Auto Racing News - 5 April 2024

Dodge City Speedway display at the recent car show at the Via/ Port Mall in Rotterdam. Promoting their 50th. Year of operation by the Montenaro family.

Saturday, April 6 the Northeast Dirt Modified Museum and Hall of Fame located on the grounds of Weedsport Speedway at 1 Speedway Drive in Weedsport, N.Y. 13166. will host an open house from 12:00 pm. until 5:00 pm. Activities include a chicken barbecue for $15, door prizes,

gift baskets, and more.The event is free to attend.

 The Vermont Motorsports Expo will be held today from 4:30 pm. until 8:00 pm.and Saturday from 8:00 am. until 8:00 pm. The Expo will be held at the B.O.R. Ice Arena, 24 Auditorium Hill in Barre, Vermont.

Great news for fans that remember the racing days of Kenny “The Shoe” Shoemaker. While attending the annual Fonda Speedway car show at Via/Port in Rotterdam, I had a nice conversation with Kenny’s daughter Melissa “Shoemaker” Pigliavento. Melissa is planning to pay tribute to her father with a memorial event at the Track of Champions. Currently, she does not have a set date or format. However, the wheels are turning and hopefully in 2024 fans will see this come to fruition. 

Melissa had a great display of Kenny Shoemaker memorabilia which included numerous photo albums and at least two trophies from victories of The Shoe's storied career. She is also selling merchandise such as t-shirts and stickers to add to the purse money of the Shoemaker Tribute. If you are interested in purchasing "The Shoe" merchandise you may contact Melissa at melissapigliavento@gmail.com or 518-816-5472.

 The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series was racing in their fifth event of the season. This event was held in Texas at the Circuit of the Americas.This race at the 3.4 mile road course and was the only road course event on the 2024 schedule. Local modified driver Stewart Friesen of Sprakers qualified 13th. on Friday night for Saturday’s afternoon feature. Stewart ran up front for parts of the event. However, he lost spots with a late race miscue and ended up finishing

20th. in the 42-lap feature.

 Another Fonda Speedway/ Utica-Rome Speedway pre-season car show has passed. Interestingly this year the big car count was definitely lighter than in past years. However, the small car count was probably at its best as Dodge City Speedway had Go-Karts and more wrapped all the way around the fountain in the center of the mall.

 I'm going to put this out there and you can take it any way that you want to. The car shows whether in Rotterdam, Albany, or Syracuse offer you the racer, car owner or promoter the best opportunity to get your team, business or track exposure. I will use the Via/Port Rotterdam for example. The Cars roll in the Thursday night, are there all day Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in a climate controlled facility, with a smooth hard surface, welcoming environment. Guests are able to take their time, have conversations and relax. It is also a comfortable environment for those who are not as mobile as they once were. To not be ready in some way or form is openly shooting yourself in the foot. 

With today's cars it's impossible to read a sponsoring business name or location even as cars are slowly passing by on a pace lap. Indoor car shows offer guests an opportunity to look at the car in general, read the sponsor names, see a business telephone number or address,

touch a tire, nerf bar, speak with drivers, and more. By no means am I saying that it is easy to be ready. However, these events are there for your benefit and to not take advantage of this opportunity is self destructive.