Williams Grove Speedway will add another chapter to its National Open history on Friday, October 2, when the National Open Preliminary is contested for the 40th time.
The 25-lap preliminary has built a history of its own alongside Saturday’s National Open. The race first appeared in 1980, when Keith Kauffman won in the Weikert Livestock No. 29, and over the decades it has produced everything from weekend sweeps to milestone victories.
A race with its own history
Ten preliminary winners have gone on to win the National Open the following night, including Lynn Paxton, Doug Wolfgang, Stevie Smith, Steve Kinser, Mark Kinser, Lance Dewease, Sammy Swindell, Jason Meyers and David Gravel. Dewease has accomplished the sweep twice.
No driver has dominated the preliminary on the same scale as some of the National Open’s all-time standouts. Kauffman, Steve Kinser, Gravel and Dewease share the lead with three preliminary victories apiece.
The event has also produced several notable firsts. Jason Solwold’s 2006 win made him the first true independent driver to win a World of Outlaws feature at Williams Grove. In 2018, Giovanni Scelzi became the youngest sprint car winner in track history at age 16. Kyle Larson added his name to the list in 2021 before later securing the NASCAR Cup Series championship that season.
Recent years
Weather has shaped several recent editions. The 2022 race was called official after 10 laps because of persistent light rain, making it the shortest preliminary in event history. The 2023 and 2024 features were both pushed to Saturday, with Brad Sweet and Buddy Kofoid eventually taking those wins.
Last year, the PA Posse controlled the front of the field as Chase Dietz, Lance Dewease and Danny Dietrich swept the podium, with local drivers claiming four of the top five positions.
Friday night details
The 40th National Open Preliminary is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, October 2. The winner will earn $12,000.
Friday admission is $40 for adults and $20 for youth, while children 12 and under are admitted free. Fireworks are also scheduled as part of the program.
The preliminary leads into Saturday’s 64th J & S Classics National Open, which pays $75,000 to win.
Source: Williams Grove Speedway press release, September 29, 2026.
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