OSWEGO, NY (June 10, 2020) - Oswego Speedway has officially cancelled the Saturday, June 20th Helena-Agri Enterprises ‘Spring Championship,’ scheduled to include racing for the Novelis Supermodifieds and Pathfinder Bank SBS. It is the fifth Speedway event to fall to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
“Despite having to lose another race, we are very optimistic about where we stand in the near future,” said track owner, John Torrese. “As we approach phase 4 in Central New York, we are continuing to work with officials on a reopening plan, and have every intention to race with fans in attendance on July 4.”
The Speedway is holding details on the potential July 4 show or any future dates until receiving final approval, but the first event would include racing for the Novelis Supermodified, Pathfinder Bank SBS, and J&S Paving 350 Super divisions. The Sportsman Modified ‘XMR’ has now been cancelled in order to comply with CDC social distancing guidelines in the pit area.
“Right now, the Governor’s executive order, which prohibits auto racing with fans in attendance, is set to expire on July 2,” explained Torrese. “Our goal is to race with our fans here, and we will announce our plans as soon as we hear back from the Governor’s office. For the meantime, we are happy to do closed test sessions and allow our teams to get some laps in.”
While there will be no racing at Oswego Speedway in the month of June, the track will open up to teams for those closed test sessions, beginning next week on Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20. Practices will continue on Friday, June 26 and Saturday, June 27. All 2020 divisions are invited to sign up.
For each of these four sessions, there will be strict limits on both the number of cars and crew members in the pit area, and absolutely no one will be allowed on the grounds with the exception of teams and essential Speedway staff. All pit and grandstand gates will be shut.
Those interested in signing up for the testing slots; which will run from 4 to 8pm on Fridays and 10am to 2pm on Saturdays, can email Paul at oswegospeedway@gmail.com. Teams are asked to check their emails for further information on these sessions.
Fans hoping to follow along, can check the Speedway’s website and social media channels for content including live video, photos, driver interviews, and lap times, which will be posted during each session.
Oswego Speedway hopes to open the track office by month’s end to handle any and all necessary items needed for teams to race; including registration, or other paperwork. All ticket and camping sales of any kind remain paused, with hopes to announce future plans and pricing for these items in early July.
Teams are once again reminded that as soon as Oswego Speedway is given the green light to race, the track will be doing so, and everyone is urged to have equipment prepped accordingly. Drivers are required to turn in all of the necessary paperwork before taking any laps on the track.
For the latest updates from Oswego Speedway, visit online at OswegoSpeedway.com. You can also FOLLOW on Twitter @OswegoSpeedway or Instagram @OfficialOswegoSpeedway or LIKE on Facebook at Facebook.com/OswegoSpeedway.
About Oswego Speedway: Oswego Speedway is a 5/8 mile semi-banked pavement racing oval located off the shores of Lake Ontario in scenic Oswego, NY. The speedway has been a continuously run weekly racing venue since August 1951. The premier open-wheel pavement short track cars in the world, Supermodifieds, run weekly at the Oswego Speedway making it the only weekly Supermodified racing venue in the world. The Small Block Supermodifieds and 350 Supermodifieds accompany the full blown Supers on a weekly Saturday night schedule which runs from May through September. Oswego Speedway is mentioned in racing circles as the “Indy of the East,” as no fewer than a dozen past and present competitors have competed at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway including Mario Andretti, two-time Indy 500 champion Gordon Johncock, and former International Classic Champions Bentley Warren, Joe Gosek, and Davey Hamilton.
- CAMDEN PROUD on Jun 10, 2020
- Article Date: 6/10/2020