History of the Brewerton Speedway

Compiled by Doug Zupan

1948 The Brewerton Speedway was built by Alvin Richardson of Buffalo, and the track was a 1/4 mile dirt track. Charlie Barry was the President and Ted Brown was the PR Director. The first race was halted because of poor track conditions due to wet spring weather. The speedway was paved, and midgets were intended because they were popular at the time. The Brewerton Speedway had $53,000 invested in it.

1949 July 4th, 1949 was the first race at the "New" Brewerton Speedway. 4,000 people showed up to witness a midget race won by Steve Yanigan driving Al Brown's No. 71. Johnny Coy of Long Island skidded out of control and turned over in the feature race. Don Strong promoted this race with Eastern States Racing Attractions promoted by Don Georgia. The rest of the year, the midgets raced every Sunday at 2:30pm. Some of the top winners and runners were Roy Graham, Ed Lenz, Leon Lorber, and Stan Disbow. September 25th, Phil Galus of Lockawanna, NY was killed in a midget race on the 2nd lap of the first heat. The midget season ended in September.

1950 May 17th, 1950 was the first stock car race at the Brewerton Speedway, and it was won by Charlie Stark. Stock cars ran because more tracks started up and midget fields fell short so crowds were down. Promoter Al Richardson ran Wednesdays and Saturdays at 8:15pm. Midgets ran on Sundays at 3pm under Interstate Auto Racing Club sanction with top stars such as Stan Disbrow, Ed Lenz, Roy Graham, Ernest Wright, Dick McCrossman. Midgets and stock cars ran May through October. Stock Cars ran under the Empire State Stock Car Association, and the total purses were $2,000. Top winners and runners of the stock car class were Nolan Swift, Bob Cameron, Dick and Bud Laribee, Charlie Barry, John Torrese, Art Reynolds, Bill Jennings, Len Lorber, and Charlie Stark. The top winner and track champion for 1950 was Bob Cameron. Other local speedways were Cortland, Binghamton, Owego, Vernon, and Sandy Creek.

1951 September 1, 1951 was the first ever NASCAR Short Track Race at Brewerton Speedway. Roscoe "Pappy" Hough won over Jimmy Reed in a 200 lap feature with 4,000 spectators. Empire Stock Car Drivers Association sanctioned stock car races on Wednesdays and Sundays at 8:15pm. Midgets ran special races only.

1952 September 10, 1952 the Harvest Moon Race was won by Ray Gilbert. August 10, 1952 was a NASCAR Short Track Race, which was won by Lee Petty over Jimmy Reed, Neil Cole, Roscoe Hough in 1hr. 33 mins. 46 sec. Al Richardson promoted Empire State Stock Car Racing Association on Saturday nights and Wednesday nights at 8:15 with midget specials on Sundays. Roy Graham was the midget winner. The top stock car winner was Charlie Barry, and other top winners were Hough Darrough, Ray Gilbert, Dick Wise, Bruce Borden, Bill Lang, Jack Murphy, Johnny Torrese, Pete Palladino, Nolan Swift (7/12 won his first race), Bob Fitch, Larry Marx, Dutt Yanni, Jim Fuller, Ernie Sprague, Dick Turcotte, Norm Brioux, Jack Vault, and Rod Turcott. The races ran May through October.

1953 Brewerton ran a NASCAR sanction under owner and promoter Al Richardson (Frank Whedon also helped promote). On July 10, the NASCAR sanction was dropped because of the small amount of cars and ran open competition races. Tickets went for $1.25 on Saturday night races. Top NASCAR winners were Nolan Swift, Doug Howell, and Pete Palladino. Top International Racing Association midget special winners were Bert Brooks, and Duke Fleishman. The racing went back to Fridays with the open competition. Top stock car runners were Rod Turcott, Johnny Clement, Junior Dobson, Cliff Fuller, Jimmy Fuller, Buddy Laribee, Jack Murphy, Howard Howker, Sonny Waters, and Doug Reynolds. On 8/2, the speedway ran a rodeo. 9/6 Harvest Moon 100 went to Doug Reynolds with John Clement winning the track championship.

1954 Stock car races ran May through October on Sundays and then Saturdays at 2:30 and 8:15, promoted by Al Richardson. Top winners were Bill Lang, Bill Dudley, Rod Turcott, Johnny Clement, Doug Reynolds, Joe Felber, Jim Wilson, Bailing Bailey, Wee Willie Allen, George Cady, Ray Gilbert, Doug Reynolds, Jim Carroll, Eugene Jackson, and Jack Vault. May 30th Midget special was won by Ohio driver Buddy Martin. September 26 Harvest Moon Championship 50 lap race was rained out. The Spring Championship was won by Doug Reynolds as well as the track championship.

1955 Al Richardson ran stocks and amateur class races on Sundays at 2:30 then Saturdays at 8:15. Top winners were Ronnie Pelon, Doug Reynolds, Charlie Barry, Rod Turcott, Art Reynolds, Ray Gilbert, Jack Vault, Nick Lazzaro, Dutt Yanni, with Art Reynolds the top winner. Other winners were Dick Tyler, Jack Murphy, Lucus Cornish, and George Cady. October 1 a special 50 lap Harvest Moon Championship was run, with Art Reynolds the winner.

1956 Brewerton was run by owner and promoter Al Richardson. Stock car races were run on Friday nights at 8:15. Top winners and runners were Jack Murphy, Jim Fuller, Doug Reynolds, Jack Vault, Skip Wright, and Dutt Yanni. July 17, the speedway closed due to Al Richardson's heart attack. Frank Whedon was to reopen the track in August, but it never reopened in 1956.

1957 Brewerton opened the season on May 3rd with 8pm Friday night races promoted by Ralph Mazzoli. Al Richardson still owns the speedway but cannot promote due to his health. Winners and top runners were Ken Thompson, Art Reynolds, Dutt Yanni, Rod Turcott, and Jim Caroll. The season ended in September.

1958 Al Richardson farmed out the promoting chores to Donald (Pete) Gillette, Dick Brown, and Bill Luke. They ran stock cars on Friday nights. Doug Reynolds, Dutt Yanni, Ray Gilbert, Eddie Bellinger, Wee Willie Allen, Art Reynolds, and Rod Turcott were the top winners and runners.

1959 Donald Gillette, Dick Brown, and Bill Luke promoted the Friday night stock car races. Ray Gilbert, Eddie Bellinger, Wee Willie Allen, Don Gillette, Dutt Yanni, Sammy Reakes, and Art Reynolds were the top runners.

1960 Brewerton was renamed the Route 11 Speedway, and the track operated on Friday nights at 8pm. Admission prices for adults was $1.50. Donald Gillette, Dick Brown, and Bill Luke promoted stocks and go-karts on Friday nights, with he go-karts on a road course on Sunday's. Ray Gilbert was the stock car champion. Other top runners and winners were Charlie Barry, Eddie Bellinger, Bill Allen, Don Gillette, Jack Cramer, Willie Allen, Dutt Yanni, Earl Sixberry, Eddie Bloss, Sammy Reakes, Cliff Kotary, and Gordie Wood.

1961 Jim Carroll was the new promoter at the Route 11 Speedway for the 1961 race season, and the speedway operated on Friday nights at 8:15pm. Johny Colbert was the Late Model champion. After a few races, the track was closed and the corners were rebanked with a lowered infield. Some of the top runners and winners were Ray Gilbert, Graeme Bolia, Jack Naum, Jim Carroll, Sam Reakes, Eddie Bloss, Bill Dudley, Joe Felder. ARDC sanctioned two midget shows during the 1961 season. The Sunday June 18 ARDC Midget event was won by Bob Harkey with Dutch Schaeffer and Len Duncan behind. On the second ARDC visit on Sunday August 13, Johnny Coy won, with Harkey and Bill Randall following. Nearby Mil-Ray Raceway also opened in Fulton the same year.

1962 John Colbert promoted the races at Route 11 under the sanction of the Empire State Racing Club. The Late Model stock cars ran Wednesday and Friday nights at 8:15pm for $1.00 adult admission. Frank Weeden was the race scorer. Dave Kotary, who won the Syracuse State Fair qualifier, was the top winner and track champion. Other winners were Joltin' Joe Orso, Bob Sprague, Rod Turcott, Clayt Brewer, Lou Smith, Fred Reed, Angie Monopoli, Chico Rhines, and Sammy Reakes. Top runners were Ronnie Scott, Jim Reynolds, Bill Reynolds, Joe Grosso, Mike Kulas, John Colbert, John Thayer, Willie Bloss, and Fred Reed.

1963 Bob Rogers and his Tri-Counties Racing Association promoted the races at Brewerton Speedway in 1963, and Stock Car races were run on Friday nights. Dave Kotary, only 20 years old, was the track champion and he won 17 out of the 20 races run that season. Bruce Rice and Gary Shepard won the other three races. Other top runners were Lou Smith, Joltin' Joe Orso, Fred Basille, Ed O'Neil, Chico Rhines, John Thayer, Angie Monopoli, Willie Bloss, Norm House, Jim Ryan, Ken Platt, and Jim Clark. Kotary's 17 out of 20 wins was the most ever for one driver in one season, making him the all-time feature winner of Brewerton Speedway at that time.

1964 Rob Rogers promoted Brewerton Speedway for the second year in a row through his Tri-Counties Racing Association and ran Friday night Late Model races at 8:15pm on the 1/4-mile paved oval. Screamin' Sammy Reakes was the Late Model track champion. Other top winners were Eddie Bloss, Chico Rhines, Mike Koulas, Dave Hand, and Joe Orso. Top runners were Willie Bloss, Rocky Grosso, Dave Walters, Sam Carista, John Thayer, Dave Tharp, Don Bushbacker, Don Danna, Carl Weaver, Bob Sprague, and Ken Platt.

1965 After seventeen seasons, Al Richardson sold the Brewerton Speedway to Archie Greene who owned the junkyard next to the track. Bob Rogers stayed on as the promoter for the third consecutive season. Don Bushbacker was the Late Model track champion. Other top runners and winners were Johnny Colbert, Don Coccia, Don Secor, Don Beaupre, Chico Rhines, Eddie Bloss, Jim Cunningham, Sam Carista, Vinnie Prentice, Fran Kitchner, Rocky Grosso, Joe Orso, Don Fazio, Dave Kotary, Carl Weaver, and Sammy Reakes.

Popular Jackie Naum was the Brewerton Speedway Late Model track champion in 1966.

1966 Bob Rogers promoted the Late Model, Overhead Late Model, and Inverted 8 races at the speedway for the fourth consecutive race season. Jack Naum was the Late Model champion, while Freddie Reichard the Overhead champion. Top top winners and runners in 1966 were Jack Naum, Jim Reynolds, Sam Carista, Bill Wilson, Dean Hubbs, Rocky Grosso, Bordie Bull, Lynn Rasback, George Magee, Fireball Roberts, Bob Sprague, Paul Benz, Joe Orso, and Skip Lawton.

1967 Tri-Counties Racing Association with Bob Rogers as president promoted the Brewerton Speedway races in 1967 for the fifth year in a row. The Friday night Late Model, Overhead, and Invterted 8 classes ran at 8:30pm. On Sunday's, Modified races were run, with Jim Shampine winning the last Modified race of the year in August. Jack Naum was the Late Model track champion, and Eddie O'Neil was the Overhead champion. Some of the top Overhead runners were Bob and Red Weigand, Ken Spink, Chuck Adams, Eddie O'Neil, Richard Sprague, and John Holbrook. Some of the top Late Model drivers were Sam Carista, Jack Naum, Chico Rhines, Eddie Bloss, Dick Murtaugh, Roy Hilton, Buddy Thurston, John Roberts, Eddie O'Neil, Bud Cady, Brian Herb, Graeme Bolia, Don Secor, and Dean Hubbs.

1968 Bob Rogers was once again the promoter at Brewerton Speedway. Jack Naum was the Limited Sportsman champion. Other winners were Eddie O'Neil, Rocky Grosso, Elwinn McNeitt, and Joe Orso. Top runners were Paul Updike, Sam Carista, Ron Fazio, Bob Kincaid, Chico Rhines, and Clarence Sparing. A Late Model class was also run.

1969 Bob Rogers was the president of a new sanctioning body that promoted races at the speedway called the Maple Grove Raceway Association with the Waterloo and Weedsport Speedways. Ed Santaniello is the V.P. and Ted Flock is the Sec/Tres. Unfortunately, this group fell out of control after, and Rogers' association with the speedway ended after six straight years. Archie Greene promoted Late Model stock cars on Friday nights. Neil Tooley, Fran Kitchen, Chubby LaRoux, and Ed O'Neil were some of the top runners.

1970 Archie Greene promoted Brewerton Speedway on Friday nights as part of the Watertown circuit, with Limited Sportsman as the headline class. Some of the top runners and winners were Neil Tooley, Glen Roux, Fran Kitchen, Chubby LaRoux, Joe Sheridan, Tom Boucher, and John Michaels.

1971 Clifford J. Carey promoted the Brewerton Speedway with a limited amount of racing. Gary Reddick was the big winner with Chubby LaRoux, Glen Roux, and John Michaels the other top runners.

1972 David Snyder of Baldwinsville took over the promotional duties at Brewerton Speedway and converted the 1/4-mile paved track into a 1/3-mile D-shaped dirt track throughout Ma and June. Snyder ran Modifieds on Thursday and Saturday nights, with Barry Harrington as the track manager. The first race on the new dirt was run on Thursday July 20, with Will Cagle the winner. On Saturday July 22, George Ely won a Dirt Modified race with just a seven car field, which ended racing for the year.

1973 David Snyder again promoted Modified and Late Model races on Thursday nights. In August, the racing changed over to Saturday nights with the season ending on Sundays in September. Will Cagle was the track champion. Other top winners and runners were Gerry Chamberlain, Jack Johnson, Jerry Cook, Lou Lazzaro, Jim Shampine, Chuck Ciprich, Dave Kneisel, Jim Winks, George Ely, and Frank Mears. On Saturday August 25, a Syracuse Schaefer qualifying 100-lap race was won by Will Cagle.

1974 Tom and Joe Grosso promoted the races with a very limited schedule. The track opened on Thursday July 25 and the Modified race was won by Jim Winks. Other winners were Dave Kneisel in the Dirt Modifieds. The last race of the year was held on August 26.

Mike "Chico" Noto was one of the popular Dirt Modified pilots in the mid 1970's.

1975 Roger Burdick, Paul Bowker, and Lynn Holmes took over the promotion of the 1/3-mile D-shaped Brewerton Speedway. The Northway Raceway sanction ran Friday nights with Limited 318 Sportsman and Strictly Stocks. They started June 4th and at the end of the season, dropped out because of lease problems. Some of the top winners and runners were Doug Carlyle, Bob McCreadie, George Mowry, and Fran Kitchen. On October 5th, a 100-mile Limited 318 Sportsman race was won by Frank Cozze, who won $1,000 from the 73 cars that entered and 32 in the feature.

1976 Roger Allen, Dave Fox, and Hal Dixon promoted the races at Brewerton Speedway for the 1976 race season. They ran 318 Sportsman at 8pm on Friday nights. Fran Kitchen was the 318 Sportsman track champion. Top winners and runners were George Mowry, Gary Trickler, Jim Spano, Carl Phillips, Bob McCreadie, Jim Clark, Duane Decker, Frank Doll, Mike Noto, Chubby LaRoux, and Tommy Williams. 10 of the 22 races were rained out.

1977 Steve Armstrong promoted the Friday night Limited Sportsman and Street Stock action with races beginning at 7pm. June opened the season.

1978 No promoter, no races.

1979 No races.

1980 Fred Mathieson was the new promoter of the 1/3-mile clay Brewerton Speedway, and he ran Small Block Modifieds, Strictly Stocks, and VW Mini Sprints on Friday nights at 8pm. The entire speedway grounds was renovated from the grandstands, track, to the restrooms. Mathieson bought the speedway from Archie Green, who owned it for 15-years. The grand re-opening was held on May 23, with Canadian Colin Slade winning the $600 to win Small Block Modified race. Bob Andrews won the Strictly Stock feature and Harvey Calkins in the VW Sprints. Bob McCreadie was the Small Block Modified track champion with Harvey Calkins the VW champion. Donnie Wetmore, Colin Slade, and Bob McCreadie were the top Small Block pilots.

Roger Phelps was one of the top drivers at Brewerton during the early 1980's.

1981 Leroy Hurlbut and Donnie Wetmore were the Small Block Modified co-champions, with Marcel LaFrance, Will Cagle, and Bob McCreadie the other major winners. Tony Buffa, Jr won 13 feature races and the VW Sprint championship. Dick Murtaugh was the Street Stock champion. The ARDC Midgets visited the track on July 3rd and August 14th, and Hank Rogers won both events.

1982 Small Block Modified champion and major race winner Bob McCreadie. Limited Late Model champion Bill Burton and Tony Buffa, Jr. was the VW Sprint champion. July 2nd saw Doug Craig win the ARDC Midget feature race.

1983 Small Block Modified champion Roger Phelps. Phelps and Donnie Wetmore were the major winners. Late Model title went to Larry Bezner and Street Stock champion was Mike Bozzuto. Sprint Cars were run on a weekly basis, with Dave Leckonby winning the first event on May 13. In mid August, the Sprint Car class was dropped because of the cost and small fields. Craig Keel was the champion and major race winner.

1984 Small Block Modified champion was Donnie Wetmore, with seven wins. The track was sanctioned by DIRT Motorsports for the first time ever. Other winners were Ron House and Bob McCreadie.

1985 No Racing.

1986 Charlie and Bob Trump purchased the speedway from Fred Mathieson and completed many improvements. Donnie Wetmore won the Small Block title. Russ Marsden was the Late Model champion, and Tim Gareau Jr. was the Street Stock top driver.

1987 Donnie Wetmore was the Small Block Modified champion. Billy Burton (SS) and Dave Mannise (PS) were the other champions.

1988 New partner Jim Ferlito joined Charlie Trump as owners and promoters and made many new renovations. June 12, the USAC Midgets were on hand to see Bob Cicconi take home the win. The speedway ran on Fridays and Sunday afternoons, with Donnie Wetmore the Small Block Modified Track Champion, Bret Belden the Friday and Sunday Street Stock Track Champion, and Buddy Diehl the Pure Stock Champion.

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994 Harvey, Joan, and David Fink made Big Block Modifieds the headline class for the 1994 race season and left the Outlaw Circuit. DIRT Motorsports was brought in once again to sanction the racing, and the result was the beginning of an impressive period of prosperity for Brewerton Speedway. Popular Bob McCreadie won eleven features on the way to the 1994 Track Championship in front of weekly large crowds. Other winners were Alan Johnson, Steve Paine, J.J. Michaels, and Canadian Joe Plazek, who won the first ever Big Block Modified Super DIRT Series 100-lap event on June 28, and the 358 series special on July 26. Frank Cozze won the 358-Modified Super DIRT Series 100-lap special during Super DIRT Week. The Dwarf Car division debuted on July 1, with Troy VanAllen winning the first event and Frank Doll Jr the driver with the most wins. Billy Abold Jr was the Street Stock Track Champion, while Doug Battles won the title in the Four Cylinder Stock division.

2009 After Harvey Fink sold the track there were a couple of lean years for Brewerton Speedway, the future didn't look bright. After the 2008 season the speedway was put up for sale and things really looked bleak for the “D-Shaped Dirt Demon” to continue as a race track. The only ones who were interested in the property were people who were ready to sign the dotted line and turn the grounds into housing for Senior Citizens.

Once word got back to John Wight, who is a successful business man with Gypsum Express Trucking and Gypsum/ L J L Racing, he stepped up to the plate in a big way and purchased the track.

The first order of business was to bring back Harvey Fink and put him in the promoter’s role. Also brought back was Bob Connelly in the General Manger position.

Before the ink was even dry on the sale of the track Wight and his crew went right to work with improvements. New fencing, front straight retaining wall, state of the art sound system and a new starter’s stand stood out the most on opening night. Other work that took place was a new roof on the tower with major clean-up to the sponsor suites and other buildings on the grounds

With a World Of Outlaws Late Model show on the schedule three big sections of grandstands were purchased and erected in turn four. Fans commented that those stands give one of the best views in racing.

With Brewerton Speedway’s future secure look for things to keep improving at one of the best tracks in the Northeast.