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HOME, SWEET HOME: Curt Michael Ready For Friday URC 360 Sprint Car Invasion Of Georgetown Speedway

By Marshall Gabell

GEORGETOWN, DE - Home, sweet home.

For nine-time United Racing Club (URC) 360 Sprint Cars champion Curt Michael, this weekends event at the historic Georgetown Speedway has been circled on his calendar as both a homecoming for the Ocean View, Del. resident and a chance for him to capture his first win of the season.

Residing just 30 minutes from the half-mile dirt track, Michael has honed his talents on the Georgetown, Del. track, all the way back to the 1995 season when the track was under previous ownership -- at the time named Seacoast Speedway.

During that season, Michael competed in six 358 Sprint Car races at Georgetown and triumphed in four of them. Following the success at his home track, the hotshoe made his leap to the United Racing Club, where championships and multiple wins have followed.

On Friday, the 44-year-old veteran will be making his return to the The First State, looking for his first URC Sprint Car win this season to help ignite his chase towards another championship.

It means a lot to come back (to Georgetown), Michael said. Georgetown Speedway has played a huge part in my racing career. It was actually the first place I ever raced a sprint car at. I started racing 358 Sprint Cars there when it was Seacoast Speedway.

But, I really grew up there watching. I was born in Allentown, Pa., but I spent the summers in Delaware -- and we used to go to Georgetown and Delaware International to watch all the time. Plus, now, it is only a half hour from where I live.

With the event being as close to home as it is for him, Michael will also be greeted with old friends, neighbors and family members that rarely are able to attend his races due to the long traveling distances he makes to compete in them -- giving him even more motivation to chase down a victory.

It is great being so close to home, Michael said. Actually, the best part is that family is able to attend. When I go racing, I am usually alone because the tracks are three or four hours from the house -- and I spend the entire weekend racing. So, it is really nice to see family be able to come, including my wife and daughter.

Then, we have friends, who never really get to see the races, that will be able to watch this weekend. We also have our sponsor, Krueger Trailers, who are located in Georgetown, that will be at the track.

Given the circumstances, with Georgetown being his home track and having ample supporters in the area, Michael is also looking to control the pressure -- as his expectations are higher than normal for the No. 5G Valley Forge Inc./Krueger Trailers team.

I always have high expectations for our team, Michael expressed. But, I do put a little more pressure on myself going to the home track. I have won a lot here too, so ... We always have seemed to do well at the local tracks, so it feels good to get back to [our roots].

This weekends race will also mark Michaels second appearance at Georgetown since Short Track Super Series founder and big block modified enthusiast Brett Deyo took ownership of the track following the 2015 season.

In just a few months since Deyo took the helm at Georgetown, Michael has been impressed with the improvements made to his hometrack and is looking forward to what the future has in store for the circuit.

I talk to [Brett Deyo] often, Michael said. When I am up in Georgetown, I always stop and see what new has been done. He has done a heck of a job with the place. The place needed someone to give it a little love. It seems like the people in Georgetown wanted a successful race track, and they just needed someone like Brett to help it get back to 100 percent.

Michael and his fellow URC 360 Sprint Car competitors will be able to see the newest additions to the track when the pit gates open at 4 p.m. Eastern, with grandstand gates opening at 5 p.m. on Friday.

Track run-in is scheduled to start at 6:20 p.m., with heat races slated for 7:15 p.m. on the action-packed night.

Along with the URC 360 Sprint Cars, the Big Block Modifieds, Crate 602 Sportsmans, Southern Delaware Vintage Stock Cars, Delmarva Chargers, and Delaware Super Trucks are also on the card for the night.

Adult grandstand admission is $18. Senior (ages 65 and up) and student (ages 13-17) tickets are $14. Kids 9-12 are $10 and children eight and under get in FREE. Pit passes are $30, with no license required.

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