Something Old; Something New for Kutztown Fair Speedway in 2011

News from the Kutztown Fair Speedway







Media Contact: Barry Angstadt: bwa39@comcast.net; 484-256-4429







Something Old; Something New for Kutztown Fair Speedway in 2011







Kutztown, Pa. - When the Kutztown Fair Speedway opens its gates for the 2011 racing season, some traditions will remain while some new wrinkles are added to the Wednesday night programs at the Fairgrounds.



As in past years, the season opener on May 11 will be dedicated to the matriarch of the Meitzler family, as the Goldie Meitzler Memorial takes center stage.



Once again, the weekly format will include qualifying heats, consolations, and 20-lap features for the wingless 600cc and winged 270cc Micro-Sprints. The All Star Slingshots also return to action on the one-fifth mile oval.



New for this year is the debut of the Xcel Sportsman class as a weekly division at Kutztown. The Xcel Sportsman cars are exactly the same as the powerful and highly entertaining Xcel 600 Modifieds, but the Sportsman cars will compete with a restrictor plate on their 600cc engines. While the class was designed for inexperienced drivers, it is also open to all of the Xcel Modified competitors. Many of the touring Xcel 600 teams have declared an interest in competing with a restrictor plate at the fairgrounds on Wednesday nights.



Keeping with the track's traditional slate of events, there will be weekly competition on Wednesday evenings until the end of June, when the speedway takes a two week vacation to make way for the PA German Festival. The fairgrounds will not be racing on June 29 and July 6.



Wild Wednesdays return on July 13 for the first of five shows that lead up to the season ending Fair Week Nationals, when three nights of mud slingin' mayhem highlight the annual Kutztown Fair. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, August 16 - 18, will be highlighted by big races for the wingless 600cc and 270cc Micro-Sprints and the Xcel 600 Modified Tour. The Slingshots, Xcel Sportsman, and Young Guns 390 Junior Sprint Series will also be on the slate during Fair Week, with the exact nights of competition for each class still being finalized. Sponsorship opportunities are available for the Fair Week Nationals; interested parties should contact Kerry Meitzler or Janelle Stump for details.



Special events include a Tour Race for the All Star Slingshots on May 25. That event has been named the Mike O'Pake Memorial in honor of the popular State Senator from Reading who passed away in December of 2010.



A National Tour event for the Junior Slingshots is set for June 22. The Xcel Sportsman class will have the night off as the Junior Slingers kick off their summer slate of touring races.



The traveling HTMA 600 Pro Series presented by NPS Racing Engines is tentatively scheduled to invade the fairgrounds on June 15. The Kutztown Fair Speedway will be sanctioned by the Pro Series in 2011, meaning all drivers who compete in the wingless 600cc Micro-Sprint class at the fairgrounds can earn Pro Series points as well as track points as long as they are registered members of the HTMA 600 Pro Series. The Pro Series Tour event on June 15 will award double points toward the series championship, as well as an increased purse.



Kevin Steele, a 600cc racer from Orwigsburg, has been appointed Kutztown's Race Director for this season. Steele has been an official at the fairgrounds for the past few years, and is eager to assume his new duties.



Barry Angstadt takes over for Brett Deyo as the speedway's announcer/ p.r. person. Angstadt serves in the same position at Lanco's Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway on Saturday nights.



For additional information regarding the 2011 season, or information on race sponsorship, contact Kerry Meitzler at 610-683-8234 or Janelle Stump at racektown@aol.com. Information is also available by visiting the track's website at http://www.kutztownfairspeedway.com/.