‘Elite’ March 10-12 Melvin L. Joseph Memorial Serves as Delaware’s Richest Dirt-Track Event
GEORGETOWN, DE – Melvin L. Joseph Memorial, ‘Elite’ edition.
The Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco is set to take over Delaware’s Georgetown Speedway for the 2022 Northeast dirt Modified lid-lifter Thursday-Saturday March 10-12.
The Melvin L. Joseph Memorial at Georgetown Speedway will serve as Round No. 2 of the six-race Halmar International ‘Elite’ Series, as well as the opener to the Hurlock Auto & Speed Supply South Region.
The March staple has been the kickoff to Northeast Modified racing since BD Motorsports Media LLC took over the track’s promotion in 2016. Now, Georgetown Speedway’s season-opening event will be the richest in the history of Delaware dirt-track racing!
The ’22 ‘Melvin L. Joseph Memorial’ will pay $25,000 to win, more than any event in the history of dirt-track racing in the First State. A total STSS Modified purse structure of $80,000 will be up for grabs for the best racers in the Northeast.
The event honors Delaware motorsports and business icon Melvin L. Joseph, who constructed the speedway in 1949 ahead of its March 1950 opener.
The three-day weekend kicks off on Thursday, March 10 with open practice for all divisions. Gates open at 5 p.m. and grandstand admission is FREE, while pit admission is $25 (ages 13 & up), $10 for Kids (ages 6-12), and $2 for Children (ages 5 and under).
Cars will be on-track in rounds from 6:30-9:30 p.m. for practice on Thursday.
Delaware’s biggest dirt-track weekend ever officially gets underway on Friday (March 11).
Friday night is headlined by the PA/NJ Spec small-block Modifieds racing 30 laps for $4,049 to win. Joining the small-block Modified contingent are the RUSH Late Models in a 20-lap main paying $1,049 to the winner.
The Southern Delaware Vintage Stock Cars, Delaware Super Trucks and Delmarva Chargers are also on the Friday night program, participating in 12-lap, feature-only events.
Pit gates will open at 3 p.m. on Friday. Grandstand gates are unlocked at 5 p.m. Hot laps hit the track at 6:20 p.m. and racing begins at 7:15 p.m.
Grandstand Admission will be $25 for Adults, $20 for Seniors (ages 65 & up) and Students (ages 13-17) and $10 for Kids (ages 9-12). Children 8 and under are admitted FREE.
Friday night Pit Admission is $40 (ages 13 & up), $10 for Kids (ages 6-12) and $2 for Children (ages 5 and under).
Saturday (March 12) concludes the Melvin L. Joseph Memorial in spectacular fashion.
The STSS Modifieds take center stage in the 49-lap main event paying $25,000 to win, $1,000 for 16th and $500 to take the green. The “dual-points” event will attract the sport’s top Modified drivers to the historic half-mile oval.
STSS Crate 602 Sportsman join the program for their Belmont’s Garage South Region opener: a 25-lap, $1,549-to-win affair. Delaware Super Trucks and Delmarva Chargers round out the top program 12-lap, feature-only events.
Pit gates open at 1 p.m. and grandstands open at 2 p.m. Cars hit the track at 4 p.m. for hot laps with racing kicking off at 5 p.m.
Grandstand admission is $30 for Adults, $25 for Seniors (ages 65 & up) and Students (ages 13-17), and $10 for Kids (ages 9-12). Children 8 and under are admitted FREE.
Pit admission for the night is $45 (ages 13 and up), $10 for Kids (ages 6-12) and $2 for Children (ages 5 and under).
Sunday (March 13) serves as the weekend rain date.
Grandstand weekend passes are available for the two nights of racing. Weekend grandstand passes are $50 for Adults, $40 for Seniors (ages 65 & up) and Students (ages 13-17) and $15 for Kids (ages 9-12). Children 8 and under are admitted FREE for the weekend.
Pit area two- and three-day passes are also available.
Three-day pit pass prices are $105 (ages 13 & up), $30 for Kids (ages 6-12) and $6 for Children (ages 5 & under).
Pit area two-day passes are $80 (ages 13 & up), $20 for Kids (ages 6-12) and $4 for Children (ages 5 & under).
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.
A website is live for the speedway at www.thegeorgetownspeedway.com. Like Georgetown Speedway on Facebook, follow @thegtownspdwy on Twitter, e-mail georgetownspeedway@gmail.com or contact the speedway hotline at 302.563.GTWN (4896).
To learn more about the Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco, visit www.shorttracksuperseries.com, e-mail bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com, check out ‘Short Track Super Series’ on Facebook or @ShortTrackSS on Twitter or Instagram.
The Short Track Super Series is presented by American Racer/Lias Tire, Sunoco Race Fuel, Insinger Performance, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, Halmar International, River Valley Builders, Hurlock Auto & Speed, Velocita-USA, Design for Vision/Sunglass Central, Belmont’s Garage, Evergreen Fuels Inc., ATL Racing Fuel Cells, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Beyea Custom Headers, Bicknell Racing Products, Dirt Track Digest, EIBACH Springs, Fast Axle, Henry’s Exhaust, Hig Fab, HyperCo, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, Land Hoe Maintenance, K&N, MJK Home Maintenance, Precision Hydraulic & Oil, QA1, Racing Optics, Superior Remodeling, Teo-Pro Car, VAHLCO, Velocita, WELD Racing & Wilwood.
Sources: Chris Moore/Georgetown Speedway PR