Outlaw Speedway Preparing For Lucas Oil Nationals Season Lid-Lifter April 10th

Story By: KENNY SHUPP / OUTLAW SPEEDWAY – DUNDEE, NY – After an abbreviated 2020 race season due to the COVID 19 virus, Tyler Siri and all his staff of the Outlaw Speedway are more than ready to open the gates for the first official race of the 2021 season.

Outlaw will open on Saturday, April 10, 2021 with the traditional Lucas Oil Nationals with big money on the line for all the classes involved in the Super 7 Show.

The Friendly Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram Modifieds will see the winner of the feature event taking home a nice paycheck of $3,000 for their efforts. The Sunrise Insulation American Racer Tire 602 Crate Sportsman will race for a $1,500 payday as will their counter parts the Speed Connection Hoosier Tire 602 Crate Sportsman.

The Classy Stan’s No Tubes Street Stock feature winner will claim $1,000. Also, the participating NAPA Auto Parts Stores Hobby Stocks as well as the Winner’s Circle Deli 4 Cylinder Mini Stocks will race for $750 to win. In addition, and making a rare appearance at the Outlaw Speedway, The Crate Late Model feature winner will walk away with a nifty $1,200.

With the awesome spring whether the Finger Lakes Region of Upstate New York as experienced thus far in 2021 it has made life much easier for Siri and his crew as they prepare the historic facility for the season lid lifter on April 10 right after two previously scheduled afternoon practice dates for Saturday, April 3 and Friday, April 9.

“My crew has worked right thru the entire winter building new rental pit towers as well as the Outlaw Speedway Saloon. We were able to get on the racing surface earlier than usual due to the break in the weather in early March. Everything is in place for what we hope will be a much better 2021 than we experienced last season due to Covid.” That according to owner/promoter, Tyler Siri.

After missing out on the first two full months of race action in 2020 due to New York State’s shut down of most non-essential businesses, Outlaw Speedway was one of just a handful of tracks in New York that opened for business last year with a June 5 start after state officials lifted some of the stringent restrictions. However, fans were not allowed into the main grandstand seating area throughout the entire year and Siri along with all other racetrack owners across the state are hoping all that will change as the new racing season begins.

Outlaw Speedway was able to get thirteen regular season events into the record books with only one whether related issue and Siri extended the year into a Fall Series which saw an additional five events from September thru late October.

SPEEDWAY ABLE TO HOST REGULAR SEASON 2020 AWARDS BANQUET

Amidst the Covid 19 Pandemic, the Outlaw Speedway was able to host the delayed 2020 Awards Banquet on Saturday, March 27, 2021.

As part of the 6th Annual Outlaw Speedway Arnot Mall Car Show presented by Lane’s Yamaha track owner, Tyler Siri was able to reach an agreement with representatives of the Arnot Mall to use their massive banquet facility to host the yearly event.

“The timing was perfect, stated Siri. Generally, we would have had our banquet at Harbor Hotel in Watkins Glen, however with the current New York State protocol on mass gatherings that was not going to work this year because of limited seating. For the most part I figured the banquet was going to be a write off, then as I was working with the folks at the Arnot Mall getting our Annual Car Show details ironed out they told me about their new banquet room that would legally hold 300 people. It worked perfectly as we were able to tie the banquet to the car show. This way the drivers and teams still received public recognition!”

The seven regular adult classes all received point money and hardware with the Winner’s Circle Deli Youth Bandit Division receiving trophies for their efforts.

With Covid-19 restrictions in place, Outlaw Speedway got off to a late start swinging the gates open for the first event of the 2020 campaign on Friday, June 5, however Mother Nature played very nicely throughout most of the remainder of the race season and all fourteen the Regular Season shows were put into the record books prior to the start of the Fall Season Point Championships.

It should be noted that the Fall Series top point finishers did receive their accolades at the track on the last night of the season on Friday night October 23, 2020.

The banquet began with opening remarks from Mel Thomas and Kenny Shupp Jr. who emceed the gala event followed by a mouth- watering prime rib dinner provided by the Spaulding Family of Corning Catering. A moment of remembrance followed allowing those in attendance to honor the loss of many fans, sponsors, and close friends of the track that had passed away during the last year.

The top ten in the final point tally in the seven adult classes were all recognized for their efforts during the abbreviated season including 2020 Track Champions Matt Sheppard in the Friendly Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram Modifieds, Karl Comfort in the Sunrise Insulation American Racer Tire Sportsman, Zach Sobotka in the Hoosier Tire Sportsman as well as Glen Whritenour in the Stan’s No Tubes Street Stock Division. In addition, Brad Smith was crowned Track Champ in the IMCA Modifieds, Wayne Ellison in the IMCA Hobby Stocks along with Jeremy Bunn in the 4 Cylinder Mini Stock Class. Ethan Decker was crowned the 2020 Track Champion in the Winners Circle Deli Youth Bandit Division.

Each Track Champion had the opportunity to take the microphone and acknowledge those in attendance as they thanked their respective teams, crew members and sponsors.

Track owner/promoter Tyler Siri then stepped to the podium and in keeping with a tradition that began after purchasing the popular Yates County Facility recognized track employees and various sponsors that have helped the track continue to grow.

In addition to numerous Employee Appreciation plaques that were handed out to some thirty track employees several special awards went out to Outlaw Speedway Officials including Media, Dedication to Motorsports, Employee of the Year and Car Owner of the Year. All the 2020 class sponsors were also recognized with appreciation plaques. Siri went on to outline a multitude of off- season improvements at the facility including adding more pit area bleacher space, additional seasonal pit tower suites as well as the new Outlaw Saloon. In addition, Outlaw Speedway will begin its own track Pay Per View when the races begin in April. Numerous high-profile dates on the 2021 schedule were also highlighted.

“I am extremely proud to have been able to host a banquet to honor the deserved recipients for the 2020 season. Outlaw Speedway was one of the few tracks in New York to open and run a full schedule last year due to the many Covid 19 restrictions. A few months ago, this banquet was pretty much an afterthought, however we were able to pull it off with a great turnout of drivers, crew members, sponsors and employees. The drivers received beautiful, handcrafted trophies and plaques from Wicked Tees and we were able to pay a point fund. I think everyone was happy with that. Also, I have an awesome staff of close to ninety people. Many of these same folks dedicate a lot of time in making the track a success. I could not run this track without their help and that is why each year I recognize many of the key players that work for me with special awards.” That according to Siri.

Up next at Outlaw Speedway it will be two afternoon practice dates on Saturday, April 3 and Friday April 9 with the Lucas Oil Nationals season opener slated to kick off what promises to be a competitive year at Outlaw Speedway on Saturday, April 10, 2021.