OTEGO, N.Y. – Officials of the Capital Region Sprint Agency are ringing in the new year with excitement and enthusiasm as the tour looks to kick off its sixth season of operation. Under the leadership of Mike VanDusen and company the New York region of the RaceSaver® series is ready to make a return to several racetracks that have become stables of the series in years past.
The official schedule is set to be released in just a couple of weeks but teams can plan on events at several of the same facilities that hosted the series during the 2010 racing season. Fonda Speedway, which saw action for the first time in 2010, will host an event for the second time in the history of the series. Last year’s event saw John Matrafailo score the inaugural victory.
Sprint car racing will also be back at the Orange County Fair Speedway. The track affectionately known as the Hard Clay hosted the series four times with Billy VanInwegen and Ryan Smith earning their first ever series wins. 2010 tour champion Matt Tanner won the August event while Jeff VanSteenburg took home the honors during the annual Eastern States Weekend.
The resurgence of I-88 Speedway last year brought the tour to the Chenango County for three events with Sprint Car newcomer Jamie Christian earning a pair of victories and former tour champion Jeremy Quick was victorious in the other.
Five Mile Point has been a strong supporter of the series over the past four years. Quick took the checkers twice in 2010 while up and coming Sprint Car driver Josh Pieniazek taking his first career win. The May event at “Home Track of the Southern Tier” will be a RaceSaver® National Qualifying event with the winner gaining a guaranteed starting position in the RaceSaver® Nationals held during Labor Day weekend annually at the Fork Mountain Speedway in Bassett, Va.
Accord Speedway will play host to a similar event in July and then during September a RaceSaver® regional event is set at the speedway. The last race held at the Gary Palmer owned facility was held back in 2009 with Matrafailo earning a victory at the Ulster County Bull-Ring.
Joining the Southern Tier swing are stops at the Penn Can Speedway. Three events are scheduled at the Susquehanna, Pa., facility. Last year the lone event was won by VanSteenburg.
Mohawk International Raceway returns to the schedule after a successful event in 2010. The Hogansburg, N.Y., facility has seen dramatic changes over the past two seasons including an all new VIP tower and the addition of Musco Lighting. The first visit at the one-half mile oval saw VanSteenburg romp to the victory.
The management is also in discussions with several other Northeastern based racing facilities with the hopes that events will be scheduled at those tracks as well. When complete, the schedule will boast 20 to 25 races.
Those looking for a complete schedule can keep a close watch in the CRSA website at www.crsasprintcars.com or by visiting their booth at the Gater Racing News Motorsports Expo in Syracuse, N.Y., the annual Fonda Speedway Car show or at the Southern Tier Speedworld show at the Oakdale Mall in Johnson City, N.Y.
The Capital Region Sprint Agency would like to thank our 2010 series sponsors: Kelly’s Racing Fuels, Ultimate Wings, Pancho’s Racing Products, Triple X Racecars, Peak Racing Equipment, D&D Auto Supply, K&N Filters, Magsarus Ignitions, Bruce’s Speedway Shop, Fisher Sprint Parts Warehouse, Hinchman Racing Uniforms, Kreitz Oval Track Parts Inc., Keizer Aluminum Wheels, Holiday Inn Express of Schoharie, N.Y., and Checkers Out Speedway.
