Crate LM’s & 358-Modifieds Headline Labor Night Friday At Ransomville

Story By: DAVE BUCHANAN / RANSOMVILLE SPEEDWAY – RANSOMVILLE, NY – Ransomville Speedway’s first event in the month of June is jam-packed as Blue Cross and Blue Shield of WNY and VanDemark Chemical present the 11th annual Labor Night at the Races to benefit the United Way of Greater Niagara this Friday, June 7.

The action at the “Big R” is headlined by a triple bill with the Krown Undercoating 358 Modifieds, Crate Late Models and the Ransomville/Genesee Speedway Mini Stock Super Series.

To date Labor Night has raised over $120,000 for the United Way of Greater Niagara. The event grows every year with more fans taking part of the special pre-race festivities, including a race car display and picnic. The Labor Night at the Races is also in conjunction with the AFL/CIO Niagara-Orleans Labor Council and is supported by Maxwell Murphy Attorneys at Law, Lewis & Lewis PC and M&T Bank.

“We are very proud to be working with Ransomville Speedway once again to host the Labor Night at the Races,” said Jim Briggs, President of the Niagara/Orleans Labor Council and sub director of the United Steel Workers. “The facility provides us with a fun and unique way to raise money for the United Way.”

Tickets for the 11th annual Labor Night at the Races can be purchased through Bill Jakobi, labor liaison with the AFL/CIO Niagara-Orleans Labor Council, at (716) 731-4580. Tickets are $17 for adults and $10 for kids, and include the pre-race picnic. Regular general admission tickets can be purchased at the front gate on race night.

Ransomville Speedway will welcome Crate Late Model teams from across the region on Friday, for their first race at facility in several seasons. The Crate Late Model division is on the rise in Western and Central New York as well as Southern Ontario. Some of the drivers expected to complete are J.J. Mazur, Beamer Guzzardi, TJ Downs, Sam Pennacchio, Jon Rivers and David Pangrazio plus former Ransomville Street Stock drivers, Dave Stolzenberg, Austin Hauser and Ryan Hoolihan.

The 25-lap Crate Late Model race will pay $700 to the winner and follow the same Crate LM purse paid at Genesee. Close Racing Supply has also provided $300 in gift certificates for contingency awards.

Joining the Crate Lates on the race card that night will be the Krown Undercoating 358 Modifieds, which return to action after a week off, plus the Ki-Po Chevrolet Street Stocks, Gippster’s Collision Mini Stocks and Stevenson’s Hardware Novice Sportsman. The Mini Stocks will take part in the first race at the “Big R” for the new Ransomville/Genesee Mini Stock Super Series, pitting the drivers from the two WNY tracks against each other.

Pit gates will open at 5 p.m. with grandstands opening at 6 p.m. Racing starts at 7:15 p.m. Grandstand admission is $15 for adults, $13 for seniors and students (age 13-17), $8 for children age 9-12 and kids 8 and under are free. Pit admission is $27 for member, $32 for non-member.