"Oh yeah, it's nice to win it outright this time; I feel like we really earned this one," summed up the newly crowned champion.

And there's absolutely no doubt that Honeybrook's Shane Lewis did indeed earn the 2012 PA 600 Speedweek Championship.

After he finished in a tie for the 2009 Speedweek laurels with Heath Hehnly, Lewis was focused on this year's title...well, he was sort of focused on it.

"Our mindset was actually to go after that $10,000 at Lanco," he explained, referring to the winner's share of the big payout at Micromania, which was the second race of this year's 600 Speedweek Series. "That was the first goal, but we just weren't very good that night."

Lewis wound up fifth in the lucrative Micromania A-Main, but left the Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway tied with Mike Dicely for the overall point lead. "At that point, since we were planning to run all the (Speedweek) races anyway, we figured we might as well go all out and try to win that championship," said Shane.

Six races (in eight days) made up the PA 600 Speedweek tour, and when the week-long gauntlet of competition reached its conclusion on Saturday, July 7 at Trail-Way, Shane Lewis had not finished outside the top five.

Competing against stellar fields that included not only the best that PA and New Jersey have to offer, but some of the best 600cc wheel-twisters from New York and all over the country - as well as a pretty darn good Aussie named Charlie Brown - Lewis put together an incredibly consistent string of strong efforts.

He began the series by running second to Brock Zearfoss at Lanco's Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway in the Prelude to the Mania on June 30. And, even though Lewis felt his No. 55L "wasn't very good" the next night at Micromania, he managed that fifth place finish.

At Path Valley on Monday, July 2nd, Shane recorded another runner-up placing; this time, he finished second to Mike Dicely, with whom he was tied for the point lead when that feature went green. Even though he fell one point behind the veteran from Lewisberry, Pa., Lewis was pleased with his run at Path Valley.

"Linda's and Path Valley have always been bad tracks for me during Speedweek," he admitted after clinching the title. "So I was concerned about those two races; I knew we had to run better than we had in the past at those two tracks. We've been fast this year at Linda's, so I felt pretty good about our chances there. And I used the same basic setup at Path Valley that I've been using at Linda's. And we were good at Path, so that made us feel good about the race at Linda's."

If he was good at Path, then the Honeybrook Hustler was exceptional at Clinton County on the Fourth of July, when he won the $1,000 top prize after an entertaining, lead-swapping duel with Brock Zearfoss. "I liked being consistent all week, but it was real nice to get a win, too," noted Lewis.

Shane's fourth place finish at Linda's Speedway on Friday, July 6, enabled him to take a two point lead over Dicely into the series' finale at Trail-Way on July 7th.

"Our goal at Trail-Way was just to stay with Mike, and stay close to Brock, too," said Lewis, referring to both Dicely and Zearfoss, who was ten points behind as the 600 Speedweek caravan rolled into the Hostetter's facility near Hanover, Pa.

When Zearfoss was forced to pull off while running second in the main at Trail-Way, Lewis inherited the spot. Ryan Greth was the race leader, while Dicely was running outside the top five, in seventh. Lewis knew he could follow Greth to the checkered and lock up the point title - and that would be the smart thing to do - but he's a racer and racers want to win everything.

"I really wanted to try and roll around him (Greth) on the top, even though I knew I should probably just hang on to second. But the race paid $1,000 to win, and I wanted to get another Speedweek win, so..."

But the "big picture outlook" prevailed, and Lewis chased Greth to the finish line, clinching the Speedweek championship in the process.

One victory, three second-place efforts, a fourth and a fifth were the ingredients that cooked up a PA 600 Speedweek Championship for Shane Lewis in 2012.

"I really believe the U6SA engine rules (that were used for this year's Speedweek) kept the competition closer. Guys were not running the big, open motors, and nobody was blowing up like they did in past years. That kept the points real close, right down to the end. And, if you look at the results, it was pretty much the same guys finishing in the top five every race, so that kept things tight, too," summarized Lewis.

Even before this year's edition of 600 Speedweek kicked off, Lewis was producing some amazingly strong statistics. Running at least twice a week, and usually three times (once the wingless 600 action began at Kutztown in May), he'd only fallen out of a couple of races due to mechanical issues.

Lewis has five victories in 2012, and he's never been outside the top-ten in the races he's finished. As we turn the corner and head into the second half of the campaign, Shane Lewis is authoring one terrific season for himself. He's definitely reached the upper echelon of 600cc competitors, joining the ranks of Dicely, Rutherford, Greth, Walton, Jeff Hartman, Ryan Smith, Brock Zearfoss, and others who have established themselves as favorites to win every time they pull into a pit area.

*****
Millersville, Missouri's Joe B. Miller finished third in the overall Speedweek standings. The current 600cc POWERi point leader made a quick decision to come east after his midwestern-based series cancelled its events last weekend. Miller was fast at each Speedweek event, finishing seventh, sixth, seventh, eighth, sixth, and sixth in the A-Mains.

Dicely, who only registered one finish outside the top five, notched his fifth career Speedweek victory at Path Valley on July 2nd. He leads all other drivers in Speedweek triumphs, but hasn't been able to translate those victories into championships.

The boss at Hyper Racing scored a dominating win at Path Valley, a pair of third place finishes, a fourth, and a seventh during the week long festival of speed.

Dicely has to be happy with the overall outcome, however, as eight of the top ten and ten of the top 15 in Speedweek points were piloting Hyper Chassis.

Zearfoss wound up fourth in Speedweek points after winning the opener at Clyde Martin on June 30. He also produced a pair of runner-up efforts, but a 13th place finish at Micromania and 22nd in the Trail-Way finale hurt his championship hopes. It was still the best Speedweek, overall, that the Jonestown, Pa. throttle-jockey has ever recorded.

Tyler Walton always seems to win at least one race during Speedweek, and this year the new daddy from Mifflintown, Pa. nailed down the triumph at Linda's Speedway - the second straight Speedweek win for Walton at the quarter-mile.

Despite his two victories - one of them being the Micromania $10k - Ryan Greth could only manage a seventh place finish in the Speedweek point standings.

Greth started his week by flipping in his first heat race at Clyde Martin on June 30; he was a DNQ after the tumble ended his night at the Speedweek opener.

He came back to win Micromania, but finished 22nd at Path Valley when his steering broke while he was running second to Dicely. Two fifth-place showings followed before he captured the final races at Trail-Way in Wayne Lesher's No. 1J.

*****
The "outsiders" who invaded Pennsylvania for 600 Speedweek included Oklahoma's Scott Sawyer, New Mexico's Kenny Brewer, Texas' Tyson Hall, Missouri's Joe B. Miller, and New Yorkers Darryl Ruggles and Tyler Walker.

And, of course, the driver who made the longest trip to compete was Queensland, Australia's Charlie Brown, who was accompanied to the U.S. by his dad, Gary, and his sister, Kristin (also a 600cc racer).

Brown, at just twenty-years-old, did a nice job during the series. He finished third in the feature at Path Valley, sixth at Clinton County, and wound up eighth in the overall points. And he taught Shirley Dicely, Mike's mom, some Australian lingo...

The car counts: Lanco's Clyde Martin on Saturday, June 30 = 60; Sunday's Micromania = 62. There were 48 cars at Path Valley, while 28 made the tow to Clinton County on the Fourth of July. Linda's Speedway pulled in 50 cars on July 6, and 35 entered the final race of the tour on Saturday at Trail-Way.

Finally, the quote of Speedweek may have come from New Mexico's Kenny Brewer. The resident of Alberquerque was responding to comments made about an unusually rough track surface at Clyde Martin for the Speedweek opener.

"Oh my, that didn't bother me," stated Brewer. "You have to understand that back home, I run in the desert! They think they have clay back there, but you have real clay here in the east! And you have actual farm equipment to help prepare the tracks here...they don't use anything like that where I normally race."

Thanks for reading; hope you enjoyed it.

Story by: BARRY ANGSTADT

Race and points payouts have been posted along with information and entry forms for the 2012 Micro Mania. (270 Clash at Lanco as well). Please use the quick links below:

Race Payouts
Points Payouts
Micro Mania Info
Micro Mania Entry Form
270 Clash at the Clyde Entry Form

Newmanstown, Pa. - This year, the mega-Micro-Sprint show known as Micromania is set for Saturday, June 30 and Sunday, July 1st, when the best 600cc and 270cc Sprint Car drivers invade Newmanstown, Pa. to compare their skills and attempt to go back home with some of the lucrative payout being offered for the 600cc Micromania and the 270cc Clash at the Clyde.

Now officially confirmed, 20-year-old Australian racer Charlie Brown has filed an entry form to test his skill against some of the best 600cc wheel-twisters in the northeast, as well as those headed to Pennsylvania from other sections of the country. Charlie, along with his father and sister, flew to the U.S. on Monday, June 25, and his entry form was received the following day.

Brown, from Beenleigh, Queensland, AU will compete in a new Hyper Racing 600 which the family then intends to buy and send back to their home "down under."

Additional last-minute pre-entries were received from some of the best 600cc and 270cc wheel-twisters in the northeast, including the one and only "Liquid" Lou Cicconi, who will steer Mike Dicely's back-up car out of the Hyper Racing stable.

Cicconi, well known for his prowess behind the wheel of Super Modifieds, TQ, ARDC, and NEMA Midgets, along with just about every other style of racecar under the sun, will take to the high banked Clyde Martin oval for the first time.

It should be noted that this year's Micromania, as well as the Prelude to the Mania and the entire PA 600 Speedweek series, will be run under the rules established by the U6SA group of car and engine builders, track reps., and car owners. Post-race tech will be performed after each of the Micromania and other Speedweek events, and all tech inspections will be done according to the rules set forth by the U6SA.

For more information on the rules, see the Forums at Microracing.com.

While the big buck Micromania and Clash at the Clyde will take the spotlight on Sunday, July 1st, the weekend of side-by-side and three-wide mayhem begins on Saturday, June 30th, with the Prelude to the Mania for the 600's and the Flash Before the Clash for the 270's. Both days will feature full programs for both the 600cc and 270cc Sprints, topped off by main events for each class. Saturday's feature races will send the top six (from the 600cc Prelude) and top four (from the 270cc Flash) directly to their respective Dash races and A-mains on Sunday.

Sunday's 600cc Micromania A-main will pay the winner $10,000 - provided Saturday's program is completed and at least 60 cars are entered on Sunday - and an astounding $300 to take the green in the 50-lap Micromania A-main.

The 270cc Clash at the Clyde will pay $1,000 to win and $170 to take the green, as long as Saturday's program is completed and at least 40 cars are entered on Sunday, July 1.

The complete purse breakdown and race format for each class is posted on the track's website at www.lancomicrosprint.com. The homepage includes a link to each of the entry forms and the payout schedule can be accessed by clicking on the PA 600 Speedweek logo or by going to the Clyde's schedule page and clicking on the date for this event.

It should be noted that both Saturday and Sunday's 600cc main events will award points toward the overall PA 600 Speedweek Championship.

Sponsors have been signing up to support this colossal event as news of the gigantic weekend of racing has spread. The list of marketing partners for Micromania and Clash at the Clyde is impressive, and it includes: Hyper Racing, NPS Racing Engines, Dayton Parts of Harrisburg, PA, Hollinger's Sports & Turf, Kioti Tractor, Bud's Spring Service, RTS Chassis, 600 Pro Series, LHS Engines, Shred Racing Products - B-Main sponsor, Spar Racing Engines, Susquehanna Valley Speed Shop
600Scene.com - $150 Hard Luck Award on Sunday

There will also be Hard Charger Awards on both days and in both classes; those awards will be sponsored by Shred Racing Photos. The driver who advances the most positions in Saturday's preliminary mains - in both the 600cc and 270cc divisions - will receive an extra $50.

That amount doubles to $100 for each division on Sunday.

Several generous contingency prizes, relayed to Lanco officials through Bob Auton, include the following... Weld Racing - one pair of front hubs, Keizer Wheels - Four (4) $50 Gift Certificates, Saldana Racing Products - Two (2) $50 Gift Certificates, Competition Suspensions - Four (4) $50 Gift Certificates

Additional sponsorship opportunities for this not-to-be-missed weekend of high speed adventure are still available by contacting Richard Fox, 140 Southview Drive, York, PA 17402.

Saturday's car entry fee for the 600cc Sprints is $30, while the entry fee for Sunday is $200.

The entry fee for the 270cc Sprint event is $80.

Entries will be accepted up to and including race day.

The cost for pit passes is $30 per day.

While drivers from all over the United States have traveled to the Clyde for past editions of this prestigious event, the northeastern contingent has defended its turf since the first running of the Showdown (as it was formerly known) and Micromania at the Lanco facility in 2007. Previous winners include Mike Dicely, Robbie Kendall, Mike Rutherford, and Shane Lewis; all four will be in the field this weekend. Kendall, who has moved on to "big Sprint Cars" this season, has secured a ride for Micromania. He will buckle into the Esh Racing No. 5E normally driven by Travis Esh.

That 2008 edition of Micromania (referred to as "the 600 Showndown" at the time), won by Kendall, is often called one of the best races ever seen, anywhere, in any type of racecars, by many who were in attendance at the Clyde that evening.

The first running of the 270 Clash at the Clyde took place last season, and it was Lanco's own Billy Logeman, the Racin' Mason, claiming the lucrative victory.

Who will be basking in the limelight of victory lane this year? The entry lists are forming, and both classes are sure to be infested with a "who's who" of 600cc and 270cc hotshoes. It's a "can't miss" event, and you've just gotta come out and LIVE the excitement that is Lanco's Micromania and Clash at the Clyde!

Additional information, including the current entry lists for both classes, is available at www.lancomicrosprint.com

Newmanstown, Pa. - Drivers from New Mexico, Oklahoma, and even Australia are signing up to compete at Micromania, the colossal, two day event that is just a few weeks away at Lanco's Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway.

Saturday, June 30 and Sunday, July 1st, will see the best 600cc and 270cc Sprint Car drivers invade Newmanstown to compare their skills and attempt to go back home with some of the lucrative payout being offered for the 600cc Micromania and the 270cc Clash at the Clyde.

Kenny Brewer, who makes his home and does his racing in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has filed an entry for Micromania weekend. Chances are good that Brewer will make a week of it here in Pennsylvania by staying to compete in all of the PA 600 Speedweek events that follow Micromania's opening events of the Speedweek tour.
Scott Sawyer, owner/operator of Sawyer Chassis in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma and a renowned 600cc competitor, will also be in the field on June 30th and July 1st. Sawyer will steer the potent Mike Pjatikin No. 29 at Micromania and other PA 600 Speedweek races.

While not officially confirmed, it's highly likely that Australian racer Charlie Brown is headed to the U.S. to test his skill against some of the best 600cc wheel-twisters in the northeast, as well as those headed to Pennsylvania from other sections of the country. Charlie's family is hustling to fill out his entry form and get it to Lanco officials prior to the June 25 deadline for pre-entries.

The early entry fee is discounted by $50; forms must be postmarked June 25 in order to receive the discount.

Shred Racing Products has signed to sponsor the 600cc B-Main at Micromania. Their support means that a minimum of $100 to drivers who take the green in the B-Main on Sunday, but do not qualify for the 50-lap Micromania A-Main.

While the big buck Micromania and Clash at the Clyde will take the spotlight on Sunday, July 1st, the weekend of side-by-side and three-wide mayhem begins on Saturday, June 30th, with the Prelude to the Mania for the 600's and the Flash Before the Clash for the 270's. Both days will feature full programs for both the 600cc and 270cc Sprints, topped off by main events for each class. Saturday's feature races will send the top six (from the 600cc Prelude) and top four (from the 270cc Flash) directly to their respective Dash races and A-mains on Sunday.

Sunday's 600cc Micromania A-main will pay the winner $10,000 - provided Saturday's program is completed and at least 60 cars are entered on Sunday - and an astounding $300 to take the green in the 50-lap Micromania A-main.

The 270cc Clash at the Clyde will pay $1,000 to win and $170 to take the green, as long as Saturday's program is completed and at least 40 cars are entered on Sunday, July 1.

The complete purse breakdown and race format for each class is posted on the track's website at www.lancomicrosprint.com. The homepage includes a link to each of the entry forms and the payout schedule can be accessed by clicking on the PA 600 Speedweek logo or by going to the Clyde's schedule page and clicking on the date for this event.

It should be noted that both Saturday and Sunday's 600cc main events will award points toward the overall PA 600 Speedweek Championship.

Sponsors have been signing up to support this colossal event as news of the gigantic weekend of racing has spread. The list of marketing partners for Micromania and Clash at the Clyde is impressive, and it includes: Hyper Racing, NPS Racing Engines, Dayton Parts of Harrisburg, PA, Hollinger's Sports & Turf, Kioti Tractor, Bud's Spring Service, RTS Chassis, 600 Pro Series, LHS Engines and Shred Racing Products.

There will also be Hard Charger Awards on both days and in both classes; those awards will be sponsored by Shred Racing Photos. The driver who advances the most positions in Saturday's preliminary mains - in both the 600cc and 270cc divisions - will receive an extra $50.

That amount doubles to $100 for each division on Sunday.

Additional sponsorship opportunities for this not-to-be-missed weekend of high speed adventure are still available by contacting Richard Fox, 140 Southview Drive, York, PA 17402. That is also the address to which entry forms must be returned for both the 600cc Micromania and 270cc Clash at the Clyde.

Saturday's car entry fee for the 600cc Sprints is $30, while the early entry fee for Sunday is $150. The deadline for early registration is June 25 - entry forms must be postmarked by the 25th in order to receive the discounted fee. As of June 26, the cost to enter Micromania jumps to $200.00.

The entry fee for the 270cc Sprint event is $60 if entry forms are postmarked by June 25; the fee increases to $80 as of June 26.
Entries will be accepted up to and including race day.

The cost for pit passes is $30 per day.

While drivers from all over the United States have traveled to the Clyde for past editions of this prestigious event, the northeastern contingent has defended its turf since the first running of the Showdown (as it was formerly known) and Micromania at the Lanco facility in 2007. Previous winners include Mike Dicely, Robbie Kendall, Mike Rutherford, and Shane Lewis; only Kendall, who has moved into bigger Sprint Cars, will not be in the field this year, although the rumor mill has Robbie actively looking for a ride for Micromania.

The first running of the 270 Clash at the Clyde took place last season, and it was Lanco's own Billy Logeman claiming the lucrative victory.

Who will be basking in the limelight of victory lane this year? The entry lists are forming, and both classes are sure to be infested with a "who's who" of 600cc and 270cc hotshoes. It's a "can't miss" event, and you've just gotta come out and LIVE the excitement that is Lanco's Micromania and Clash at the Clyde!

Additional information is available at www.lancomicrosprint.com

Newmanstown, Pa. - For the past five years, the PA 600 Speedweek Champion has been crowned after the tour's final event at Lanco's Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway. The final race of the week-long festival of speed and competition was a huge, high-paying spectacular that brought the best of the best in the 600cc Sprint community to the Clyde to determine who would win the big dollar battle, and who would win the overall Speedweek championship. It was a great way to end the grueling series; a big race at one of the country's nicest Small Car facilities and most competitive tracks.
In 2012, however, it's time for something completely different...

On June 30 and July 1, the Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway will move to the other end of the PA 600 Speedweek schedule; the Lanco club will host the first two races of Speedweek, along with a pair of big dollar special events for the 270cc Sprints. It's still Micromania for the 600's, and it's still the 270 Clash at the Clyde, but the mega-extravaganza has expanded into a two-day showdown of clay spittin', wheel-to-wheel action highlighted by four big main events!

While the big buck Micromania and Clash at the Clyde will take the spotlight on Sunday, July 1st, the weekend of side-by-side and three-wide mayhem begins on Saturday, June 30th, with the Prelude to the Mania for the 600's and the Flash Before the Clash for the 270's. Both days will feature full programs for both the 600cc and 270cc Sprints, topped off by main events for each class. Saturday's feature races will send the top six (from the 600cc Prelude) and top four (from the 270cc Flash) directly to their respective Dash races and A-mains on Sunday.

Sunday's 600cc Micromania A-main will pay the winner $10,000 - provided Saturday's program is completed and at least 60 cars are entered on Sunday - and an astounding $300 to take the green in the 50-lap Micromania A-main.
The 270cc Clash at the Clyde will pay $1,000 to win and $170 to take the green, as long as Saturday's program is completed and at least 40 cars are entered on Sunday, July 1.

The complete purse breakdown and race format for each class is posted on the track's website at www.lancomicrosprint.com. The homepage includes a link to each of the entry forms and the payout schedule can be accessed by clicking on the PA 600 Speedweek logo or by going to the Clyde's schedule page and clicking on the date for this event.

It should be noted that both Saturday and Sunday's 600cc main events will award points toward the overall PA 600 Speedweek Championship.

Sponsors have been signing up to support this colossal event as news of the gigantic weekend of racing has spread. The list of marketing partners for Micromania and Clash at the Clyde is impressive, and it includes Hyper Racing, NPS Racing Engines, Dayton Parts of Harrisburg, Pa., RTS Chassis, and the 600 Pro Series.
There will also be Hard Charger Awards on both days and in both classes; those awards will be sponsored by Shred Racing Photos. The driver who advances the most positions in Saturday's preliminary mains - in both the 600cc and 270cc divisions - will receive an extra $50.
That amount doubles to $100 for each division on Sunday.
Additional sponsorship opportunities for this not-to-be-missed weekend of high speed adventure are still available by contacting Richard Fox, 140 Southview Drive, York, PA 17402. That is also the address to which entry forms must be returned for both the 600cc Micromania and 270cc Clash at the Clyde.

Saturday's car entry fee for the 600cc Sprints is $30, while the early entry fee for Sunday is $150. The deadline for early registration is June 25 - entry forms must be postmarked by the 25th in order to receive the discounted fee. As of June 26, the cost to enter Micromania jumps to $200.00.
The entry fee for the 270cc Sprint event is $60 if entry forms are postmarked by June 25; the fee increases to $80 as of June 26.
Entries will be accepted up to and including race day.

The cost for pit passes is $30 per day.

While drivers from all over the United States have traveled to the Clyde for past editions of this prestigious event, the northeastern contingent has defended its turf since the first running of the Showdown (as it was formerly known) and Micromania at the Lanco facility in 2007. Previous winners include Mike Dicely, Robbie Kendall, Mike Rutherford, and Shane Lewis; only Kendall, who has moved into bigger Sprint Cars, will not be in the field this year.
The first running of the 270 Clash at the Clyde took place last season, and it was Lanco's own Billy Logeman claiming the lucrative victory.

Who will be basking in the limelight of victory lane this year? The entry lists are forming, and both classes are sure to be infested with a "who's who" of 600cc and 270cc hotshoes. It's a "can't miss" event, and you've just gotta come out and LIVE the excitement that is Lanco's Micromania and Clash at the Clyde!

Additional information is available at www.lancomicrosprint.com

After conferring with all the tracks involved, the 2012 PA 600 Speedweek will continue this year with some changes. The tracks themselves will be running all of the individual races on the specified nights. Dan and Trip have decided to step away from the series for numerous personal reasons. We regret having to do it when so many good people have helped us along the way. The tracks, the racers, the fans, our volunteers and most of all, our loyal sponsors. It is our hope that this tradition continues year after year like it has for the last five years. When the times over the last five years are relived, the good times far outweigh the bad times we had doing this. We will miss the involvement of everyone that has participated, and again thank every one of them for what they have done. We enjoyed putting the series together and seeing it grow in one way or another. We also wish everyone good luck and safe racing as we step away from the series. Please remember to help everyone involved with the series in any way you can to keep it going. We hope all of you have enjoyed it as much as we have.

Dan Little and Trip Kone

The PA 600 Speedweek site is done getting its annual overhaul and we hope you like what you see. Every page within the site has been updated and renovated. There are plenty more updates to come in the next few weeks such as pay-outs, entry fees, pre-register forms and more. These details will be posted once finalized.

It's never too early to start planning for the 2012 PA 600 Speedweek. TDF Promotions are pleased to announce the the dates for the 2012. The week will commence on Saturday June 30th at Lanco and end on Saturday July 7th at Trail-way. In the coming weeks, we will be releasing a more detailed account of the revamped version. As you all know, we will be going to US6A rules in 2012, a major deviation of the past 5 years. Also, a new week long format of tracks, races, awards, and more will be revealed to everyone. Hope everyone is having a safe end to the season. Look for us soon. - Trip & Dan

JULY 8, 2011
NEW FOR 2012 - PA ENGINE RULES

While PA 600 Speedweek organizers Dan Little and Trip Kone assured all of the competitors that there will definitely be a 2012 edition of the tour, they also made it clear there will be changes as the series enters its sixth year of existence.

Next season, for the first time since it began, 600 Speedweek will adhere to Pennsylvania's U6SA engine rules. Rev boxes will not be permitted, and post race tech will be administered after each race. The so-called "open motor rule" will go away and the U6SA engine package will be enforced.

For the past few years, proponents of the U6SA engine rules argued that Speedweek's "open motor rules" actually kept many local racers at home during the eight-day run, while the "open rules" only attracted three or four teams from other parts of the country. Now, in 2012, those supporters will get what they asked for (regarding engine rules), so it will be interesting to see if all those local drivers really do come out and support the series.

If PA 600 Speedweek is to thrive and survive, those who have stayed home better turn out to compete.

Little and Kone spent the two "off days" of Speedweek traveling to the shops of car builders, engine builders, and race teams to discuss various ideas and the pros and cons of the current series. Then, at Micromania on Saturday, they held a closed door meeting with their drivers and car owners.

Kone said the purpose of the meeting was to "get people thinking; we want their ideas and opinions on ways we can make Speedweek better and get more participation. I think we accomplished that at our meeting."

One of the questions thrown out to the group: is there a need for a big race during Speedweek, such as Micromania, or should we just show up and race each night, keeping the payouts pretty standard for each of the series' events?

The drivers and owners were also asked to think about the distance they are willing to travel in order to participate in Speedweek events. Little and Kone are seriously considering a major switch in some of the tracks that make up their eight-day jaunt, with the possibility of getting away from the bigger tracks like Lincoln and Susquehanna.

The organizers are committed, though, to keeping all of the Speedweek events in the Keystone State.

While there are more questions than answers right now, it's good that Little and Kone got the ball rolling a full year in advance of the next 600 Speedweek.   

The change in engine rules is definite, giving teams plenty of notice and time to prepare. And Saturday's meeting should produce plenty of feedback and information from which the tour's organizers can implement the changes needed to grow their already successful series.

Story by: BARRY ANGSTADT