Area Racing Preview

April 6, 2014
The Sunday Leader-Herald – 7B
Area Racing Preview
2013 Utica-Rome modified track champion
Stewart Friesen
Utica-Rome Speedway
Glen Ridge opener set for April 27
The Leader-Herald/James A. Ellis
Bobby Varin (85) races with Brian Gleason during modified action on Sept. 7 at Glen Ridge Motorsports Park in Fultonville.
By JAMES A. ELLIS
The Leader-Herald
FULTONVILLE – Prior to the
running of last year’s 602 Nationals event at Glen Ridge Motorsports Park, it was announced
that long time racing supporter
and sponsor Mike Sowle had
signed the lease to take over the
promotership of The Ridge for the
2014 season.
He immediately began upgrading the facility by expanding the
pit area, building a new sponsors
tower on the backstretch and
making further upgrades to the
speedy quarter-mile facility.
“I have already painted everything there and doubled the pits,”
Sowle said last October. “We are
putting the gravel down in the
new pits, have a new road in and
the new tower will be done by the
end of the month. We have jersey
barriered the entire track, painted
all the barriers and have taken the
rocks and roughness out of the infield.”
Then winter came and has held
the area in its grip forcing the new
promoter to alter plans slightly
until the past couple of weeks.
“We ran out of weather,” Sowle
said.
On Wednesday, Sowle was at
The Ridge overseeing the installation of new bleachers adjacent
to the already existing seats and
looking over what needs to be
done before the April 27 opener.
The plan initially was to swap
the front and back straightaways,
but that plan has been put off for
Glen Ridge Motorsports Park
Promoters: Mike Sowle, Pete Demitraszek
Where: Fultonville
Track size: 3/8-mile
Regular race night: Sundays
Classes: Modifieds, Sportsman, Pro Stocks
Regular start time: 6 p.m.
Regular admission fee: $10
Web site: glenridgemotorsportspark.net
Track phone: Pete Demitraszek 848-0608 or Mike
Sowle 848-4173
2013 Track Champions: Bobby Varin (Modified),
Brian Pessolano (Sportsman), Aaron Burton (Rookie
Sportsman), Rob VanAernam (Street Stock), Shane
Playford (Cruisers), Billy Jaycox (305 Sprints)
at least another season.
“In the years to come we are
going to make that the frontstretch
on that side,” Sowle said. “This
year it will still be on this side.
We are putting in two more sets
of bleachers so we can seat 1,250
people. We have rewired to entire
complex over the winter, fixed the
lights and fixed the speakers.”
Last fall it was announced that a
points series would be in place for
drivers running Fridays at Albany-Saratoga Speedway and
Sundays at Glen Ridge.
Since then that deal fell through
and Utica-Rome Speedway announced they are running under
the NASCAR banner with a big
money point fund and Rolling
Wheels Speedway also may run
big money shows on Sundays.
“We are up to the challenge and
are in good shape,” Sowle said.
“We have had a great response
Go-karts
from the drivers. JaMike Sowle is
going to race here. Kenny
Tremont is coming back. Jeff
Brownell is coming back. Matt
Sheppard and Stewart Friesen are
committed to Utica-Rome and
Bobby Varin and Jeremy Wilder
will be here. I don’t want to start
more than 22 cars in any of the
divisions. Modifieds, I know we
have more than 20 and the 602s
are going to be way over that. Pro
Stocks, we are waiting to see.”
A couple of contingencies have
been added for the drivers.
“All the drivers get in free,”
Sowle said. “The first driver to
win three features in their division
gets a free set of tires and the first
driver to reach five wins in their
division gets a free drum of fuel.”
Sowle will take over as race director with Joe Kriss on the
starters stand and Jim King returning to the announcer’s booth.
Former promoter Pete Demitraszek will continue to prepare
the track for the weekly race programs and Checkers Out Speedway is in charge of the
concessions. Sowle said there are
special events throughout the race
schedule.
“We have Lightning sprints
once a month and the 600 Excels
once a month,” he said. “The vintage cars are here four times and
the CRSA sprinters four times.”
With The Ridge returning to
DIRTcar sanctioning for modifieds and pro stocks, a mid-week
100-lap DIRT modified series
race will be run July 16.
The sportsman will run a
$2,711-to-win Dig Safely New
York 602 GRIT Series event on
May 11.
“We are trying to be very family oriented,” Sowle said. “We
have sponsors in the tower every
night and plan to drop the green
flag at 6 p.m. and be done around
9:30 p.m.”
The Glen Ridge track crew is
working at getting the track and
facility up to race-grade and with
a little help from Mother Nature
will continue to progress toward
opening day.
“We are going to start putting
up the 82 billboards and signage
this weekend,” Sowle said. “We
still have a lot of work to finish.
We were going to start on the
20th but that is Easter and nobody
wants to race then. By the 27th,
we should be dried out enough to
race.”
Owner: Gene Cole
Where: Vernon
Track size: Half-mile (dirt)
Regular race night: Sundays
Classes: Modifieds, Sportsman, Pro Stocks, Pure
Stocks
Regular start time: 6 p.m.
Regular admission fee: $12, Seniors, Students and
Military — $10, Children under 9 — free.
Web site: www.uticaromespeedway.com
Track phone: (315) 725-5709 (Monday-Friday) or
(315) 829-4557 (race day)
How to get there: Get off the New York State
Thruway Exit 32 at Westmoreland. Take a right. At the
stop sign, take a left, and continue on to Route 5. Take
a right (westbound). Utica-Rome Speedway is about 10
miles up on right hand side.
2013 Track Champions: Stewart Friesen (358 Modified), Matt Janczuk (Sportsman), Tom Denton (Pro
Stocks), Ron Hawker (Pure Stocks).
Devil’s Bowl Speedway
Where: West Haven, Vt.
Track size: 1/2-mile (asphalt)
Regular race night: Fridays
Classes: Modifieds, Late Models, Renegades, Mini
Stocks
Regular start time: 7 p.m.
Regular admission fee: Adults (age 13 or older) –
$12, Seniors (62 and older) – $10, Kids (12 and
younger) — free.
Web site: www.devilsbowlspeedwayvt.com
Track phone: (802) 265-3112
2013 Track Champions: Todd Stone (Modifieds),
Chris Bergeron (Late Models), Richie Turner (Renegades), Jake Noble (Mini Stock)
Albany-Saratoga Speedway
Where: Malta
Track size: 3/8-mile
Regular race night: Fridays
Classes: Modifieds, Sportsman, Pro Stocks, Street
Stocks, 4-Cylinders
Regular start time: 7 p.m.
Regular admission fee: Adults — $10; children (12 and
younger) — $2
Web site: www.albany-saratogaspeedway.com
Track phone: 587-0220
2013 Track Champions: Brett Hearn (Modifieds), Jeremy Pitts (Sportsman), Rob Yetman (Pro Stocks), Chris
Murray (Novice Sportsman), Bill Duprey (Street Stocks),
Mark Lindblade (4-Cylinder Single Cam), Todd Goldstein
(4-Cylinder Dual Cam)
Motocross
Caroga Creek Raceway
Promoters: Gary Bishop, Mason Bruce
Where: Ephratah
Track size: 3/16-mile
Regular race night: Fridays
Classes: Stock Novice, Junior I Rookie, Junior I, Junior
I Animal, Junior II, Junior II Animal, Junior II Gold, Junior II
Pro, Stock Light, Stock Heavy, Seniors (35 and older),
Super Heavy, Animal Heavy, Junior Sportsman Champ,
Champ Lites, Senior Champs, Junior Slingshots, All-Star
Slingshots
Regular start time: 6:30 p.m.
Web site: www.carogacreekraceway.com
Track phone: 993-3744
2013 Track Champions: Tavien Blowers (Stock
Novice), Stephen Gray (Junior I Rookie), Charlie Tibbitts
(Junior 1), Nick Story (Junior 2), A.J. Miller (Junior 2 Gold),
Lane Saville (Junior 2 Pro), Nick Scavia (Stock Lite), Brandon Winne (Stock Heavy), Craig Barker (Seniors 35-plus)
The Leader-Herald/Paul Wager
Riders break from the starting gate during the second open mini 10- to 16-year-old moto during Monster Energy Supercross competition at Royal Mountain Ski Area in Caroga Lake on Aug. 17.
Royal Mountain
Owner: Jim Blaise
Where: Caroga Lake
Regular race night: Wednesdays
Classes: 250cc Expert through 50cc
Regular start time: 7 p.m.
Web site: www.royalmountain.com
Track phone: 835-6445
Supercross admission fee: $9, children (6-11) $3,
children (5 and younger) free
Motocross admission fee: $10
Hillclimb admission fee: $10
The Leader-Herald/James A. Ellis
Racers line up for a heat race during action at Caroga Creek
Raceway in Ephratah.
Dodge City Speedway
Promoters: Paul and Anna Montenaro
Where: Howes Cave
Track size: 1/8-mile
Regular race night: Fridays, 7 p.m.
Classes: Stock Gas, Junior I Purple, Junior II Turquoise,
Junior II Gold, Junior II Advanced, Junior Champs, Senior
Lite, Senior Heavy, Champs
Regular admission fee: $3 (adult), $1.50 (children
(8-14), free (7 and younger)
Web site: www.facebook.com/dodgecityspeedway
Track phone: 296-8082
2013 Track Champions: Nathaniel Boesse (Stock
Gas), Tyler Filarecki (Junior I Purple), Olivia Kelley (Junior
II Turquoise), Daniel Haslun (Junior II Gold), Dylan Eldred
(Junior II Advanced), Kurtis Hart (Junior Champs),
Meghan Tice (Senior Lite), Chad Boesse (Senior Heavy),
Anthony Slater (Champs)
Twister Valley
The Leader-Herald/James A. Ellis
Fort Plainʼs Aaron Crouse powers through a corner in the
opening moto for the quad novice division during Monster
Energy Drink Supercross competition at Royal Mountain Ski
Area in Caroga Lake on Aug. 14.
Owners: Fred & Linda Mang
Where: Fort Plain
Regular race night: Fridays
Classes: 250cc Expert through 50cc
Regular start time: 7 p.m.
Web site: www.twistervalley.com
Track phone: 441-7299
Nightcross admission fee: $8, children (6-11) $5,
children (5 and younger) free