53rd Annual Camp Barnes Benefit Stock Car Race

GEORGETOWN, Del. – Georgetown Speedway on Tuesday held the 53rd annual Camp Barnes Benefit Stock Car Race, a mid-week non-points event with all proceeds supporting Camp Barnes, a nonprofit that provides a free summer camp experience open to all youth in Delaware.  

As a long-standing Delaware racing tradition, fans packed the stands and drivers came out in full force for a jam-packed night of racing. 10 full features, including two five-lap shootouts: one race with big block modifieds going head to head with super late models, and another with the 602 sportsman against the rush late models.  

The shootouts were held in honor of Preston “Pep” Lewis a former Delaware state trooper who organized the massive fundraiser event for 20 years.
Lewis talks about being recognized at the event and being an avid supporter of Camp Barnes.

“I directed this race for 20 years, and when you’re involved in it as deep as that, you really don’t pay attention as to the honor that you’re getting each year that you do it,” Lewis said, “I’ve been retired from the state police now for 15 years, and they give me this honor, and it’s certainly great to my family and myself. It tells me that we got a lot done in those 20 years and it’s nice to see this many people here tonight. I mean its been a while since we’ve had this big a fan base here.”

Millsboro native and super late model driver Donald Lingo said that winning the Camp Barnes Benefit is especial meaningful to racers: “[It’s] the prestige, more or less, of the Camp Barnes race going on for a long time. Obviously it’s not the highest purse race that we run here or with our cars, but it has a lot of history, and it is one you want to check the box on, and that’s what makes it. And on top of that, we’re racing for a good cause and that’s the main goal there. It’s the one everyone wants.”