Mahoning Valley Speedway Press Release: USAC All Pro SpeedSTR’s, ATQMRA, All Star Slingshots Join Stock Car Clan This Saturday Night at Mahoning Valley Speedway

(LEHIGHTON, Pa. 4-21-15) Many consider stock car racing at Mahoning Valley Speedway to be one of the best places to watch paved short track action thanks to the continuous, side-by-side competition.

This coming Saturday night, April 25, Mahoning Valley Speedway fans will get an added dose of that adrenalin rush as the track welcomes the return of the USAC All Pro SpeedSTR’s along with the ATQMRA TQ Midgets and the All Star Slingshots.

Last year the SpeedSTR’s made their Mahoning debut, running two events that saw 2014 Modified track champion Kris Graver annex wins in each event. Both features where nothing short of exhilarating as Graver, who had never so much as sat in a SpeedSTR, shocked the star-studded field of dirt and asphalt standouts in sweeping both mains.

Saturday’s 40-lap race should be no different as this marks the first race of the season for the class and many drivers, including Graver, will be back. He has noted that all of his race winnings will be donated to the Sonny Kovatch Scholarship Foundation.

Also in action will be one of the area’s all-time great short track aces, Kenny Brightbill. Dirt trackers Wayne Weaver, Kyle Lick, Ron Tobias Jr., Tom Iulg and Mike Bednar are in. Also listed on the entry list is former Mahoning Pro 4 champion Steve Nederostek who now runs dirt Late Models at Grandview Speedway. He will be making his SpeedSTR debut.

There will be southern visitors also as Willy Evernham and Danny Bohn have rides lined up.

The race will have plenty of local flare with multi-talented Earl Paules, who is coming off a Modified victory this past Saturday. Paules has won in every type of car he has ever feature raced with at Mahoning and plans to add the SpeedSTR to that list.

2014 Pro 4 champion Nick Baer along with the “Fightin’ Lehighton” Rick Kirkendall have filed entries.

Matt Janisch, who has garnered several Mahoning wins in a TQ Midget, will pilot a brand new SpeedSTR on Saturday night. Afterwards the defending ATQMRA champ will begin his title defense with the time-honored club which also kicks off their season.

Likewise Paules will be running a TQ and doing triple duty with the Modified.

The TQ Midgets have the distinction of being the fastest recorded race cars to ever turn a lap at the speedway as Matt Roselli holds the all-time track record of 8.825 set on September 29, 2012. That is a speed in excess of 101 mph.

The All Star Slingshots will also be part of the action at Mahoning Valley, competing in a Mid-Atlantic Silver Tour event.

Mahoning’s Modifieds, Street Stocks, Pro 4s and Hobby Stocks will be racing. The Late Models and Dirt Mods have the night off.

Special guests include 2015 Miss Motorsports Shelby Harper, 2015 Little Miss Motorsports Jayden Gursky and Keith Gerhart who will sing the National Anthem.

Pit gates open at 12:30. Early paid practice will be held from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. From 4:30 to 5:30 regular warmups will be run.

Grandstands open at 4:00. Adult admission is $20. $2 off admission for students, seniors 65+ and active military. Must have ID. Children 10 years old and under are free.

Upcoming Events:

April 25, USAC All Pro SpeedSTRs + Slingshots + ATQMRA + Mods, SS, P4 & HS…no LM or DM

May 2, All regular track classes

May 9, Central States Modified Gamblers Series race #2 – 100 laps/$3000 to win + all reg. track classes

USAC All Pro SpeedSTR’s, ATQMRA, All Star Slingshots Join Stock Car Clan This Saturday Night at Mahoning Valley Speedway

Additional news can be found on the track’s official site at www.mahoningvalley-speedway.com or on Facebook at Mahoning Valley Speedway and on Twitter at twitter.com/MahoningSpeed. You can also call the track hotline on race day at 570-386-4900.