Media Contact: Brett Deyo – Deyo99H@aol.com or 845.728.2781
For Immediate Release/November 19, 2013
Heading Home: 2014 ‘Working Man’s Race’ Returns “Home” To I-88 Speedway In Afton, N.Y.; Short Track SuperNationals 7 Set For Friday-Saturday October 10-11; Modifieds To Compete For Large Purse Plus ‘Blue Collar B-Main’ Added For Non-Qualifiers
AFTON, NY – The Short Track SuperNationals is heading home.
When the seventh edition of the ‘Working Man’s Race’ takes place on Columbus Day weekend 2014, it will return to the same facility that hosted the very first one: I-88 Speedway in Afton, N.Y. Short Track SuperNationals founder and promoter Brett Deyo will team with I-88 track managers Jamie Page and Ron Ford to present ‘Short Track SuperNationals 7’ on Friday-Saturday Oct. 10-11, 2014.
Deyo, in conjunction with Pat and Janet Jordan – then promoters of the Afton Speedway, I-88’s former moniker – originated the Short Track SuperNationals as an affordable option to Super DIRT Week on Oct. 6-7, 2006. The first SuperNationals – run at Afton as a two-day event – was an overwhelming success with 220 total race cars filing into the pit area. Mike Ricci of Tillson, N.Y., won the inaugural Short Track SuperNationals Modified event over a talented field. Shortly thereafter, the Jordans ended their run as Afton promoters and the SuperNationals needed a new host venue.
The next five editions of the Short Track SuperNationals were contested at Five Mile Point Speedway in Kirkwood, N.Y., from ’09 to ’13. Most recently, Fonda (N.Y.) and Glen Ridge (N.Y.) regular Craig Hanson of Tribes Hill, N.Y., registered the most lucrative victory of his career, taking home $6,062 in his Short Track SuperNationals debut. A field of 79 big-block/small-block Modifieds took part in the ’13 SuperNationals.
Since the inaugural event, the SuperNationals event has grown significantly, filling the Five Mile Point facility to the point of overflow. As such, discussions began to move the event to I-88, which is located on the spacious Afton Fairgrounds. The conversations between I-88 management and Deyo of BD Motorsports Media LLC evolved into an agreement between parties to bring the Short Track SuperNationals back to Afton, N.Y.
“We’ve had a unique challenge at the Short Track SuperNationals in that we’ve seen attendance rise steadily: more and more race teams and fans have made the event their ‘destination’ for the weekend to the point of taking the facility over capacity,” Deyo explained. “The number of campers and motorhomes making a weekend out of the SuperNationals has also grown each year.
“One thing I’ve noticed as a common theme at all major racing events is the camping and tailgating, whether it’s the Fulton (N.Y.) 200, the Freedom 76 at Grandview (Pa.) or Eastern States at Orange County (N.Y.), that social aspect makes a race a true ‘event’ for fans and racers. Moving to I-88 will allow us to expand that portion of our weekend because of the amount of flat real estate available. We’re looking forward to a Friday night party for overnight campers, a ‘Fan Fest’ on Saturday and some other activities to make the race a ‘true event’ for all involved.”
Via an agreement reached with the Afton Fair Board, there will be reserved camping spots with water and electricity hook-ups available for the SuperNationals weekend. There is plentiful flat, grassy area for free camping, as well.
I-88’s roomy pit area will also easily accommodate the large number of expected participants during the Short Track SuperNationals weekend, and allow for the potential addition of other divisions.
Page and Ford – both former racers and local businessmen – have upgraded the facility since taking the helm at I-88 in ‘10. The speedway maintains its old-school charm with trademark covered grandstands. Page and Ford have renovated many of the buildings on the fairgrounds including concession stands and the officials’ and sponsor/press towers, resurfaced the speedway’s clay, installed transponder scoring, erected a tech building, constructed a pit-area observation deck and much more. Additional grandstand seating is in the works for ’14, as well.
“I-88 has definitely been a ‘feel-good’ story of racing in the Southern Tier,” Deyo said. “Jamie and Ron took a facility that was closed and transformed it into a showplace for racing in the area. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to host the SuperNationals there.”
I-88 Speedway is centrally located and easily accessible from the north, south, east and west. The facility is visible off Interstate 88 Exit 7 (Afton), less than 25 miles northeast of Binghamton. For GPS users, I-88 Speedway is located at 46 East Main Street Afton, NY 13730. For those making the trek from the Syracuse-area festivities, I-88 – like Five Mile Point – is within reasonable driving distance to take in the Saturday portion before returning to Syracuse for Sunday’s event.
A similar format to that used during the ’13 edition at Five Mile Point will be utilized at I-88.
Modifieds will be competing for, at minimum, the same purse structure utilized during the previous running, with $5,000 available for the winner and $455 to take the green flag plus a long list of bonuses and special awards. Additionally, a ‘Blue Collar B-Main’ will be added for Modified drivers unable to qualify for the main event. The feature will remain a 50-lap event. Big- and small-blocks using gasoline or methanol will be legal, with sail panels permitted.
A full line-up of divisions will be released in the coming weeks.
Page said he and Ford are pleased to have the Short Track SuperNationals at their speedway this year.
“It is definitely one of the biggest races in our area every year,” Page said. “We were very pleased when Brett approached us about hosting the race. Everyone on our staff at the track is excited about bringing the SuperNationals back.”
BD Motorsports Media teamed with Page and Ford in July to co-promote the ‘Crazy 8s Special’ 48-lap event won by Mike Mahaney of King Ferry, N.Y., who ultimately went on to win the track championship in ’13. The ‘Crazy 8s’ returns to the I-88 schedule in ’14 on Wednesday, July 23.
“Ron and Jamie have shown they are ready to host big events,” Deyo said. “Our ‘Crazy 8s’ event was a big success. They have hosted Race of Champions events, a well-attended two-day weekend last September and the Empire Super Sprints (ESS). They’ve shown that I-88 Speedway will be more than capable of hosting an event of this nature.”
Deyo offered sincere thanks to the Five Mile Point management and officials who have contributed to the SuperNationals success during each of the last five seasons.
“Anytime a decision like this has to be made, it requires plenty of thought,” he said. “I have to thank Andrew Harpell; Dan Harpell and his sons Tyler, Tanner and Tucker; Leanna Allen (Five Mile Point office manager) and the entire Five Mile Point staff for all they’ve contributed to the SuperNationals in the last five years. Certainly, this was not a personal decision, simply a product of logistics.
“I believe I-88 will be the ideal venue to continue the growth of the Short Track SuperNationals for years to come.”
To learn more about BD Motorsports Media LLC, contact Brett Deyo at 845.728.2781, via e-mail at Deyo99H@aol.com or on the web at www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com. “Like” BD Motorsports Media on Facebook or follow @BrettDeyo on Twitter.
I-88 Speedway can be contacted by phone at 607.639.FAST (3278). Promoters Ron Ford (607.624.3772) and Jamie Page (607.760.0671) can be reached individually by phone, as well. The speedway is online at www.i-88speedway.com. “Like” I-88 Speedway on Facebook for up-to-the-minute updates.
Short Track SuperNationals Six-Year Event History
October 12, 2013 (Five Mile Point): CRAIG HANSON – Anthony Perrego – Jackie Brown Jr. – Pat Ward – Chad Phelps
October 6, 2012 (Five Mile Point): DANNY TYLER – Bobby Varin – Brian Weaver – Billy Pauch Sr. – Mitch Gibbs
October 7, 2011 (Five Mile Point): DUANE HOWARD – Danny Tyler – Billy Pauch Sr. – Jeff Strunk – Jeff Heotzler Sr.
October 9, 2010 (Five Mile Point): JUSTIN HOLLAND – Billy Pauch Jr. – Kevin Bates – Brian Weaver – Danny Tyler
October 10, 2009 (Five Mile Point): KEVIN HIRTHLER – Mike Ricci – Mike Gular – Sean Merkel – Joey Grammes
October 7, 2006 (Afton): MIKE RICCI – J.R. Hurlburt – Brian Weaver – Joey Grammes – Davie Franek
October 6, 2012 (Five Mile Point): DANNY TYLER – Bobby Varin – Brian Weaver – Billy Pauch Sr. – Mitch Gibbs
October 7, 2011 (Five Mile Point): DUANE HOWARD – Danny Tyler – Billy Pauch Sr. – Jeff Strunk – Jeff Heotzler Sr.
October 9, 2010 (Five Mile Point): JUSTIN HOLLAND – Billy Pauch Jr. – Kevin Bates – Brian Weaver – Danny Tyler
October 10, 2009 (Five Mile Point): KEVIN HIRTHLER – Mike Ricci – Mike Gular – Sean Merkel – Joey Grammes
October 7, 2006 (Afton): MIKE RICCI – J.R. Hurlburt – Brian Weaver – Joey Grammes – Davie Franek
-----
Brett Deyo
BD Motorsports Media LLC
BD Motorsports Media LLC
Phone: 845.728.2781
E-Mail: Deyo99H@aol.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BDMotorsportsMedia
Twitter: @BrettDeyo
No comments:
Post a Comment