There’s a new venue for the popular Super DIRT weekracing event that has called the state fairgrounds home for decades. The aging track and grandstand will soon be demolished as part of $70 million in redevelopment and upgrades. Governor AndrewCuomo announced Wednesday the event will move to the Central New York Raceway Park currently under construction in Hastings.
"We keep dirt-week, we keep dirt racing. We actually have a new and larger race-track that can actually accommodate more and we redevelop the fairgrounds at the same time. It is a private race track, New York State is investing $5 million in the building of the race track to make it a reality"
Cuomo says it’ll also be featured in the “I love New York” marketing and promotion campaign. Super DIRT week CEO Brian Carter looks forward to a new era at the raceway.
"Last year we set a record 70,000 people, 300-race teams from 2 dozen states and 3 countries to continue the NY tradition. We are now preparing to take the next big step in the legacy of both celebrating racing in NY and supporting the local communities as it relates to bringing all of the visitors to the area."
Carter has signed a 10-year contract with the raceway. Many die-hard race fans were lamenting the loss of the fairgrounds track, and county executive Joanie Mahoney heard from them.
"I have been inundated with emails from people who want Super DIRT Week to continue. When we talked with Governor Cuomo into a real investment here at the State Fair Grounds, the one thing that kept rising to the top was Super DIRT Week"
Governor Cuomo made the announcement today as part of his “Capital for a Day” event in Central New York
The Mid-Atlantic and North East consortium of drivers race every year for $300,000 in cash prizes and awards. This years 44th annual Super DIRT week will be held the week of October 7 - 11 at the New York State Fairgrounds at the historic "Moody-Mile" and at various tracks across CNY.
