Mahoning Valley Speedway has announced that a “Rookie Hobby Stock” class will be added to the weekly race line-up starting with Opening Day on Saturday, April 4.

The purpose of the division is as the name implies – rookie.

The Rookie Hobby Stock class will be a perfect steppingstone for the talent young drivers coming out of the ¼-Midget and Go Kart ranks from around the immediate area.

To best help the beginners get acclimated to navigating around the paved ¼-mile oval and grasp the understanding of track procedures, the speedway has tapped the services of one of its best veterans to do an orientation in Earl Paules.

Paules, Mahoning’s all-time wins leader and a multi-time track champion, already knows many of the participants that are coming into the fold from his time as Race Director at Blue Mountain Quarter Midget Club in Walnutport.

“I think this is a great idea. We have to start somewhere and this is the future of our sport,” said Paules. “I feel that if you feed them to the wolves they’re going to get discouraged and may possibly quit. In this format, they’ll be racing against others who haven’t raced in a full size stock car on a race track.”

The orientation will be held on the last of three Test and Tune days which is Saturday, March 28. All rookies are encouraged to take in the Test and Tune sessions slated for March 14, 21 & 28 from noon to 4 p.m.

The Rookie Hobby Stock class will be comprised of a 12 race schedule, running each week from April 4 through June 20. At the conclusion of that period a champion will be crowned with runner-up and third place in points also being recognized.

There will be a $500 purse sponsored by E. Snchneider & Sons Inc., Scrap Metal of Allentown. The champ will be presented $250 with $150 for second and $100 to third in final points. All other challengers, along with the top three, will be presented with graduation medals during a special ceremony on the last race day.

Drivers must be 12-years of age or older. Exceptions could be made for even younger drivers and will be decided at track’s discretion. Parental or guardian signed wavier for age 14 and younger is required.

There will be a registration form on the track’s website, http://www.mahoningvalley-speedway.com/ for all rookies to fill out.