News Director 
Story By: DAVE BUCHANAN / RANSOMVILLE SPEEDWAY – RANSOMVILLE, NY – Ransomville Speedway closes out its 2019 season this Friday and Saturday with the annual King of the Hill weekend presented by Investor’s Service on September 13-14.
This event will bring race teams from across New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Ontario to the “Big R” for two days of exciting racing, including the first ever visits to Ransomville by two different racing series.
Friday night’s action, presented by the Tonawanda Island Launch Club, Buffalo Construction Consultants and Firth Jewelers, will feature the BEI Lightning Sportsman Series, RUSH Wingless Sprint Cars, Ki-Po Chevrolet Street Stocks and Gippster’s Collision Mini Stocks.
The BEI Lightning Sportsman will compete in the Sean Letts Memorial 40, which pays tribute to former Ransomville Sportsman and Street Stock competitor Sean Letts who tragically passed away last year. Former track champion, James Michael Friesen, currently leads the BEI Lightning Series points over the 2019 Investor’s Service Sportsman champ, Brett Senek, and Chad Chevalier.
Ransomville Speedway will gets its first taste of the RUSH Wingless Sprint Car Series on Friday night of King of the Hill weekend as well. The RUSH Series features traditional wingless sprint cars that run on Methanol with a spec shock package and spec Hoosier tires. Brian Woodhall of Apollo, PA is the current points leader in the Bonnell’s Rod Shop RUSH Sprint Car Weekly Series. Chad Ruhlman of Bemus Point, N.Y. leads the series with two wins in 2019.
The Ki-Po Chevrolet Street Stocks will run their finals points race of 2019. Cory Sawyer leads defending champion Pete Stefanski by 24 points. Sawyer is chasing his third career Street Stock title, while Stefanski is looking to go back-to-back and get his sixth career title at the “Big R”.
Pit gates on Friday will open at 5 p.m. with grandstands opening at 6 p.m. Racing starts at 7:15 p.m. Grandstand admission is $15 for adults, $13 for seniors and students (ages 13-17 with valid school ID), $8 for children ages 9-12 and kids 8 and under are free. Pit admission is $27 for member, $32 for non-member.
Free camping is available in the speedway parking lot all weekend.
Saturday night, presented by Bailey Brothers Landscaping and Behm Motorsports, is headlined by the BRP Modified Tour, King of the Hill 75-lapper for the Street Stocks, Gippster’s Collision Mini Stocks and Investor’s Service Sportsman.
The big block warriors of the BRP Modified Tour invade Ransomville on Saturday for the first time ever. Competing at tracks in New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, the BRP Tour lists Ransomville regulars Erick Rudolph, Chad Brachmann, Rick Richner, Mat Williamson and Pete Bicknell as former series winners. Brachmann and Rudolph have also won BRP Tour championships in the past.
Their inaugural visit to the “Big R” is the final event of the BRP Modified Tour’s 2019 schedule. Defending series champion, Rex King, Jr. of Bristolville, OH, currently leads his father, Rex King, Sr., by 30 points for the series championship.
A King of the Hill tradition is the extra-distance feature for the Ki-Po Chevrolet Street Stocks. Street Stocks drivers will do battle for 75 laps for a chance at the $1,000 top prize. It is also the final event of the Ransomville/Humberstone Can-Am Thunder Stock Challenge. This event is always a true test of man and machine after a grueling season.
The Gippster’s Collision Mini Stocks will crown their track champion in the final points race of 2019. Cole Susice leads Mike Kramarz by 22 points heading into the final weekend of the season. The winner of the Mini Stock feature will take home $300. The Sportsman and Novice Sportsman drivers will also do battle in a special race.
Lap sponsorship for the BEI Lightning Sportsman race, King of the Hill Street Stock 75 and Mini Stock Season Championship race on Saturday is available for just $20 per lap. Lap sponsorship is a great way to promote your business and support Ransomville’s race teams. Contact Jenn Martin at the speedway office to sponsor a lap.
Pit gates on Saturday will open at 4 p.m. with grandstands opening at 5 p.m. Racing starts at 6:15 p.m. Grandstand admission is $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and students (ages 13-17 with valid school ID), $8 for children ages 9-12 and kids 8 and under are free. Pit admission is $27 for member, $32 for non-member.
