The transformation of the Steel Palace into the Clay Palace is about 90 percent compete. But there is more to do before next month.
OSWEGO, NY – As soon as the “Steel Palace” its doors on Oswego Speedway’s 2017 season, it began to morph into the “Clay Palace.”
DIRTcar Racing crews began the arduous task of once again taking the historic speedway back to its dirt-racing roots.
For the second straight year, Oswego Speedway’s track is being covered with clay in preparation for racing’s biggest party, NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week.
DIRT Week is scheduled for October 1- 8 and the track is nearly ready, according to Jeff Hachmann, director of events.
The track is just about ready, a bit faster than last year, he told Oswego County Today. But there are a mryiad other pieces of the puzzle to contend with, he added.
This year, officials gained access to the speedway two weeks earlier than last year in order to prepare a better racing surface and ensure “the best NAPA Super DIRT Week ever,” he said.
“We’re way ahead on the track. But, that’s only one part of it,” he explained. “We’re in good shape. This is year two. Year two is a lot easier than year one.”
Things like closing off Albany Street, 789 camp spots, three different ticket centers, fencing, the vendors and more all need to be dealt with before next month.
Last week, crews got busy skirting the asphalt with jersey barriers to increase the height of the famous inside steel wall.
Over the weekend, multiple truckloads of mulch were laid down over the asphalt track to preserve the racing surface, help with necessary drainage, and simplify the impending clean-up process.
Next, crews will dump nearly 9,600 cubic yards of clay on the track – close to 600 truckloads – before the transformation is complete.
Ticket sales are up, Hachmann said, adding that Oswego is going to be the home for a lot of fans for seven days.
“The local support has been incredible in Oswego,” he said. “The Oswego support is unparalleled.”
When it was determined last year that DIRT Week wouldn’t be returning to the New York State Fairgrounds at Syracuse, DIRTcar Racing crews were left searching for a new venue for one of New York’s biggest racing events.
The location and size of the facility – the seating capacity and 86-acre grounds – made Oswego Speedway one of the most viable options.
“Oswego is a great facility,” Hachmann said. “It’s one of the few facilities in Central New York that can handle an event like this.
Just up the hill from Route 104 and a mere 30 miles from the original home of NAPA Super DIRT Week, the speedway is traditionally a 5/8th-mile asphalt oval.
One of the biggest challenges for the DIRTcar Racing team was the transformation of the Steel Palace into the Clay Palace.
After months of planning, crews went to work last summer. Workers scattered across the grounds of the Speedway recently preparing for the thousands of fans that would make their annual pilgrimage to Central New York for the area’s largest Big-Block Modified event.
Renovations included new roads, 90 full-amenity camping spots, refurbished grandstands and of course, the racing surface was covered in clay.
This year, with two extra weeks to prepare the surface, DIRTcar Racing aims to serve up the best NAPA Super DIRT Week ever, Hachmann said.
The week will kick off with early parking for campers on October 1. Early Bird tech inspection for all classes and competitors starts on October 2.
On-track activities will begin shortly after the procession of cars through the streets of Oswego on October 4 at roughly noon.
The Billy Whittaker Cars 200 is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. on October 8, with opening ceremonies at 1:30 p.m.
Tickets and camping spots for the 46th annual NAPA Super DIRT Week are available by calling 844-DIRT-TIX or by visiting SuperDIRTWeekOnline.com. Stay tuned to the DIRTcar Racing website as well as DIRTcar social media channel’s Facebook and Twitter for additional information regarding NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week.
For more information, visit SuperDIRTWeekOnline.com.
NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week – Oswego is brought to fans by many important sponsors and partners, including: NAPA Auto Parts, I Love New York, Billy Whittaker Cars and Trux, Great Outdoors RV Superstore, Other Super DIRT Week sponsors include: A-Verdi, Bart Contracting Inc, Beyea Headers, Bibbens Sales & Service, Camping World, Chevy Performance, CNY Golf Carts, Fast Shafts, Fluidampr, Fox Shocks, Gypsum Express, Integra Racing Shocks, PAC Racing Springs, Tracey Road Equipment, Unique eCigs, Wrisco Aluminum.
Super DIRTcar Series sponsors:
ASI, Bilstein, Comp Cams, Edelbrock, Impact Race Products, JE Pistons, JRi Shocks, KSE, MSD, Superflow, Wrisco Aluminum.
DIRTcar sponsors:
Chevy Performance, Hoosier Racing Tire, Impact Race Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, TNT Rescue, VP Racing Fuel.
DIRTcar HP sponsors:
Comp Cams, Edelbrock, JE Pistons, MSD, Superflow, VP Racing Fuel.
358 Modified sponsors:
Beyea Headers, Bicknell, Fox Shocks, MSD, Schoenfeld Headers
Sportsman Modified sponsors: Beyea Headers, Fox Shocks, Schoenfeld Headers. BB Modified sponsors: Cometic Gasket, Dig Safely NY, Fox Shocks, Schoenfeld Headers.
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