Super Dirt Week

{{Short description|Modified car racing event held in Central New York state}}

{{Infobox motor race

|Race title = Super Dirt Week

|Logo = File:Superdirtweek.png

|Track map =

|Series long = Super DIRTcar Series

|Series short = NASCAR Cup Series

|Venue = Oswego Speedway

|Location = Oswego, New York, United States

|First race = {{Start date|1972}} Syracuse Mile

|Last race =

|Distance =

|Laps = 200

|Previous names =

|Most wins driver = Brett Hearn, Stewart Friesen (6)

|Most wins team =

|Most wins manufacturer =

|Surface = Clay

|Length mi = .625

|Turns = 4

}}

Super Dirt Week is a modified racing event held annually on Columbus Day weekend in Central New York state.

History

The first event was scheduled over three days, from September 29, through October 1, 1972 at the New York State Fairgrounds. Inspection and qualifying races were conducted on Friday and Saturday, and the Championship race was held on Sunday.{{cite web|title=Coming; Palmer and Varin Have Great Weekend| date=September 24, 2017 |url=http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/New17/?p=11983|publisher=Dirt Track Digest|accessdate=November 27, 2017}}

In 1976 a fourth day was added to the schedule, and a 100 mile race the USAC Champ Cars was held on Saturday October 2.{{cite web|title=Super Dirt Week is Here|url=http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/SDWLIVE2/?p=1404|publisher=Dirt Track Digest|accessdate=27 November 2017}} The date of the event was eventually changed to Columbus Day weekend, and expanded to 6 days and championships for 5 car classes. The Syracuse Mile remained the featured race track until 2015, and companion races were added over the week at the nearby race tracks in Elbridge, Weedsport Speedway, and Brewerton Speedway.{{cite news|last= Medler|first=Dave |title= Double Your Fun At Brewerton Speedway During Super DIRT Week XLIX |url= https://oswegocountytoday.com/sports/racingnews/double-your-fun-at-brewerton-speedway-during-super-dirt-week-xlix/ |newspaper=Oswego County Today |date=September 20, 2021 |access-date=August 4, 2023}}

After the 2015 event the grandstands at the Syracuse Mile were torn down and the track was eliminated. Oswego Speedway began hosting the primary races the following year.{{cite web|title=Fairgrounds' track faces final memories of long racing history |url=http://www.syracuse.com/motorsports/index.ssf/2015/03/fairgrounds_track_faces_final_memories_of_long_racing_history.html |publisher=The Post-Standard|date=March 12, 2015|accessdate=November 26, 2017}}

Oswego era

Oswego Speedway is a five-eighths-mile asphalt track that runs weekly supermodified races. Each year following the Budweiser Classic Weekend, the oval coverts into a dirt track. That process requires placement of over 200 jersey barriers around the inside hub rail, and then 10-wheel dump trucks that bring in between four and five hundred loads are spread around the racing surface.{{cite news|last= O'Brien|first=Dick |title=Oswego Speedway's conversion to dirt track for Super DIRT week begins |url=https://www.syracuse.com/sports/2021/09/oswego-speedways-conversion-to-dirt-track-for-super-dirt-week-begins.html|newspaper=The Post-Standard |date= September 17, 2021 |access-date=August 4, 2023}}

Super Dirt Week is now the largest economic event for Oswego, New York as more than 30,000 fans attend.{{cite news|last= Roth|first=Brendon |title= 'Racing's biggest party' Super Dirt Week returns to Oswego Speedway for 50th year |url=https://cnycentral.com/news/local/racings-biggest-party-super-dirt-week-returns-to-oswego-speedway-for-50th-year |newspaper=WSTM-TV |date= October 5, 2022 |access-date=August 4, 2023}}

Racing rules may be adjusted as necessary, and in 2023 new pit stop strategies were introduced allowing teams to remain on the track while others pit to improve their cars.{{cite news |title= New pit strategy options highlight Super DIRT Week additions |url=https://www.oswegocountynewsnow.com/sports/new-pit-strategy-options-highlight-super-dirt-week-additions/article_ca9d94a6-2029-11ee-8c61-8704d132b955.html|newspaper=The Palladium-Times |date=July 12, 2023 |access-date=August 4, 2023}}

Media coverage

The event was first televised live on ESPN in 1980. During the next 35 years, broadcast rights went to TNN, the Empire Sports Net, SPEED, to CBS Sports Network, and more recently to MAVTV. Presently, streaming services are produced by the World Racing Group and are available on all DIRTVisions OTT platforms from iOS to Android, to Samsung, to ROKU.{{cite news|last= Roth|first=Brendon |title=WRG Fuels Rapid Acceleration Of DIRTVision Brand With Dejero Connectivity |url=https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/wrg-fuels-rapid-acceleration-of-dirtvision-brand-with-dejero-connectivity |newspaper=TV Technology |date= April 25, 2023 |access-date=August 4, 2023}}

List of winners

class="wikitable unsortable" style="text-align:center; font-size:100%"

|+ Super Dirt Week Champions

YearModified{{cite web|url= https://www.thethirdturn.com/wiki/Super_DIRT_Week_Big-Block_Modified_Championship|title=Super DIRT Week Big-Block Modified Championship|publisher = The Third Turn| access-date=August 5, 2023}}358 Modified{{cite web|url=https://thethirdturn.com/wiki/Super_DIRT_Week_358-Modified_Championship_Central|title=Super DIRT Week 358-Modified Championship|publisher = The Third Turn| access-date=August 5, 2023}}

!Sportsman{{Cite web |title=Super DIRT Week |url=https://thethirdturn.com/wiki/Super_DIRT_Week |access-date=September 4, 2024 |website=The Third Turn}}

!Late Model*

Pro-Stock

!Sprint Car

!Supermodified**

Champ Car

1972Buzzie Reutimannrowspan="5" |

| rowspan="5" |

| rowspan="5" |

| rowspan="5" |

| rowspan="5" |

1973Buzzie Reutimann
1974Billy Osmun
1975Toby Tobias
1976Gary Balough
1977Gary Balough|

|

|

|Pancho Carter

1978Gary Balough|

|

|Bentley Warren

|Larry Dickson

1979Jack Johnson|

|

|Smokey Snellbaker

| rowspan="7" |

1980Gary BaloughJeff Heotzler

|

|

|Steve Kinser

1981Merv TreichlerSteve Makocy

|

|

|Doug Wolfgang

1982Merv TreichlerPete Bicknell

|

|

|Sammy Swindell

1983 Alan JohnsonPete Bicknell

|

|

|Doug Wolfgang

1984Jack JohnsonBob McCreadie

|

|

|Sammy Swindell

1985Brett HearnDoug Hoffman

|

|

|Sammy Swindell

1986Bob McCreadieBrett Hearn

|

|Donnie Moran*

|Steve Kinser

|Joe Gosek**

1987Jimmy HortonBilly Pauch

|

|Donnie Moran*

|Dave Blaney

|Gene Lee Gibson**

1988Kenny BrightbillKenny Tremont Jr.

|

|

|Steve Kinser

|Joe Gosek**

1989Alan JohnsonBrett Hearn

|

|

|Doug Wolfgang

| rowspan="13" |

1990Brett HearnBrett Hearn

|

|

|Sammy Swindell

1991Brett HearnBilly Decker

|

|

|Sammy Swindell

1992Toby Tobias, Jr.Kenny Tremont Jr.

|

|

|Steve Kinser

1993Brett HearnMike Ricci

|

|

|Dave Blaney

1994Jimmy HortonDanny Johnson

|

|

|Billy Pauch

1995Brett HearnJimmy Hauser

|

|

|Steve Kinser

1996Doug HoffmanKenny Tremont Jr.

|

|

| rowspan="3" |

1997Danny JohnsonKenny Tremont Jr.

|Jim Sorensen, Jr.

|Kenny Martin

1998Billy DeckerPete Bicknell

|Chris Kokosa

|Tom Cannizzaro

1999Kenny Tremont Jr.Pete Bicknell

|Chad Brachmann

|Frank Twing

|Mike Woodring

2000Billy DeckerPete Bicknell

|Matt Sheppard

|Jipp Ortiz

|Lance Young

2001Billy DeckerBud Christmann

|Ryan Godown

|Jipp Ortiz

|Curt Michael

2002Vic CoffeyBilly Decker

|

|Dave Schulz

|

|J.J. Yeley

2003Alan JohnsonMatt Sheppard

|

|Jamie McGannon

|

|J.J. Yeley

2004Tim FullerWayne Jelley

|Tim Hindley

|Dave Schulz

| rowspan="9" |

| rowspan="9" |

2005Billy DeckerTim Fuller

|Kenny Stafford

|Dave Schulz

2006Danny JohnsonDanny Johnson

|John Ferrier

|Louie Jackson, Jr.

2007Vic CoffeyBrett Hearn

|Sammy Reakes, IV

|Don Carlson

2008Frank CozzeBilly Decker

|Erick Rudolph

|Sean Corr

2009Matt SheppardBilly Decker

|Matt Billings

|Pete Stefanski

2010Stewart FriesenBilly Decker

|Ryan Susice

|Rocky Warner

2011Stewart FriesenBilly Decker

|Neal Williams

|Rocky Warner

2012Brett HearnTim McCreadie

|Rocky Warner

|Pete Stefanski

2013Billy DunnBrett Hearn

|Brad Rouse

|Rob Yetman

|

|Kody Swanson

2014Stewart FriesenBrett Hearn

|Jimmy Spellmon

|Rob Yetman

|

|Kody Swanson

2015Stewart FriesenJimmy Phelps

|Rocky Warner

|Rob Yetman

| colspan="2" rowspan="10" |

colspan="5" | Oswego Speedway
2016Stewart FriesenTim Fuller

|Dave Marcuccilli

|Rob Yetman

2017Matt SheppardMatt Sheppard

|Dave Marcuccilli

|Rob Yetman

2018Larry WightPete Britten

|Shane Pecore

|Charles-David Beauchamp

2019Mat WilliamsonBilly Decker

|Kyle Inman

|Josh Coonradt

2021Mat WilliamsonStewart Friesen

|Zach Sobotka

|Chad Jeseo

2022Matt SheppardMatt Sheppard

|Cody McPherson

|Nick Stone

2023Mat WilliamsonMat Williamson

|Matt Janczuk

|Luke Horning

2024{{cite news|last=O'Brien|first=Dick|title=Mat Williamson wins salute to the troops 150|url=https://www.syracuse.com/sports/2024/10/mar-williamson-wins-salute-to-the-troops-150-for-the-second-straight-year-at-oswego.html|date=October 12, 2024|newspaper=The Post-Standard|location=Syracuse NY|accessdate=October 12, 2024}}{{cite news|title=Friesen ties Hearn for most Super DIRT Week main event wins|url=https://www.oswegocountynewsnow.com/sports/friesen-ties-hearn-for-most-super-dirt-week-main-event-wins/article_07bd5ed0-8955-11ef-bf71-bf93f440791f.html|date=October 13, 2024|newspaper=The Palladium Times|location=Oswego NY|accessdate=October 13, 2024}}

|Stewart Friesen

|Mat Williamson

|Matt Janczuk

|Beau Ballard

References

{{reflist}}