Auto Racing To Take Place During This Year’s Afton Fair; It’s A Natural Fit

Story By: JR KENNERUP / AFTON MOTORSPORTS PARK – AFTON, NY – When the 129th Afton Fair opens up this year on Friday July 6th a long standing United States tradition featuring auto racing taking place during a fair will be taking place. All over the 50 states racing in some form has always taken place during a fair, right from the smallest of fairs to the biggest of fairs. The Afton Fair with racing taking place during the annual Fair has a long tradition at Afton, with the current location of the Afton Fair being in this same exact location since 1890.

This year the racing during the Afton Fair will be promoted by lifelong Afton, NY resident Ronnie Ford who also operates his local business, Pit Stop Auto. This is the second go around for Ford in promoting the Afton Motorsports Park as he previously co – promoted the track with Jamie and Denise Page of Bainbridge, NY. Ford stepped away from co – promoting with the Pages’ after four years together and after the 2016 racing season Jamie and Denise decided not to promote the track anymore. Ford stepped up to take the track back over for the 2017 racing season with co – promoter Leon Andrus and they had a tough year dealing with the awful weather. Following the conclusion of the 2017 racing season Andrus decided not to return as a co – promoter of the track and Ford stepped up to become the sole promoter for the 2018 racing season.

The racing program for Friday July 6th is an action packed program that will start promptly at 7 pm with gates opening at 4:30 pm. There will be an admission for entrance into the Afton Fair and an additional admission to get into the nights’ races. On the racing program will be the ZMK Construction Modifieds, Chambers & O’ Hara Open Sportsman, Butler Auto Sales Crate Sportsman, Rinker Insurance Agency Street Stocks, and the Four Cylinder Trucks. The Modifieds, and both Sportsman classes will run a full show of qualifying races along with a feature event. The Street Stocks and Trucks depending on car count will determine their program and as of late these two divisions are been racing in feature only programs. Topping off this evening of auto racing will be a huge fireworks display capping off the first night of the 129th Afton Fair on Friday July 6th.

For this night only race cars will enter the pit area using the first turn gate, all other spectators ( pits and grandstands ) will use the fourth turn pit gate and park in the grassy field. Fair admission is $3, pit admission is $30, grandstand admission is $10, seniors age 62 and up is $8, youth ages 9 to 14 are $3, and 8 and under are free with a paid adult admission.

So on Friday July 6th make your plans to spend the entire day at the 129th Afton Fair. Plan to arrive early and walk the grounds, enjoy the displays, visit the vendors, eat some of the great food that is always found at the Afton Fair, and cap off the evening by attending a long standing American tradition; auto racing as the featured attraction at the local Fair.

The first ever auto racing event at the Afton Fair took place on August 19 of 1933 and this racing program was sanctioned by AAA. It was a very popular attraction for a first time promotion with over 40 racing machines in competition along with 2,000 spectators in attendance. Drivers came from 12 different states and one country, France, to compete in the race that was won by Bob Sall of Paterson, NJ.

On Friday July 6th what drivers will add their name to the list of winning a feature event during the Afton Fair ?