The third annual Sam Stringer Memorial should have a huge car count

Pahrump Valley Speedway fans fasten your belts because this year’s Sam Stringer Memorial race will be one to remember. This should be one of the biggest races in the history of the memorial race.

The third annual memorial race will be on July 19 at 7 p.m. at the Pahrump Valley Speedway. This year’s race will be marked by some big changes.

The Stringer family headed, by Sam’s widow, Sheree Stringer, made a big change to the race in the form of the type of car to be featured.

Since the first memorial, the West Coast Super Stocks were featured because that is the last car Sam drove on the track. Sheree changed the feature race to the IMCA Modifieds this year.

“It was a hard decision, but because the Sam’s race depends on making money for the scholarship fund I had to go with the car count. I hate to say it but the Super Stock is a dying class and that is the only reason I made the change. I can’t afford to throw out $6,500 and have only five cars show up. There were a lot of guys that said things over the Internet and I got one phone call about it. We hope to get over 25 IMCA Modifieds out for the race this year. Let’s pray that it doesn’t rain this year,” Sheree said.

Chad Broadhead said earlier that he had no problems switching the cars.

“I understand what Sheree is doing. She is doing it for the scholarship. Whatever it takes, I don’t care what the class, I will do it,” Broadhead said.

The car count for the Super Stocks should also be huge because of all the controversy surrounding Chris Kearns dropping the name. The Super Stocks want people to know that they are not going away, so expect their car count to be higher than normal.

Steve Stringer, Sheree’s older son, agreed with Broadhead and said the family changed to IMCA Modifieds for the race count.

“Yes, Sam drove a WCSS for the last years of his life, but that was not all he drove. The race was centered on the Super Stock, but the class has died. He did drive an IMCA Modified and that is why we changed,” Steve said.

Sheree wants everyone to know that the race is strictly for the Sam Stringer Memorial fund in which each year scholarship money is given to one student at Pahrump Valley High School and the other at Tonopah High School. This year the scholarship was won by Mathew Christen of Pahrump and TJ Ayers in Tonopah.

“I just want to make it clear to people this race has nothing to do with politics. This is our third year raising money for Sam’s scholarship fund and it’s all about keeping his name alive,” Sheree explained.

Sheree Stringer will have both her sons, Josh and Steve, racing IMCA Modifieds. As far as who she will be rooting for, she said she has no favorites.

“It doesn’t make a difference to me. They both race and they both have their different driving techniques. Each learned something different from their father. I just hope both my sons cross the finish line and have a safe race. It would be nice if they finished one and two, but just having them finish would be OK with me. Of course if Sam was here I would want him to win,” She said.

Levi Kiefer will not be at the track this year to defend his Sam Stringer Memorial title.

The race will feature a $1,500 guaranteed purse to the IMCA Modified winner. There will also be a $500 purse for the Super Stock winner. Gates open at 6 p.m.

Adults are $10, seniors are $8 and children are $6 (children under 5 are free).