Williams Grove Speedway will close out its 2026 season in a big way with the 64th running of the J & S Classics National Open for the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series on Friday and Saturday, October 2-3.
Racing is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. both nights at the historic Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania half-mile, with Saturday's 40-lap finale paying $75,000 to win. Friday's 25-lap preliminary will pay $12,000 to win.
A crown-jewel weekend
The National Open remains one of the marquee sprint car events in the country, traditionally mentioned alongside the Knoxville Nationals and Kings Royal. A deep field of regional and national teams is expected as Pennsylvania's best square off with the World of Outlaws.
Saturday's program will also determine the 2026 Lawrence Chevrolet 410 Sprint Car track champion.
Local contenders ready for the challenge
York's Chase Dietz enters the weekend as one of the leading local threats after a career season that has produced 22 overall victories. Dietz also tuned up for the National Open with his third Williams Grove victory of the year on Friday night.
Points leader Troy Wagaman Jr., Danny Dietrich and Logan Rumsey are among the other Pennsylvania drivers expected to factor into the weekend.
Outlaws bring serious firepower
World of Outlaws points leader David Gravel arrives as one of the headline names. Gravel has already won two major Williams Grove events this season and owns previous National Open victories from 2014 and 2017.
Buddy Kofoid, defending National Open champion Sheldon Haudenschild, Carson Macedo and six-time National Open winner Donny Schatz are also among the major names expected to contend.
Other anticipated entries include Oregon's Tanner Holmes in the Buch No. 13 and Daryn Pittman in the Kreitz No. 69K.
Tickets and weekend details
- Friday, Oct. 2: Adult general admission $40; youth ages 13-20 $20.
- Saturday, Oct. 3: Adult general admission $50; youth ages 13-20 $20.
- Kids 12 and under: Free both nights.
- Start time: 7:30 p.m. each night.
- Fireworks: Scheduled both nights.
- Rain date for Saturday's 40-lap finale: Oct. 4.
For fans of Pennsylvania sprint car racing, this is the final Williams Grove weekend of the season and one of the biggest events on the regional calendar.
Source: Williams Grove Speedway press release, submitted by Shawn Brouse.
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