We took in the season opener of the 2008 Dart Race of Champions Modified Series at Selinsgrove Speedway a few weeks ago and came away impressed.
Now before I get lots of letters telling me the Dart RoC Series “doesn’t visit the track where I live,” this isn’t what this column is about. This column is about the great, side-by-side racing presented weekly at your local short track.
Selinsgrove’s history dates back to 1945 when Hollywood stunt man and racer Joie Chitwood designed the half-mile oval. The track held its first race, promoted by Sam Nunis, on July 20, 1946. Bill Holland, who later won the 1949 Indianapolis 500, won the 20-lap event in front of a packed house. Chris Economaki was the announcer for that first race at the half-mile dirt track.
Many other promoters helped make Selinsgrove what it is today, including Buster Keller, Bob Richwine and the legendary Jack Gunn, the latter who receives credit for introducing me “up close and personal” to the “Pa. Posse” form of sprint-car racing.
As for the present-day Dart RoC Series, this group travels in the New York-Pennsylvania area, so chances are many reading this column won’t get a chance to see these great drivers do battle in their big-block modifieds.
However, I’ll bet there is a major series that visits your local track, be it World Of Outlaws, Lucas Oil Dirt Late Models, Hooters Pro Cup, USAC or one of numerous other traveling shows. So, whatever your local track’s fancy is, there’s a lot awaiting short-track fans even if you just take in a regular weekly program, be it street stocks, late models, sprints, legends or what have you.  
The RoC Selinsgrove show, meanwhile, attracted 43 modifieds to sprint car-laden Pennsylvania, proving if an event is handled properly (including a decent purse, a long list of contingency sponsors and a professional marketing program aimed at putting people in the seats), short-track racing still works regardless of region.
In the pits were drivers like Brett Hearn, who has won more than 700 modified races; Billy Pauch, Sr., still one of the best all-around racers alive today; Jimmy Horton, yes, the one that flipped “out of the ballpark” at Talladega Superspeedway while running NASCAR Winston Cup; and Rick Laubach, who earned $6,900 for winning the 50-lap event.
The best part of this package was an adult admission of only $15, with kids under 12 free. Lots of hot dogs and fries were sold, and drivers who didn’t qualify received tow money to help a little with fuel costs. The show was priced right, and the results spoke for themselves.
Selinsgrove Race Director Joe Kaminski, who admitted bringing modifieds back to Selinsgrove for the first time in 25 years was taking a chance, never wavered on his respect for the division and its potential at what many perceive as a “sprint-car only” track.
“I’ve always loved modifieds, and felt if we did everything right, the fans, sponsors and drivers would respond. Of course, we were blessed with great weather, too, and I thank the man upstairs for that. I also want to thank Selinsgrove promoter, Charlie Paige, who gave me the green light to do this. He believed, too, and his son runs a sprint car, not a modified!”
In summary, a “complete package” approach of advertising, sponsoring, and endorsing still makes short-track racing in America a success.
The lesson?
Short-track racing is far from dead, as Kaminski and Paige proved when they drew a slew of modifieds to Selinsgrove, Pa., in what was pretty much still the dead of winter.
Matter of fact, it snowed the next day. Keep the faith short-track fans, and support your local track.