By The Daily Item

SELINSGROVE -- The seventh annual Firecracker 30 for the 358 sprint cars will be held Saturday at Selinsgrove Speedway, paying $2,000 to win. The speedway will use its weekly handicapping system based on point averages, to set the starting lineup for the 30-lap feature.

Past winners of the Firecracker race as a 40-lap contest include Jim Nace, of Thompsontown (2002), Bob Beidleman, of Walnutport (2003), Dave Calaman, of Carlisle (2004), Nate Snyder, Halifax (2005), and Blane Heimbach, of Selinsgrove (2006). Last year, the race was reduced to a 30-lap feature and was won by Calaman.

Also on the racing card will be the late models, pro stocks, roadrunners and a fireworks display.

CHALLENGE RACE: The Port Royal Challenge race for 410 sprint cars will be held on Saturday following last week's rainout for the event. The 25-lap feature, which pays $5,000 to win, will see drivers also having a chance to win a J&J racing chassis. Gates open at 5 p.m. with racing at 7 p.m. The pro stock and enduro cars will make up the remainder of the racing card.

SPORTSMAN SPECIAL: The only appearance of the year for the Crate sportsman modifieds at the Clinton County Raceway is tonight. They join the sprint cars, pro stocks and 4-cylinders for a four-division card. The class is identical to a 358 modified except they use a sealed General Motors crate motor with a rev limiter chip that allows a maximum of 6,200 RPMs.

GIVE A GIFT: It's give a pint of blood night' at Big Diamond Raceway this evening. All blood donors will be given a $5 food voucher to the track's refreshment stand. The track will present a four-division race card of 358 modifieds, sportsman modifieds, roadrunners, and 600 modifieds.

GONE TO CAROLINA: The ARDC Midget series is in North Carolina tonight for its annual two-day Southern Swing' at Dixieland Raceway in Elizabeth City and Countyline Raceway in Rocky Mount on Saturday. Randy Monroe Jr., leads the points by 37 markers over Brett Arndt. Selinsgrove resident Steve Lenig, who finished fourth Sunday at Susquehanna Speedway, is 11th in points.

TWIN 20s: The Saturday Night Series continues at Williams Grove Speedway on Saturday with twin 20-lap features for the super sportsman. In addition, the limited late models, enduro cars and street stocks will also be part of the program which starts at 7 p.m.

THE STREAK: In 1974, Ray Stevens had a hit called The Streak,' but currently, the All Star Circuits of Champions are on a streak they might want to forget. Following last weekend's Central Pennsylvania appearance, the All Stars are now 0-for-20 lifetime against the PA Posse. The 20th win was recorded by Selinsgrove's Mark Smith on Sunday night at Central PA Speedway.

KEYSTONE REGULARS DO WELL: Drivers from Pennsylvania had some success in two major racing events June 18. At Sharon Speedway in Ohio, Fred Rahmer, Salfordville, finished eighth and Selinsgrove Speedway regular Davey Franek, of Lafayette, N.J., was 24th in a 360 sprint car feature. In World of Outlaws late model feature action at Port Royal Speedway, Rick Eckert of York finished 11th; Selinsgrove regular Jeff Smith, Blain, 12th; Port Royal regular Scotty Haus, Hamburg, 14th; and Selinsgrove's Jim Yoder was 23rd.