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 | ||
Year | Modified{{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}}
!Late Model* !Supermodified** |
---|---|---|
1972 | Buzzie Reutimann | rowspan="5" |
| rowspan="5" | | rowspan="5" | | rowspan="5" | | rowspan="5" | |
1973 | Buzzie Reutimann | |
1974 | Billy Osmun | |
1975 | Toby Tobias | |
1976 | Gary Balough | |
1977 | Gary Balough | |
| | |
1978 | Gary Balough | |
| |
1979 | Jack Johnson | |
| |Smokey Snellbaker | rowspan="7" | |
1980 | Gary Balough | Jeff Heotzler
| | |
1981 | Merv Treichler | Steve Makocy
| | |
1982 | Merv Treichler | Pete Bicknell
| | |
1983 | Alan Johnson | Pete Bicknell
| | |Doug Wolfgang |
1984 | Jack Johnson | Bob McCreadie
| | |Sammy Swindell |
1985 | Brett Hearn | Doug Hoffman
| | |Sammy Swindell |
1986 | Bob McCreadie | Brett Hearn
| |Donnie Moran* |Steve Kinser |Joe Gosek** |
1987 | Jimmy Horton | Billy Pauch
| |Donnie Moran* |Gene Lee Gibson** |
1988 | Kenny Brightbill | Kenny Tremont Jr.
| | |Steve Kinser |Joe Gosek** |
1989 | Alan Johnson | Brett Hearn
| | |Doug Wolfgang | rowspan="13" | |
1990 | Brett Hearn | Brett Hearn
| | |Sammy Swindell |
1991 | Brett Hearn | Billy Decker
| | |Sammy Swindell |
1992 | Toby Tobias, Jr. | Kenny Tremont Jr.
| | |Steve Kinser |
1993 | Brett Hearn | Mike Ricci
| | |Dave Blaney |
1994 | Jimmy Horton | Danny Johnson
| | |
1995 | Brett Hearn | Jimmy Hauser
| | |Steve Kinser |
1996 | Doug Hoffman | Kenny Tremont Jr.
| | | rowspan="3" | |
1997 | Danny Johnson | Kenny Tremont Jr.
|Jim Sorensen, Jr. |Kenny Martin |
1998 | Billy Decker | Pete Bicknell
|Chris Kokosa |Tom Cannizzaro |
1999 | Kenny Tremont Jr. | Pete Bicknell
|Chad Brachmann |Frank Twing |Mike Woodring |
2000 | Billy Decker | Pete Bicknell
|Matt Sheppard |Jipp Ortiz |Lance Young |
2001 | Billy Decker | Bud Christmann
|Ryan Godown |Jipp Ortiz |Curt Michael |
2002 | Vic Coffey | Billy Decker
| |Dave Schulz | |
2003 | Alan Johnson | Matt Sheppard
| |Jamie McGannon | |J.J. Yeley |
2004 | Tim Fuller | Wayne Jelley
|Tim Hindley |Dave Schulz | rowspan="9" | | rowspan="9" | |
2005 | Billy Decker | Tim Fuller
|Kenny Stafford |Dave Schulz |
2006 | Danny Johnson | Danny Johnson
|John Ferrier |Louie Jackson, Jr. |
2007 | Vic Coffey | Brett Hearn
|Sammy Reakes, IV |Don Carlson |
2008 | Frank Cozze | Billy Decker
|Sean Corr |
2009 | Matt Sheppard | Billy Decker
|Matt Billings |Pete Stefanski |
2010 | Stewart Friesen | Billy Decker
|Ryan Susice |Rocky Warner |
2011 | Stewart Friesen | Billy Decker
|Neal Williams |Rocky Warner |
2012 | Brett Hearn | Tim McCreadie
|Rocky Warner |Pete Stefanski |
2013 | Billy Dunn | Brett Hearn
|Brad Rouse |Rob Yetman | |
2014 | Stewart Friesen | Brett Hearn
|Jimmy Spellmon |Rob Yetman | |Kody Swanson |
2015 | Stewart Friesen | Jimmy Phelps
|Rocky Warner |Rob Yetman | colspan="2" rowspan="10" | |
colspan="5" | Oswego Speedway | ||
2016 | Stewart Friesen | Tim Fuller
|Dave Marcuccilli |Rob Yetman |
2017 | Matt Sheppard | Matt Sheppard
|Dave Marcuccilli |Rob Yetman |
2018 | Larry Wight | Pete Britten
|Shane Pecore |Charles-David Beauchamp |
2019 | Mat Williamson | Billy Decker
|Kyle Inman |Josh Coonradt |
2021 | Mat Williamson | Stewart Friesen
|Zach Sobotka |Chad Jeseo |
2022 | Matt Sheppard | Matt Sheppard
|Cody McPherson |Nick Stone |
2023 | Mat Williamson | Mat 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}}
External links
- [http://www.superdirtweekonline.com/ Super Dirt Week]
Category:Motorsport competitions in New York (state)
Category:1972 establishments in New York (state)
Category:Dirt track racing in the United States
Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1972