Chris Walsh contests Memorial Day weekend race at Jennerstown Speedway
Step One Motorsports Ambassador, Chris Walsh was a guest driver in a military-honoring event held on an east coast race track out of Jennerstown, Pennsylvania over the weekend. Aptly timed with Memorial Day on the 29th of May, the event aimed to show respect for those who serve, have served, and lost their lives while serving the U.S. Military. The four-turn oval track, paved with asphalt is just 0.522 miles (0.84 kilometers) in length, with ever-so-slight banking of six degrees on the straights and nine degrees on the turns. Once a dirt track, Jennerstown Speedway opened in 1920 but is now paved and is considered a NASCAR-sanctioned racetrack, where greats like Ken Schrader and Dale Earnhardt have shown face.
Walsh piloted the Golik Motorsports #9 car on Saturday’s main event, which kicked off just past six in the evening. The vehicle was categorized as Open Wheel Modified, and it carried the name of Sergeant Scott Sather, who was a fellow Special Tactics Airman in the Air Force like Walsh. This was Walsh’s first experience of racing on an oval that served as a great learning opportunity. He later stated that it went quite well and that it was very enjoyable. Walsh also pointed out that there was indeed a learning curve stepping into a new type of vehicle, but that his pace quickly improved. Not only this, but he found himself battling in the feature race and finishing ahead of others within the pack as well as avoiding getting caught up in any contact with those around him. These varied racing experiences will certainly be of great benefit to Walsh’s motorsport career, and to be able to honor military members simultaneously was an honor for the active-duty Air Force member.
Walsh’s next competitive outing will be with GT4 America at Virginia International Raceway (16-18 June 2023).