Jennerstown Speedway has announced its 2007 racing schedule, highlighting a greater emphasis on weekly racing and a plan to place local competitors in the spotlight at the Somerset County half-mile paved oval.
“In addition to dropping our NASCAR sanctioning agreement this season, we have also decided to scale back the number of outside touring series events we present, †said track General Manager Larry Mattingly. “The plan is to promote our weekly events and local drivers to a greater degree.
“The face of the sport is changing, †he said. “In the past bringing in outside touring groups translated into big crowds and increased revenue for the speedway. Those days appear to be gone. Attendance has hit a plateau, while the cost of staging the races has gone through the roof. The potential profit margin just doesn’t make it worthwhile to take the risk anymore. â€
Gone from the 2007 schedule are two traditional United Speed Alliance Racing Hooters ProCup races, along with events for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and ASA Late Model Series.
At the forefront this year are two 100-lap Mid-Atlantic Asphalt Racing Alliance (MAARA) super late model races on June 16 and August 4. “MAARA is a co-operative effort between six tracks in the western Pa and New York regions, †Mattingly said. “By hosting our own self-branded races we are essentially promoting our own weekly drivers and giving them the opportunity to run for increased prize money. â€
Also on the schedule is a return appearance of the winged, open-wheel International Super Modified Association (ISMA) cars. The ‘world’s fastest short-track cars’ will compete in twin 30-lap feature events on July 7. “We kept the ISMA series because of the unique aspect of the cars, †said Mattingly “Jennerstown is the only track in Pennsylvania where you can see these cars race. It should also be noted that this series has continued to show growth at the box office. Our ISMA ticket pre-sale last year was significantly higher than for any other touring event. â€
The third annual NASCAR drivers ‘Race of Champions’, featuring stars from the Nextel Cup Series racing in exhibition, will be held on Aug. 11. NASCAR super stars Ken Schrader, Sterling Marlin, Matt Kenseth, Kasey Kahne, Kenny Wallace, Martin Truex Jr., Greg Biffle and Dale Earnhardt Jr. have appeared in the event the past two seasons.
A total of 16-events are on the 2007 event slate, with opening day set for Saturday May 26. Two open practice sessions will be held on May 12 and May 19.
Mattingly also announced that the open-wheel modified class that competes weekly at the Motordrome Speedway (Smithton) will race five times at Jennerstown during the 2007 season.
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