Super Dirt Week

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Super Dirt Week is a modified racing event held annually on Columbus Day weekend in Central New York state.

Contents

History

The first event was scheduled over three days, from September 29, through October 1, 1972 at the New York State Fairgrounds. Inspection and qualifying races were conducted on Friday and Saturday, and the Championship race was held on Sunday. [1]

In 1976 a fourth day was added to the schedule, and a 100 mile race the USAC Champ Cars was held on Saturday October 2. [2] The date of the event was eventually changed to Columbus Day weekend, and expanded to 6 days and championships for 5 car classes. The Syracuse Mile remained the featured race track until 2015, and companion races were added over the week at the nearby race tracks in Elbridge, Weedsport Speedway, and Brewerton Speedway. [3]

After the 2015 event the grandstands at the Syracuse Mile were torn down and the track was eliminated. Oswego Speedway began hosting the primary races the following year. [4]

Oswego era

Oswego Speedway is a five-eighths-mile asphalt track that runs weekly supermodified races. Each year following the Budweiser Classic Weekend, the oval coverts into a dirt track. That process requires placement of over 200 jersey barriers around the inside hub rail, and then 10-wheel dump trucks that bring in between four and five hundred loads are spread around the racing surface. [5]

Super Dirt Week is now the largest economic event for Oswego, New York as more than 30,000 fans attend. [6] Racing rules may be adjusted as necessary, and in 2023 new pit stop strategies were introduced allowing teams to remain on the track while others pit to improve their cars. [7]

Media coverage

The event was first televised live on ESPN in 1980. During the next 35 years, broadcast rights went to TNN, the Empire Sports Net, SPEED, to CBS Sports Network, and more recently to MAVTV. Presently, streaming services are produced by the World Racing Group and are available on all DIRTVisions OTT platforms from iOS to Android, to Samsung, to ROKU. [8]

List of winners

Super Dirt Week Champions
YearModified [9] 358 Modified [10]
1972 Buzzie Reutimann
1973 Buzzie Reutimann
1974 Billy Osmun
1975 Toby Tobias
1976 Gary Balough
1977 Gary Balough
1978 Gary Balough
1979 Jack Johnson
1980 Gary Balough Jeff Heotzler
1981 Merv Treichler Steve Makocy
1982 Merv Treichler Pete Bicknell
1983 Alan Johnson Pete Bicknell
1984 Jack Johnson Bob McCreadie
1985 Brett Hearn Doug Hoffman
1986 Bob McCreadie Brett Hearn
1987 Jimmy Horton Billy Pauch
1988 Kenny Brightbill Kenny Tremont Jr.
1989 Alan Johnson Brett Hearn
1990 Brett Hearn Brett Hearn
1991 Brett Hearn Billy Decker
1992 Toby Tobias, Jr. Kenny Tremont Jr.
1993 Brett Hearn Mike Ricci
1994 Jimmy Horton Danny Johnson
1995 Brett Hearn Jimmy Hauser
1996 Doug Hoffman Kenny Tremont Jr.
1997 Danny Johnson Kenny Tremont Jr.
1998 Billy Decker Pete Bicknell
1999 Kenny Tremont Jr. Pete Bicknell
2000 Billy Decker Pete Bicknell
2001 Billy Decker Bud Christmann
2002Vic Coffey Billy Decker
2003 Alan Johnson Matt Sheppard
2004 Tim Fuller Wayne Jelley
2005 Billy Decker Tim Fuller
2006 Danny Johnson Danny Johnson
2007Vic Coffey Brett Hearn
2008 Frank Cozze Billy Decker
2009Matt Sheppard Billy Decker
2010 Stewart Friesen Billy Decker
2011 Stewart Friesen Billy Decker
2012 Brett Hearn Tim McCreadie
2013Billy Dunn Brett Hearn
2014 Stewart Friesen Brett Hearn
2015 Stewart Friesen Jimmy Phelps
Oswego Speedway
2016 Stewart Friesen Tim Fuller
2017Matt SheppardMatt Sheppard
2018Larry WightPete Britten
2019Mat Williamson Billy Decker
2021Mat Williamson Stewart Friesen
2022Matt SheppardMatt Sheppard
2023Mat WilliamsonMat Williamson

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References

  1. "Coming; Palmer and Varin Have Great Weekend". Dirt Track Digest. September 24, 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  2. "Super Dirt Week is Here". Dirt Track Digest. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  3. Medler, Dave (September 20, 2021). "Double Your Fun At Brewerton Speedway During Super DIRT Week XLIX". Oswego County Today. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  4. "Fairgrounds' track faces final memories of long racing history". The Post-Standard. March 12, 2015. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
  5. O'Brien, Dick (September 17, 2021). "Oswego Speedway's conversion to dirt track for Super DIRT week begins". The Post-Standard . Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  6. Roth, Brendon (October 5, 2022). "'Racing's biggest party' Super Dirt Week returns to Oswego Speedway for 50th year". WSTM-TV . Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  7. "New pit strategy options highlight Super DIRT Week additions". The Palladium-Times. July 12, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  8. Roth, Brendon (April 25, 2023). "WRG Fuels Rapid Acceleration Of DIRTVision Brand With Dejero Connectivity". TV Technology . Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  9. "Super DIRT Week Big-Block Modified Championship". The Third Turn. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  10. "Super DIRT Week 358-Modified Championship". The Third Turn. Retrieved August 5, 2023.