By Renee Dunn
OSWEGO, N.Y.– The Oswego Speedway was packed with fans two weekends ago as the cars lapped around the track at what is also known as Racing’s Biggest Party. NAPA Super DIRT Week is a yearly race in which the speedway brings in more than 9,600 cubic yards of clay to convert the asphalt track to dirt for the Super DIRTcar Series.
The track has been hosting the annual racing event for the past two years instead of its original location at the Central New York Raceway Park in Hastings after construction stalled.
Now that the dust has settled, Oswego residents and city officials said they hope it will return – this time for good. Mayor Billy Barlow said in an interview with WRVO that Super DIRT Week has brought in roughly 70,000 fans, and has been a great way to bring tourism to the city.
“To get them in town and see all that we have, see that we’re a waterfront community with Lake Ontario and the Oswego River, some of the other assets we have here – I think – is a beneficial thing and perhaps encourages them to visit again, even if it’s not racing related,” Barlow said.
Super DIRT Week in Oswego has earned a great reaction from all sides. Super DIRT Week fan Bobby Sweeney said he thinks the location of this year’s race was really cool because the “small town” overlooks “a big lake like Lake Ontario.” Sweeney said that the racing has been awesome this past year and that he would love to see it stay in Oswego.
If you would like to learn more about Super DIRT Week, go to http://www.superdirtweekonline.com/