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Super DIRT Week Is Super Again
By LEN SAMMONS
The “super” truly has returned to Super DIRT Week. The racing was outstanding this year, and the atmosphere is growing. Next year will mark the tenth running of the event at Oswego Speedway. For those of us who still cherish memories of the New York State Fairgrounds Mile, maybe it’s time to fully embrace the present — to move on from a relationship we loved and appreciate what’s here now — because it’s not going back to Syracuse.
This year’s edition, run under the lights on Oswego’s 5/8-mile clay oval, produced racing I haven’t seen anywhere all season — certainly not in the previous editions of Super DIRT Week run on a sun-dried speedway, be it the mile or Oswego in the previous eight years. The schedule change this October, moving the Pro Stock feature to Friday and the Sportsman feature to Saturday before track work, was the right call.
When the two Modified features hit the track under the lights, the racing was fantastic. You could see the entire track, and replays on three large video boards enhanced the show. Dust was not an issue, and officials dealt quickly with a hole that developed in turn one early in the week.
If I have one suggestion, it’s this: Tell the drivers ahead of time so they can plan accordingly — and do some quick track work during the five minute half-way break — sprinkle some water on the top groove to bring the cushion back to life and give us another great 100 laps to finish it off!
Give credit where it’s due — the World Racing Group (WRG) deserves applause. Oswego had its flaws early on, and there are still a few, but each year it’s gotten better. The transition from the New York State Fairgrounds to Oswego was never going to be easy, but WRG has pushed the right buttons, tweaking what they have each year.
Nighttime main events for just the Modifieds. Multi-groove racing surfaces. Well-prepared clay that allows outside passing.
Larry Wight drove from 41st to 2nd in the first 100 laps of Saturday’s 200. Jackson Gill charged from deep in the field to fourth in the second half. Mat Williamson went from 22nd to win the 358 Modified race on Friday after going from 24th to fifth in a 20-lap qualifier on Wednesday, just to make the show after blowing a motor in the first practice. Alex Yankowski, after a tech issue sent him to the rear before the start, rebounded from 41st to 3rd before a mechanical issue ended his chance at victory.
All of those hard chargers advanced under green — not through pit strategy, not through attrition or crashes — but by pure racing.
It’s been said you can have the nicest restaurant in the world, but if the food isn’t any good, the parking lot will soon be empty. Drive past one of those old diners along the highway, and if the food’s good — and it usually is — the booths are full.
Racing works the same way. You can’t live forever on reputation. It has to be fun to be there. You have to be entertained. And let’s face it, not every race is memorable.
But today, Super DIRT Week is fun again. The schedule is solid: driver autograph and interview sessions, poster giveaways, meet-the-flagman, trophy unveilings, bikini photoshoots, and plenty of live music from bands and DJs. And don’t forget the bowling alley behind the grandstands — where you might find a driver trying to roll a 300 with his team, watching the baseball playoffs, or catching the racing up the hill on DIRTvision.
The reduced schedule that debuted last year is working for both race teams and fans. With just two divisions qualifying and racing each day, the on-track activity wrapped up early enough for the socializing to begin. WRG can’t control the weather, but their new format builds in flexibility to make smart adjustments when needed.
It’s time to get back on board if you haven’t already — the seats are filling up. This year’s crowd was big; next year’s should be even bigger. This isn’t a promotional piece — it’s from the heart, from a reporter who’s been to every Super DIRT Week except the first. The past will always be special, but the future is here.
And right now, it’s looking Super again.
By LEN SAMMONS
The “super” truly has returned to Super DIRT Week. The racing was outstanding this year, and the atmosphere is growing. Next year will mark the tenth running of the event at Oswego Speedway. For those of us who still cherish memories of the New York State Fairgrounds Mile, maybe it’s time to fully embrace the present — to move on from a relationship we loved and appreciate what’s here now — because it’s not going back to Syracuse.
This year’s edition, run under the lights on Oswego’s 5/8-mile clay oval, produced racing I haven’t seen anywhere all season — certainly not in the previous editions of Super DIRT Week run on a sun-dried speedway, be it the mile or Oswego in the previous eight years. The schedule change this October, moving the Pro Stock feature to Friday and the Sportsman feature to Saturday before track work, was the right call.
When the two Modified features hit the track under the lights, the racing was fantastic. You could see the entire track, and replays on three large video boards enhanced the show. Dust was not an issue, and officials dealt quickly with a hole that developed in turn one early in the week.
If I have one suggestion, it’s this: Tell the drivers ahead of time so they can plan accordingly — and do some quick track work during the five minute half-way break — sprinkle some water on the top groove to bring the cushion back to life and give us another great 100 laps to finish it off!
Give credit where it’s due — the World Racing Group (WRG) deserves applause. Oswego had its flaws early on, and there are still a few, but each year it’s gotten better. The transition from the New York State Fairgrounds to Oswego was never going to be easy, but WRG has pushed the right buttons, tweaking what they have each year.
Nighttime main events for just the Modifieds. Multi-groove racing surfaces. Well-prepared clay that allows outside passing.
Larry Wight drove from 41st to 2nd in the first 100 laps of Saturday’s 200. Jackson Gill charged from deep in the field to fourth in the second half. Mat Williamson went from 22nd to win the 358 Modified race on Friday after going from 24th to fifth in a 20-lap qualifier on Wednesday, just to make the show after blowing a motor in the first practice. Alex Yankowski, after a tech issue sent him to the rear before the start, rebounded from 41st to 3rd before a mechanical issue ended his chance at victory.
All of those hard chargers advanced under green — not through pit strategy, not through attrition or crashes — but by pure racing.
It’s been said you can have the nicest restaurant in the world, but if the food isn’t any good, the parking lot will soon be empty. Drive past one of those old diners along the highway, and if the food’s good — and it usually is — the booths are full.
Racing works the same way. You can’t live forever on reputation. It has to be fun to be there. You have to be entertained. And let’s face it, not every race is memorable.
But today, Super DIRT Week is fun again. The schedule is solid: driver autograph and interview sessions, poster giveaways, meet-the-flagman, trophy unveilings, bikini photoshoots, and plenty of live music from bands and DJs. And don’t forget the bowling alley behind the grandstands — where you might find a driver trying to roll a 300 with his team, watching the baseball playoffs, or catching the racing up the hill on DIRTvision.
The reduced schedule that debuted last year is working for both race teams and fans. With just two divisions qualifying and racing each day, the on-track activity wrapped up early enough for the socializing to begin. WRG can’t control the weather, but their new format builds in flexibility to make smart adjustments when needed.
It’s time to get back on board if you haven’t already — the seats are filling up. This year’s crowd was big; next year’s should be even bigger. This isn’t a promotional piece — it’s from the heart, from a reporter who’s been to every Super DIRT Week except the first. The past will always be special, but the future is here.
And right now, it’s looking Super again.
