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Canandaigua Speedway Hosts USAC Sprints During 'Golden Anniversary' Season Celebrating its 'Golden Anniversary' of motor racing in 2006, the first-ever visit by the United States Auto Club (USAC) to Canandaigua Speedway on May 6 headlines the schedule of 23 race dates currently inked from April through September at the Ontario County Fairgrounds. Joining the wingless USAC Sprint Car Series showdown at the "Land of Legends" will be numerous special events, with big-block DIRT Modified, Sportsman and Street Stock divisions headlining the regular Saturday night show at the Routes 5&20 speedplant. Part of Canandaigua's program for the past decade, the Pro Stock class has been dropped in '06 while Street Stocks will be split into Expert and Novice divisions with separate rules (posted on DIRT NorthEast website) established to govern each. “It's certainly fitting that Canandaigua will be part of USAC's 50th Anniversary festivities as both share a great amount of history when it comes to racing in New York State,” said Jeff Farney, who continues in his fifth full year as General Manager at the popular Ontario County oval. Canandaigua Speedway has been active almost every year since first opening in 1953 while USAC was established in 1956. The NYS Fairgrounds staged the initial USAC Championship event in the Empire State that same year and Canandaigua will be the 16th track in New York to host a USAC race in the past half-century. "We’ve put together a great schedule with a variety of events in the 43rd season of auto racing at Canandaigua. Our regular Saturday show includes both open-wheel and full-fender classes with a number of specials mixed in on the weekend as well. We pride ourselves in maintaining a quality facility on both sides of the fence, and keeping our loyal fans coming back week after week to experience the thrill of DIRT racing remains top priority.” The adult general admission ticket price has been rolled back to $10 for all regular shows in 2006. Canandaigua season passes (forms available on Canandaigua homepage), including reserved seats, are available for $210.00 each for adults, $180.00 each for senior citizens 60 and older and $123.00 each for students (11-18 yrs.). Only DIRT member season pit pass are being offered this season for $300.00 while the cost of a midway parking pass is $100.00 for the season. The 2006 USAC Sprint Car Series encompasses 43 races scheduled from April 1 (Eldora) through November 11 (Phoenix). Canandaigua's inaugural event runs the night after the DIRT doubleheader kicks off at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa. (May 5). Levi Jones from Olney, Illinois is the defending National Champion and this season he will be a teammate of USAC Midget Champion Josh Wise, with both drivers competing in open-cockpit entries fielded by former USAC Triple Crown and two-time Nextel Cup points champion Tony Stewart. To kick off the 2006 campaign a special 'Open House' practice session for all divisions is scheduled for Wed., April 12. The first race slated for Sat., April 15 features a 35-lap Advance Auto Parts Modified main with a regular card of Sportsman and Street Stock racing. The Ontario County Fairgrounds' oval will be busy every Saturday through Sept. 2 with two weekday specials added to the agenda. The starting time for all April events is 5 p.m. sharp before moving to the normal time of 7 o'clock beginning in May. The first of two Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series events arrives on Thursday, Aug. 10 with the mighty big-block Modifieds joined by a first-ever appearance from the BRP CanAm Late Model Series. The Advance Auto Parts SDS returns on Friday, Sept. 15 as part of the '06 track finale that includes a Mr. DIRT Sportsman Series stop on the way to crowning the overall Hoosier Tire-Sunoco Race Fuels Champion. Extra-distance big-block Modified specials include the 50-lap Taney Memorial as part of the holiday program on May 27 and the 50-lap Season Championship during Labor Day Weekend. Twin 20-lap Modified feature events will run June 17 in lieu of Father's Day with a $20-A-Car-Load general admission price tagged on the unique format. A handful of area Sprint Car specials are slated for the Fairgrounds as the winged Patriot Sprint Group arrives on May 20 while the Empire Super Sprints bring their own brand of open-cockpit excitement to wine country on July 22. The popular Central New York Mini Sprints make their only stop in wine country on June 10. 'Appreciation Nights' have been penciled in for the military and the fans with members of the armed forces holding proper ID admitted free on July 1 and an adult GA ticket price on Aug. 12 set at $5; only $2 with the donation of a non-perishable food item. The popular Family Autograph Night at the "Land of Legends” is scheduled for July 15, with many drivers prepared to sign autographs as well as talk with their young fans prior to racing. Action continues in Canandaigua on July 29 when the 163rd Ontario County Fair Championships headline a three-star program while the Midstate Vintage Stock Car Club makes its lone appearance as part of the Aug. 12 Fan Appreciation Night. On Labor Day Weekend all divisions contend for double track points as top teams contend for the coveted track championships before the season comes to a close two weeks later during the September curtain-closer. Check out canandaiguaspeedway.com for the complete 2006 schedule as well as race results, driver rosters and point standings once the season gets underway. Past track champion and career feature win lists have also been updated as Canandaigua Speedway prepares for its 30th consecutive season of operation by DIRT MotorSports™. Canandaigua Speedway is located at the Ontario County Fairgrounds on Town Line Road two miles north of routes 5&20 on the east side of the city of Canandaigua. The track is easily accessed from the New York State Thruway exit 43 from the east or exit 44 from the west. For additional information contact Jeff Farney by phone (315/730-1697) or e-mail ( ). The DIRT MotorSports™ Advance Auto Parts Modified Series is brought to fans across the Northeast by several sponsors and partners, including series sponsors Advance Auto Parts, Hoosier Racing Tire and Sunoco Race Fuels. Promotional partners include AMB i.t., F.X. Caprara Car Companies and the University of Northwestern Ohio and the contingency sponsors are Bert Transmission, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix Cylinder Heads, DART Machinery, MSD Ignitions, Miller Electric Manufacturing Company and Wrisco Industries. |