Can you believe it’s been a decade of Racing’s Biggest Party in Oswego already?
To celebrate, Super DIRT Week 54 presented by StubHub is bringing its biggest party yet to Oswego Speedway, Oct. 5-10.
Once the “Steel Palace” is converted into the “Clay Palace,” the Northeast’s best race car drivers and teams will gather at the iconic speedway to thrill more than 30,000 fans throughout the week in the Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modified, DIRTcar 358 Modified, DIRTcar Sportsman, and DIRTcar Pro Stock divisions.
Racing begins on Wednesday, Oct. 7, and continues through Saturday, Oct. 10, leading to the highlight of the week, the Super DIRTcar Series Billy Whittaker Cars 200. Along with taking home a $54,000 check for winning the 200-lap spectacle, the winner will also take home the most iconic trophy in dirt Modified racing – the Emil Lloyd “Buzzie” Reutimann championship trophy, honoring inaugural Super DIRT Week winner “Buzzie” Reutimann.
PARTY TIME
However, the party starts long before the cars even reach the racetrack. At least 200 of the more than 1,000 campers who spend the week at Oswego Speedway take advantage of early camper load-in on Sunday, Oct. 4, starting at 9 a.m. Then fans, drivers, and team members get to mingle at the Super DIRT Week Kickoff Party that night at Lighthouse Lanes with free food, drink specials, and bowling from 6 to 10 p.m.
Two fan-favorite events return on Monday: the Charity Golf Tournament at Radisson Greens Golf Course and Quarter Midget and Micro Mania in the infield of Oswego Speedway. The Golf Tournament, where fans can play against drivers – made possible by John and Laura Wight and Weedsport Productions – benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Quarter Midget and Microd Mania is a free event for spectators, featuring kids ages 5 to 16 racing in the infield of the speedway – Features start at 6 p.m.
Tuesday brings an exciting new addition to Super DIRT Week – Racing’s Biggest Block Party. The City of Oswego, the Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce by CenterState and Super DIRT Week will transform West 1st Street in Downtown Oswego into a high-revving block party, featuring live music, race cars, food vendors, fan activities, and more from 4 to 8 p.m.
The party won’t stop there, as once the block party ends, the pit area at Oswego Speedway will be rocking with a DJ Party at the Island Tent from 8 to 9 p.m., and then a live concert by the band Bendher from 9 to 11 p.m.
From Wednesday to Saturday, the event’s schedule will be loaded with live concerts, DJ Parties, and fan activities mixed in with the nightly racing. Leading off the activities will be the annual Super DIRT Week City of Oswego Parade on Wednesday, where 50 races parade around the streets of Oswego, starting at noon.
Other highlights throughout the week include a cornhole tournament on Friday, Oct. 9, a post-race concert by the band Infinity on Friday, the Billy Whittaker Cars 200 Top-30 Drivers Autograph Session on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 1 p.m., and a post-race concert on Saturday by Josh Cox & The Rattle Snakes. There will also be a best campsite contest, with fans encouraged to decorate their campsite in the traditions and colors of their home country.
As part of a new promotion, fans will have the ability to collect free pins – ranging from driver numbers to event logos – throughout the week, just by attending the events and visiting the drivers in the pit area.
RACE TIME
Super DIRT Week regularly brings together hundreds of entrants across the Super DIRTcar Series, DIRTcar 358 Modified Series, DIRTcar Sportsman Series, and DIRTcar Pro Stock Series.
Mat Williamson, of St. Catharines, ON, enters as the reigning Super DIRT Week champion and reigning Super DIRTcar Series champion. His win at Oswego last year marked his fourth Billy Whittaker Cars 200 title and the second time he swept the 200 and DIRTcar 358 Modified Series Salute to the Troops 150 presented by Air National Guard in the same year. If he accomplishes that feat again this year, it will mark his fourth straight Salute to the Troops 150 win and make him the first driver to sweep the 200 and 150 three times.
However, a supergroup of Northeast talent will be eager to end his reign and etch their name in history. Among them are current Super DIRTcar Series points leader Alex Yankowski, who finished third last year, 10-time Series champion and three-time Super DIRT Week champion Matt Sheppard, and six-time Super DIRT Week champion Stewart Friesen.
An injury forced Friesen to watch Super DIRT Week from the sidelines last year. But now, fully healed and riding a wave of momentum with the Super DIRTcar Series, already claiming six Feature wins this year, he’s poised for a triumphant return. Another Billy Whittaker Cars 200 victory this year would make him the winningest Big Block Modified driver in Super DIRT Week history, surpassing Hall of Famer Brett Hearn.
All four of the main Feature events – Super DIRTcar Series Billy Whittaker Cars 200 (Oct. 10), DIRTcar 358 Modified Salute to the Troops 150 presented by Air National Guard (Oct. 9), DIRTcar Sportsman Great Lakes 75 (Oct. 10), and DIRTcar Pro Stock I Love NY 50 (Oct. 9) – will award valuable points to each division’s season-long championship battle. But for the DIRTcar Pro Stock Series, the event will mark its series finale, with the champion being crowned Friday night. Currently, Bastien Caron, of Inverness, QC, leads reigning Series champion Pete Stefanski, of Wheatfield, NY, by 38 points.
SUPER DIRT WEEK SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS
Sunday, Oct. 4
•Early Camper / Team Load-In | 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
•Super DIRT Week Kickoff Party at Lighthouse Lanes | 6–10 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 5
•Super DIRT Week Charity Golf Tournament at Radisson Greens | 11 a.m.
•Quarter Midget & Microd Mania Features | 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 6
•Racing’s Biggest Block Party in Downtown Oswego | 4–8 p.m.
•DJ Party with DJ Rick at the Island Stage | 8–9 p.m.
•Live Concert at the Island Stage: Bendher | 9–11 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 7
•Frontstretch Midway Opens | 11 a.m.
•City of Oswego Parade | 12 p.m
•Grandstands Open | 12 p.m.
•Live Concert: Frontstretch Midway Stage | 12 p.m.–2 p.m.
•DIRTcar Pro Stock Practice | 1 p.m.
•DIRTcar 358 Modified Practice | 1:45 p.m.
•DIRTcar Pro Stock Time Trials | 2:30 p.m.
•DIRTcar 358 Modified Time Trials | 3:15 p.m.
•Opening Ceremonies followed by Qualifying Heats | 7 p.m.
•DJ Party with DJ Rick | 9 p.m. – Midnight
•Dirt Track Digest Live at DTD Stage | Post-Race
Thursday, Oct. 8
•Frontstretch Midway Opens | 11 a.m.
•Live Concert: Frontstretch Midway Stage | 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.
•DIRTcar Sportsman Practice | 1 p.m.
•Super DIRTcar Series Practice | 1:45 p.m.
•DIRTcar Sportsman Time Trials | 2:30 p.m.
•Super DIRTcar Series Time Trials | 3:15 p.m.
•Opening Ceremonies followed by Qualifying Heats | 7 p.m.
•Dirt Track Digest Live at the DTD Stage | Post-Race
•DJ Party with DJ Rick at the Island Stage | 9 p.m. – 2 a.m.
Friday, Oct. 9
•Frontstretch Midway Opens | 11 a.m.
•Grandstands Open | 11 a.m.
•Live Concert: Frontstretch Midway Stage | 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
•Cornhole Tournament at Gate 6 | 12 p.m.
•DIRTcar Pro Stock Last Chance Showdowns | 1:30 p.m.
•DIRTcar 358 Modified Last Chance Showdowns | 2 p.m.
•DIRTcar Pro Stock I Love NY 50 | 3 p.m.
•DIRTcar 358 Modified Salute to the Troops 150 presented by Air National Guard | 6:30 p.m.
•Dirt Track Digest Live at the DTD Stage | Post-Race
•DJ Party with DJ Rick | 9 p.m. – 10 p.m.
•Live Concert by Infinity at the Island Stage | 10 p.m. – 1 a.m.
•DJ Party with DJ Rick | 1 a.m. – 2 a.m.
Saturday, Oct. 10
•Frontstretch Midway Opens | 11 a.m.
•Grandstands Open | 11 a.m.
•Flagging with Farney: Frontstretch Midway | 12 p.m.
•Billy Whittaker Cars 200 Top-30 Autograph Session | 1 p.m.
•DIRTcar Sportsman Last Chance Showdown | 1:30 p.m.
•Super DIRTcar Series Last Chance Showdown | 2:15 p.m.
•DIRTcar Sportsman Series Great Lakes 75 | 3 p.m.
•Super DIRTcar Series Billy Whittaker Cars 200 | 6:30 p.m.
•Dirt Track Digest Live at the DTD Stage | Post-Race
•Live Concert by Josh Cox and the Rattle Snakes at the Island Stage | 10 p.m. – Midnight
•Saturday Night Bash with DJ Rick at the Island Stage | 12 a.m. – 2 a.m.
For the full Super DIRT Week 54 schedule and tickets, click HERE.