May 10, 2024 07:19 AM EDT
OUTLAW SPEEDWAY IS THE PERFECT SIZE VENUE (4/10) TO HOST THE KUBOTA HIGH LIMIT 410 SPRINT CAR SERIES
Story by Kenny Shupp Jr.
(Dundee, NY) If the size and layout of a race venue make any difference, the Outlaw Speedway is in a league of their own.
When track owners Lin and Cindy Hough totally rebuilt Black Rock Speedway in the mid to late 1990’s they left no stone unturned. All new seating and tower spaces, brand new concessions and restrooms in both the pits and grandstands. New pit tower, turn one lap counter, advanced PA System and more. It was called the premier facility in the northeast and forced other promoters to up their programs to keep pace.
However, there are some other not so noticeable areas where major capital improvements were enacted many times going unseen but play a huge part in the integrity of what is called Outlaw Speedway.
“Lin did some things here twenty-five or more years that have made my life a whole lot easier today,” stated current Track Owner, Tyler Siri. Thousands of tons of top-quality drainage gravel were hauled into the pits eliminating any potential soft areas and holds up to the massive race car transporters that play a huge part in today’s sport. Added drainage tile was included along the new concrete walls on both the front and back straight aways. A large culvert pipe drains the entire infield under turns three and four to a nearby creek and he installed a pump inside turns one and two to insure drainage not only during race season, but also the spring thaw. Those things alone go unnoticed but make a massive difference in how this place drains.”
Siri then went on to say that “Because this place dries fast, my track preparation crew can get on it quicker. Right now, we have what I consider the perfect surface. I have learned over my nine years here the dos and don’ts of track prep. We have this down to an art form and I am proud to say each week the drivers can look forward to a smooth, tacky, wide racing surface. From top to bottom, turn one to turn four and it holds up all night. I have invested a lot of money into specialized equipment that is designed to make our surface the best it can possible be including a brand-new Cat Loader/Backhoe with plenty of quick couple attachments.”
In some cases, venues are either too small or too large for one class or another, but at its current configuration of 4/10 of a mile, Outlaw Speedway is what many consider, “The perfect size” track with it slightly banked straight aways and aggressively banked corners.
At the completion of the 1997 season, Hough and his staff went to work on yet another massive project, this time lengthening what was then a one-third mile facility into its current 4/10-mile configuration. Thousands of loads of nearby material were hauled to what was the existing turns three and four area. Unfortunately, because of the track’s layout being close to New York State Route 14a any lengthening in the direction of turns one and two was out of the question.
Both front and back straight aways were lengthened, a much wider turn three and four put into place, new infield lighting and what you now have is facility fit for any size race car, four-cylinder Mini Stocks to Sprints to full blown Super Late Models.
Hough was not only a big Modified guy having previously been a driver himself, a former MR. Dirt 358 Champion and now a Dirt Motorsports Hall of Famer, but he loved Sprint Cars and wanted his facility to be a “Sprint Car Friendly” venue for Black Rock’s season ending Bully Hill Fall Nationals which featured a mixture of ESS, PST and URC. It was the biggest, highest-paying, 360 Sprint Car, two-day event of its kind at the time. People from Knoxville attended, it was that big!
“When Lin rebuilt the track to its current configuration, he built additional things into the layout making it a perfect set up for Sprint cars including wide pit access roads to get the cars on and off the track quickly and safely. The staging area just behind the back straight away wall is wide and long allowing many cars to be aligned and pushed off to full power before even entering the track. Small things like that make a dramatic difference in keeping the show moving along particularly when time trialing is part of the itinerary. The access road exiting turn two to the pit area is long enough that drivers can wind down before making it back to their respective pit stalls. When you add all these things up it is a perfect set up to run a Sprint Car Show weather its 410, 360 or 305 and we run all three here over the course of a season.”
In addition, there is also another pit line-up area eliminating congestion when teams are using the Hot Pit Area during premier feature events.
Another philosophy that Hough and Siri share even though a quarter decade apart is the need for speed at Outlaw Speedway.
Hough wanted his facility fast with enough corner banking to keep speeds at a maximum, one of his reasons for extending the track to its current 4/10 configuration.
“And that is why I just love the current layout, claimed Siri. This is a stand on the gas track for every class that ever runs here, yet it is not an engine killer like some of the bigger layouts with long straights that put strain on an engine over a season and that is not a slam on them as many of those same venues have been that way forever, it is part of their history and teams have made the necessary adjustments for the longer layout and many drivers like it that way. Same holds true with quarter and third mile bull rings. There are tremendous success stories which have evolved around short tracks, but for my money, Outlaw is the perfect size. Racers can pass without using the front bumper, but at the same time it is just big enough that you can get away from people. The place is 5 cars side all the way around. A Modified with a Spec 358 can win here just as easily as a 900 hp killer small block or a true 467 Big Block. With the new 44/48 tire rule for the Mods and Sportsman this year, there will be little, or no tire wear and it will also make it easier on the racing surface.”
Since purchasing the track Siri has continued to make improvements including widening, new clay and some adjustments to corner and straight away banking.
“I am always trying to make the surface the best possible. If the track is rough and guys are bouncing all over the place it makes for a long night. The racing sucks, teams spend piles of unnecessary money, and it gives the whole place a black eye and you get killed on social media. No race car is built to run through a plowed field, particularly Sprint Cars. It must be smooth, and we are now in a position where we can safely say we have a handle on things and that is why when the Kubota High Limit 410’s come to town they will be treated to smooth and fast surface. These guys are the best in the world, they can adjust quickly, and they will put on what promises to be the best event run at Outlaw Speedway.”
As part of the high-profile May 16 show the new Infield Fan Experience will be open for those wanting a unique perspective of the facility and it is fully equipped with food, beverages and restrooms.
“Fans will be able to go anywhere they want to that night. Their Geneal Admission ticket gets them into the main stands or infield. However, many will pay the additional money and go directly to the pit area where they can get up close with the best Modified and 410 Sprint Car Divers on the planet. There is plenty of pit seating with unobstructed viewing of the track.”
The winners and podium finishers of both the $12,000 High Limit 410 feature as well as the $4,000 to win Modified event will greet fans at the Outlaw Speedway Victory Lane which sits literally in the front row of the main grandstand seating area where fans can grab victory lane shots and selfies without leaving their spot. Yet another Tyler Siri innovation at the track, bringing Victory Lane to the Fans.
As part of the event, Wilbert’s has logged on as the headline sponsor of the show and by attaching their name to the program it will give them added business exposure not only locally, but nationally as the event will air live on Flo Racing where hundreds of thousands more curious fans will be tuning in.
Wilbert’s is most well known as the go to company for all your used automotive parts. Whether you are a do it yourself mechanic or a full-blown automotive repair facility, Wilbert’s has everything to fix your vehicle. Why pay for new when you can get quality and guaranteed used parts from Wilbert’s including glass, tires, wheels, engines, transmissions, interior seating and dashboards along with complete body parts for every application including quarter panels, hoods and doors for cars and full pickup truck bodies and boxes.
Wilbert’s has convenient locations in Williamson, Webster, Ontario, Elma and Bath New York.
For a complete look at their extensive web site click on at www.wilberts.com.
In the days leading up to the May 16 Thursday Night Thunder event at Outlaw Speedway the tracks Facebook will blow up with continual updates including all ticket prices, gate times for both pit and grandstand seating as well as hot lap times and the first green of the night heat race qualifying action and it’s just a click away at www.Facebook.com/OutlawSpeedwayLLC/.
Outlaw Speedway also offers Free Camping for those wishing to come early and spend the night.
The Turn 4 Tavern along with The Outlaw Saloon are open on race nights for those of the legal age looking to quench their thirst with a large assortment of ice-cold beer.
For a more general overview of the facility including the complete 2024 schedule of events, marketing partners, directions to the facility, class rules and more log on at www.otlawspeedwayllc.com.
Celebrating sixty-seven years of continuous dirt track racing, the Outlaw Speedway is located on Rt. 14a in Dundee, NY right in the heart of the Finger Lakes Region of Upstate New York.
A short drive from Penn Yan, Geneva, Seneca Falls, Waterloo, Watkins Glen, Elmira/Corning and Bath/Hammondsport.
