OSWEGO, N.Y. — Super DIRT Week 51 will start a new era for Racing’s Biggest Party at Oswego Speedway.
While the Northeast’s biggest dirt racing event will still see the best drivers from across the country contend in the historic event (Oct. 2-8), new additions, on and off the track, are set to enhance the experience for drivers and fans.
Announcements will be made throughout the year leading up to the event, but kicking off the first round of exciting advancements is the iconic Billy Whittaker Cars 200’s new race day format which now provides the chance for a fuel stop on lap 75 and/or 125 and the winner’s payday increasing to $51,000 for the 51st running of the event.
The Format
The new format removes the lap 100 stop and no longer mandates a pit stop. There will now be a competition yellow –at or around– laps 75 and 125, freezing the lap counter. Teams will have the option to enter the pit at that time or remain on the track – but these will be the only two times they’re allowed to take fuel.
Cars that remain on track will maintain their position. The cars that pitted will have four laps to get work done and will return to the track in the order they pitted – no passes will be made on pit road – lining up behind the cars that opted to not pit.
“With three months still to go until Super DIRT Week, there’s already a buzz of excitement around the new race day format as it adds a whole new strategy element to the Billy Whittaker Cars 200,” said Super DIRT Week Executive Director of Events, Jeff Hachmann. “This developed from feedback we received from the drivers and grew into an exciting opportunity to continue enhancing the Super DIRT Week experience for drivers and fans.”
Adding to the strategy element is drivers will no longer have two-way radios, putting the decision of when, or if, to pit more in their hands.
The weekly schedule for competition will be the same as last year, again bringing fans the Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds, DIRTcar 358 Modifieds, DIRTcar Sportsman and DIRTcar Pro Stocks.
After the fan-favorite City of Oswego Parade, on Wednesday, Oct. 4, drivers will return to Oswego Speedway for a couple sessions of practice – free for fans to attend. Later that night will be the 30th Hurricane Harvey 75 at Brewerton Speedway.
Like last year, time trials and qualifying heats for the DIRTcar 358s and DIRTcar Pro Stocks will be on Thursday, Oct. 5, while the Big Block Modifieds and Sportsman will run theirs on Friday, Oct. 6.
After a few rounds of Last Chance Showdowns for the DIRTcar 358s and DIRTcar Pro Stocks on Saturday, Oct. 7, the night’s main events will commence with the DIRTcar Pro Stocks 50 at 4 p.m. (ET), followed by the DIRTcar 358 Modified Salute to the Troops 150 at 6 p.m. (ET).
Then, all eyes will be on Sunday, Oct. 8. Afternoon Last Chance Showdowns will lead to the DIRTcar Sportsman Chevrolet Performance 75 at 3 p.m. (ET) and the legendary $51,000-to-win Billy Whittaker Cars 200 at 5 p.m. (ET).