Bristol Motor Speedway
Notes: Pencil's father injured in race shop fire
Jack Pencil
The father of 2002 Mid-Atlantic Championship Series champion Jack Pencil suffered serious burns in a March 20 fire that destroyed the team's 3-year-old race shop near Bedford, Pa. Jack Pencil Sr. was released from a Pittsburgh hospital Saturday after being treated for third-degree burns on one hand and second-degree burns on the other hand and an ear.
The elder Pencil, known as "Pap" around the track, was removing racing fuel from a cell with crew chief Benny Foor when a light bulb broke on the shop floor, igniting spilled fuel. Foor called the fire department then helped a disoriented Pencil to safety. A medical chopper carried him to Mercy Hospital for treatment of his burns.
The team salvaged a race car and engine and quick-acting neighbors were able to pull the team's trailer to safety. But the shop and its contents were a total loss including the toterhome, 60 new and used tires, an ATV and racing apparel.
"We've been racing for 20 years, my father and I, and there's a lot of time, a lot of history in our race team and a lot of memories lost in this fire," the younger Pencil told WJAC-TV, estimating the loss between $300,000 and $500,000. The structure and toterhome were insured but it's unclear if the contents are insured.
The area's racing community rallied to aid the popular Bedford racer with Bedford Speedway co-promoter J.R. Keifer, car owner Bob Salathe III, and drivers Rick Eckert and Jason Covert among those offering support.
Get-well wishes can be sent to Jack Pencil Sr. at 5611 Business 220, Bedford PA 15522. — Jeff Geesey and WJAC reports
FORMER DELAWARE CHAMPION DIES: Alex Beaumont of Severna Park, Md., the 1988 Late Model champion at Delaware International Speedway in Delmar, Del., died Feb. 21 of heart failure. He was 55. Beaumont, driver of the No. 22A A&R Body & Frame-sponsored car, had 27 career feature victories at the Delaware oval. Among survivors are his wife Teresa, his parents and a sister, Michele Cornell. — From track reports
ELKINS UPGRADING RACING SURFACE: New Elkins (W.Va.) Speedway promoter A.J. Rockwell of Brideport, W.Va., is putting down a new surface on the 3/8-mile oval in preparation for the 2009 season. Rockwell plans to dig up clay from an adjacent farm that will be put on the track in the coming weeks. The first practice is scheduled for April 24 with seven regular divisions planned for the track, including Late Models and Fastrak-sanctioned Crates. The track's schedule includes the $5,000-to-win Chuck Gear Memorial on June 27. Besides oval track racing, Rockwell plans to host truck pulls, motorcycle races, lawnmower racers and enduros. — Bob Reed
ODDS AND ENDS: The Northern Tier United Late Model Series will pay $2,000 to the 2009 champion and pay back 10 places. ULMS action opens April 25 at McKean County Raceway in East Smethport, Pa. ... Canada's Ontario Dirt Late Models have beefed up the purses to some series events, including the Aug. 2 race at Humberstone Speedway in Port Colborne, Ontario, that will pay $3,000 to the winner. The ODLM crew will also participate in Hartford (Mich.) Motor Speedway's Lane 45, a $4,500-to-win event co-sanctioned by the Sunoco American Late Model Series and Northern Allstars Late Model Series. ... Central Pennsylvania Speedway in Clearfield, Pa., has shifted its $7,000-to-win Grizzly one day later to May 24. The race is sanctioned by the first-year O'Reilly All Stars.
