2009 Speedway Plans:
-Susquehanna Speedway Park , Newberrytown Pennsylvania
A new program called "Hometown Heroes" will be implemented for the SSP 2009 racing season that will recognize outstanding drivers from particular cities throughout the region during selected race nights. An opportunity to display their race cars and meet fans at the front gate before the nights activities get under way will not only attract a lot of attention but provide interaction and good will so many tracks neglect. Drivers will be interviewed during the nights program and this will also include race fans from that particular "hometown" selected to be honored that night and get this,,, they will be admitted FREE to the grandstands. The 2009 season begins with Stock Car Saturday Night on April 11 featuring Late Models, Stocks, and Midgets.
-East Lincoln Speedway, near Lowesville North Carolina
Ray Evernham has not only announced his retirement from NASCAR, it was recently disclosed his intention to purchase this neat as a pin, 3/8ths mile red clay oval short track in Lincoln County, North Carolina that has been in operation since 1991. Evernham has a deep desire to "get back into grass roots racing" and is looking to have some fun with the facility and go Saturday night racing. It is reported only 14 dirt tracks survive in the entire state.
-Acord Speedway, In the Catskill Mountains of New York
Accord is one of the most picturesque and professionally managed dirt short tracks in the nation featuring full fields of Eastern Modifieds, Sportsman, and Stock classes every week. In prepartion for the 2009 racing season and already completed are a new electrical and scoring loop for the AMB timing system, extensive grounds cleanup, a coat of fresh paint, and landscaping along with increased pit area parking. New clay is being trucked in and waiting to be distributed to an already awesome racing surface in an effort to stay ahead and maintain the high level of weekly action. New concession items are being added to a growing food menu that features a rotating selection through the season and a very popular chicken barbeque. The 2009 schedule is already posted and new "affordable" divisions are currently being discussed. Accord will be ready and open April 3rd for a practice day.
-Sharon Speedway, Hartford Ohio
Here is a bargain to see a lot of great racing. Sharon is selling season pit passes right now for only $250 while general admission is $150, good for all regular shows in 2009. Sharon runs 410 Sprints, Modifieds, and Pure Stocks every Saturday night during the season at this totally modernized facility.
- Arcade International Speedway in Freedom New York and Roaring Knob Raceway located in Markleysburg Pennsylvania have recently joined the growing FASTRAK "Crate" Late Model racing fold for 2009. Arcade had formerly operated as Freedom Speedway under the FASTRAK banner but was closed all of 2008 before taken over by Carl Drum, father of FASTRAK competitor Kyle Drum. A full season of regular shows are already on the schedule for 2009. Roaring Knob is new to the FASTRAK scene having run Supers in the past and they will compete on Saturday nights drawing crates from nearby Friday nighter Dog Hollow Speedway giving competitors a full weekend of racing.
- Afton Motor Speedway, Afton Fairgrounds in New York
Dave and Joanne Rocket, who have operated the Bethel Motor Speedway in White Lake (west of Monticello) for eight years will serve as promoters in 2009 for the Afton Motor Speedway, which hasn't hosted racing in nearly two years. The Friday night venue will feature 358 Modifieds and possibly include a Sportsman, Pro Stock, Pure Stock, and 4 cylinder divisions. In an effort to bring fans to the race track and provide great entertainment value in these tough times the price of a general admission ticket will only be five dollars.
- New Egypt Speedway, New Jersey
Built as a dirt track in the '50s then paved in the '60s, New Egypt is now a 1/2 mile clay oval featuring DIRT Big Block Modifieds and WoO Sprints as special attractions and race nights include very successful Saturday, Sunday, and mid week special events. NES will continue to headline Big Block Modifieds as the main attraction but the stepping stone divisions will see change. In lieu of the open 358 motor, Sportsman Modifieds will convert to "crate motors" and compete for a lesser purse, and the "Outlaw" Stocks will scale back to to become a "Street" Stock with cast iron intakes and the 4412 Holley or original. In 2008 there were as many as five divisions running on a regular night but in an effort to reduce a long night of racing NES is streamlining their operation by combining divisions and dropping others to give fans a fast paced and entertaining, quality three division program.
