Story By: TYLER ALTMEYER / OHIO VALLEY SPRINT CAR ASSOCIATION – WASHINGTON, WV – Although Knoxville Raceway’s annual Knoxville Nationals may captivate much of the open wheel world’s attention in mid-August, another sprint car blockbuster is ready to make headlines of its own, and this time, it’s in Wonderful West Virginia.
Commemorating the life and achievements of legendary sprint car owner and West Virginia native, Pete Smith, Ohio Valley Speedway in Washington, West Virginia, is set to host the third annual Pete Smith Memorial on Friday, August 11, welcoming the Ohio Valley Sprint Car Association’s (OVSCA) finest for a $4,000-to-win, $400-to-start headliner.
Certainly one of the “Crown Jewel” events on the OVSCA schedule, the 2023 Pete Smith Memorial will not only award a hefty winner’s share, but the annual program is filled to the brim with contingencies and incentives, some of which include qualifying awards, heat race, hard charger, and hard luck bonuses, and feature lap money.
Envisioned and brought to life by Darren Griffith of Briscoe Run Land Surveying, Ohio Valley Speedway’s Pete Smith Memorial has grown into a lucrative and sought-after open wheel prize, continuously growing while padding its credentials with countless money earning potential. Should the 2023 champion lead the entire 25-lap program, the respective winner will earn well over $5,000.
“It’s been an honor to pay tribute to Pete Smith this way, and three years later, we’re still going strong. I’m proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish with the event and I certainly wouldn’t be in this position without all of our dedicated partners. They’re the backbone and we’re proud to be associated with each and every one of them,” Darren Griffith stated. “Obviously, a big feature winner’s share is always the goal, but at the same time, we wanted to create the potential to make money every time a competitor was on the track. We were able to come up with a pretty impressive contingency and bonus program and I think all of the teams joining us will appreciate the potential.
“I want to thank Ohio Valley Speedway and the Ohio Valley Sprint Car Association for coming together in continuing this Pete Smith Memorial tradition,” Griffith added. “We want this event to continue to grow, not just for the racer’s sake, but for the region’s sake. It’s exciting to bring some extra attention to the Ohio Valley.”
Pete Smith Memorial pit gates are slated to open at 4 p.m. on Friday, August 11, with hot laps beginning at 6 p.m. Racing is set to begin at 7 p.m., sharp.
2023 Pete Smith Memorial Contingencies and Bonuses:
Feature Sponsor:
Smoker Friendly | $4,000-to-win & $400-to-start
Heat Race Awards: ($400 Each):
Heat 1 | Wilfong Dental
Heat 2 | Douglass & Company
Heat 3 | Safelite Autoglass
Heat 4 | Pine Tree Towing
Contingency Awards:
Wilfong Dental | $100 | Most Laps Led during A-Main
Cheryl and Tricia Tingler | $100 | 12th Place on Lap 12
*in honor of their late husband and father, Rand Tingler.
Qualifying:
J&M Tree Service | $500 | Top Three Qualifiers: $250, $150, $100,
IonX Coatings and Fuel | $100 | Fastest To Not Make A-Main
IonX Coatings and Fuel | $100 | Slowest Car to Make A-Main
Hard Luck:
O’Reilly’s Auto Parts | $150 Gift Card
Hard Charger:
Bill Mossor Surveying | $200 for Hard Charger in A-Main:
Bill Mossor Surveying | $100 | Second Hard Charger in A-Main
Bill Mossor Surveying | $100 for B-Main Hard Charger
Bill Mossor Surveying | $50 Second Hard Charger B-Main
Feature Lap Money:
$50-First | $25-Second | $25-Third
1. AutoMed
2. Final Grad Excavating
3. IonX Coatings and Fuel
4. In Memory of Brandon Wilfong
5. West Virginia Polo Club
6. T&M Automotive Repair
7. Ohio Flooring Plus
8. Sir Fix A Lot Wireless
9. Griffith Siblings
10. Cunningham Concrete
11. In Honor of Gary Loynachan
12. K-Contracting
13. In Honor of Debi Myers and All Lung Cancer Survivors
14. Safelite Autoglass
15. Final Grad Excavating
16. We Wrap it—You Rock It
17. Evans Construction & Asphalt Paving, LLC
18. Station Lounge & Grill LLC
19. U.S. Military Vets Motorcycle Club
20. Grey Wolf Armament LLC
21. JED’s Services
22. Pine Tree Towing
23. Pine Tree Towing
24. Pine Tree Towing