WEST PORTSMOUTH — Saturday will be a very special night for the family of the late Fred Dillow of Coal Grove. That’s the night of the 21st Annual Fred Dillow Memorial Race, which will be held at Portsmouth Raceway Park.

Fred was a local dirt track racer who began his racing career in 1968. He built his first car, a 1955 black primer Pontiac with the gold number 83 on each side, and began his 21-year racing career at Champion Speedway, located in Kitts Hill.

Even though he held a full-time job, Fred and his wife, Edna, and their children would travel to race tracks in the tri-state area on the weekends and Fred would race with the locals. It was a hobby Fred and his family loved and even though he passed away in 1989 from leukemia, his passion for dirt track racing continues through his family, friends, drivers and fans.

The race at Portsmouth Raceway Park is held in his memory each year and has grown to be one of the favorite racing events among drivers and fans and this year’s race is no exception. With the race right around the corner, the Dillow family and racing community is excited about this year’s event.

The Lewis Family Racing/Johnny Raughtens Late Model feature will pay $5,000 to win; the Tri-State Industrial Supply UMP Modified feature pays $1,000 to win; the Giovanni’s Wholesale Pizza limited late model feature pays $830 to win; and the H&H Continuous Guttering/B&L Exhaust bomber feature pays $600 to win.

On top of PRP’s regular weekly purse, there are numerous special awards and bonuses in all four divisions.

This is all made possible through the support of over 70 sponsors. Some of the special awards for this year’s race are:

Bozo’s Just Give Me One Lap $1,077 for late model fast time;
Sgt. Tim Moore Late Model Dash sponsored by Graphic Impressions $233 to win;
Impact RaceGear Late Model Heats $83 to win;
Shain Decals & Motorsports Graphics & Designs Late Model Hard Charger pays $250;
Ryan Pfunk Potter Late Model Halfway Leader Award $400; Modified Fast Time In Memory of Thomas Childress, Jr, $900;
Modified Heats – In Memory of Pappy Harshbarger $83 to win;
Ryan Pfunk Potter Modified Halfway Leader $200; 
Walker Construction Modified Hard Charger Award in Memory of Linda Walker $100;
Best Appearing Modified receives $83 In Memory of Pappy Harshbarger;
Limited Late Model Hard Charger H&H Continuous Guttering Limited Late Model Hard Charger Award pays $100;
Week’s Wrecker Service Bomber Heats $25 to win;
Diamond Detail Bomber Hard Charger Award pays $100.

Fred is survived by his wife, Edna; daughters Sherri (Mike) Willis and Susan Dillow; son Steve (Michelle) Dillow; grandchildren Shayne (Anastasia) Willis, Brayden Dillow and Addison Dillow; and great-grandson Braxton Willis.

For a great night of family fun and exciting dirt track racing, make plans to attend the 21st Annual Fred Dilllow Memorial Race on Saturday, August 15th, at Portsmouth Raceway Park! There will also be giveaways fans throughout the night!

Admission prices are:
ages 6 and under free;
ages 7-12 $5;
ages 13 and up $12;
pit passes $25 (all ages)

Gates open at 4 p.m. Drivers meeting is at 6 p.m., hot laps begin at 6:30 and racing starts at 7:30.

Portsmouth Raceway Park is located one mile west of Portsmouth off State Route 53 and State Routes 73/104.

For more information and a complete listing of special awards and sponsors, go to www.freddillowmemorial.com.