Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
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With the news that the current promoters at Selinsgrove Speedway will not be back, and the Selinsgrove Fairboard stating that racing will continue in 2023, are there people in place to take over? Will they try to run it themselves? Or will there now be two open dates on the PA Speedweek schedule?

I know it costs a ton of money they probably don't have, but a Bridgeport-style remodel of the track would do wonders. Central PA doesn't need another big motor track. 

As a lifetime resident of PA, I've been to all the big halfs and Selinsgrove is my favorite. You watch racing from bridgeport and don't worry about The High Speed Ring. stinkn outsiders.lol.

I hate to see it since I grew up going to the place with my dad, but I don't see the track lasting another year.  The board may try to run a few races next year, but it's only delaying the inevitable.  A lot of things have been tried over the past decade or so, but nothing worked.  I don't think Hagerstown is that far behind.

I wonder if some tracks would be better off running once or twice a month than absobing weekly racing and facility maintenance  costs. Even Williams Grove management might think about it considering the lack of cars and fans during their weekly events. I can't even wrap my head around the costs of running weekly programs with minimal car counts and fans. I like our big half miles and don't want to lose any of them, maybe cutting back on some of the schedules would make the fewer races a bit more special. 

According to Sprint Car Unlimited, Promotor Mike Heffner and his partners had successful seasons in 2020 & 2021 and were ready to extend the lease, but the Fire Company that has majority ownership in the track wanted a substantial rent increase so they walked away from the deal. Not sure who they think will pay more and keep the track running?. Heffner and his group made alot of improvements into the facility without actually owning the joint.

That's sad. Sounds like the fire company just wants to get rid of it. I think the reason the track has been successful the last few years is because of Heffner, and the local businesses that step up and sponsor the racing programs. Other than the big 410 shows, there's no way the place can be making money at the gate. Without enough cars to run weekly divisions anymore, they've done a great job piecing together a good schedule rotating a variety of divisions (and paying well). 

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My wish is for Selinsgrove to run Friday nights with the same divisions as Port each week and work together with a point series and big races.

Not suprised to hear, just freakin sad. The fire company has has chased about every promoter out of there with their demands. The golden goose quits laying eggs and then where are you?

That would be awesome. The new Bridgeport is the perfect size and shape for great racing. When I win the lottery it will happen. lol There was talk of making it smaller few years back but something about junk cars underground that were used to add banking when the track was built would apparently make it difficult. Not sure why. I think the weekly 360/358 deal would have been successful if the track were a little smaller. 

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When Selinsgrove went to 358's in the early 2000's, the weekly shows were well attended and the car counts were very good. Tried 360's(with 358's allowed) for a few years after the 358 counts started dwindling, but the 360's never really took off. The place is a ghost town now when they have big races for the URC and Patriot Sprints, sad because they are good shows. It's tough nowadays to draw cars and fans but I think more 360 teams would have supported the track if it were smaller and the fans would have too.

One thing I've never understood is this - Port Royal has URC as a support division for a Thursday speedweek show($2000 to win) and draws 30 cars. Selinsgrove has URC headliner for 360 National Open paying $5000 to win on Saturday night and draws 19 cars. Makes no sense. I could understand that if Port Royal wasn't also a 1/2 mile track.    

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Why did I know it was going there.  Anyhow,  Hefner was doing his best to turn the place around. They, the current owners, saw it and wanted a bigger pc of the action. It pains me to say this but in ranking the big three 1/2 mile pa tracks I would rank Selinsgrove first followed by the speed palace and the grove last.  The place is fast and usually produces some really good racing. The Grove wants to live on in the past. Port Royal out of the 3 without question has the best schedule throughout the year.   

Saturday nights track was about perfect. The cushion was up near the rail where it is supposed to be and cars were running top to bottom and everywhere inbewteen. Kinda sucks that the best 2 drivers at Selinsgrove drew the front row but the racing was outstanding, especially the first 20 lap section before everyone got to work on their cars. Thanks to Steve Inch, Heffner and Kreitzer for keeping the track afloat the last 7 years. That was nice presenation to Steve. Hopefully that's not the end of Selinsgrove Speedway.

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Did you go both nights?

AARN front page says Stephanie Baker is taking over as Selinsgrove promoter. Anyone know the scoop?

ESR promotional Group. Stephanie Baker and her two sons Ethan and Reece Stutts. they are TJ's sons also. I'll be more than happy to support their effort!

Not sure how to post a link, but our local newspaper The Daily Item has an article this morning about it.

https://www.dailyitem.com/sports/selinsgrove-speedway-gets-new-promoter/article_3aabe650-3da2-11ed-9b70-570741f08575.html?fbclid=IwAR2Iqkat_jrjl0Mddd8giZaCu2utL1zz6SI7RwWNf08J_U533bcTp8Rx0PI

ESR Promotional Group will take over promotional duties at Selinsgrove Speedway.

Stephanie Baker and her two sons, Ethan and Reece Stutts of ESR Promotional, said some announcements will be coming soon regarding what will be happening at the track next season.

ESR Promotional takes over for the Speedway Promotions Group, which includes track manager and announcer Steve Inch and local businesspeople — Todd Benner, Brian Scandle, Kathy Kurtz and Chuck and Tony Adams.

“Our group has decided not to renew the lease,” Speedway promotions president Mike Heffner said. “We gave our best go at it for 7 years, and wish much success to whoever takes over the promoting duties.”

“I have to give hats off to those guys, They did an excellent job, and I have the utmost respect for them,” Mike Kellner, president of the Selinsgrove Fairboard, which owns the speedway, said.

Ethan and Reece Stutts are the sons of T.J. Stutts, of Liverpool, a former sprint car driver.

Baker, talking about her plans for the speedway, said, “We have a pretty good idea about what we are getting into. I have friends all over the country that run race tracks so I picked up the phone and talked to them before we made the decision.”

Baker and her sons already have plans for some divisions as well.

“We’d like to open with the Modifieds. In between, I don’t have anything set in stone yet, but we are working on some Late Model races, some sprint car races,” Baker said. “Throw in the pro stocks, the limited late models, maybe some super sportsman, or the wingless sportsmans,” Baker said. “I’d like to have the 305 Sprint Cars back mostly traditional Selinsgrove divisions.

“I just don’t know what the schedule will be,” she added. “Roadrunners are going to stay on the schedule. We are not going to change any of that we are not getting rid of any division. The fans love them; we love them.”

As far as a planned night for competition, Baker said that is up in the air as well.

“I don’t have a plan. “We are going to do what seems to fit best with everyone,” she said. “I don’t want to say we are going to be a Saturday-only race track. If a series or sanctioning body comes to me, and that another night would work best then that’s what we are going to do.”

About the inner 1/5th mile Selinsgrove Raceway Park that has produced many competitors that have gone on to race, and win on the larger speedway, Baker said.

“The go-kart track is staying. I’m going to sit down with people from both Karts and Micros and see what everyone’s thoughts are. I don’t know a lot about those divisions so I’m going to defer to those that do but I’d like to schedule a lot more races than were on the schedule this year.

“I don’t want to say who we are talking to as far as sanctioning bodies but we are talking with a bunch of different groups and hope to make some announcements shortly.”

Baker also said they are finalizing plans for a streaming service for the track.

“We will also have a streaming service. I don’t want to say anything more because I don’t have my contracts signed,” she said. “I think we need to get ourselves out there so people can see how amazing the Selinsgrove Speedway really is.”

Under the current promotional team, Selinsgrove has undergone some significant improvements, the most obvious was the moving of the pits to outside the fourth turn.

During the intermission, Alan Kreitzer, who was involved in the speedway during the first five years with Heffner, presented Steve Inch with a golden microphone.

“For 35 years, Steve has been the heart and soul of Selinsgrove Speedway.” Kreitzer said. “We can’t thank him enough for keeping the speedway operating.”

Kreitzer and Inch were then joined on stage by Inch’s wife and son and all the speedway workers.

Stephany Baker must not use her married name? I take it that it's T J Stutts wife. An article in the Sunbury Daily Item states that her and  her boys  Etan and another one are promoting the track next year. She was Tony Stewart's girlfriend at one time I believe.. Don't know if Tony might be involved as a silent partner or not. Takes financial backing for these type of things. No idea of her financial well being. All I can say is THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND BEST OF LUCK. You will have my support 100%. I have supported Selingsgrove Speedway for 58 years now.0

10 year lease according to AARN, good news for the track.

i've seen modifieds come up related to baps (another message board...south jersey dirt racing) and now selinsgrove.  i assume this would be to pick up grandview's business.  the same message board that threw out baps also had a post that the zoning for copart was denied by the township.  it sounds like there's going to be more to that story.

how do you think modifieds would do in central pa?  most of the grandview teams would have to pick between bridgeport and a place like selinsgrove or baps if it's a saturday.  more modified and 410 shows would be awesome.

not to create a late model argument...i tried to get into them when flo picked up lucas oil.  i just haven't seen that many great races and run of the mill races just aren't as exciting as the sprint cars.  100 laps is getting to be a long distance for the same guy to lead just about every lap.