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 Danny’s 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 haul” 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 Saturday’s 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.
Sources: Brett Deyo/Georgetown Speedway PR