Tri-City Raceway Park

Both pit and grandsand gates will open at 1:00PM and racing will begin at 4:00PM.

It has been four years since the last motorsports event was held at Tri-City Raceway Park but that will change on Sunday, July 26th, as race cars will return to the speedway for the 2015 Opening Night Spectacular featuring the Atkinson Fire Safety BRP Modified Tour, Hilltop Hardwood 410 Sprints, R.K. Virgile and Ultra GRAPHIX sponsored 305 Sprints and the Joy Global UEMS E-Mods.  

Tri-City Raceway Park numerology fanatics should also note that this is our third attempt at getting the 2015 Season Opener on the books.  In addition we have weathered two rainouts (May 17th and June 21st).  We are looking forward to Opening Night (July 26th) with great anticipation as we begin a new era at Tri-City Raceway Park.

"The support we have received from the local community as well as race fans and teams throughout Western PA and Eastern OH has been overwhelming," stated Chad Wagner, the speedway's Director of Operations.  "The weather certainly hasn't been on our side but that has not dulled the enthusiasm of the race teams and the fans.  We are definitely looking forward to welcoming everyone back to the track on Sunday."

The July 26th program will feature a $5,000 to win Modified Tour'15 main event.  "The DIRT Modifieds always put on an excellent show.  They were one of the speedway's premier divisions in the 1990's and 2000's so we definitely wanted them to headline the 2015 opener," stated Wagner.

The 40 lap main event, sponsored by Atkinson Fire Safety, has drawn interest from DIRT teams in New York and New Jersey and they will certainly provide the Mod Tour regulars with quite a challenge.  Defending Mod Tour Champion Rex King, Jr. has already scored victories at Lernerville Speedway (Sarver, PA) and Sharon Speedway (Hartford, OH) and would definitely enjoy winning this week's main event.  In addition to King, Jr., local favorite Jeremiah Shingledecker (Polk, PA) is also looking to pick up the win.  Shingledecker has struggled thus far in 2015 and will be looking to 'turn his season around' on Sunday.  Rex King, Sr., Mat Williamson, Kevin Hoffman, Dave Murdick, Brad Rapp and Garrett Krummert are among the Modified contenders expected to be in action.  Jim Weller, Jr., the winner of the Big Block Modified portion of the Lou Blaney Memorial that was held at Sharon Speedway on July 11th is guaranteed a starting spot in this Sunday's main event.

The 410 Sprints have also been a staple at the speedway and they will also be in action this Sunday.  They will battle in a 25 lap main event paying $2,000.00 to win.  Veterans Ed Lynch, Jr. and Rod George are quite familiar with the speedway and visited victory lane on many occasions when the division saw action each week; both are expected to be in action this weekend.  Carl Bowser, Eric Williams, Dan Kuriger, Scott Priester and Jack Sodeman, Jr. are also among those expected to challenge for the victory. 

In addition there are plenty of new faces just waiting to make their debut in the Tri-City Raceway Park Victory Lane.  Recent Penn State graduate A.J. Flick will be looking to make his first ever laps in a Sprint Car at the speedway.  Flick, a graduate of the Pro-Stock division, is a third generation racer who scored his first ever victory in an open wheel car on June 5th at the Lernerville Speedway.  Other "Young Guns" expected to join in the chase for the victory include Sye Lynch, Brandon Spithaler, Brandon Matus and Zach Morrow.

The UEMS E-Mod Series will also battle at the Tri-City Raceway Park on Sunday.  Like the Big Block Mods the E-Mods always put on an excellent show at the Venango County oval.  The 25 lap main event, sponsored by Joy Global, will pay $1,000 to win and $100 to start.  Carl McKinney and Shawn Shingledecker are two veterans who are quite familiar with the Dempseytown oval and both will be looking to visit Victory Lane on Sunday.  Vic Vena, Steve Dixon, Dan Davies, Evan and Jonathan Taylor and Joel Watson are also expected to be in action this weekend.

The Outlaw Sprint Warriors will round out this weekend's racing action.  The division, which competes weekly at the Mercer Raceway Park, is one of the most competitive in the tri-state area.  Cody Bova, George Hobaugh, C.J. Jones, Evan Kornbau, Mike Marano II, Darin Gallagher and Kotie Kirkbride are just a few of the MRP regulars expected to battle for the $800.00 first place prize money.  Competitors should note that Mercer Raceway Park's rules for the division will be enforced. 

Race fans should also note that this Sunday is "Christmas in July" at the speedway.  "We will have free gifts for the first 1,500 fans attending.  Santa Claus will also have a few toys for the children in attendance," continued Wagner.  Adult race fans should also note that ticket packages for the World of Outlaws Labor Day Weekend at Lernerville Speedway, Sharon Speedway's Apple Festival Nationals and the McKean County Raceway's Fall Classic will also be given away.  

Due to feedback that the Tri-City Raceway Park management has received from drivers, teams and fans who attended Saturday night racing events at several area speedways that are now closed, we will have an announcement next week on a special Saturday night racing program for these divisions.

Pit gates for Sunday's event will open at 3:00PM with General Admission gates opening at 4:00PM.  Hot laps will begin at 5:15PM and the racing action will begin promptly at 6:00PM.

Grandstand Admission for Adults 18 and over is $15.00; Students (13 through 17) $5.00 and Children 12 and Under are Free.  A Family Pass which includes Two Adults and a maximum of four students is $35.00.  Pit Admission is $30.00.

Drivers are reminded that Raceivers and AMB transponders are mandatory.  In addition there will be a Mandatory Drivers Meeting at 5:00PM and the Pill Draw will end at 5:15PM.

Camping is permitted and is free of charge however there are no hookups.

Fans and drivers are also encouraged to sign up for raceday weather alerts by clicking on the "Rained Out" logo on the speedway website, www.tricityracewaypark.com.  In the event inclement weather forces the cancellation of our evening's racing action you will be among the first to know.

Tri-City Raceway Park has more than $25,000.00 in purse money to distribute this weekend as well as many other prizes for race fans who will be in attendance this weekend.  It's a new era at the Tri-City Raceway Park and we look forward to kicking it off this Sunday, July 26th!! 

Crawford County businessman Mark Tatalovic has formally come to agreement with H & H Motorsports to purchase the former Tri-City Speedway located in Oakland Township.  Tatalovic's son, Sam and his longtime friend and co-worker Chad Wagner will oversee the operations at the speedway.  The speedway which has been closed since July, 2011 is currently undergoing extensive renovations and will reopen in the spring of 2015.   A name change to Tri-City Raceway Park will also enable the facility to host events such as car cruises and flea markets.

"We had every intention of opening on September 20th and 21st however this summer's rainy weather has delayed some of the renovations and forced us to postpone the opening until next year," stated Promoter Chad Wagner.  "We want to do our best to provide the fans and the race teams with a top notch facility and myself, Co-Promoter Sam Tatalovic and Owner Mark Tatalovic are just as disappointed as the fans that we have had to delay the opening until 2015."

The Tri-City Raceway Park promoters are planning to kick off the Tatalovic era in the Spring of 2015.  At this time a "Special Only" format is anticipated.  The new owner and promoters are currently evaluating which classes will be in action.  Wagner and Tatalovic had been in contact with several regional Series and believe that area fans and teams will be happy with       the mix of open wheel and full bodied racing action that will make up the 2015 schedule.  "We had contacted the BRP Modified Tour and were planning to have them on the card when we originally planned to reopen this fall and we anticipate that they will be part of our 2015 schedule," commented Wagner.  "In addition our Pro-Late Models will compete under the FASTRAK Northeast banner." 

The 2015 Tri-City Raceway Park schedule will also feature action on the infield go kart track.  Truck and Tractor Pulls and a variety of community oriented events will also take place at the Venango County facility.  "We recognize that motorsports is changing and we need to provide our fans and the area's residents with a facility that provides affordable family oriented entertainment," stated Wagner.  "By providing other forms of entertainment at the facility we are hopeful that attendees at these events will also take in a racing event or two next summer."

"Sam and I have been friends for many years and we are also co-workers at P.M. Bus, Inc.  This was an excellent opportunity for the two of us to combine our business backgrounds and our love of motorsports into a new venture," stated Wagner.  "We both grew up at the speedway and recognize that it provides the region with some much needed revenue.  We also want to bring other forms of entertainment to the area so that the residents of Venango and Crawford Counties can enjoy them without travelling to Erie, Cleveland or Pittsburgh." 

The Venango County facility was heavily vandalized since its closing and work has begun on replacing all of the grandstand seating.  In addition, copper wiring was taken from several buildings on the grounds and will be replaced before any racing action takes place.  The restroom facilities will also be refurbished and new clay will be added to the racing surface before the track will open to the public.  "We want to provide the fans and race teams with a top notch facility so we are taking our time and making sure the work is done correctly," continued Wagner.  "We also recognize that we need to attract new fans to the facility and a fan friendly atmosphere will be our number one priority."

The Tri-City Raceway Park offices will be located at the P.M. Bus, Inc. facility in the near future.  Once a dedicated telephone line, speedway website and social media outlets are obtained they will be released.  In the meantime, race fans can contact Chad Wagner at (814) 673-0916.  Those wishing to be added to the Tri-City Raceway Park e-mail list should send their e-mail address to Marcie Barlow at tricityracewaypark@zoominternet.net. 

About Tri-City Raceway Park

Tri-City Raceway Park is owned by Crawford County businessman Mark Tatalovic. Tatalovic purchased the facility in the Spring of 2014.  The facility's promoters, Sam Tatalovic and Chad Wagner, are longtime friends and also work together at the Tatalovic family business, P.M. Bus, Inc.  The ½ mile auto racing facility is located in Oakland Township (Venango County).  Although the 2015 schedule is not complete the speedway is expected to host truck and tractor pulls, go kart racing and other family friendly activities in additional to monthly short track auto racing action.