The style and flair that the 28th annual National Open will sport this year in honor of the late Jim Nace is reminiscent of the late Central Pennsylvania powerhouse racer himself. And that fact is not lost on those who will compete in his memory this weekend.
The career of 40-year veteran Keith Kauffman of Mifflintown and Nace’s career began at about the same time and the pair raced each other hard through the years.
“Jim was a diehard racer. He loved the race cars, he loved to race, and that’s just it,” Kauffman says.
“Racing was a big thing in his life and very important to him so I hope people try to remember that.
“He was one of the better story tellers and he could remember everything too. He just loved racing, loved the people, he loved the racetracks and was just a super great guy,” the 60-year old racer remembers.
Veteran Fred Rahmer of Salfordville began his sprint racing career in the 1980s while Nace was already entrenched.
“He always was upbeat and a great racer and a good person. He always had some one-liners,” Rahmer happily recalls.
“I remember at Selinsgrove, coming off of (turn) two used to be real tight, and he used to tell me, ‘If you’re not by me by here, you’ll be here when I drive by.’ ”
“He was a really good competitor and a really great guy. And his passing is one of the sadder things in racing that I’ve seen since I’ve been racing. Losing him was terrible,” reflects Rahmer.
“When I came into the sport, he was at his peak. And it was a level I couldn’t race at for a long, long time and I tried to show him as much respect as I could and he surely deserved it and still does.
“He was a really good racer, a really good guy and really good for the sport,” Rahmer added. Fan friendly, a good person, a super guy. He ranks right up there.”
Shawn Brouse on Motorsports
Racers remember Jim Nace
- Shawn Brouse on Motorsports
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Boland driving where he can
Matt Boland of Dover, he's a travelin' man. Boland has spent the last decade competing in 358 sprints, traveling up and down the road to midstate ovals with limited success at best.
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2010 season in review
The season is almost over — time for a look back. It was the season Goodyear tires became mandated for 410 sprints. In the end, many drivers faulted them, but some had praise and the outcome in general was better racing for the fans.
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Tires suit Dewease
With the season now nearly over, don’t try to tell veteran 410-sprint-driver Lance Dewease that the change from mandated Hoosier tires to Goodyears in the area hasn’t been for the better in some ways.
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Jim Nace would be proud of this Speedway event
Selinsgrove Speedway revived its National Open for 410 sprint cars Saturday night with the 28th annual running of the event in honor of late champion Jim Nace. Nace’s wife Chrystal called the turnout of 39 cars and legions of fans “incredible.”
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Layton hopes for happy return to Selinsgrove
The 28th annual Jim Nace Memorial National Open for 410 sprints slated for Saturday night at Selinsgrove Speedway is going to be special, in many ways.
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Racers remember Jim Nace
The style and flair that the 28th annual National Open will sport this year in honor of the late Jim Nace is reminiscent of the late Central Pennsylvania powerhouse racer himself. And that fact is not lost on those who will compete in his memory this weekend.
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Open a tribute to Nace
One of the most innovative and interesting races to hit the area in quite a while is set for Selinsgrove Speedway this Saturday, as the 28th annual Jim Nace Memorial National Open for 410 sprints is spun off.
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Open a big hit for fans
The Selinsgrove Speedway 358/360 National Open for sprint cars was a hit for the fans Saturday night as a stellar field of 48 cars signed in, providing exciting action in the heats as well as throughout the feature.
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A September to remember
An upcoming threeweekend stretch spanning the majority of September offers up a battery of can’t miss races that all should have on their schedule as the season heads toward its conclusion.
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Point races remain tight
Points races are heating up in the sprint car divisions at both Selinsgrove and Port Royal speedways and the opportunities to claim the title are getting fewer and fewer.
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Boland driving where he can
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