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Chasing the Gold: Pot of Gold 3 News and Notes

As the first signs of spring arrive and warmer weather welcomes the month of March, preparations are underway to awaken Dirt’s Monster Half Mile from its winter slumber in just 15 days. Soon, race fans dressed in their St. Patrick’s Day best and the unmistakable roar of engines will launch Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway’s 48th season of racing into high gear.

The Pot of Gold event has quickly grown into Western Pennsylvania’s unofficial kickoff to the racing season. In 2025, the event once again drew teams and fans from across the region eager to shake off the winter and get the racing season underway.

Car counts in 2025 were less than ideal overall, due in large part to the decision to move forward with the event despite a questionable weather forecast leading into race day. Additional track preparation was required prior to the start of the program, but the extra effort paid off. Once the green flag dropped, the surface produced fast lap times and close, competitive racing across all three divisions, setting the tone for an exciting start to the season.

Fan Notes:

Date : Saturday, March 21st, 2026 (Rain Date 3/28)
Time : Pits 11AM | Gates 2PM | 3PM Start Time
Prices : Grandstands $30 Adults - $15 Students (ages 16 to 6) - $0 Kids (ages 5 and Under) - Drive In Parking $50 (plus GA) - Pits $40

We will welcome back Mike Sortwell, whose stirring bagpipe melodies will once again greet our fans as they enter the facility, setting the tone for an unforgettable experience. Mike will also take part in the opening ceremonies.

Prior to opening ceremonies, Pie the Promoter will take place as the final touches are put on the racing surface and race teams prepare for competition. For $10 per pie, fans will be able to pie Tyler Harris as a thank you for the fans’ involvement in the Woah Nellie Productions Facebook contest. The money raised from Pie the Promoter will go directly to our annual school supply drive, which takes place in August.

While it was twice planned, it has not yet been executed. A wheelbarrow race is on the agenda again in 2026. 20/20 Landscaping and Tree Service will provide the ride, unless you prefer to bring your own. Bring a partner and your A-Game if you want to participate!

A best Irish dressed contest is back on the agenda as well. The fans will vote on who they believe showed their spirit the most, and the winner will receive a prize to honor their effort! Irish food and green adult beverages will fill the concessions in addition to some of the well known favorites that PPMS has offered for years on end.

Driver Notes :

Falconi's Moon Township Automotive will bring back the Fast on Dirt Winged Sprint Cars presented by Ti22 Performance. 20 cars took to the speedway at last year's show. It was 9x Lernerville Speedway track champion AJ Flick who picked up the victory over the star studded field, earning $4,000 along the way. The purse will remain the same for 2026.

Sprint Car purse : 1st: $4,000 2nd: $2,000 3rd: $1,500 4th: $1,200 5th: $1,000 6th: $800 7th: $700 8th: $600 9th: $550 10th: $500 11th: $480 12th: $460 13th: $440 14th: $420 15th: $410 16th-20th $400 - Tow: $150

A modest 10 Super Late Models participated in their respective portion of the event last season. “The Crusher” Michael Norris set the tone for his season, picking up the victory and $4,000 in prize money. The Super Late Models will compete unsanctioned in 2026, honoring the same respectable purse but with no entry fees. The Super Late Models will run under the set of rules established by the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. Tires must also adhere to the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series rules, which include the following:

Left Rear/Fronts - Hoosier (90) NLMT2, (90) NLMT3
Right Rear - Hoosier (92) NLMT2, (92) NLMT3, (92) NLMT4
*Please note that the Hoosier NLMT 2.25 will not be permitted.

Crate and steel block engines are allowed to compete, but they must adhere strictly to the specific rules of their designated sanctioning series. There will be no combining or mixing of rules between different series. For example, RUSH sanctioned cars must follow the official RUSH rules without deviation. This includes, but is not limited to, tires, fuel, engine specifications, and all technical measurements.

Super Late Model purse : 1st: $4,000 2nd: $2,000 3rd: $1,250 4th: $1,000 5th: $800 6th: $750 7th: $700 8th: $650 9th: $625 10th: $600 11th-24th: $500 - Tow $150

The Crown Vic’s were an entertaining portion of the show last year, as it appeared to be a race of attrition for their first visit in speedway history. Seven drivers made the decision to open their season, with Travis Vogel being the inaugural division winner. The Crown Vics, presented by Millerstown Pic-A-Part, will make their second ever appearance at the speedway after witnessing the rapid growth within the region over past seasons. This will be their first of four visits on the 2026 PPMS schedule.

Crown Vic competitors must adhere to the Crown Vic Northeast Series rulebook for all technical specifications, safety requirements, and vehicle measurements. This event is not sanctioned by the Crown Vic Northeast Series, but their rulebook will serve as the governing standard for all Crown Vic entries.

Crown Vic purse: 1st: $500 2nd-5th: $250 6th-10th: $200 11th-15th: $150 16th-20th: $100 21st-24th: $75 - Tow: $50

Please note that this purse structure for the Crown Vic's is for this special event only. Other 2026 Crown Vic events will carry a separate purse structure.

With a strong field of competitors expected and a full evening of entertainment planned, the Pot of Gold event continues to establish itself as one of the region’s most anticipated early-season racing traditions. Tickets for this event are available now at ppms.com, where our entire 2026 schedule is now posted and able to be viewed.

For all media, marketing, and press inquiries, please visit ppms.com or send an email to socials@ppms.com for more information. Keep up to speed with all things PPMS by joining us on most social media platforms.

About Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway (PPMS):
Located in Imperial, PA, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway is a premier dirt track racing facility known for its thrilling high-speed action and family-friendly environment. Hosting a variety of events from local races to national series, PPMS offers an exciting venue for motorsport fans of all ages. With a commitment to delivering top-notch entertainment and unforgettable experiences, PPMS is where racing and community come together.

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