RPW Column: OCFS’s Opening Night Big Block Winner Can Pocket $1K Autism Awareness Bonus

Column By: MIKE TRAVERSE / RPW – MIDDLETOWN, NY – After an abbreviated 2020 regular season that started in early June and ended in late July, the 102 year old Orange County is geared up and ready for a full season of racing.

As the opening night approaches, the speedway announced on their web page that the April 3 event is OCFS’s Autism Awareness Night. The winner of the 40 lap Big Block race will collect a $1,000 bonus if the winning car is displaying an Autism Awareness decal that the speedway will be handing out to the competitors.’

“We’re excited to have fans back in the stands as well as the drive-in section for Opening Night,” said Orange County Fair Speedway Director of Motorsports, Brett Hearn. “And what better way to get the season started than with the Autism Awareness decal bonus adding $1,000 to the winner’s purse, making it a $5000 to win the Orange County Oval Kickoff 40 lap feature for our United Rentals Big Block DIRTcar Modifieds.”

The Big Block Modified race is the first in their 12 race series that will determine the 2021 OCFS Modified Champion which will be worth $25,000.

The proceeds from the opening night 50/50 drawing will be donated to an Autism charity.

The speedway on Wednesday announced on their Facebook page that Bailey’s Smokehouse of Blauvelt, NY have added their support to the April 3rd racing program. Fans attending will receive colorful Autism Awareness bands from Bailey’s.

With other speedways not yet scheduled to open yet, it can be expected to see some non regulars in competition for the opener. Another announcement on OCFS’s Facebook page states that Jessica and Stewart Friesen will be in competition. The Friesen’s are quite active in Autism Awareness fundraising. The One Zee’s Tees trailer will be at OCFS and will have ‘Racing For Autism Awareness’ available with proceeds benefitting awareness.

There are several options available to OCFS fans to view the Opening Night events. The grandstand is once again open to fans, but with a limited capacity due to the ongoing Covid-19 situation. The drive in section is a great option. If fans wish to order tickets, the speedway number is 845 342-2573.

The speedway is also offering the live streaming for their events. For more information about the live stream or anything OCFS related, visit http://www.orangecountyfairspeedway.net.

It’s time to put the misery of 2020 behind us and look forward to a positive year of racing in 2021. As my good friend Warren Macko would say, “Let the dirt fly.”