All Stars Doug Esh Tribute Race Is Friday At Williams Grove
Only appearance of season by All Stars celebrates career of “The Hammerâ€
May 26 holiday weekend kickoff is sprints only!
Mechanicsburg – Presented by HVAC Distributors Inc., Williams Grove Speedway will celebrate Memorial Day by kicking off the holiday weekend with the $10,000 to win Doug Esh Tribute Race for All Star sprint cars coming up this Friday night, May 26 at 7:30 pm.
The only appearance of the season by the All Stars Circuit of Champions Sprints at Williams Grove will serve to honor former throttle jockey “The Hammer,†Doug Esh of Lancaster.
Esh’s former car owners Dick and Leslie Leach and John Trone along with mechanics Dennis Kohler, Rob Peters and Jim Shreiner will gather for a special pre-race show in the infield beginning just after 5:30.
The special, high-dollar event will be another show in the 2023 Hoosier Diamond Series at the speedway.
Esh ended his run in the sport back on 2017 but not before leaving his mark on Williams Grove and the area in general.
One of his crowning achievements at Williams Grove was scoring the World of Outlaws National Open and the $50,000 top prize that accompanied it in 2006.
Esh’s win at that time was billed as the richest ever in track history, coming aboard the Leach No. 30.
In total, Doug Esh owns 60 career 410 sprint car wins, 24 of which came at Williams Grove Speedway,
Prior to 410s, Esh was successful in 358 sprint competition, recording 17 checkered flags in his career including five at Williams Grove.
Other notable wins in Esh’s Williams Grove career include triumphs in the Mitch Smith Memorial (2), Jack Gunn Memorial and The Tommy Classic.
He was the 2006 Diamond Series Champion at the track.
Fireworks will be part of the sprints only racing program.
All Stars winners at the track last season were Danny Dietrich (2), Brent Marks and Lance Dewease.
Event sponsor HVAC Distributors Inc. based in Mount Joy is a full-service wholesale distributor and manufacturers representative of residential and light commercial heating and air-conditioning equipment and accessories.
In business since 1987, HVAC Distributors Inc. serves the residential new construction, residential replacement and light commercial segments of the HVAC industry in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Northern Virginia, Eastern Ohio and Western New York.
Adult general admission for May 26 is $30 with students ages 13-20 admitted for $15.
Kids ages 12 and under are always free at Williams Grove Speedway.