RPW Column: This Past Weekend Of Racing In Western New York Was Unbelievable

Column By: MARTY CZEKALA / RPW – BUFFALO, NY – If I could summarize the weekend of auto racing in the Western New York region, it was breathtaking.

You literally had to be there in person to enjoy the moments. Watching from your television, computer, or mobile device just couldn’t get you hyped.

It started Friday night when “The Greatest Show on Dirt,” the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars, invaded Ransomville Speedway. It was the first time since October 2018 the mighty fast 410 Sprints came to The Empire State, and fans came in full force. Parking was packed down to the shoulders of Braley Road, and pretty much a sold-out crowd from the front straightaway to the pit stands on the back chute.

Before the action began, I was in the pits getting final notes from drivers and fellow media members. I do not know if I recall seeing that many fans walking around the pits like I did Friday night, getting hero cards and pictures from drivers. There were even many media members for a race here, whether be journalists, photographers, or videographers. Indeed, the hype was real.

During opening ceremonies, the anthem singer was in her final line of the Star-Spangled Banner. When she finished “Land of the free,” her mic cut out. The entire group of spectators finished it for her in unison, singing “Home of the brave.” At that point, I had goosebumps, and you just knew it was going to be a great night.

Following the draw for the dash and a great conversation with DIRTVision’s Chase Raudman, I went through the finish line gates and out of the infield because I just had to see how packed it was. The concession stand lines were up to the bleachers, and they’re about 20-30 feet away. Same for the beer booth and Donny Schatz merchandise. I’m glad I got my Pizza Logs early.

Then came feature time. The biggest cheers of the night on the starting lineup went to Paulie Colagiovanni. You must love rooting for a local guy committed to the Empire Super Sprints tour (I can’t do it as a journalist). Paulie and I chatted for a few seconds pre-race and told me he had a car that was dialed in.

I went to the front straight, and when the sprint cars went four-wide for the salute, the fans got loud. Loud enough that, in my opinion, it could match the decibels for the Knoxville Nationals. The tension in the air was palpable.

As you’ve probably heard, Paulie was the story of the race. The crowd was pumped when he threaded the needle on Brad Sweet for runner-up eleven laps in. If Colagiovanni was able to pass race winner Aaron Reutzel, Ransomville would’ve had an earthquake on the Richter scale. Series announcer Johnny Gibson deemed it as what could’ve been “the biggest upset in Outlaws history.” Still, Paulie got more cheers than Reutzel in victory lane.

Fans still didn’t want to leave post-race either. The pits were open to fans, and perhaps more fans wanted Paulie Colagiovanni’s autograph than Donny Schatz. Paulie even stayed for an hour until the line cleared up. Usually, drivers will get changed and head back to the hotel or airport instantly. Fans were walking the track. I saw a group of fans walking for ten laps; I thought they would do the slowest 30-lap feature in history. Once I got my top three interviews in, I went up to the press box to see my good friend Steve Petty, PR director for Ransomville, who had a feel-good beer with Johnny Gibson. Johnny was telling us announcing stories from when he first started working with the Outlaws in 1996. If you get a chance to work an Outlaws race in the future in the press box, you better stay to the end to hear Johnny’s stories; they are incredible.

And that was just the beginning of the weekend!

On Saturday, it was an all-day show as the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour took to Lancaster Speedway at NYIRP for the first time ever. Right when the track announced this last fall, this would be a sight for sore eyes.

I had a great phone call with official Mike Myers Thursday afternoon, who promoted the race. He had terrific things set up for the race, from a video board to grass logos around the track. Something you usually wouldn’t see for a Tour race!

When I got there at noon, I could not believe how packed the parking lot was already with campers and fans, and the fan gates didn’t even open yet!

Checking in, I immediately saw the gentlemen calling the race on PA and NBC Sports Gold Trackpass, Alex Hayden and Dave Moody from Motor Racing Network. Had many great conversations with the two in the pits pre-race. For Alex, it was his first time here and Dave’s first time at Lancaster since the 1980s. Plus, when you have two voices from MRN working a short-track race, you know this is huge. I went up to the tower to set my equipment up and hang out with Steve, who performed in the pits for the Modified race, and announcer Paul Szmal, who I’ve known from ISOC Snocross races. I haven’t interacted with “Cowboy” since we first met before the COVID hit, and to talk some short-track racing with him while walking through the pits was awesome.

Entering the infield for qualifying, the PJ1 residue from the drag strip was sticky from previous sessions. As for the stands, it was huge for qualifying. Yes, for qualifying.

A long line followed for autographs at 6pm, and then two hours later, it was showtime. The atmosphere was electric for driver introductions. Andy Jankowiak got the most cheers with this as his home track and has been undefeated in a Modified entering the day. I also had a great conversation with Andy J. before practice. He was excited to race and glad to see me in person finally instead of Zoom like in our past two interviews.

Under pace laps, you could feel it in the media/EMT suite, race control/broadcast booth, all the sponsor suites, it was intense, and the hype was increasing. I think you could say this was a sell-out crowd too. It was tough to figure out positions and timing as the track has no pylon but a lap counter. The live timing on NASCAR’s website wasn’t working out well. I did figure out the drivers were averaging about 123 mph, per my Tachymeter on my watch.

Overall, the race was intense. Hearing the commentary was exciting. The fans were pumped and cheering at the finish. And when Orchard Park’s Patrick Emerling climbed out of his #07, the fans were screaming their lungs out like it was a rock concert for Queen. Fireworks were going off. There was a massive stage with a gas can as the trophy, one of the most extraordinary victory lane celebrations you’ll see in Western New York.

“That was incredible. It was great energy in the crowd,” Emerling said while in tech.

Now the Western New York racing community turns their attention to next weekend’s NASCAR races at Watkins Glen International. The weekend will feature all three premier series and ARCA.

Tragic news, too, was reported around the pit area in Lancaster. Confirmed today by Mike Myers and NYIRP, Myers’ son Zach passed away Saturday afternoon and left the track on the day his racing dream came true.

“Mike has been a part of our Lancaster family since he was a toddler, and Zach so loved being here at the races just as Mikey did. Our hearts are aching for Mike and his family right now. Please everyone, hug your loved ones as tomorrow is never promised,” Sharon Hughes, race director for Lancaster, said in a statement on Sunday.

“He and his son are in my thoughts. I’m thankful for him. He should be very proud of what he did here [tonight],” Emerling said post-race.

All of us at Race Pro Weekly is keeping the Myers family in our thoughts and prayers.