RPW Column: Race Season 2020; One Like No Other For Fans & Racers, Especially In Western NY

Column By: MARTY CZEKALA / RPW – BUFFALO, NY – 2020, a racing season like no other

2020 will be a year that most of the racing community in Western New York will want to forget. Still, at the same time, we will remember this unique season.

Coming into the year, race tracks in Western New York were expecting a huge year. Ransomville Speedway was set for another great year, as always. The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series was set to return to “The Big R” for the first time since 2018, in addition to the Super DIRTCar Series’ Summer Nationals, DIRTCar Sportsman Series, BEI Lightning Series, and Empire Super Sprints.

Genesee Speedway in Batavia was prepared for, at the time, their biggest year yet. Besides their weekly cards, the BEI Lightning Series, and the once-a-year Big Block Gladiator, track promoter Jim Johnson had more. The World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Models had their inaugural trip planned to “The Place to Race” for mid-June that received a lot of hype since the October announcement.

Land of Legends Raceway in Canandaigua had plans for three Super DIRTCar Series races, an Empire Super Sprints race, the CRSA Sprints for a few races, in addition to their Saturday Spectaculars.

Finally, the Weedsport Speedway, the home to DIRTCar Northeast, had significant events, three Super DIRTCar Series races, Tony Stewart’s All-Star Circuit of Champions, the Amsoil National USAC Sprint Series, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars, the Empire Super Sprints, along with big blocks, small blocks, sportsman, 305 sprints, mod lites, late models, and pro stocks. You see it in the Northeast? It’s coming here.

And then COVID-19 hit New York.

One of the most significant health impacts not just in the state or the country, but the world left us wondering. After NASCAR, IndyCar, the World of Outlaws, all major forms of racing shut down from the pandemic, what would happen to the local tracks?

Governor Andrew Cuomo had issued a stay-at-home policy, and life was different than usual. We had to stay an appropriate six feet from our friends, colleagues, and other people. We also had to wear face coverings that I thought were only for surgical procedures.

Cuomo’s process of reopening the state was a step-by-step process. And 3.5 months after the shutdown, racetracks were given the green light to reopen June 1st, but fans were not allowed. A month later, an injunction was issued to churches to reopen outdoors.

Tracks like Land of Legends and Genesee tried to use that as a loophole to open their gates for their weekly cards, but they ended up getting cease-and-desisted. Genesee Speedway even joined a lawsuit with four other tracks on the Eastern part of the state to prevent the Governor and Attorney General Letitia James from enforcing gathering limits for outdoor activities, provided that they socially distance, was immediately dismissed.

With that dismissed, all fans could do while that executive order was to wait. Simultaneously, many other states were able to open the stands at racetracks, like Port Royal.

New Yorkers had to wait…

…and wait…and wait…

Month-by-month, that executive order kept getting extended, leading to the both World of Outlaws series, the Super DIRTCar Series, All-Star Circuit of Champions, etc. having to cancel their dates or postpone them to 2021 because of that executive order.

It even led to the Super DIRTCar Series not crowning a champion, only running one race in New Jersey. Races didn’t want to be run unless fans were in the stands. Why? That’s because racetracks get a lot of their revenue by the gate.

Back in the late 1970’s, the late Bill France Sr., as NASCAR was starting to increase in popularity, always wanted to protect his gate and sell tickets. Some of these small tracks didn’t get the opportunity to run because of it.

Ransomville Speedway couldn’t run not just due to the executive order but also the US-Canada border closure. Ransomville gets many competitors from the northern side of the border, the closest Duty-Free being about 20 minutes out. Ransomville claimed the issue, though, for its 2020 racing program’s cancellation was due to the Governor’s executive order.

Weedsport barely survived the 2020 year. While the Speedway’s feature events coming into 2020 were canceled, OktoberFAST was the lone event (more on that in a moment). The Port was also able to use its Kart track, putting on a few races this season.

The track that probably benefited the most despite COVID-19 restrictions was Land of Legends. While most events were contested without fans, Paul Cole’s new streaming service Land of Legends TV brought in fans to a vast audience at a small price of around $15 per race.

I was able to get an opportunity to work for them once this year behind the camera and see their setup. In my opinion, they’ve got the best racing broadcasts in the state when it comes to quality. Multi-camera shots and a state of the art control room, they really have something going.

The track also sold pit passes as well as VIP suites off of sponsorship throughout the year. They were able to race from June to September with Larry Wight and Matt Guererri winning their respective Big Block and Sportsman championships.

Even Matt Sheppard made his way back to racing at the track “where Legends are made” after committing earlier in 2020 to race full-time at Orange County Fair Speedway. However, the Governor informed OCFS that their drive-in section couldn’t be used at the race track and led to weekly racing being stopped.

Genesee Speedway also did similar techniques, broadcast on Dirt Track Digest Pay-Per-View on a limited basis, and selling their pit passes for every race. After all they went through, they were still able to get their “Coronaseason” in and celebrate with Late Model and Sportsman champions Jimmy Johnson and Cam Tuttle.

The Super DIRTCar Series also benefited and ended the racing season in Western NY with a bang. While their money maker in Super DIRT Week was postponed to 2021, they introduced OktoberFAST, NY’s version of the “Hell Tour” on five weeks’ notice…six races in six nights at six tracks.

Car counts were huge; at least 100 cars in the pits every night. Even the races at Fulton and Can-Am hit the 200 car range! That led to two drivers, Anthony Perrego and Max McLaughlin, picking up their first career Series wins. Perrego actually won twice during the six-race swing.

Jimmy Phelps, Matt Sheppard and Mother Nature (Utica-Rome rained out) also took checkered flags throughout the week.

Fans were also able to watch OktoberFAST on the SDS’ exclusive home for broadcast next year, DIRTVision. Director of Communications for the World Racing Group (who owns DIRTCar) Christina Cordova told Area Auto Racing News that “they were happy with the numbers.”

As we bid adieu to the 2020 season, I wish you all safe and happy holidays. When 2021 comes around the corner, hopefully, this executive order will be lifted. We can see fans packing the bleachers, autographs signed, long lines for concessions, and, more importantly, action-packed racing.

Make sure next year, when the time comes, support your local short track.