YORK HAVEN, Pa.: BAPS Motor Speedway’s management team wasn’t pleased with what transpired during the last 410 Sprint Car show at the facility.
The Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions were in town for the Justin Snyder Salute to the Troops. During a red flag that occurred on the initial start of the main event, five drivers and teams were penalized by the All Stars for having crew members outside a coned area in the work area.
When it was announced that Lance Dewease, Danny Dietrich, Anthony Macri, Ryan Smith, and Skylar Gee were disqualified, tempers flared in the pit area over the rule. A large group of fans showed their displeasure by leaving before a lap was ever scored.
The incident drew plenty of attention on social media and with certain publications. It, certainly, wasn’t what BAPS Motor Speedway was hoping for from one of its premier events.
Since then, speedway owner Scott Gobrecht and his team have been looking for a way to give back to those involved. After some careful thought, Gobrecht and Co. came up with a series of discounts and concessions for those teams and the fans for the upcoming Kevin Gobrecht Classic.
The event, which takes place Thursday, Sept. 19, will pay $5,000 to the winner and $500 to start. The five penalized teams will receive five free pit passes each, with all other pit passes being priced at $30 instead of the normal $35 price. Fans of all ages will also receive a $5 discount at the gate, with adults getting in for $15. Ticket prices for seniors and students are $11.
“It just felt like, to me, the right thing to do,” Gobrecht said. “We all talked through how it played out and how it impacted everybody. At the end of the day, there were five teams that were negatively impacted, and there were a whole bunch of race fans who didn’t get to see the best of the best out there.
“I just feel like we owe that to the folks involved. Nobody did anything right, and nobody did anything wrong, but it just seems like we need to give something back. If there is ever an event to do that, the Kevin Gobrecht Classic is really it.”
Discounted ticket prices aren’t the only concessions made by Gobrecht and his team. To further honor Justin Snyder, the 50-50 will benefit the Wounded Warriors Project. Tickets can also be purchased to win Tony Stewart’s signed gloves or a Homak Toolbox. Proceeds from the raffle will also go to Wounded Warriors.
There will also be plenty of contingency awards on the line for drivers. The first non-qualifier will receive $200 from C&B Mushroom Farms. The highest finishing 358/360 Sprint Car will also receive $200. Quick time will receive $100 from SprintCarUnlimited.com, with heat race winners receiving $100 from Hampden Automotive.
The Kevin Gobrecht Classic is a race to honor the late Sprint Car driver, who succumbed to injuries suffered in a crash during the 1999 season. Lincoln and Trail-Way Speedway have scheduled memorial races ever since, and when Scott Gobrecht purchased BAPS Motor Speedway in 2015, he wanted to do something to honor his brother.
This year’s race was, originally, scheduled for early May, but rain washed out the date. Gobrecht and BAPS Motor Speedway General Manager Kolten Gouse decided to move the prestigious event to September during the central Pennsylvania Month of Money.
“When Kevin left us, there were so many things that happened,” Gobrecht said. “Lincoln established a race in Kevin’s honor, Trail-Way established a race in Kevin’s honor, and when we got involved with BAPS, I wanted to do something, as well.
“I didn’t want to step on the toes of what other tracks did, so we picked the anniversary of Kevin’s birthday, which is early May each year. We came with a theme this year that had to do with his age. He would’ve been 50, so that’s why it’s $5,000 to win and $500 to start.”
Continued Gobrecht, “It’s just important to open up all of the resources we have on this race, because if ever there was one on our calendar to circle, it’s this one. It’s near and dear to my family’s heart and my heart.”