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Port Royal Speedway is set to return to racing Wednesday, June 30th and Saturday, July 3rd as part of the 31st Annual Pennsylvania Speedweek presented by Red Robin Racing. This year’s ten-race schedule will visit seven different speedways in Pennsylvania and Maryland and features an increased point fund for drivers who support all ten events.

The point fund will pay out a total of $20,700; 1. $6000 2, $3000 3. $2000 4. $1500 5. $1200 and $1000 for the next seven competitors. This is all on top of the nightly purses

Specific to the Port Royal Speedway, Wednesday’s time trial event will pay $7000 to the winner of the Weikert’s Livestock 410 Sprint car feature and the United Racing Club 360 Sprint Cars will also be on the schedule racing for $2000. Courtesy of Mike Cleck Paving & Sealcoating, Inc. heat races will all pay $250 to win. If there is less than four heats, the B-main will also pay $250 to win.

Jeff Halligan won the last feature event at the Speedway on June 16th and he will be looking for his first career Speedweek victory on Wednesday. Three-time defending track champion Logan Wagner enters the week as the points leader with Dylan Cisney in second and trailing by 250 points. Mike Wagner (-260), Halligan (-335) and Gerrard McIntyre (-865) complete the top-five.

Anthony Macri picked up last year’s URC feature win along with the 410 portion of the show. Jason Shultz earned the most recent series victory at the Speedway back in April and he will be looking to defend his victory this year. Ryan Smith, Kyle Reinhardt, Brock Zearfoss, Steve Buckwalter, Lucas Wolfe, Greg Hodnett (2), Mark Smith, Randy West, Ryan Wilson, Earl Halaquist and Hank Rogers Sr. are also past URC winners at the Speedway. The last 10 URC feature events have between won by 410 drivers running double duty.

Gates open at 4:30 pm EST and racing is set to kick off at 7:30pm EST.

General Admission- $20, Students- $10, Pits- $35

Saturday’s event will once again honor the late Greg Hodnett for the third consecutive season as it will be the Greg Hodnett Classic paying $10,000 to the winner. Not only is this the second highest paying event on the nine-day schedule, but it also serves as the next to last event of the series heading into the championship crowning race at Selinsgrove Speedway July 4th. Kyle Larson picked up the victory last year during the event enroot to his first Speedweek championship.

Also, on the card for the night will be the River Valley Builders Super Late Models racing for $3000. Austin Berry won the last Super Late Model event for his first career victory at the Speedway. Dylan Yoder currently leads the standings by just 5 points over Gary Stuhler with Ross Robinson (-35), Colton Flinner (-90) and Tyler Bare (-145) rounding out the top five.

The event will once again be an all-day affair as several activities are planned to honor Hodnett and to benefit to The The Greg Hodnett Foundation, which was established to honor the memory of Hodnett and benefits the families of drivers who may pass away racing.

Activities will kick off at 9:00am EST with the 3rd Annual Greg Hodnett Foundation 5k run/walk. Race-day registration is at 8:00am and there is a $35 registration fee or $30 pre-registration at http://www.greghodnettfoundation.com. Prizes will be awarded to the top three male and female winners per age group and the top overall male and female.

In addition to the 5k, there will be a Cornhole tournament presented by Mid Penn Cornhole to benefit the foundation and the cost/person to register is $20. Partners will be random selection and registration starts at 10:30am, with the tournament schedule to begin at 11:45am. Cash prizes will be handed out to the top three teams and thanks to sponsors, features at least $300 in payouts. For more information, check out https://fb.me/e/ctkCxO65w

Finally, there will also be an auction featuring several pieces of memorabilia and various donated items to benefit the foundation. Hodnett’s car owner, Mike Heffner, will host the auction and they are continuing to accept donations up until the day of the event. There will also be a table with merchandise for sale to include the brand-new Greg Hodnett Memorial shirts and brand-new mini wing panels. The auction is set to begin at 4:45 and end at 5:45. You will need an event ticket to attend the auction.

Saturday- Gates Open at 4:30 with Racing Set to Begin at 7:30 pm.

General Admission- $25, Students- $10, Pits $35

Pennsylvania Speedweek has been a yearly tradition at the Junita County Speedway dating back to 1998, where Jeff Shepard picked up the first victory. Other winners include Lance Dewease (4), Don Kreitz Jr., Keith Kauffman (4), Mark Smith, Todd Shaffer, Fred Rahmer, Cody Darrah, Greg Hodnett (3), Justin Henderson, Tyler Walker, Blaine Heimbach, Lucas Wolfe (4), Steve Buckwalter, Danny Dietrich, Anthony Macri and Kyle Larson.

Kyle Larson enters the week as the defending speedweek champion and is expected to be in attendance for a handful of events this season. Other past champions include Fred Rahmer (12), Greg Hodnett (5), Lucas Wolfe (4), Dewease (3), Kauffman, Steve Smith, Stevie Smith and Dietrich.

For those unable to attend, both nights of racing are available on FloRacing via PPV. For more information visit http://www.floracing.com.

For more stories of interest to Mifflin and Juniata Countians, click here.