NATIONAL OPEN SET FOR TONIGHT OCT, 7 --50,000 TO WIN ON THE LINE AT WILLIAMS GROVE

NATIONAL OPEN SET FOR FRIDAY NIGHT OCTOBER 7--$50,000 TO WIN
MECHANICSBURG, PA--The 49^th annual National Open for sprint cars, rained out on October 1, has been rescheduled for Friday evening, October 7, with qualifying set to begin at 7:30.
The race will be sanctioned by the World of Outlaws and the winner will earn $50,000.
The September 30 World of Outlaws race at Williams Grove drew an impressive field of 53 cars, which represents the high car count of the year at the historic Mechanicsburg half mile, and even more are expected to enter this week’s National Open.
World of Outlaws champion Jason Meyers will enter Friday night’s event as a heavy favorite based on his performances at Williams Grove this season. Meyer, 32, of Clovis, California had been trying for ten years to win a race at the Grove and he finally got it done with a $20,000 score in the Summer Nationals finale in July. He backed up that performance with a wire to wire victory last Friday night and served notice that he is the man to beat for this week’s $50,000 prize.
Former Williams Grove champions Greg Hodnett and Fred Rahmer chased Meyers across the line on Friday and should be in contention again this week. Hodnett won the 2010 National Open. Rahmer, who is the speedway’s career win leader, has never won this event. The 8-time track champion would certainly like to make Pennsylvania’s richest and most prestigious sprint car race his 86^th victory at Williams Grove.
Other drivers, who could be in the hunt this week include Joey Saldana, Sammy Swindell, Steve Kinser, Donny Schatz, Lance Dewease and Daryn Pittman.
Saldana is coming off two recent WoO victories after missing much of the season with serious injuries. He finished fourth last Friday. Swindell won last year’s National Open. Schatz and Kinser are 4-time winners. Dewease is a three-time National winner and is the current point leader at Williams Grove. Pittman owns four victories at the speedway this season including one in World of Outlaws competition and set fast time last Friday.
There will be no 358-sprint racing on October 7. The 358s will return along with the sprint cars on October 14. The 358 feature rained out on September 4 will be added to the October 14 program.