Three-Straight Nights Of Excitement Coming Up This Week At Orange County Fair Speedway

Story By: JOHN SNYDER / ORANGE COUNTY FAIR SPEEDWAY – MIDDLETOWN, NY – Celebrate summer with three consecutive nights of action-packed racing and music Thursday through Saturday, August 12-14, at Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, New York.

The excitement begins Thursday evening, August 12 Orange County’s United Rentals Big-Block Modified drivers take on the invading Super DIRTcar Modified Series competitors in the “Centennial 102,” a 102-lap feature race rewarding the winner $10,200 and a guaranteed starting slot in the October Super DIRT Week 200 at Oswego Speedway on the shores of Lake Ontario. All indications point to the largest, most competitive field of the season. Group time trials and qualifying races will set the lineup for this classic event honoring Orange County’s 102 years of racing history.

Then on Friday, August 13, celebrating 45 years of rock, George Thorogood and the Destroyers’ “Good to Be Bad” concert takes center stage, along with Mark Farner’s American Band, for a night of music under the stars.

The celebration wraps up Saturday, August 14 honoring the construction industry on “Hard Hats of America Night,” featuring three divisions of dirt track racing on the five-eighths-mile historic fairgrounds speedway. In action will be the H.O. Penn small-Block Modifieds, Arkel Motors Sportsman, and NAPA Saturday Northeast Parts Group Street Stocks. Presented by United Rentals, Hauser Brothers Plumbing & Mechancial Contractors, Van Etten Contractors, and Dig Safely NY, Call 811, the program includes qualifying heats leading to feature races in each division—30 laps for the Small-Block Modifieds, 20 for the Sportsman, and a 15-lap Street Stock main.

Ticket information:

The Orange County Fair Speedway stands and unique Drive-In are fully open. On Thursday, General Admission either for the stands or the Drive-In is $30 adult, $26 seniors, and free for children 12 and under. Reserved seats are available at $40 all classes. As a convenience for fans, guaranteed parking spaces in Rows D, E, and F of the Drive-In may be reserved for $25. Unsold spaces in these rows will be available at the gate on race day. The Party Deck is available at $200 per table, includes four admissions. In the Drive-In, announcements and race calls are heard over FM 107.7. Fans may purchase tickets by calling the Speedway Office at 845-342-2573. The fair opens at noon on Saturday. The stands and Drive-In will open at 4:00 pm. There will be an autograph session in the Midway area between 5:00 and 5:30 pm. Hot Laps at 6:30 pm, racing at 7:00 pm. The 31st Lap Tavern is open for adult beverages.

Friday concert tickets are general admission at $25 for a limited time. Tickets are available online through Ticketmaster. This is a lawn seating event; bring your own chairs.

On Saturday, General Admission either for the stands or the Drive-In is $20 adult, $16 seniors, and free for children 12 and under. In recognition of workers in the construction industry, there’s a 5.00 discount with presentation of a union card or other employment proof. As a convenience for fans, guaranteed parking spaces in Rows D, E, and F of the Drive-In may be reserved for $15. Unsold spaces in these rows will be available at the gate on race day. The Party Deck is available at $35 per person, minimum two, maximum four per table. In the Drive-In, announcements and race calls are heard over FM 107.7. Fans may purchase tickets by calling the Speedway Office at 845-342-2573. The stands and Drive-In will open at 4:00 pm. Prepaid 2020 Season Tickets will be honored. Hot Laps at 6:00 pm, racing at 7:00 pm. The 31st Lap Tavern is open for adult beverages.

A special three-day ticket, including free camping, is available at $70. Go to the OCFS website for information and reservations.

For competitors: The Thursday Centennial 102 is a fully DIRTcar sanctioned event, run under DIRTcar rules. Transponders and one-way radios are mandatory. Fire suppression equipment is required for all open wheel divisions (Big-Block Modified, Small-Block Modified, and Sportsman,) and strongly recommended for Street Stocks. Street Stocks must have fire extinguisher. Pit passes on Thursday are $35 for members, $45 non-members; on Saturday $25 members, $35 non-members. Pit gate opens at 4:00pm.