Caroga Creek Raceway Under New Ownership In 2020; Tom Varin Takes Reigns

Story By: TOBY LAGRANGE / CAROGA CREEK RACEWAY – EPHRATAH, NY – The Capital District of New York is no stranger to racing. From Stock Cars to Karts, two wheels to four and everything in between, you can find it in the Capital District. With that comes rebirths. The Albany-Saratoga Speedway was reborn with Howard Commander and Lyle DeVore earlier this decade and just last season, Brett Deyo did the same for the historic Fonda Speedway.

When the snow and ice melt and the first green flag waves in the 2020 racing season, another Capital District track will be reborn.

The Caroga Creek Raceway will see a new operational team take over in 2020. Tom Varin, the promoter of the Wing Champ Racing Series (WCRS) and Northeast Pro Series (NEPRO) has entered into an agreement with the property owners to take over ownership. He will also handle the tracks promotional efforts. The first payment to the property owners was made earlier today.

Varin, a former Sportsman competitor at the Glen Ridge Motorsports Park and Wing Champ Kart competitor has deep roots in racing. In addition to his time behind the wheel, he is the younger brother of seven-time Fonda Speedway and three-time Glen Ridge Motorsports Park Modified Track Champion Bobby Varin and uncle to Dirt Modified and Sprint Car standout Danny Varin. Varin’s wife, Paulette, also has racing roots as she is the cousin of Fonda Speedway Hall of Fame driver Ray Dalmata and the late Larry Dalmata.

When fans and competitors pull through the gates in the Spring, they will find a new environment awaiting them. They will also find a new starting time. A planned 1 PM starting time will be in effect for the 2020 season, with the hopes of being done by 5:00 or 6:00 PM each afternoon.

The earlier starting time will allow officials, drivers and fans who work, compete or attend other events on Saturday evenings to still attend those events and those at Caroga Creek.

Race fans will now be able to attend the events and then have time to make the 20-minute drive southeast to the Fonda Speedway for their historic Saturday night events.

The weekly program will see numerous Karting classes on the card as well as the popular Slingshot divisions. The dedication to the Slingshot division now sets up a nice, three track weekend for local competitors who can now compete on Friday nights at the Dodge City Speedway, Saturdays at the Caroga Creek Raceway and Sundays at the Glen Ridge Motorsports Park.

Some key staff positions have been filled already this off season. Handling the Race Director duties will be Bobby Rhinehardt while Dan Kingsley will hold the position of Head Starter. Toby LaGrange will handle the announcing duties while Ronnie Smith will handle Track Management. Nick Millard will be the lead Tech Inspector. Other positions will be announced as filled.

Full details regarding the 2020 season at the Caroga Creek Raceway will be released in the coming weeks.