Racing’s Biggest Party is returning to Oswego bigger than ever for drivers and fans alike
A handful of days stand between fans and the most historic motorsports event of 2022 – the 50th Running of NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week at Oswego Speedway, Oct. 3-9.
Again, hosted at Oswego Speedway in Oswego, NY, the Northeast’s biggest dirt racing event will see more than 20,000 fans come to the area with hundreds of campers invading the iconic track on Sunday, Oct. 2 with a Kickoff Party – open to everyone – that night at Lighthouse Lanes in front of the speedway.
Then, when the week officially commences for Racing’s Biggest Party on Monday, Oct. 3, it will be full steam ahead with fan activities, charity events, concerts and epic racing – featuring the Super DIRTcar Series, DIRTcar 358 Modifieds, DIRTcar Sportsman and DIRTcar Pro Stocks.
CHARITY EVENTS
Always looking for ways to give back to those that invest much of their life into promoting Northeast racing, Super DIRT Week is hosting the inaugural Bart Contracting Company Charity Golf Tournament at Radisson Greens Golf Club in Baldwinsville, on Monday, Oct. 3, with all proceeds going to Colorectal Cancer Research. The event is in honor of Albany-Saratoga Speedway promoter Lyle DeVore and his fight to conquer the illness.
Then, on Wednesday, Oct. 5, there will be the J&J Supply of NC Pancake Breakfast at The Island, prepared by The Busted Yolk (from 8 to 10am), benefiting the CHC Learning Center in Amherst, NY (https://www.chclearningcenter.org/). The breakfast honors a fire-safety team member who lost his son last year, who had attended the CHC Learning Center.
FAN ACTIVITES
When the racing goes quiet, Oswego Speedway will still be a buzz with plenty for fans to do throughout the week.
For the first time in the history of the event, there will be multiple cornhole tournaments throughout the week (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at noon), which will allow fans to compete against drivers and officials.
Wednesday through Saturday night, after all racing has concluded, a DJ will perform at The Island stage and, on Saturday night, the band Dirt Road Ruckus will host a concert – open to all fans – starting at 10pm.
A fan-favorite returns in a big way on Wednesday, Oct. 5, with the City of Oswego Parade presented by Harborfest, featuring a plethora of cars competing in NAPA Super DIRT Week cruising through the city street. Fans are encouraged to wear their favorite dirt racing shirt that day as they line the streets to see their favorite car and driver during the DIRTcar Day celebration.
After the parade, there will be free front stretch admission for all fans to watch practice from 2pm to 5pm.
Then, for Thursday (Oct. 6) and Friday (Oct. 7) night’s events, Oswego residents can buy one ticket and get one free. Kids 12 and under are free. College students can also get in for $10.
On Sunday, Oct. 9, at noon, fans will get to meet their favorite drivers during the Super DIRTcar Series Top-30 Autograph session.
THE RACING
The racing experience has been enhanced for drivers and fans this year with a new schedule for the main events and the addition of the Past Champions Race.
In addition to DIRTcar Pro Stock and DIRTcar 358 Modified Time Trials and 358 Qualifying Heats, Thursday Night Thunder (Oct. 6) will feature the Past Champions Race for former Big Block Modified Super DIRT Week champions. It’s a chance to see returning legends like Brett Hearn, Kenny Brightbill and Richie Tobias Jr. compete against modern-day champions.
Friday Night Lights (Oct. 7) will be highlighted by Time Trials for the DIRTcar Sportsman and Super DIRTcar Series before turning the speedway lights on for both divisions’ Qualifying Heats.
New this year, the DIRTcar Pro Stock 50 will be held on Saturday (Oct. 8) at 4pm (ET) before the Salute to the Troops 150 for the DIRTcar 358 Modifieds at 6pm.
Then, on Sunday (Oct. 9), the DIRTcar Sportsman Chevrolet Performance 75 will be held at 3pm (ET) before the headlining event of the week.
After Opening Ceremonies at 4:30 p.m., drivers will climb in their 800hp machines to compete for $50,000 in the 200-lap Billy Whittaker Cars 200.
“It’s our Super Bowl,” said Super DIRTcar Series winner Jimmy Phelps, of Baldwinsville, NY. “It’s the biggest event that we go to, and it only happens once a year, so naturally there’s forty, fifty, sixty guys looking to win it and there’s a lot of emphasis put on it so it’s a big deal to us.”
All of this will bring the best race car drivers in the world – highlighted by the likes of two-time and defending Super DIRT Week champion Mat Williamson, eight-time and defending Super DIRTcar Series champion Matt Sheppard, NASCAR star Stewart Friesen, 2021 Sportsman champion Zach Sobotka and 2021 Pro Stock champion Chad Jeseo – to Oswego County to try and make history.
Also joining the DIRTcar Pro Stock field this year will be NASCAR icons Kenny Schrader and Kenny Wallace. It’ll be their first return to Oswego Speedway in 30 years and first time racing on the dirt covered track.
For the full schedule of Super DIRT Week events, CLICK HERE – which also include two satellite races at Weedsport Speedway (Tuesday, Oct. 4) and Brewerton Speedway (Wednesday, Oct. 5).
Fans can purchase tickets by CLICKING HERE, and they’ll want to purchase them by Oct. 1 to be eligible for the special 50th NAPA Super DIRT Week replica trophy renewal gift when tickets are up for renewal Saturday, Oct. 8. Also, fans can save money by buying their tickets online before the event, rather than at the gate.
If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch the entire week of NAPA Super DIRT Week live on DIRTVision – either online or by downloading the DIRTVision App.
