RPW Exclusive: Enthusiastic 2019 Season On The Horizon At The Glen Ridge Motorsports Park

Column By: LAURIE FALLIS / RPW – FULTONVILLE, NY – After a long winter and being that spring has sprung, this could only mean to the racing world…the sounds and smells of race cars will be hitting the local tracks in upstate NY.

One of those eager tracks is the “Fastest Quarter Mile On Dirt” that overlooks the Mohawk Valley…the little track that packs a big punch, the Glen Ridge Motorsports Park.

In 2018, fans were wanting more Modified races. Well, asked and ye shall receive. Co-promoters Ray Sefrin and Butch Hazzard have put together 10 action-packed Modified races for 2019…two of which will be twin 25’s.

The biggest show of the year will be “The Vengeance,” a 50-lapper on Saturday, July 6th. Also on the card that evening will be the “Who’s Your Daddy” 602 Regional Championship for Sportsman. Be sure to mark this date on your calendar as a must see.

Last year’s success of the “Aftershock” Modified event still has fans talking. Palmer’s Service Center, owned by Carole & Alton Palmer, will be the title sponsor for each of the Modified events.

First action that will take place at the track on Sunday, April 28th will be an open practice…a perfect time to shake the bugs out of the car and dust off the firesuits.

The Season Opener will be the following Sunday, May 5th. Once again, the weekly headline class will be the 602 Crate Modifieds. Supporting classes will be the Limited Sportsman and the always-popular Pro Stocks, which will have long time supporter of the track, Yurkewecz Auto Crushers, as division sponsor this season. The Street Stocks and Mini Stocks will also be in action.

The 4-cylinders will be running a 50-lap main event on Sunday, June 2nd.

The All Star Slingshots and JR. Slingshots will be coming back as well. In 2018, they showed everyone that they can put on exciting shows and have large fields of competitors.

“We are really excited the way or schedule came together,” co-promoter Butch Hazzard said. “We have brought different array of racing to bring to the fans for this season.”

The USAC East Coast Sprints will be venturing up for the first time in the area on Sunday, June 30th. The CRSA Sprints will tackle the fast quarter mile on Sunday, July 28th with the WRA wingless sprints also on hand that night. Fans will certainly be given their money’s worth with the variety of sprint car action in 2019.

On Saturday, August 31st, a series that got it’s start at the Ridge will be making a return…the Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Series for the “Thrill on the Hill.”

Speaking as Director of the series, we’re certainly looking forward to heading back to our roots to were everything started. Glen Ridge is very special to me. I have turned many laps in my time as a racer, and to bring the MVVDMS to the track will be something special. Its important that everyone is on board in preserving and keeping our history moving forward for the younger generation to learn. We are thankful to Ray and Butch for bringing us back. The drivers are ready to give the fans something special to see…Vintage Style.

There’s also special events going on for the fans throughout the year. The always popular Meet and Greet night will be held on Sunday, May 19th and the Modifieds will be on the schedule that evening.

A great night to honor our Military is slated for Sunday, May 26th. All active Military and Veterans get in free with military ID as a thank you for their service.

The Ridge will be honoring its Hall Of Fame inductees on Sunday, August 18th. This will be the second class for the speedway’s Hall.

With the energetic schedule the thought of Butch Hazzard, is to bring the fans a good quality of races and get them home at a reasonable time.

“We will be starting one hour earlier in 2019,” he said. “Fans can look forward to a 5pm start time. We’re looking forward in getting the season started. Things have come together with a variety of different classes participating during the season.”

The sponsors are excited as well.

“We’ve had a tremendous response with our marketing partners who have come on board,” he said. “We’re much farther at this point then we were last year.”

One thing the promoters feel they need to do more of is listen to their drivers. They want to show them the respect they deserve.

“We need to show the drivers the appreciation we have for them,” Hazzard said. We’re thankful for them supporting our facility.”

I asked the young promoter what it means to have a new person in charge (Brett Deyo) at the Fonda Speedway.

“Brett bring a lot of credibility to the area,” he said. “It’s great to have him close by. He’s someone I can reach out to for advice on things and has opened doors for the Ridge which has put us in a great position.”

Just like their neighboring track, Glen Ridge will be running American Racers as the official tire along with Sunoco race fuel. The two tracks are putting a little twist for the 602 Crates and the Pro Stock divisions.

Drivers will take their best eight finishes in the two classes. They will combined both tracks to determine a Montgomery County Champion” for each class…and along with that, bragging rights. Should be a fun collaboration for the drivers and tracks in 2019.

This will be Ray and Butch’s third season as co-promoters. They are confident that 2019 will be bigger and better in making the Ridge one of the premier Race Track in the area.