By: Mike Ackelson
September 1, 2026 – For Immediate Release:

THE COUNTDOWN IS ON: TRI-CITY RACEWAY PARK UNLEASHES THREE-DAY OIL REGION CLASSIC WEEKEND SEPTEMBER 4TH–6TH!
FRANKLIN, PA — Get ready, race fans! The ultimate holiday racing tradition of the season is just around the corner as Tri-City Raceway Park gears up for the massive, three-day Oil Region Classic weekend. This spectacular holiday event features a full weekend of high-octane racing, touring series showdowns, and unmatched entertainment.
Friday, September 4th: Open Practice & King of the Hill
The weekend roars to life Friday night with Open Practice for all car divisions. This gives drivers from every class a prime opportunity to shake down their cars, tune their machines, and dial in their lines for the big weekend ahead.
The Royal Battle: The 1st Annual Bob Tarr Memorial King of the Hill
While drivers utilize the open track time, the definitive highlight of Friday night belongs to the hard-hitting Pro Stock Division. Drivers will go head-to-head in a thrilling tournament for the 1st Annual Bob Tarr Memorial King of the Hill. With a total purse exceeding $2,000, the competition will be fierce. The winner will pocket a cool $700, with a great payback structured down the line:
1st Place: $700
2nd Place: $300
3rd Place: $200
4th Place: $150
5th Place: $110
6th & 7th Place: $100 each
8th through 14th Place: $50 each
The Party Continues: Camping, Cornhole, and Live Music!
The excitement doesn’t stop when the engines shut down. Once the on-track action concludes, the party shifts into high gear at the pavilion. Race fans and teams are invited to stick around for an after-hours celebration featuring a live band, finger foods, and friendly cornhole matchups under the campground lights. Pack up the gear and stay the night, as camping is fully open Friday night!
A Special Thank You to Our Friday Night Sponsors
This opening night is made possible by the incredible generosity of our marketing partners. Tri-City Raceway Park extends a massive thank you to our Friday night sponsors: Billy’s Garage (Billy Myers), CBS Heating and Cooling, Mark McIver / Schaeffer’s Specialized Lubricants, Jenny’s Dream (Tracy Rivers & David Waters), EMCO Machine Tool Services (Curtis Emings), and Bernards Electrical Services and Troubleshooting (Matt Bernard).
Saturday, September 5th: The 9th Annual Ray’s Race
The momentum shifts into overdrive on Saturday as Tri-City hosts an action-packed night of high-octane racing headlined by the prestigious 9th Annual Ray’s Race for Pro Stocks, alongside the thunderous BRP Big Block Modified Tour and the RUSH Sprint Cars.
The Headliner: 9th Annual Ray’s Race (40 Laps)
Held in loving memory of Ray Virgile, this 40-lap crown jewel event has become one of the most coveted prizes in Pro Stock racing. Chris Schneider stands alone as the only repeat winner (2022 and 2024). A stellar list of past champions—including Andrew Gordon, Tim Bish, Noah Brunell, Curt J. Bish, Tyler Dietz, and Jackson Humanic—all know the thrill of taking this prestigious checkered flag.
An ever-growing Pro Stock purse awaits the grid, featuring $2,011 to win and a fantastic $275 just to start the feature event. The extra cash starts flowing the second cars hit the track, as all Saturday heat races will pay cold hard CASH ($100 for 1st, $50 for 2nd, $25 for 3rd, and $25 for 4th), courtesy of B.Brad Automotive Detailing (Bryan Beggs), Mark McIver / Schaeffer’s Specialized Lubricants, Shiffer Drilling (Tim & Cindy Shiffer), and EMCO Machine Tool Services (Curtis Emings).
Thanks to the unmatched generosity of the racing community, thousands of dollars in cash bonuses and product giveaways have been added to Saturday’s program:
Fast Qualifier Bonus: $111 from Max Blair / Blair Motorsports
Hard Charger Award: $150 from Sam Snyder / Snyder Lawncare and Landscaping
Highest Non-Regular Tri-City Racer: $100 from Slider Chassis / Bobby Whitling
Collision Compensation Payout: $100 from Norman Griffin / Griffin Collision and Design
Mystery Track Position Bonuses: Extra $100 from Jenny’s Dream and an extra $100 from Mini Mike / Dickinson Construction.
Purse Boosters: Additional cash pumped in by Gibson Hill Automotive (Rod & Autumn Laskey), PJ’s Concrete (Pat Fielding), Bernards Electrical Services, and Les Friction Lubricants (Travis Harry).
The Heavy Hitters & Winged Warriors
The BRP Big Block Modified Tour beasts return to the half-mile oval. Points leader Erick Rudolph hunts for his seventh career tour win here, defending race winner Tyler Willard looks to repeat, and Rex King Jr. aims to extend his incredible tour winning streak to four consecutive years at the track. Rounding out Saturday, the 21st Century Energy Group RUSH Sprint Cars battle for a $1,000 top prize, where Track Champion Blaze Myers chases his seventh win of the season against a hungry Gale Ruth Jr. (seeking win number four).
RK Virgile Pro Stocks Ray’s Race Payout: 1. $2,011 2. $1075 3. $875 4. $675 5. $475 6. $425 7. $375 8. $350 9. $325 10. $300 11. Thru 24. $275
BRP Modifieds Payout: 1. $2,500 2. $1,220 3. $1,020 4. $720 5. $620 6. $540 7. $470 8. $420 9. $380 10. $350 11. $340 12. $330 13. $320 14. $310 15. $300 16. $280 17. Thru 24. $250 Tow $125/$100
21st Century Energy Group RUSH Sprint Cars Payout: 1. $1,000 2. $600 3. $500 4. $300 5. $250 6. $220 7. $210 8. $205 9. $200 10. $195 11. $190 12. $185 13. $180 14. Thru 24. $175 Tow $150
Sunday, September 6th: The Grand Finale
The ultimate exclamation point on the holiday weekend takes place Sunday night with a blockbuster four-division card featuring high-dollar purses and historic milestones. All the action gets underway at 6:00 PM.
Hovis Auto & Truck 410 Sprint Cars ($4,000 to Win)
The winged warriors headline Sunday’s finale, gunning for a massive $4,000 top prize. This historic evening marks the 498th time since 1968 that the 410 Sprints have competed on the Tri-City half-mile, a legacy that boasts 104 different winners. This season, Brandon Spithaler has been the absolute man to beat with four victories, while veteran Bob Felmlee has claimed three. With a half-dozen other drivers holding checkered flags this year, the battle for the 498th historic victory will be legendary.
RUSH Touring Late Model Series ($4,000 to Win)
The best crate late model drivers in the region roll into town for their own $4,000-to-win touring showdown. Parity has been the name of the game, with three different winners in the last three RUSH Series events held at the track. Kyle Hardy and Daryl Charlier split the victories in 2025, while young gun Brock Pinkerous parked it in victory lane in 2024.
Econo Mod Mania Tour ($1,000 to Win)
After suffering the heartbreak of having their first two scheduled events rained out this season, the Econo Mod Mania Tour is finally ready to unleash down the straightaways for a $1,000 winner’s prize. This highly anticipated event marks the first Econo Mod race at Tri-City since 2018, when Jacob Eucker earned the victory. Prior to that, Josh Ferry conquered the division in 2015.
Complete Car Care Center RUSH Stock Cars ($400 to Win)
Rounding out the spectacular three-day weekend are the RUSH Stock Cars running for a $400 first-place prize. William Baker has been dominant this summer, winning an incredible seven out of eleven feature races. Looking to play spoiler is Raiddan Wilson, who has already pocketed a pair of wins this year and wants nothing more than to cap off the holiday weekend in victory lane.
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply 410 Sprints Payout – 1. $4,000 2. $1,800 3. $1,300 4. $1,000 5. $900 6. $800 7. $700 8. $600 9. $550 10. $500 11. $450 12. $425 13. $410 14. $400 15. $375 16. Thru 24. $300 Tow $150
RUSH Late Model Touring Series Payout: 1. $4,000 2. $2,000 3. $1,000 4. 800 5. $700 6. $600 7. $550 8. $500 9. $475 10. $450 11. $425 12. $400 13. $375 14. $360 15. $350 16. $340 17. $330 18. $320 19. $310 20. Thru 24. $300
RUSH Late Model Non-Qualifier Race: 1. $200 2. $190 3. $185 $. $180 5. $175 6. $170 7. $165 8. $160 9. $155 10. Thru 24. $150
Econo Mod Maina Tour Payout: 1. $1,000, 2. $600, 3. $400, 4. $350, 5. $300, 6. $270, 7. $230, 8. $225, 9. $210, 10. $200, 11. $190, 12. $185, 13. $180, 14. $175, 15. $165, 16. $160, 17. $150, 18. $140, 19. $130, 20. $125 21 thru 24. $100

Complete Car Care Center RUSH Stock Cars Payout – 1. $400 2. $300 3. $200 4. $150 5. $125 6. $110 7. $105 8. $100 9. $95 10. $90 11. $85 12. $80 13.Thru 24. $75, Tow Money $50
Tri City Raceway Park Ticket Pricing
Friday September 4
General Admission – Free
Pit Passes $25.00

Saturday September 5
General Admission
Adults (17+) $20.00
Students / Seniors/ Military $13.00
Kids 10 and Under FREE
Pit Passes (3+) $40.00

Sunday September 6
General Admission
Adults 17+ $20
Students / Seniors/ Military $13.00
Kids 10 and Under FREE
Pit Passes $45.00

Race Day Information at Tri City Raceway Park
Fridays: Practice starts at 7:00 PM
Saturday Racing starts at 6:30 PM
Sundays: Racing starts at 6:00 PM
Pit Gates Open at 3:00 pm
Grandstands Gates Open at 4:00 pm

Marsh Heating and Cooling Heat Race Challenge:
For the second straight season we’re compiling all the prelim winner on a list, the overall winner will receive $100.00, and a plaque and annual awards banquet. It all comes down to the final weekend with Raiddan Wilson has sole possession of first place with a half dozen preliminary checkers. Blaze Myers the 2025 champion is trails by a race with five wins, as does Brandon Matus, Zach Morrow and William Baker Jr. Bob Felmlee, Gale Ruth Jr. and Pat Fielding each have four wins. Matt Farnham, Bobby Whitling, Jordan Wheeler and Rod Laskey each have three wins. AJ Flick, Jeremy Weaver, Jeremy Kornbau, Logan McCandless, Curt J Bish, Josh Seippel, Jake Whitling, Joe Buccola and Lucas Roessner each have a pair of checkers. Nathan McDowell, Danny Sams III, Jonah Aumend, Jared Zimbardi, John Jerich, Ricky Peterson Jr., Andy Buckley, Rex King Jr., Jeremy Paup, Kyle Fink, Jacob Rutana, Todd English, Jason Black, Dalton Rombaugh, Cooper Macormac, Logan Lockhart, Max Blair, Jon Lee and Jacob Wheeler all have one win.

Marketing Partners
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply, 21st Century Energy Group, RK Virgile Iron & Steel, Complete Car Care Center, Marsh Heating & Cooling, Erie Beer, KEI Klapec Express Trucking, Shambaugh Towing, McCandless Ford, United Community Independence Program, Close Racing Supply, Schaeffer’s Oil, BKI Bert Klapec INC, Clarion County Community Bank, McCandless Trailer Sales, Heffren Septic systems, Gates & Burns Reality, Bernards Electrical Service & Troubleshooting, Sunbelt Rental Meadville, MAD Tree Service, Friedhaber’s Appliances, PJ’S Excavating & Concrete, Top Notch Tree and Stump Services, Vape Shop & Game Room, Tionesta Builders Supply, First Rate Reality, Log Cabin Restaurant, MAD MAC BBQ, Bish Heating and Cooling, Forbidden Fantasies Adult Cabaret, Triple Sanitation, Franklin Service & Supply and Oil Creek Family Campground, Flea Flickers, Allegheny Toyota, American Legion Post 0334
Tri-City Raceway Park is proudly owned and operated by Josh and Kyrsten Shiffer and is located at 3430 State Route 417 in Franklin, Pennsylvania. The historic half-mile dirt oval offers competitive racing and special events in a welcoming, family-oriented atmosphere.

For the complete 2026 schedule, ticket information, and updates throughout the season, visit http://www.racetri-city.com and follow Tri-City Raceway Park on Facebook.