There’s a new big-dollar race for sport compacts: the Keystone Clash. It’ll pay $50,000 to win, with $120,000-plus offered among the feature and non-qualifiers’ races. Pennsylvania’s Lincoln Speedway will host the SCDRA Northeast race July 31-August 2.
It’s the brainchild of SCDRA Northeast promoter Erica Duvall. The day before Thanksgiving, Duvall met with Brian Racine of the local Berwick Township and Lincoln Speedway’s Jerry Parrish. She told them of her plans for a big sport compact race. They were quick to get on board with the idea.
With the track now in place, next comes the purse, and with a big purse, there is also a big entry fee: $600.
“We are offering payment methods for the entry fee — all a driver has to do is call me,” Duvall said. “A driver can make their own payment arrangement — even 10 or more payments — using Venmo, PayPal or Cash App.”
With diesel prices at $5-plus per gallon, Duvall has a plan to help defray the costs of getting to the race. She paired up with Tabi’s Smell Good to create air fresheners that incorporate a driver’s car and number. Simply send Duvall a photo and she’ll create an air freshener design. Selling for $15, $5 of each sale goes to the driver. She has a similar plan with Burnin’ Hollow Hot Sauce Co.
Duvall continues to grow the contingency prize sponsors, too, with more than 40 onboard with four months yet to go until the race.
“Every bit of money we receive for the Keystone Clash will go back to the drivers,” Duvall said “This week, we announced a $20,000 purse for the non-qualifiers’ races. The first 60 cars registered are eligible for a spot in the non-qualifiers’ race if they don’t qualify for the Keystone Clash. With 32 cars starting the Clash and 30 in two non-qualifiers’ races, 92 cars will be paid on race day.”
And paid they will be, Duvall insisted. Many drivers still have memories of the $100,000-to-win sport compact race at Kokomo Speedway promoted last year by XR. Several drivers complained that have yet to receive their winnings. Duvall pledges transparency.
“I strive for 100% transparency,” Duvall said. “I’ve gone as far as posting screenshots of bank statements on Facebook. I want to show drivers how much money comes in and where that money goes.”
That strategy has seemed to ease the concerns of drivers, as more than 100 drivers have registered, Duvall said. She hopes to have 200 drivers compete in the Keystone Clash.
Mike Adaskaveg has written hundreds of stories since the website’s inception. This year marks his 54th year of covering auto racing. Adaskaveg got his start working for track photographer Lloyd Burnham at Connecticut’s Stafford Motor Speedway in 1970. Since then, he’s been a columnist, writer, and photographer, in racing and in mainstream media, for several outlets, including the Journal Inquirer, Boston Herald, Stock Car Racing, and Speedway Illustrated. Among Adaskaveg’s many awards are the 1992 Eastern Motorsport Press Association (EMPA) Ace Lane Photographer of the Year and the 2019 National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) George Cunningham Writer of the Year.
