Even though Maple Grove Raceway is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2012, the track continues to move forward with new events.

On Saturday and Sunday, May 19-20, The Grove will unveil its new Stock/Super Stock Shootout. It is a four-race series featuring the racers of the East Coast Stock/Super Stock Association.

There will be a race on Saturday and Sunday where drivers will accumulate points and a season champion will be crowned after the third and fourth races on Aug. 11 and 12, respectively.

The Shootout will be part of a busy weekend at Maple Grove as it gets ready to host the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series presented by Penske Truck Leasing over Memorial Day Weekend. More >

Winner Paul Werner, right, and runner-up John Grater.

It seemed like Paul Werner owned the Street Eliminator category at Maple Grove Raceway.

The veteran racer from Sinking Spring, Pa., who has been competing at The Grove since the early 1970s, saw his streak of season championships end last season as class newcomer Jake Knarr took top honors.

If Werner is looking to get back on top in 2012, he sure picked a great way to start. Back in his trademark blue Malibu station wagon, Werner won the season opener in the Sunoco Race Fuels Money Trail Saturday night at Maple Grove Raceway.

In the final, Werner beat another MGR veteran, John Grater (Zieglerville, Pa.), with a pass of 11.587 seconds at 114.69 mph. It helped that Werner was just .007 over his dial-in of 11.58 while Grater broke out.

Werner was also on target through eliminations, which was a big help. More >

ATI Performance Products has signed up as a contingency sponsor of Maple Grove Raceway’s Stock/Super Stock Shootout.

ATI will pay the winner of each race $200 and the runner-up will get $100. The series points winner will get a gift certificate for an ATI 8- or 9-inch converter.

The four-race series, which features cars from the East Coast Stock/Super Stock Association, kicks off on Saturday, May 19. The three other races are on May 20, Aug. 11 and Aug. 12.

A points fund will be created to pay the top five finishers in the series. Awards will be presented as part of the Money Trail Awards Banquet in February 2013. Points will be awarded based on the current Sunoco Race Fuels Money Trail ET point structure

The guaranteed purses and the entry fees for the series were also announced:

• $1,000         Winner
• $400            Runner up
• $200   Semifinalists
• $100   Quarterfinalists

Entry fee to race is $75 for one day and $140 for both days on a weekend. There is also a $25 Money Trail membership fee.

Crew and spectators are $15 per day, while children 12 and under are free.

When Maple Grove Park Drag-O-Way first opened in 1962, Alfred Stauffer had some help.

Looking for a safe place to race locally, the Eastern Custom Car Association helped convince Stauffer to take a piece of land that was being used by a motorcycle club for some dirt racing. They got together with some blueprints and the rest is history.

Maple Grove Raceway is celebrating its 50^th anniversary this season and the ECCA along with three other drag racing legends – Don “The Snake” Prudhomme, Raymond Beadle and Frank Hawley – will be inducted as part of MGR’s Walk of Fame Class of 2012. The induction will be part of the 50^th Anniversary Spectacular on June 23. More >

When the Sunoco Race Fuels Money Trail opens its 2012 season on Saturday, the first of several 50th anniversary trophies will be awarded.

The unique trophy, fabricated by S&W Race Cars of Spring City, Pa., incorporates the special logo Maple Grove is using for its 50^th anniversary season. The award will be presented one time to winners in Super, Pro, Street, Top Bike and Junior Dragster classes.

Champions at other events throughout the year, including Mega MOPAR Action (June 9-10), the Super Chevy Show (July 20-22) and Fun Ford Weekend (Aug. 18-19), will also receive the trophy.

A bigger version will be awarded at the 50^th Anniversary Spectacular on June 23.

Maple Grove Raceway’s local racers will be featured for the first time this weekend as both Auto Locator Grudge Racing and the Sunoco Race Fuels Money Trail will be run for he first time in 2012.

The weekend kicks off Friday night, May 11, with the season debut of Auto Locator Grudge Racing along with its companion Run Tuff race. Those wanting to see what their car can do on a racetrack are welcome to enter Maple Grove’s gates after 4 p.m. Racing begins promptly at 5. Admission is $20 for street driven cars and $25 for entries on a trailer. Spectators are $10 with children 12 and under free.

Saturday, May 12, will be Opening Day for the ’12 Money Trail, the first of 16 races this season. More >