STRONGSTOWN, PA– Friday, May 30, Dog Hollow Speedway presents the Shawn “Sheetz” McGarvey Memorial for the Super Late Models. The 40-lap event will pay $2500 to win and $125 to take the green.
This year’s race will be different from the past McGarvey races. Previously the memorial was a one on one match race shootout until just two cars were left. New promoter Dan Savino decided to make it a 40 lap feature to honor the all-time leading feature winner at the track. A few “outsiders” are expected to make a visit to the Strongstown oval to take a crack at winning the extra money being put up.
Shawn McGarvey had at total of 49 feature wins at the track. Forty-Three of them came in the Limited Late Model division. The closest competitor has 13. Shawn also had 6 Super Late Model wins there.
McGarvey lost his life in a work related accident in 2009. He was the defending Late Model point champion at Dog Hollow Speedway when the accident occurred. He started his career on July 13, 1993 on the asphalt at Clearfield Speedway. He then switched to dirt racing, where he found his niche and he started winning races. At the time of his death he had 138 career feature wins to the credit at speedways across Centre Pennsylvania. He wasn’t afraid to try a new track, and he never feared the competition.
McGarvey drove the famous #8P. The 8 was on the asphalt car when he purchased it, the P was added for his wife, Patty. They share one daughter, Kelli.
The nickname Sheetz, which was what he was by far best known as, came from his love for eating at the Central PA Convenience stores.
McGarvey has collected wins at Hidden Valley Speedway (now America’s Motorsports Park), Dog Hollow Speedway, Central PA Speedway (now CNB Bank Raceway Park), Thunder Valley Raceway, Ebensburg Speedway, and many others.
He also earned seven point championships, including two duel championships. Titles include: 2001-Dog Hollow; 2003 Dog Hollow and Thunder Valley; 2005 Central PA Speedway and Thunder Valley; 2006, Thunder Valley and 2008 Dog Hollow.
Other major accomplishments McGarvey achieved in his career include: Walt Wimers Dirt Late Model Calvalcade champion in 2001, 2003 and 2005; Valvoline Cup Dirt Late Model National Champion, 2005; Yankee Doodle 50 Champion in 2005; Western Maryland Nationals Winner at The Rock Speedway in 2005; Steel Block Nationals Champion at Central PA Speedway in 2008 and as mentioned earlier the career leading feature winner at DHS.
PURSE: 1 - $2500, 2 - $1200, 3 - $800, 4 - $500, 5 - 380, 6 - $350, 7 - $300, 8 - $250, 9 - 224, 10 - $200, 11 - 175, 12 - 160, 13 - 150, 14 - $135, 15 - $130, 16-24 - $125.
Hot laps begin at 7PM with racing at 7:30PM. Gates open at 5:30. In addition to the Townsend Gas & Oil Shawn “Sheets” McGarvey Memorial, the Lias Tire FASTRAK Crate Late Models, Pure Stocks and FWD 4 Cylinders will also be in competition.
