Danica Patrick's boyfriend to be at Mahoning Valley Speedway tonight

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/

FROM KEITH GROLLER

Who knows? Maybe Danica Patrick will be spending her Saturday in the Lehighton area.

Her boyfriend defnitely will be.

Here's a release from Mahoning Valley Speedway regarding a rare NASCAR appearance at Mahoning Valley Speedway.

NASCAR Star Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Will Race a Modified at Mahoning Valley Speedway Saturday Night

(LEHIGHTON, PA 6-7-13) It has just been confirmed that NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., is coming to Mahoning Valley Speedway on Saturday night, June 8 and will be racing a Modified.

Thanks in part to the efforts of reining track champion Earl Paules, a Modified will be at the ready for Stenhouse. The Olive Branch, MS native is taking the opportunity to come to the Lehighton paved quarter mile oval while he is at Pocono Raceway for this weekend’s Party in the Pocono’s 400 presented by Walmart.

Running a tight bullring such as Mahoning Valley Speedway is nothing new for Stenhouse. He went from the Southern-based United Sprint Car Series to the popular levels of the United States Auto Club. Then, after he posted gaudy numbers in USAC and was named the top rookie in USAC’s National Sprint and Midget Car series in 2007.

In 2008, he barely missed a championship in the ARCA Racing Series, leading the point standings for 13 weeks before being carelessly knocked out in the season finale.

That same year he won one of the closest stock car races ever run at Pocono when he fought off Justin Lofton and Rob Brent in a wild three-car last lap shootout and won by a mere .601-second margin of victory.

Stenhouse was the 2010 Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year and won back-to-back Nationwide Series championships in 2011 and 2012.

He is now vying for the Rookie of the Year in the Sprint Cup Series and leads in that category over Danica Patrick whom he just happens to be dating. He’ll start on the outside of row eight in Sunday’s 400 at Pocono driving the No. 17 Valvoline Ford for Roush Fenway Racing

It is Fan Appreciation Night at Mahoning Valley Speedway. General admission is just $8. Prizes and giveaways will be held all evening along and during intermission there will be an autograph and greet session with all of the driver’s and their cars on the front straight. The band A.D.D. will also be playing.

Pit gates open at noon. There will be early paid practice from 12:30 to 3:00 at $25.00 per car. Regular warm-ups will be held from 4:00 – 5:00. Racing begins at 6:00. In action will be Modifieds, Late Models, Street Stocks, Dirt Mods, Pro 4s and Hobby Stocks plus Micro Stocks.

Mahoning Valley Speedway is located on PA route 443, two miles west of Lehighton. Additional info can be found on the track’s website atwww.mahoningvalley-speedway.com  Also on Facebook at Mahoning Valley Speedway.