---

For The First Time Since 2009, Stewart Friesen Set To Compete In Delaware At March 12 Georgetown Speedway Melvin L. Joseph Memorial; Friesen To Chase

GEORGETOWN, DE €“ Stewart Friesen makes his living behind the wheel of a dirt Modified, often racing more than 100 times in a single season.

He has not, however, turned a lap in the state of Delaware since 2009 during a stint as Maryland car owner Will Browns hired driver. Friesen, a native of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., who now resides in Sprakers, N.Y., will change that on Saturday, March 12 when he heads to the First State for the Melvin L. Joseph Memorial at Georgetown Speedway.

Friesen, whose most recent Delaware start resulted in a second-place finish at Delaware International Speedway in November 2009, circled the Georgetown date on his calendar since the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By VP event was announced last fall.

I was there once I think, with Will (Brown), Friesen said. Its been a while. I know that. But Im looking forward to it.

Friesen, who led the Northeast with 34 victories in Modified and Sprint Car competition last year, has been brushing up on his Georgetown knowledge by watching YouTube videos of the half-mile track.

The track looks fast, and definitely racy, Friesen said, noting hell be heading south with both a big- and small-block combination in his Halmar International race teams hauler.

I hope it goes better for me this time, Friesen said with a laugh. If I remember right, I hit an infield tire off turn two and didnt finish the last time I raced there.

Friesen looks toward his first season driving for Chris Larsens potent Halmar-backed race team. He kicked off his 2016 season in Florida at Volusia Speedway Park with four nights of racing. He never finished outside the top-six and ended the mini-series with a runner-up finish in the 50-lap finale.

We got some notes to build on in Florida I think we can apply for the rest of the year, he said.

Last season, Friesen won the STSS North Region championship, picking up four series wins (New Yorks Orange County, I-88, Woodhull and Thunder Mountain) en route to the title.

In 16, Friesen plans to not only defend his crown in the Halmar International North Region; he will also chase points in the Velocita South Region, which kicks off at Georgetown.

I put my schedule together and Im planning to run both regions, Friesen said. The point fund and payout for the series is good and the dates work out for us to be able to chase the North and South championships.

Georgetown roars to life on Saturday, March 5 with an open practice. Gates open at 1 p.m. and cars hit the track at 3 p.m. Grandstand admission is FREE and pit admission is $20.

The Melvin L. Joseph Memorial Race weekend is set for Friday-Saturday March 11-12.

On Friday (March 11) open practice is planned. Gates open at 4 p.m. with practice at 6:30 p.m. Grandstand admission is FREE. Pit admission is $20.

The grand reopening of the fabled Georgetown Speedway is Saturday, March 12 with the Melvin L. Joseph Memorial. The Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By VP big-block/small-block Modifieds race 49 laps for $4,900 to win, $1,000 for 10th and $490 to take the green flag. This event is Round No. 1 of the seven-race STSS Velocita South Region with a total point fund of more than $25,000.

Also on the March 12 card: Crate 602 Sportsman, Southern Delaware Vintage Stock Cars, Little Lincolns, Delmarva Chargers and Delaware Super Trucks.

On Saturday (March 12), pit gates open at 11 a.m. and grandstand gates are unlocked at noon. The drivers meeting takes place at 2:30 p.m., with hot laps at 3 p.m. and racing at 4 p.m.

Admission is $20 for Adults. Seniors (ages 65 and up) and Students (ages 13-17) pay $16. Kids 9-12 are $10 and those under eight are admitted FREE. Pit admission is $35 (ages 13 and up), $10 for Kids 6-12 and $2 for those five and under.

A Sunday, March 13 rain date for the Melvin L. Joseph Memorial will be utilized if needed.

Georgetown Speedway, originally constructed by Melvin L. Joseph in 1950, is located at the intersection of Route 113 and Speedway Road in Georgetown, Del., just miles from the Delaware beaches and less than a 40-minute drive from Ocean City, Md.

A new website is live for the speedway at www.thegeorgetownspeedway.com. Like Georgetown Speedway on Facebook, follow @thegtownspdwy on Twitter, e-mail georgetownspeedway@gmail.com or contact Brett Deyo at 845.728.2781 during business hours for more information.

To learn more about the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP or BD Motorsports Media LLC, visit www.shorttracksuperseries.com or www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com, call 845.728.2781 during business hours, e-mail bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com, like Short Track Super Series on Facebook or follow @ShortTrackSS on Twitter.

The 2016 Short Track Super Series is presented by American Racer/Lias Tire, VP Racing Fuel, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, Halmar International, Allstar Performance, ATL Racing Fuel Cells, Behrents Performance Warehouse, Bicknell Racing Products, Dirt Track Digest, Fast Axle, Fox Racing Shocks, Hig Fab, Henrys Exhaust, HyperCo, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, Race Pro Weekly, Racing Optics, Teo-Pro Car, Vahlco Wheels & Velocita

Back to News