2017 PPMS Schedule Announced with Season Opener April 29

By admin March 23, 2017 Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway

2017 Season Approaching at PPMS

Imperial, PA (March 23)  The official 2017 schedule of events is set at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway.   With six divisions racing weekly and six other divisions visiting on selected dates, there is a lot to like for the upcoming season, as the track surface has been reworked after last season’s final event.  It now sits waiting and ready for the new season to begin.
(At right, a look at the track work from the Fall of 2016.)
The opening event for 2017 will take place on Saturday, April 29, with the running of the 11th Annual Red Miley Rumble, presented by DIEHL Automotive.  Moving from its traditional August date, the Red Miley Rumble now will be the start of point competition for the six weekly divisions, the DIEHL Automotive Super Late Models, RUSH Late Models, Sportsman, Hobby Stocks, Young Guns, and Open Fours.

“We are very excited to begin our 29th season,” said Matt Miley of Miley Motor Sports, the owners and operators of PPMS, “as we have a fantastic season planned in 2017.  We blast off with the Red Miley Rumble as the season opener.  Then the season unfolds honoring Ed Laboon in the biggest and best pro stock event in the country, we honor racing legend Herb Scott, local driver Wee Willie White, Bill Hendren, and legendary car owner Jook George!  The big deals, Tony Stewart’s Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Cars touring the monster at breathtaking speeds, and the Lucas Oil Late Model Pittsburgher 100 is back to form and will be a Lucas Oil Crown Jewel television race in 2017.”

While wrapping up plans for the coming season, Matt took a minute to look back at the family’s beginning of their operation of the speedway.  “On March 21, 28 years ago, William E. Miley, the patriarch of the Miley Family Racing, passed away.  Just a few days prior, his children, led by Red Miley, had just signed a lease to operate PPMS.  Dad offered his valuable advice – he told us that we were crazy!   ‘Why on Earth would you want to operate a racetrack?  Stick to racing!’ he told us.  You know how kids are, so here we sit poised for season 29. Miley Motor Sports founder, Red Miley, now sits in the grandstands above with Dad, and a whole host of great racing folks that we have lost too early.”

The Super Late Model portion of the Red Miley Rumble on opening night will feature a sanctioned event for the ULMS.  ULMS will make a second visit for the Fifth Annual DIEHL Automotive Herb Scott Championship on June 17.  These two events will also be ULMS vs. UFO DIEHL challenge races.  Additional UFO DIEHL special events will take place on July 15 and August 26.  A total of 13 point racing events are scheduled for the Super Late Model class as DIEHL Automotive returns as the divisional title sponsor.

The diverse 2017 season schedule features a number of special events, highlighted by the season ending 29th Annual Pittsburgher 100 featuring the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, the Bill Hendren Memorial for the Sweeney Chevrolet RUSH Dirt Late Model Series, and the Cruise America PENNational for the Homak Manufacturing Penn/Ohio Pro Stock Series, taking place on Friday and Saturday, October 6 and 7.

Numerous sprint car races take place during the 2017 season.  The 410 Outlaw Winged Sprints will make four visits, highlighted by Tony Stewart’s Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions Winged Sprints, presented by Falconi’s Moon Township Automotive, on Saturday, July 22.  Other visits by the fastest cars on dirt will take place on May 20, June 10, and September 2.  The Rick’s Trucks and Equipment BOSS Sprint Series, featuring the traditional non-winged sprints will make their annual visit on July 1 to highlight Dollar Dog night, presented by Berks/Nickles.  The limited sprints of the Alternative Power Sources Allegheny Sprint Tour will make four visits, on May 6, May 27, July 29, and September 16.

The RUSH Late Models are busy in 2017, as they will be in competition during every racing program.  The highlight of their season will be the August 12 running of the 28th Annual Jook George Steel City Classic.  The division will also compete in a series of Sizzler events, which starts on K&N Air Filters/ Hoosier Racing Tire Champions Night on May 13.  Other Sizzler events will be on the July 22 Falconi’s Moon Township Automotive Night, July 29, September 16.

The Northeast Style Big Block Modifieds returned to PPMS last season for a single race after a three-year absence.  This season, that total will be tripled, as they make three visits in 2017.  They will be a part of the Herb Scott Championship on June 17.  They are also scheduled for July 15, and on September 16 for the running of “Modasaurus X.”  Their crate engine powered cousins, the RUSH Modifieds, will visit six times this coming season, with scheduled dates on May 20, June 17, July 15, July 22, September 23, and September 30.  The vintage modifieds also have a date, a September 9 visit by the CarSmile Wiper Blades “Thunder on the Dirt” Vintage Racing Series.

The biggest race of the season for the Sportsman division will take place on Saturday, June 3, featuring the Sixth Annual Ed Laboon Memorial.  This race will be sanctioned by the Homak Manufacturing Penn Ohio Pro Stock Series, as will the Wee Willie White Sportsman Showdown on August 5, and the season-ending Cruise America PENNational event on October 6-7.
The Hobby Stock class will return for the 2017 season, as will the Young Gun division for teenage drivers.  New for 2017 will be a standard Four Cylinder division, with cars similar to the Young Gun division, but competition will be open to all drivers.
“The best regional series and the National Lucas Oil Series should keep Dad and Red busy watching us this season,” Matt concluded.  “We hope that you join us for the ride at ‘Dirt’s Monster Half Mile’ in 2017!  Miley Motor Sports would like to thank everybody involved in the sport that make Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway the place to be for racing on Saturday night.  We simply could not do it without the support of our fans, racers, sponsors, media, and staff.  Thank you.”
For all racing programs, the gates open at 5:00, with warm-ups at 6:00 and racing at 7:00.  Follow us on Facebook at @PAMotorSpeedway or on Twitter at @PAMotorSpeedway for timely information updates.  The track is located west of the city of Pittsburgh, just south of the Noblestown exit of U.S. Route 22, or 170 Kelso Road in Imperial, PA, for GPS purposes.  The track phone is 724-695-3363 on race days, or call 412-279-RACE.  For complete information please visit the track website at www.ppms.com.

2017 PPMS Schedule of Events
Saturday, April 29, 2017 – 2017 Blastoff Season Opener, featuring the 11th Annual Red Miley Rumble, ULMS vs. UFO DIEHL Super Late Models, plus RUSH Late Models, Sportsman, Hobby Stocks, Young Guns, Open Fours.  First night for 2017 track points.

Saturday, May 6, 2017 – “Action Event” with DIEHL Automotive Super Late Models, RUSH Late Models, Sportsman, Hobby Stocks, Young Guns, Open Fours.  As an added attraction, the Alternative Power Sources Allegheny Sprint Tour.

Saturday, May 13, 2017 – “Action Event” as K&N Air Filters presents Hoosier Racing Tire Champions Night, featuring the Spring Sizzler for RUSH Late Models, plus DIEHL Automotive Super Late Models, Sportsman, Hobby Stocks, Young Guns, Open Fours, Pittsburgh Circle Track Club Night.

Saturday, May 20, 2017 – 410 Outlaw Winged Sprints plus DIEHL Automotive Super Late Models, RUSH Late Models, Sportsman, plus RUSH Modifieds.

Saturday, May 27, 2017 – DIEHL Automotive Night featuring an “Action Event” with Driver Autograph Night.  DIEHL Automotive Super Late Models, RUSH Late Models, Sportsman, Hobby Stocks, Young Guns, Open Fours.  As an added attraction, the Alternative Power Sources Allegheny Sprint Tour.

Saturday, June 3, 2017 – “Action Event” featuring the Sixth Annual Ed Laboon Memorial for the Homak Manufacturing Penn Ohio Pro Stock Series for Sportsman, plus RUSH Late Models, Hobby Stocks, Young Guns, Open Fours.

Saturday, June 10, 2017 – 410 Outlaw Winged Sprints plus DIEHL Automotive Super Late Models, RUSH Late Models, Sportsman, Hobby Stocks, Young Guns, Open Fours.

Saturday, June 17, 2017 – The Fifth Annual Herb Scott Championship, featuring the ULMS vs. UFO DIEHL Super Late Models, plus Big Block Modifieds, RUSH Late Models, Sportsman, and RUSH Modifieds.

Saturday, June 24, 2017 – No racing, PPMS Employees June Vacation.

Saturday, July 1, 2017 – Berks/Nickles presents Dollar Dog Night featuring the Rick’s Trucks and Equipment BOSS Sprint Series for traditional non-winged sprints, plus RUSH Late Models, Sportsman, Hobby Stocks, Young Guns, Open Fours, Twin State Auto Racing Club Night.

Saturday, July 8, 2017 – Lantern Fest, no racing.

Saturday, July 15, 2017 – UFO DIEHL Super Late Model special, plus Big Block Modifieds, RUSH Late Models, Sportsman, and RUSH Modifieds.

Saturday, July 22, 2017 – Tony Stewart’s Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions Winged Sprints, presented by Falconi’s Moon Township Automotive, plus a Sizzler Series event for the RUSH Late Models, and RUSH Modifieds.

Saturday, July 29, 2017 – “Action Event” with the Alternative Power Sources RaceSaver Sprints, plus DIEHL Automotive Super Late Models, and a Sizzler Event for the RUSH Late Models, plus Sportsman, Hobby Stocks, Young Guns, Open Fours.

Saturday, August 5, 2017 – “Action Event” featuring the Wee Willie White Sportsman Showdown for the Homak Manufacturing Penn Ohio Pro Stock Series for Sportsman, plus DIEHL Automotive Super Late Models, RUSH Late Models, Hobby Stocks, Young Guns, Open Fours.

Saturday, August 12, 2017 – The 28th Annual Jook George Steel City Classic for RUSH Late Models, plus DIEHL Automotive Super Late Models and Sportsman.

Saturday, August 19, 2017 – No racing, PPMS Employees August Vacation.

Saturday, August 26, 2017 –UFO DIEHL Super Late Model special, plus RUSH Late Models, Sportsman, Hobby Stocks, Young Guns, Open Fours.

Saturday, September 2, 2017 – 410 Outlaw Winged Sprints, plus RUSH Late Models, Sportsman, Hobby Stocks, Young Guns, Open Fours.

Saturday, September 9, 2017 – “Action Event” with RUSH Late Models, Sportsman, Hobby Stocks, Young Guns, Open Fours, plus the CarSmile Wiper Blades “Thunder on the Dirt” Vintage Racing Series.

Saturday, September 16, 2017 – Modasaures X featuring the Big Block Modifieds, with a Sizzler Event for the RUSH Late Models, plus Hobby Stocks, Young Guns, Open Fours.

Saturday, September 23, 2017 – “Action Event” with RUSH Late Models, Sportsman, Hobby Stocks, Young Guns, Open Fours, plus RUSH Modifieds.

Saturday, September 30, 2017 – “Action Event” with the final point race for 2017, featuring the Tune Up 20 for DIEHL Automotive Super Late Models, plus RUSH Late Models, Sportsman, Hobby Stocks, Young Guns, Open Fours.  As an added attraction, RUSH Modifieds.

Friday, October 6, 2017 – Qualifying events for the $20,000 to win 29th Annual Pittsburgher 100 featuring the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, plus the Bill Hendren Memorial for the Sweeney Chevrolet RUSH Dirt Late Model Series, and the Cruise America PENNational for the Homak Manufacturing Penn/Ohio Pro Stock Series.

Saturday, October 7, 2017 – The $20,000 to win 29th Annual Pittsburgher 100 featuring the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, plus the Bill Hendren Memorial for the Sweeney Chevrolet RUSH Dirt Late Model Series, and the Cruise America PENNational for the Homak Manufacturing Penn/Ohio Pro Stock Series.

Sources: Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway PR