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Oswego Speedway gets major uplift for SuperDIRT Week

Payne Horning
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WRVO News
Construction trucks unload dirt at the Oswego Speedway for the SuperDIRT Week race.

The Oswego Speedway is covered in dirt for the first time since it was paved in 1952. It's just one of the many changes at the racetrack in preparation for the upcoming SuperDIRT Week race.

The annual event was moved to Oswego for the first time ever after construction on the Central New York Raceway Park in Hastings fell behind schedule. At a recent ceremony commemorating the improvements to the Oswego Speedway, DIRTcar director of events Jeff Hachmann praised the track's employees and Oswego officials for the work they have done to ready the venue.

Credit Payne Horning / WRVO News
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WRVO News
SuperDIRT Week director of events Jeff Hachmann said the upgrades made to the Oswego Speedway for the October race have transformed the facility.

"This is a celebration of the transformation way beyond the clay," Hachmann said. "This event in this facility will take a shape that probably hasn't been seen before."

New York state has invested $1.1 million into the Oswego Speedway's renovations. There's a new jumbotron screen and bleachers and the adjacent camping grounds now have access to electricity and plumbing services. The co-owner of the Oswego Speedway John Torrese said the new permanent fixtures will have long-term benefits for the track.

"It’s opening up opportunities for myself and the city of Oswego and New York state for a lot more big events with what improvements we’ve been able to make this year," Torrese said. 

Oswego racing fan Gary Miller said this is a great opportunity for the speedway.

"To be here, to see the dirt is a fantastic thing," Miller said. "It’s bringing a lot of revenue to the city and it’s going to be interesting for the fans. I think it’s going to be good racing."

If all goes well, Hachmann said SuperDIRT Week may return to Oswego.

"We hope that we didn’t do all of this work just for one year," Hachmann said. "But we will see how that develops over the next couple of months."

The SuperDIRT Week event will take place from October 2-9. 

Payne Horning is a reporter and producer, primarily focusing on the city of Oswego and Oswego County. He has a passion for covering local politics and how it impacts the lives of everyday citizens. Originally from Iowa, Horning moved to Muncie, Indiana to study journalism, telecommunications and political science at Ball State University. While there, he worked as a reporter and substitute host at Indiana Public Radio. He also covered the 2015 session of the Indiana General Assembly for the statewide Indiana Public Broadcasting network.