News Director 
Story By: BRETT DEYO / GEORGETOWN SPEEDWAY – GEORGETOWN, DE – The much-anticipated 2019 season at Georgetown Speedway gets the green flag on Saturday, March 9.
An Open Practice session is set for the progressively banked half-mile oval, providing racers with the opportunity to log laps and shake down equipment prior to the rich Melvin L. Joseph Memorial at the speedway on March 15-16.
All divisions of race cars are welcome to participate in the March 9 Open Practice. Pit gates will be unlocked at 2 p.m. Track time is scheduled from 4-7 p.m. rotating through divisions.
Pit admission is $20 (no license required). Kids (ages 6-12) pay $10. Children five and under pay $2. Grandstand admission is FREE.
In the event of inclement weather, Sunday (March 10) will be utilized as a back-up date for the Open Practice.
Hurlock Auto & Speed Supply will be on hand with a full line of oval-track speed parts. Sunoco Race Fuels and American Racer tires will also be available.
Fat Daddy’s BBQ will be serving up mouth-watering food and a variety of beverages to attendees. The Georgetown Speedway Novelty Stand will also be open with hot-off-the-press apparel and other souvenirs.
Following the March 9 Open Practice, attention turns to the Melvin L. Joseph Memorial Northeast opener on Friday, March 15 and Saturday, March 16.
On Friday (March 15), Small-Block Modifieds race 30 laps for $4,049 to win. Also on the Friday docket are RUSH Late Models (20 laps, $1,049 to win), Delmarva Chargers and Delaware Super Trucks. Modified and Crate 602 Sportsman will have practice rounds in preparation for Saturday. The drivers recording the fastest lap in each division will earn a Saturday redraw position.
Saturday (March 16) brings the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco Melvin L. Joseph Memorial for L&J Sheet Metal big-block/small-block Modifieds, a 49-lap event paying $6,949 to win and $490 to take the green. This event serves as Round No. 1 of the STSS Velocita-USA South Region presented by Sunglass Central and Design for Vision.
Also on the Saturday docket: the STSS Crate 602 Sportsman (20 laps, $1,490 to win) in the first race of the South Region plus Southern Delaware Vintage Stock Cars, Delaware Super Trucks and Delmarva Chargers.
Complete Melvin L. Joseph Memorial race information can be found on the speedway website under the ‘Event Info’ tab.
Georgetown Speedway, originally constructed by Melvin L. Joseph in 1949, is located at the intersection of Route 113 and Speedway Road in Georgetown, Del., just miles from the Delaware beaches and less than a 40-minute drive from Ocean City, Md.
A website is live for the speedway at www.thegeorgetownspeedway.com. Like Georgetown Speedway on Facebook, follow @thegtownspdwy on Twitter, e-mail georgetownspeedway@gmail.com or contact the speedway hotline at 302.563.GTWN (4896).
