By yohnson 
MECHANICSBURG, PA – Williams Grove Speedway is all set to commence the 2017 racing season with an exceptional Sunday afternoon opener, highlighting the Lawrence Chevrolet 410 sprint cars, this Sunday, March 12, at 2 pm.
The 410 sprints will engage in a 25-lap feature, offering a whopping $3,600 to the victorious racer on this Sunday afternoon.
The super late models will merely be on the program for PRACTICE ONLY on Sunday.
Once a fundamental part of the Williams Grove annual schedule, Sunday afternoon openers and early season Sunday programs have vanished from the list of events for quite some years.
However, the tradition is making a comeback in just one week when the engines thunder in the Sunday sun.
If successfully accomplished, the March 12 Sunday opener will mark the first to be recorded at Williams Grove Speedway since March 9, 2008, when Fred Rahmer claimed victory.
For the esteemed season opener, adult general admission is fixed at a mere $15, while youth aged 13 – 20 are admitted for just $10. Children aged 12 and under are always granted free entry at Williams Grove Speedway.
The portion of the opening day 50/50 ticket sales from Williams Grove will be generously donated to the Wounded Warrior Project.
Last season, it was Rick Lafferty from Pennington, NJ, who emerged victorious in the opening day sprint car feature at Williams Grove Speedway on a Friday night, despite being under pressure for the lead by Freddie Rahmer and having been overtaken for the win by Greg Hodnett.
Since 1939, when Tommy Hinnershitz triumphed in the inaugural race at this renowned facility, numerous highly acclaimed names and even some less recognized ones have claimed the prestigious first race of the year at Williams Grove.
Famous figures such as Jan Opperman, AJ Foyt, Ted Horn, and Hinnershitz, or those on the verge of stardom at the time of their victories.
Kasey Kahne, destined for greater achievements in today’s NASCAR arena, seized the opener back in 2000.
But perhaps less familiar at the time or even unique names like Kevin Collins, Brian Paulus, Marlett Naill, and Gig Stephens have also grasped that renowned first checkered flag of the year at Williams Grove.
Williams Grove Speedway will resume action on March 17 at 7:30 pm when Dieffenbach’s Potato Chips of Lebanon presents the 410 sprints, accompanied by the super late models in action.
Another identical program is scheduled for March 24.