DirtonDirt.com exclusive
Preview: Appalachian Mountain Speedweek
By Kyle McFadden
DirtonDirt.com staff reporter
Dirt Late Model fans in the Northeast, rejoice. Appalachian Mountain Speedweek makes its well received return after a five-year absence Friday at Clinton County Speedway in Mill Hall, Pa., the opening night of the eight-race miniseries spanning 11 days. DirtonDirt.com plans daily coverage the duration of the event revived by Pennsylvania racing enthusiast Jim Bernheisel, a longtime racer who owns Lazer Chassis while growing more involved as a promoter in recent years. Below is an outline of the miniseries format (lmspeedweek for rules and details; watch live at FloRacing):
Drivers
Many of the Northeast’s familiar drivers and teams are planning a full AMS run, namely Indiana, Pa.’s Gregg Satterlee — the 18th-ranked driver in DirtonDirt.com’s final Top 25 rankings last season — and National Dirt Late Model Hall of Famer Rick Eckert of York, Pa.
Austin Berry, Andrew Yoder, Bryan Bernheisel, Dan Stone, Dillan Stake, Dylan Yoder, Jason Covert, Jeff Rine, Justin Weaver and Tyler Emory are among others expected to compete in all eight events.
Among other drivers likely to make miniseries appearances: Alex Ferree, Brett Schadel, Brian Booze, Coleby Frye, Colton Flinner, Cory Lawler, Dan Angelicchio, Dave Stamm, DeShawn Gingerich, Drake Troutman, Gary Stuhler, Eddie Carrier Jr., Hayes Mattern, Jeff Miller, Jim Yoder, Kyle Lee, Matt Sponaugle, Michael Norris, Mike Lupfer, Nathan LaSalle, Nathan Long, Shaun Jones, Spike Moore, Tim Smith Jr., Travis Stickley, Trever Feathers, Tyler Hershey and Tyler Horst.
Schedule
Clinton County Speedway, Mill Hall, Pa.
Date: Friday, June 9
Track size: Third-mile
Winner’s purse: $4,000
Previous miniseries winners: None
2023 Super Late Model winners: None
Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway
Date: Saturday, June 10
Winner’s purse: $5,000
Track size: Half-mile
Previous miniseries winners: Jeff Rine (’17), Gregg Satterlee (’15), Gregg Satterlee (’14), Tim McCreadie (’14), Rick Eckert (’13), Matt Parks (’11), Jeremy Miller (’10), Rick Eckert (’09)
2023 Super Late Model winners: Dillan Stake ($4,000 on March 5); Drake Troutman ($4,000 on April 1); Gregg Satterlee ($4,000 on April 8); Michael Norris ($4,000 on May 6); and Rick Eckert ($4,000 on June 3).
Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway
Date: Sunday, June 11
Track size: Half-mile
Winner’s purse: $4,000
Previous miniseries winners: Rick Eckert (’17), Dan Stone (’16), Andy Anderson (’15), Jason Covert (’13), Jamie Lathroum (’12), Jimmy Mars (’11), Jason Covert (’09)
2023 Super Late Model winners: None
Path Valley Speedway, Spring Run, Pa.
Date: Tuesday, June 13
Winner’s purse: $4,000
Track size: Quarter-mile
Previous miniseries winners: Jason Covert (’16)
2023 Super Late Model winners: None
Bedford (Pa.) Speedway
Dates: Thursday, June 15; Friday, June 16
Winner’s purses: $4,000 and $6,092
Track size: 5/8-mile
Previous miniseries winners: Walker Arthur (’17), Nick Dickson (’16), Austin Hubbard (’14), Dan Stone (’11), Coleby Frye (’10) and Josh Richards (’09)
2023 Super Late Model winners: Mason Zeigler ($8,700 on May 5); Dylan Yoder ($5,000 on May 26)
Lincoln Speedway, Abbottstown, Pa.
Date: Saturday, June 17
Winner’s purse: $4,000
Track size: 3/8-mile
Previous miniseries winners: Rick Eckert (’13), Tim McCreadie (’12) and Austin Hubbard (’11)
2023 Super Late Model winners: Kyle Hardy ($3,000 on May 27)
Selinsgrove (Pa.) Speedway
Date: Sunday, June 18
Winner’s purse: $5,000
Track size: Half-mile
Previous miniseries winners: Jeff Rine (’17), Kenny Pettyjohn (’16), Nick Dickson (’10), Jeremy Miller (’09)
2023 Super Late Model winners: Coleby Frye ($4,000 on May 14)
Format and rules
Time trials: Drivers draw pills for qualifying order and three cars are on the track for two laps apiece; With 32 or fewer entries, the quickest eight qualifiers are locked into the main event lineup. With 33 or more entries, the top three from each of two qualifying groups lock into the feature lineup.
Qualifying races: Drivers not locking into the feature through time trials run eight-lap qualifying races. With 32 or fewer entries, two qualifying races transfer six cars apiece; for 33 or more entries, four sies qualifying races will transfer three cars apiece.
Dash: Two-lap timed dashes among the feature lock-ins from qualifying determine the starting lineup at the front of the field. With 32 or fewer entries, first through fourth in qualifying time against each other to determine the first four starting spots, while fifth through eighth in qualifying follow suit to determine the next two rows. In fields of 33 or more cars, the top-three from each group time against each other, with Group A determining the inside row (first, third and fifth) and Group B the outside (second, fourth and sixth).
Consolation races: with 32 or fewer entries, a single eight-lap consy transfers four drivers to the feature. For 33 or more entries, two consies transfer three drivers apiece. (Consies will be 10 laps if the race has 11 or more starters.)
Feature lineups: Fields will be 24 cars with tracks having the option of adding a single provisional starter.
Points fund and structure
• A $5,000 reward awaits the AMS champion, eligible only to drivers entered in all eight events, with payouts of $2,500 and $1,500 to those finishing second and third. Fourth through 10th in miniseries points receive $1,200, $1,000, $900, $800, $600 and $500, respectively.
• Loyalty bonuses of $300 are available for drivers that attempt to qualify for all events but finish outside the top 10 in points. If the champion should run a Lazer Chassis throughout the miniseries, the title payout doubles to $10,000.
• Feature points: 120-100-95-90-85-80-75-70-65-60-55-50-45-35-30-25-20-15-10-5-5-5-5
• Consolation points: 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1
• Heat points (up to 32 cars): 20-18-16-14-12-10
• Heat points (33 or more cars): 20-16-12
• Time trial points (up to 32 cars): 30-28-27-26-25-24-23-22
• Time trial points (33 or more cars): 30-28-27
(Overall fast time receives five bonus points)
