CANANDAIGUA SPEEDWAY GEARING UP FOR BANNER 2003 SEASON
by Jim Fremouw
CANANDAIGUA, NY.….With the 2003 racing season nearing green flag action in the Northeast, Canandaigua Speedway’s General Manager Jeff Farney has released the track’s tentative schedule of 23 events.
While numerous special events highlight the "Land of Legends" upcoming agenda, the addition of the 358-Modified division will carry on throughout the season. Leading small-block Modified teams will now be vying for superiority alongside their big-block brothers, earning separate points for their own championship along the way.
"We’re very excited about our 40th anniversary season at Canandaigua Speedway and anticipate that the addition of the 358 Modifieds will entice a number of top small-block teams to compete at the speedway on a weekly basis," said Farney, who enters into his 2nd full year as General Manager at the Ontario County speedplant. "Bringing in the 358s will definitely add more excitement to what already looks to be one of the best Modified fields to compete at the speedway in a long time."
Fred Arden earned the only other small-block title when Canandaigua first combined DIRT's top two open-wheel divisions in 1996.
"Along with the 358-Modifieds in competition, we're also excited about a number of track renovations and some huge surprises that we have in store," revealed an enthused Farney. "We plan to have all the details sewn up soon and be able to announce them within the next few weeks. Our goal remains to have the best Saturday night race program in the area, offering the most action while maintaining a top notch facility. We want to keep our great fans attending week after week and also attract newcomers to experience the thrill of racing under the DIRT Motorsports banner."
To kick off the 2003 campaign a special Open House / Practice night for all divisions is scheduled for Tue., April 15. The first show on Sat., April 19 features a 50-lap Modified/358 main with a regular card of Sportsman, Pro Stock and Street Stock racing. With the exception of Sept. 6, the Ontario County Fairgrounds' oval will be busy every Saturday through Sept. 13 with those same four classes leading the way.
The first of two mid-week specials is a Super DIRT Series doubleheader slated for Aug. 6. 100-lap Advance Auto Parts Modified and 30-lap Sunoco Race Fuels Sportsman West Region tour events make up the Wednesday program.
Joined by a full DIRT Pro Stock program, the 358-Modifieds take center stage on Wed., Aug. 20 in a 100-lap feature event as part of the Turning Stone Casino Super DIRT Series. Eventual Syracuse Eckerd 200 champion Vic Coffey earned the victory in Canandaigua's inaugural small-block event last season.
Debuting in 2003, the newly formed Patriot Sprint Group brings its own brand of excitement to wine country in the first of three visits on May 24. Return engagements are set for July 5 and Aug. 23 at the historic Routes 5 & 20 speedway. Also on Sat., May 24 the Modifieds will race for 50 laps in the annual Taney Memorial.
A special FMX East Extreme Motocross Exhibition will take place on June 14 and on June 21 the popular Central New York Mini Sprints make their only stop. Autograph Night at "The Land of Legends" arrives July 19 with many drivers prepared to sign autographs as well as talk with their young fans prior to racing.
Action returns to Canandaigua on July 26 when the "160th Ontario County Fair" Championships headline the four-star show. That same night the top small-block finisher will also earn a guaranteed starting spot in the Sunoco/Aplus 358-Modified Championship during Super DIRT Week XXXII in Syracuse.
The Gert and Ernie Farney Memorial/13th "Salute to the Legends" opens the last full month of racing, with Aug. 2 serving as the annual homecoming for many of the drivers that once raced at the Speedway from it’s beginning in 1953. The Midstate Vintage Stock Car Club joins the show and makes its second appearance Sept. 13.
On Labor Day weekend all divisions race extra distances for the coveted track championships. The mighty Modifieds compete in a 50-lap grind, Sportsman and Pro Stock cars run 25-lappers and Street Stocks battle in a 20-lap contest on Aug. 30. The track shuts down on Sept. 6 but re-opens the following Saturday for the big 2003 season finale.
Modifieds and Pro Stocks headline the curtain-closer with top big-block point chasers contending for a starting spot in the Advance Auto Parts "Finger Lakes 100" and full-fender warriors pursuing a position in the 5th Annual Top Gun No. 1 25-lap Shootout as part of the Empire Sports Network Super DIRT Series. Street Stock and Midstate Vintage Club activity complete the Sept. 13 card.
Check out canandaiguaspeedway.com for the complete 2003 schedule as well as race results, driver rosters and point standings once the season gets underway.
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 (315/568-8179) or e-mail ().