Preparations Continue For Second Annual ‘Hard Clay Open’ At Orange County Fair Speedway Tuesday, April 7 As Short Track Super Series Kicks Off 2015 Season; Open Practice Session Planned For OCFS Saturday, April 4
MIDDLETOWN, NY – “We’re good to go!”
Those were the words of Orange County Fair Speedway promoter Michael Gurda IV when asked the status of the upcoming ‘Hard Clay Open’ at the historic track. The Halmar International ‘Hard Clay Open’ presented by United Pump & Tank and East Coast Speed/ECS Auto Inc. is set for Tuesday, April 7 (rain dates: April 8 and 9), kicking off the 2015 Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Hi-Tek Bob Hilbert Sportswear North Region $15,000 championship battle.
“We’ve been working around the facility, getting ready for the start of our motocross season (which opens the last week of March). We were fortunate not to have frost deep in the ground like some other places,” Gurda said. “We’ll make sure we host at least one practice day or night before the ‘Hard Clay Open’ to get some laps on the track and identify any trouble spots.
“I’ve been hearing nothing but good about the event.”
A pre-season practice is planned for Orange County on Saturday, April 4 from noon through 5 p.m. Teams looking to get a jump on safety inspection can have it completed on practice day.
American Racer, via the regional distributor Lias Tire of Indiana, Pa., is the official tire of the STSS. American Racer tires will be required for all 30 starters in the ‘Hard Clay Open’ Modified main event. Local teams will be permitted to attempt to qualify on Hoosiers (D400) but will need to start the feature event on the approved American Racer compounds.
East Coast Speed/ECS Auto in Middletown, N.Y., is the area American Racer distributor. The first order of American Racers will be available March 24. To contact East Coast Speed, call 877.327.3535 or 845.343.0688.
East Coast Speed and Lias Tire will be present at the ‘Hard Clay Open’ on race night with tires available.
Crate 602 Sportsman will race under the weekly Orange County Fair Speedway rule structure, including the Hoosier tire rule of D400 on all four corners (engine claimer rule not in effect). The Elmo’s Speed & Supply 25 offers a minimum of $1,250 to the winner and $100 to take the green flag.
Complete ‘Hard Clay Open’ rules have been posted at the following link: http://bdmotorsportsmedia.com/hard-clay-open-rules-general-information/
The ‘Hard Clay Open’ 50-lap STSS event is among the season’s most lucrative events for big-block/small-block Modified racers, offering a non-top-heavy purse structure throughout the field: $5,000 is guaranteed to the event winner, with $1,000 for 10th and $500 to take the green plus lap money, contingency awards and bonuses.
A complete list of ‘Hard Clay Open’ special awards and bonuses can be found at the following link: http://bdmotorsportsmedia.com/hard-clay-open-2015-special-awards-bonuses-2/
The Modified purse structure, from first to last, has also been posted: http://bdmotorsportsmedia.com/hard-clay-open-modified-pay-structure/
For the ‘Hard Clay Open’ pit gates will open at 1 p.m. Grandstand gates open at 4 p.m. with a drivers’ meeting scheduled for 5:45 p.m. at the pit tower. Hot laps will follow and racing is set to begin promptly at 7 p.m.
Grandstand admission is $22 (Adults), $20 (Seniors) and $2 (Kids 6 and under). Pit admission is $35, with no license required. Advance tickets are on sale through the speedway office by calling 845.342.2573.
The Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek and BD Motorsports Media LLC can be found on the web at www.shorttracksuperseries.com or www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com. Brett Deyo can be reached by phone at 845.728.2781 or via e-mail: bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com. The series is also on Twitter @ShortTrackSS and Facebook under “Short Track Super Series.”
Located at 239 Wisner Avenue Middletown, N.Y., 10940 on the Orange County Fairgrounds, Orange County Fair Speedway is the oldest continuously operating dirt track in the United States. The first auto race was held at the speedway in 1919. The five-eighths-mile oval offers fully-covered and half-covered grandstands in addition to open bleacher seating on the frontstretch and turn one areas, with drive-in viewing on the backstretch. To learn more, contact the Orange County Fair Speedway office at 845.342.2573 or visit www.orangecountyfairspeedway.net.
The Hard Clay Open is presented by Halmar International, United Pump & Tank, ECS Auto Stores Inc./East Coast Speed, American Racer/Lias Tire, Grand Rental Station of Middletown, Rock Fantasy, McGannon Excavating, Elmo’s Speed & Supply, Zubi’s Racing and many other fine marketing partners.
The Short Track Super Series is presented by Hi-Tek Race Fuel, American Racer/Lias Tire, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc., Scotty’s Speed & Diesel, East Coast Speed/ECS Auto, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, ATL Fuel Cells, Bicknell Racing Products, COMP Performance Group (COMP Cams, Driven Racing Oil & Quarter Master), Crane Ignition, Dirt Track Digest, Fast Axle, Fox Racing Shocks, Henry’s Stainless Steel Exhaust, Hig Fab Chassis, Hyperco, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, Lineman Racing, Pilat Graphic Design, Race Pro Weekly, Racers Guide, S&D Bodyline, S&W Awards, Shiley Fabrication, Simplicity Design, Teo-Pro Car, Vahlco Wheels & VP Racing Fuel.
Sources: BD Motorsports Media