Melvin L. Joseph Memorial Kicks Off 2019 Northeast Modified Season at Georgetown Speedway March 15-16

Melvin L. Joseph Memorial Kicks Off 2019 Northeast Modified Season at Georgetown Speedway March 15-16

Story By: Brett Deyo/SSTS

Photos By: Pete MacDonald/RacersGuide.com

GEORGETOWN, DE – For the fourth consecutive season, Delaware’s Georgetown Speedway is set to kick off the Northeast dirt Modified schedule in 2019.

The historic half-mile oval will host the Melvin L. Joseph Memorial Weekend in remembrance of the speedway’s founder on Friday-Saturday March 15-16, 2019. Two exciting days of racing will help to cure the winter doldrums of race fans and competitors alike.

Friday night’s (March 15) program will be headlined by Small-Block Modifieds racing for $4,049 to win in a 30-lap event. Also on the card will be RUSH Late Models (20 laps, $1,049 to win), Delmarva Chargers and Delaware Super Trucks. Track time will be allotted for Modified and Sportsman teams planning to compete on Saturday.

The second day (March 16) of the Melvin L. Joseph Memorial is topped by the 49-lap, $6,949-to-win opener for the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco Velocita-USA South Region, with the ground-pounding STSS big-block/small-block Modifieds assembling a talented field.

The Melvin L. Joseph Memorial list of STSS Modified victors has become a ‘who’s-who’ of Modified talent. The first edition in 2016 saw Anthony Perrego of Montgomery, N.Y., drive Gary Mann’s New York Truck Parts No. 55 to the win. A year later, it was the ‘Sensational’ Jimmy Horton of Neshanic Station, N.J., aboard the Halmar International No. 43 in Victory Lane.

Last year’s event was an epic back-and-forth battle for the win. Ultimately, Boyertown, Pa.’s Ryan Watt edged ‘Super Matt’ Sheppard to bring home the ’18 top prize.

Round No. 1 of the STSS L&J Sheet Metal Crate 602 Sportsman South Region will offer a $1,049 winner’s share on Saturday. Also on the docket will be 12-lap features only for the Southern Delaware Vintage Stock Cars, Little Lincolns, Delmarva Chargers and Delaware Super Trucks.

The event honors the memory of Melvin L. Joseph, the founder of Georgetown Speedway and a Sussex County business icon who was also a pioneer in the NASCAR community as a car owner and builder of Dover (Del.) International Speedway. Mr. Joseph passed away in 2005 but his legacy continues.

Mr. Joseph’s family will be present at the event and his lucky number ‘49’ will be prominent throughout the day.

Complete pricing for the weekend is forthcoming. Two-day passes will be available for both the pit and grandstand areas.

Preceding the Melvin L. Joseph Memorial will be an open practice session on Saturday, March 9 with a rain date of March 10.

A complete ’19 Georgetown schedule is in its final stages of completion and will be released shortly.

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).

2018 Melvin L. Joseph Memorial Winners
Short Track Super Series Modified: Ryan Watt
Small-Block Modified: Craig Von Dohren
Short Track Super Series Crate 602 Sportsman: Alex Yankowski
RUSH Late Model: Amanda Whaley
Southern Delaware Vintage Stock Car: C.J. Schirmer
Little Lincoln: Kirk Lawson
Delaware Super Truck: Dale Elliott (Saturday) & Noah Vincent (Friday)
Delmarva Charger: Chris ‘Tippy’ Martinez (Saturday) & Tanner Marvel (Friday)

2017 Melvin L. Joseph Memorial Winners
Short Track Super Series Modified: Jimmy Horton
L&J Sheet Metal Crate 602 Sportsman: Scott Hitchens
Southern Delaware Vintage Stock Car: C.J. Schirmer
Little Lincoln: Joe Tracy
Delaware Super Truck: Shane Clogg
Delmarva Charger: Jerry Barker

2016 Melvin L. Joseph Memorial Winners
Short Track Super Series Modified: Anthony Perrego
L&J Sheet Metal Crate 602 Sportsman: Brandon Grosso
Southern Delaware Vintage Stock Car: Dwayne Heck
Little Lincoln: Mel Joseph Jr.
Delaware Super Truck: Robert Reed
Delmarva Charger: Geoff Carey