By Kenny Shupp Jr.
WOODHULL, NY-The Arnot Mall in Big Flats, NY was once again the setting for the 2023 Woodhull Raceway Car Show.
Each year prior to race season, the massive Arnot Mall Facility plays host to the Woodhull Raceway event and this year’s Swarthout Recycling sponsored show did not disappoint the thousands of curious onlookers that strolled through the hallways.
Every weekly division that competes at the historic Steuben County oval was well represented as some 35 cars were on display, all sporting new bodies and paint schemes.
According to Niki and Terry Brewer who own the popular Upstate New York Facility, “We were extremely pleased with this year’s turnout of cars and drivers that made their way to the Woodhull Raceway Car Show. This is always a great way for competitors to showcase their equipment and it allows car owners to show off their sponsor support.”
A massive Friday afternoon and evening northeast snowstorm kept a few competitors away that had previously registered, but it did not deter from the enthusiasm and excitement for those that did attend the Saturday and Sunday affair.
There was plenty of bench racing over the two day event with most all the drivers on hand signing autographs, posing for photos, and answering questions. In many cases young race fans were able to sit inside their favorite driver’s car giving them the thrill of a lifetime.
“We had a fantastic core group of drivers and car owners at this year’s show. Their accessibility with the fans is what makes this show so special. On race night, it is hard for fans to get near the competitors as they are in the pit area working on their cars or on the track competing. The car show gives fans an up close and personal look at the cars, and they get to rub elbows with their favorite drivers.” That once again according to the Brewer’s.
A heavy weight sponsor in Swarthout Recycling of Beaver Dams was again the headline sponsor of the March 11 and 12, 2023 event.
For well over a decade, Swarthout Recycling has been the sponsor of the Woodhull Raceway Arnot Mall Car Show and it gives them a chance to offer their support to the track and its competitors.
“Brian Swarthout and his family are top notch,” stated Niki and Terry Brewer. Every year they help us out with the car show, and we just cannot thank them enough. We encourage all our fans, drivers, crew members and employees to support Swarthout Recycling whenever they can. Swarthouts is a very diversified company offering a number of various services and we simply just can’t put on the quality of a car show that we do each year without their support.”
For more information regarding Swarthout Recycling and their subsidiary, WM Spiegel Sons go to www.swarthoutrecycling.com.
Brian Swarthout, his daughter, Lorelei along with her boyfriend and business partner, Nick of We Print Vinyl were all in attendance taking in the sights. For We Print Vinyl, their graphic arts business continues to grow as Ethan Decker’s Crate Sportsman machine that was professionally lettered by, We Print Vinyl was in attendance. Decker was a top ten point finisher in the Hoosier Tire Sportsman Division at the Outlaw Speedway in 2022
A good mix of cars that race in all of Woodhull’s eight weekly divisions of competition were on hand with many teams taking great strides in providing raffles, tee shirt sales, and sponsor handouts.
Additionally, the machine of Kalysta Demark of the Chemung Speedrome along with a Tobias Sling Shot were in attendance as well as a display of Microds.
A Sunday Corn Hole Tournament to raise money for the upcoming Mike Jackson Memorial on, Friday May 12 at the Outlaw Speedway was a big hit. Jackson had spent most of his career residing in the greater Woodhull area and racing for many years at Woodhull in numerous different divisions where he won multiple feature events prior to his passing in December of 2020. His daughter, Hannah and others continue to promote events in his father’s memory.
Thirty-five teams competed in the Corn Hole Tournament with the combination of Jordan Sutryk and Talon Wright winning the event and in doing so picked up $340 and a Corn Hole Board Wrap donated by Wicked Tee’s. Steve and Jenna Faye finished second with Shawn Brace and Rickie Peters completing the podium finishers.
Other displays included Mike Emhoff’s CRSA 305 Sprints which will make a stop at Woodhull on August 19, 2023. Reps of the CRSA Organization came loaded with information relevant to the popular touring series. The winged Kyle Pierce 305 Sprint Car machine was well received by the massive crowd that was on hand all weekend.
Also, The NYPENN IMCA Modified Touring Series was in attendance touting Jake McConnell’s immaculate looking IMCA Modified. The popular touring group continues to gain momentum with a pair of shows at Woodhull in 2023 on May 20 and July 29.
As part of a special promotion by the Brewer’s, Woodhull gave away a pair of Season Pit Passes for drivers that were in attendance and registered to compete during the 2023 season with Teddy Morseman and Josh Stone the lucky recipients. Congratulations!
“Originally, we were going to give away one season pit pass, then the weather turned sour, so we sweetened things up by offering two season passes giving another driver a chance to win. With the Friday weather making it difficult for some not being able to make the tow we offered the extra incentive for those that weathered the storm and were able to attend.” That according to Niki Brewer.
Southern Tier Customs representatives, Terry Pierce and Becky Stewart were both instrumental in assisting with the organization of the 2023 Arnot Mall Car Show as well as the Woodhull Raceway Schedule Cards that were distributed throughout the weekend. Southern Tier Customs also coordinated the Saturday afternoon Tire Changing Competition which was won by Team Morseman over Team Barron where it took multiple tries to crown a champion after no less than a trio of tied attempts.
Southern Tier Customs will also proudly sponsor the Street Stock Division at Woodhull during the upcoming campaign with other class sponsors including Wicked Tee’s, NAPA, Insinger Performance, KMD Excavating along with Doug Gross Construction.
Woodhull Raceway track announcer, Joe Cook was on hand to broadcast the tire changing competition and entertain the crowd that gathered at Center Court.
In addition, noted Woodhull Raceway, Area Auto Racing News and Dirt Track Digest contributing photographer, Joe Kaminski was at the Arnot Mall on Saturday taking shots and corresponding with the crowd.
Woodhull Raceway owners, Terry and Niki Brewer closed by saying, “This event is for the racers, it is not for the track. We are proud to be able to put this event together so that the drivers and teams can proudly showcase their cars. That’s what it is all about!”
With the 2023 Woodhull Car Show now safely in the books, the track will now dive head- first into their upcoming race season.
Woodhull has a pair of test and tune dates on April 8 and 15 with the Alfred State College sponsored lid lifter set to roll off on Saturday, April 22, 2023
Rules, points, track contacts as well as sponsor information and the complete 2023 schedule of events is readily available and for more information regarding the Woodhull Raceway you can go to www.Facebook.com/WoodhullRaceway/ or www.woodhullraceway.com.
