Five Mile Point and Penn Can Speedway Continue to Partner to Benefit the Race Teams and Fans in 2016
Story By: ANDREW HARPELL / FMP SPEEDWAY MEDIA Photos By: DUANE CANFIELD / RACERSGUIDE.COM
BINGHAMTON, NY- March 3, 2016- The partnership between Five Mile Point Speedway (NY) and Penn Can Speedway (PA) continues to build with area race teams and fans expected to benefit greatly from the joint working relationship in 2016. The latest confirmation will see all weekly feature winners at the two facilities receiving season long bonuses.
Feature winners in all divisions competing at both facilities will earn free pit passes to the other track each weekend beginning Friday, April 29th. Any driver that wins a feature event at Penn Can Speedway on Friday nights throughout the season will receive three free pit passes to Five Mile Point Speedway that same weekend. The Saturday night feature winners at Five Mile Point Speedway will receive three free pit passes to Penn Can Speedway for the following Friday’s racing card. This program will run through the regular point season at the two popular ovals.
The two facilities have a long history of drivers and fans making the short 20 minute drive to attend racing on both Friday and Saturday nights. In the 80’s and 90’s the rivalries of drivers like Chuck Akulis, Mike Colsten and Carl Nagel in the Modified division and Randy Decker, Jim Gabriel Jr. and Harry Marvin in the Street Stock classes provided fans with thrills on back to back night’s all summer long. Since that time different tire and spec. rules prevented teams from having that opportunity. That has now all changed.
Earlier this off-season Five Mile Point Speedway announced their full commitment to the 602 Crate Sportsman division which Penn Can Speedway had been running for several years. Last week it was officially announced that the Modified and Sportsman divisions at both facilities will compete on the same American Racer Tires.
It was also announced at the Mike & Michelle Stolarcyk Cars and Trucks Southern Tier Speedworld Mall Show last week that the STAR Series will make a return in 2016. New Skyline Raceway Park owner Dean Catlin has teamed up with Andrew and Dan Harpell at Five Mile Point Speedway and Penn Can Speedway for the three track mini series featuring all weekly classes. An official announcement with more information will be released shortly.
Once again this season both Five Mile Point Speedway and Penn Can Speedway will be key members of the $150,000 American Racer Cup program in the Modified and Crate Sportsman divisions. Both tracks have been charter partners of the American Racer Cup program since its inception seven years ago. That commitment just follows the path of the recent announcement that involves all of the weekly teams, not just the Modified and Sportsman competitors.
Five Mile Point Speedway owner Andrew Harpell commented, “Our partnership for 2016 will be huge for the area race teams. This joint effort is more than just about the Modified and Crate Sportsman divisions it will help all of the weekly drivers. We feel that we are looking out for all of the divisions with our plans moving forward this season.” Penn Can Speedway Track Operator Dan Harpell remarked, “We plan to build on the rich history of the two tracks and are very excited from the early feedback from area race teams that will benefit from our partnership this season.”
Penn Can Speedway will swing open their gates on Saturday, March 26th with the March Madness event for Street Stocks, Factory Stocks and 4 Cylinders. The 66th consecutive Five Mile Point Speedway season opener is set for Sunday, April 3rd highlighted by a $1,200 to win Open vs. Crate Sportsman event and a Crate Late Model Open.
For more information on the racing at Five Mile Point Speedway please phone 607-775-5555 or log on to www.5milepointspeedway.com. For additional information on the racing at Penn Can Speedway please phone the winter offices at 607-296-4265. You can also log on to www.penncan.com for more information.
