Spring Has Sprung At Delaware’s Georgetown Speedway; Track Prep Work Underway, Clean-Up Continues As Open Practice Looms March 5, Melvin L. Joseph Memorial March 11-12
Story and Photos By: BRETT DEYO / GEORGTOWN SPEEDWAY MEDIA
GEORGETOWN, DE- February 22, 2016- The first “signs of spring” emerged over the weekend at Delaware’s historic Georgetown Speedway.
Lou Johnson, a veteran of track prep in the First State auto racing circles, took to the half-mile oval with a newly purchased grader for the first track preparation activities of 2016. Time is winding down to the open practice session scheduled for Saturday, March 5.
“It’s in good shape,” Johnson said of the speedway’s surface. “Today I was able to get it formed up and work some of the new clay into the corners. I’ll keep on it during the week and next weekend before the 5th.”
Johnson had added clay to the track’s sweeping corners last fall after the lease agreement with BD Motorsports Media LLC and property owners was signed for 2016 and 2017.
The continual ‘clean-up’ process is ongoing at the speedway, with the management team and volunteers spending four consecutive days at the track completing improvements.
“We are making steady progress on the grounds,” promoter Brett Deyo said. “There is no doubt we will be working right through Opening Day, but it was nice to hear comments from many race fans and racers stopping by about how the appearance of the facility has improved.”
Of note to fans, the main parking lot will be utilized for all events in ’16, unlike previous seasons. Access roads were re-graded and widened during the weekend of work at the track.
The first of two open practice sessions takes place on Saturday, March 5. Gates open at 1 p.m. Cars will hit the track at approximately 3 p.m. Pit admission is $20. Grandstand admission is FREE.
The Melvin L. Joseph Memorial Race weekend is set for Friday-Saturday March 11-12.
On Friday (March 11) open practice is planned. Gates open at 4 p.m. with practice at 6:30 p.m. Pit admission is $20 and grandstand admission is FREE.
The grand reopening of the fabled venue is official on Saturday, March 12 with the Melvin L. Joseph Memorial. The Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By VP big-block/small-block Modifieds race 49 laps for $4,900 to win, $1,000 for 10th and $490 to take the green flag. This event is Round No. 1 of the seven-race STSS Velocita South Region with a total point fund of more than $25,000.
Also on the March 12 card: Crate 602 Sportsman, Southern Delaware Vintage Stock Cars, Little Lincolns, Delmarva Chargers and Delaware Super Trucks.
On Saturday (March 12), pit gates open at 11 a.m. and grandstand gates are unlocked at noon. The drivers’ meeting takes place at 2:30 p.m., with hot laps at 3 p.m. and racing at 4 p.m.
Admission is $20 for Adults. Seniors (ages 65 and up) and Students (ages 13-17) pat $16. Kids 9-12 are $10 and those under eight are admitted FREE. Pit admission is $35 (ages 13 and up), $10 for Kids 6-12 and $2 for those five and under.
A Sunday, March 13 rain date for the Melvin L. Joseph Memorial will be utilized if needed.
The Melvin L. Joseph Memorial is the first of seven unique events planned for Georgetown Speedway during the upcoming season.
Georgetown Speedway, originally constructed by Melvin L. Joseph in 1950, 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 new website is online for the speedway at www.thegeorgetownspeedway.com. Visit Georgetown Speedway on Facebook, e-mail georgetownspeedway@gmail.com or contact Brett Deyo at 845.728.2781 during business hours for more information.
