan Hughes, passed away. He left the speedway to his family. His daughter, Kathleen, took over running the track.
- Notable Drivers: Fred Rahmer, Don Kreitz Jr., Lance Dewease, Greg Hodnett
The 2010s: More Events and The Morgan Cup
The 2010s saw the most events in the speedway's history. There were two nights of racing for most of the season. The Saturday Night Series grew to have over 15 races.
In May 2011, the "Morgan Cup" challenge was created. This race added to the rivalry between the World of Outlaws and the Pennsylvania Posse. The winning group got to keep the Morgan Cup trophy for a year.
In 2013, Fred Rahmer, the driver with the most wins at Williams Grove, retired. He retired after winning his first National Open. In 2015, the National Open became a three-day event. This made it one of the biggest and richest sprint car races.
- Notable Drivers: Fred Rahmer, Greg Hodnett, Don Kreitz Jr., Lance Dewease
Track Records
All-Time Winners
| Name | Wins | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Lance Dewease | 99 | Sprint Cars, 360 Sprint Cars |
| Fred Rahmer | 91 | Sprint Cars, 360 Sprint Cars, 358 Sprint Cars |
| Greg Hodnett | 73 | Sprint Cars, 360 Sprint Cars |
| Don Kreitz Jr. | 61 | Sprint Cars |
| Ray Tilley | 59 | Super Modifieds, Sprint Cars |
| Keith Kauffman | 51 | Sprint Cars |
| Gene Knaub | 47 | 358 Late Models, 358 Sprint Cars |
| Lynn Paxton | 46 | Sprint Cars, Super Modifieds, Midgets |
| Smokey Snellbaker | 45 | Sprint Cars, Super Sportsman |
| Mitch Smith | 41 | Sprint Cars, Jalopy, Endurance, Go-Karts |
Record Holders
- Most modern-day wins: Lance Dewease
- Most wins in one season: Ray Tilley, 21 (1966)
- Most wins in a row: Steve Smith, 6 (1976)
- Most top five finishes in one season: Keith Kauffman, 25 (1984)
- Most Point Championships: Fred Rahmer, 9 (1997-2000, 2004-2006, 2008, 2013)
Lap Records
- 1 lap (Before weight limit): Brian Paulus, 16.140 seconds, April 26, 2002
- 1 lap (After weight limit): Greg Hodnett, 16.152 seconds, April 24, 2015
- 4 laps: Fred Rahmer, 1 minute 15.35 seconds, August 28, 1998
- 5 laps: Rick Lafferty, 1 minute 22.77 seconds, May 20, 2005
- 6 laps: Fred Rahmer, 1 minute 37.29 seconds, October 1, 2005
- 8 laps: Kraig Kinser, 2 minutes 13.88 seconds, October 4, 2003
- 10 laps: Jeff Sheppard, 2 minutes 45.28 seconds, April 13, 2007
- 12 laps: Sammy Swindell, 3 minutes 25.81 seconds, May 27, 2004
- 15 laps: Barry Camp, 5 minutes 03.13 seconds, September 30, 1988
- 20 laps: Lance Dewease, 6 minutes 08.77 seconds, August 30, 2002
- 25 laps: Todd Shaffer, 7 minutes 31.32 seconds, March 20, 2009
- 30 laps: Steve Smith, 9 minutes 30.24 seconds, May 29, 1998
Record Setting Years
- Most winners in one season: 23 (1988)
- Most top 5 finishers in one season: 40 (1983, 1987, 2008)
Youngest Winners
- 410 sprints: Gio Scelzi (16 years, 10 months)
- 358 Sprints: Chase Dietz (16 years, 5 months, 2 days)
- Super Sportsman: Dylan Cisney (16 years, 2 months, 13 days)
- 358 Late Models: Kyle Lee (15 years, 9 months, 23 days)
- Street Stocks: Chad Smith (21 years, 9 months, 16 days)
Media Appearances
Williams Grove Speedway has been shown on national television many times. It has also been featured in books, magazines, and documentaries. The speedway was even included in several video games. These games include Dirt Track Racing 2, Dirt Track Racing: Sprint Cars, and World of Outlaws: Sprint Cars 2002.
