OSWEGO, N.Y. – When Oswego Speedway’s season gets underway in May, the calendar will have marked more than a year and a half since a competitive event was held at the track.
“Having to go an entire year without a race has been difficult for all of us at Oswego Speedway,” said track owner John Torrese. “Everyone has worked hard putting together a special schedule for the coming season, and we believe it is one of the most exciting and diverse lineups we’ve had in recent memory. We’re really anxious to get things started again in the month of May.”
The Speedway’s full 70th Anniversary schedule release shows 13 race weekends headlined by 10 different divisions, the return of King of Wings, two appearances by the ground pounders of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and in a move like none other before in Oswego history; two Classic Weekends held in just more than three months.
Beginning with its earliest opening date in five years, Oswego Speedway has tabbed its 70th Season Kickoff for the second week of May.
On Saturday, May 8, the Novelis Supermodifieds, Pathfinder Bank SBS, and J&S Paving 350 Supermodifieds will begin their season with a regular show of 50, 30, and 25-lap events in distance, respectively. The first official Open Practice of the year takes place one week prior on Saturday, May 1.
The weekend following, May 15, is tabbed for another weekly show, serving as the final Classic 64 tune-up for weekly divisions. Saturday, May 22, has been reserved as a week off to allow teams to prepare for the Classic, or could serve as a potential rain date should weather impact the May 8 or May 15 programs.
On Thursday, May 27, the postponed Classic Weekend 64 officially gets underway with an initial practice session held for all divisions from 5 to 9 p.m. The track will also be available for rental or Fast Friday sessions from the beginning of May.
May 28 will bring the first competitive racing of this historic weekend as the Sunoco New York Super Stocks headline with a 50-lap program under the lights alongside a first time division at the Speedway, the New York State Compact Touring Series.
In addition, pole day time trials for the Novelis Supermodifieds, Pathfinder Bank SBS and J&S Paving 350 Supers will be taking place Friday evening.
Classic Weekend 64 concludes on Saturday night, May 29, with the 64th International Classic 200 for Novelis Supermodifieds, 29th Classic 75 for Pathfinder Bank SBS, and the 3rd Classic 50 for J&S Paving 350 Supers. The main event will be run under the lights, with the green flag waving at 7 p.m.
The Speedway will be back in action June 12 with a very exciting program featuring the first of two appearances for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.
With the Modifieds rolling back into town for the September edition of Classic Weekend, next year will mark the first time in more than 30 years that the NASCAR tour will make more than one stop in a season.
The Modifieds will not be the only division on the card on June 12, as on the first occasion since the Tour returned to Oswego five years ago, it will be paired directly with a 50-lap main event for Novelis Supermodifieds.
Racing in the month of June will conclude on June 19, when the storied history of the Twin 35-lappers will continue for Novelis Supermodified competitors. The Pathfinder Bank SBS and J&S Paving 350 Supers will be supporting, each running regular 30 and 25-lap programs.
While Classic Weekend 64 will take the place of the traditional Memorial Weekend Special at the end of May, the Jim Shampine and Tony White Memorial events will not go away, having been moved to the annual Independence Weekend Spectacular to open the month of July.
In addition to the Shampine and White Memorials, the loaded July 3 program will also have the J&S Paving 350 Supers on the card with a 30-lap special, plus the rescheduled Sportsman Mod Xtra Money Race originally planned for July 4, 2020.
On July 10, 350 Super teams will have the night off while Novelis Supermodified competitors will do battle in a 50-lap Summer Championship feature event. Pathfinder Bank SBS stars square off in the always action-filled Twin 20 features, moved from August to July to make room for the New York Super Stocks.
July 17 will mark the second 75-lap Novelis Supermodified feature in two weeks, this time with $10,000 on the line for the 34th running of Mr. Novelis Supermodified.
The 29th annual $1,500-to-win Mr. Pathfinder Bank SBS will run alongside the Big Block Supers, plus a 30-lap, $2,000 to win event for the J&S Paving 350 Supers.
Winged supermodifieds will invade Oswego for the King of the Wings, which returns to the Steel Palace for the first time in four years. The Jack Murphy Memorial King of Wings X will be 60 laps and contested as a combination event for the ISMA Supermodifieds and Midwest Supermodified Series on July 31.
Retro Night starts the month of August on Aug. 7 with the Old Timer’s Reunion taking place at Lighthouse Lanes prior to a complete night of racing headlined by a 45-lap feature for the Novelis Supermodifieds.
Aug. 14 will be the final showing of weekly racing prior to Track Championship Night, with 50 and 30-lap features for the Novelis Supermodifieds and Pathfinder Bank SBS.
Also part of the Aug. 14 program, the Sunoco New York Super Stock Series are back on the card for their second of three appearances, this time running a 30-lap feature.
Track Championship Night will be held on Saturday, Aug. 21 with regular distance 50, 30, and 25-lap main events for the Novelis Supermodifieds, Pathfinder Bank SBS, and J&S Paving 350 Supers to decide the three track champions.
Classic Weekend 65 will begin very similarly to that of the May Classic event with pole day time trials for the Novelis Supermodifieds, Pathfinder Bank SBS, and J&S Paving 350 Supers held on Friday, Sept. 3.
The pit area will be cleared after time trials in preparation for a fender banging program for the Sunoco New York Super Stocks. Friday will be capped by the lucrative 75-lap Dave London Memorial.
On Saturday, Sept. 4, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will be back in town for its final appearance of the season, the fifth annual Mod Classic 150. Joining the Modifieds are the NEMA Midgets and NEMA Lites, both of which will run a full slate of feature and preliminary action.
Another first time division will compete at Oswego on Classic Saturday. The Midwest Sport Compact Tour, which was originally scheduled to be a part of the postponed 2020 Classic, will make its Oswego debut.
The pavement season will come to a close Sept. 5 with the 65th International Classic 200 for the Novelis Supermodifieds, 30th Classic 75 for the Pathfinder Bank SBS, and fourth Classic 50 for the J&S Paving Supers.
NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week is scheduled to be held from Oct. 6-10.