Orange County Fair Speedway is a dirt oval speedway in Middletown, Orange County, New York. The facility used to hold weekly stock car races and demolition derbies during the summer months. The track was built in 1857 for horse racing at the Orange County Fair and staged its first automobile race on August 16, 1919. The fair began as an agricultural exhibit in 1843 and was permanently located in the Wallkill–Middletown area in 1857. The speedway is located at 239 Wisner Avenue in Middletown on land which was known as The Ogden Tract in the mid-1850s. It was originally a half-mile horse racing track known as the Harry Clay Oval, named after a race horse that was famous at that time. Over the years, the track was widened and lengthened to a true 5/8-mile race track.
History In 1913, the Orange County Fair Society director, George Martin, who was an auto racing enthusiast, brought the idea of replacing the horses with automobiles to the board of directors but his proposition was denied for six straight years. Martin's idea was vetoed by the board but he was stubborn and he argued, talked and persisted until he finally convinced the board of directors to at least try it in 1919. The race was witnessed by 5,000 in attendance and was won by James Benedict driving a Benedict Special powered by a Deusenberg motor. 1924 saw the track resurfaced with clay from a nearby pond, which was found to be soft enough for the horse races that still occasionally took place on the track yet tacky and stable enough for auto racing. This "hard clay" allowed for the track to gain a reputation for its speed that persists to this day.
Auto racing continued at the speedway each year until the beginning of World War II when motorsports nationwide was suspended due to shortages of gasoline, iron, steel, rubber and aluminum. Weekly stock car racing began on April 16, 1950 and has continued every week since that time. In 1946, after World War II ended, the Harry Clay Oval was renamed Victory Speedway, Inc and saw the return of ARDC Midget racing. Stock car racing officially began at the speedway on September 18, 1948 as Rocky Dinatale is credited with the first-ever stock car win. The first fully contested championship season began on April 16, 1950 and the first race of the season was won by Tex Enright driving # 407 Modified coupe. Enright would later go on to be one of the most popular flagmen in dirt track auto racing.
Today, the Orange County Fair Speedway still operates on a weekly basis from April to September. Nicknamed "The House of Power", the Orange County Fair Speedway boasts a long history of dirt track auto racing where many legendary northeast dirt track drivers such as Frankie Schneider, Ray Brown, Will Cagle and Buzzie Reutimann. Drivers of today are still testing their limits on the 5/8-mile track, like Brett Hearn, Rich Eurich, Danny Johnson and Jerry Higbie.
In addition to auto racing, the facility will begin a new era of motocross racing on a race track built in 2013 outside of turns 3 and 4.
On November 26, 2014, speedway owner Mike Gurda announced that in 2015 the speedway will run as an independent track and end its sanction with DIRTcar Northeast.
Eastern States Weekend The track also hosts the annual Eastern States Weekend, where dirt Modified, 358- Modified, and Sportsman drivers race their cars in 200 (modified), 150 (358s), and 50 lap races. The weekend usually falls in mid-October. This is the end of the racing season for most regulars at the track.
The Eastern States 200 Modified race is the oldest consecutively-run championship event for dirt track Modified stock cars in the United States.
The first race was run on October 28, 1962 and was won by Frankie Schneider of Lambertville, New Jersey.
In 1968 the annual 100-lap event was increased to 200 laps. The all-time track champion at Orange County Fair Speedway, Brett Hearn has won the Eastern States 200 a record 12 times since 1979.
Eastern States 200 Winners
YearDriverYearDriver Year Driver1962Frankie Schneider1987Doug Hoffman2012Brett Hearn1963Frankie Schneider1988Rich Eurich2013Brett Hearn1964Rags Carter1989Frank Cozze2014Brett Hearn1965Ron Lux1990Frank Cozze2015Tommy Meier1966Will Cagle1991Jimmy Horton2016Stewart Friesen1967Frankie Schneider1992Danny Johnson2017Brett Hearn1968Will Cagle1993Danny Johnson2018Stewart Friesen1969Al Tasnady1994Bob McCreadie2019Stewart Friesen1970Will Cagle1995Jimmy Horton 2020Mat Williamson1971Will Cagle1996Brett Hearn 2021Matt Sheppard1972Buzzie Reutimann1997Danny Johnson2022Matt Sheppard1973Gerald Chamberlain1998Billy Decker 2023Mat Williamson1974Bobby Bottcher1999Alan Johnson 2024Stewart Friesen1975Wayne Reutimann2000Chuck McKee 2025Alex Yankowski1976Gerald Chamberlain2001Danny Johnson 1977Gary Balough2002Brett Hearn 1978Lou Lazzaro2003Bobby Varin 1979Brett Hearn2004Brett Hearn 1980Kenny Brightbill2005Brett Hearn 1981Brett Hearn2006Brett Hearn 1982Harry Behrent2007Jeff Heotzler 1983C. D. Coville2008Danny Johnson 1984Dave Lape2009Jerry Higbie 1985Jack Johnson2010Tim McCreadie 1986Brett Hearn2011Danny Johnson
Weekly events Auto races used to be run every Saturday night from April through September and featured a variety of stock car divisions including Big Block Modifieds, Small Block Modifieds, Sportsman, Rookie Sportsman, Street Stocks, Thunder Trucks, CRSA Sprints, Slingshots and hosts an annual World of Outlaws Late Model race. Weekly races are not being held for 2024 race season.
In addition to weekly auto racing, the Orange County Fair Speedway has built a brand new motocross track on the grounds which made its inaugural debut in 2014 with six dates of racing.
List of track champions Stock car championships have been contested at the Orange County Fair Speedway consecutively since 1950 when the first Modified championship was won by Russ Dodd of Middletown.
Season Modified 358 Modified Sportsman LM/Street Stock/Pure Stock Pro-Stock - Expert Pro-Stock - Novice Pro-Stock - Rookie 1950 Russ Dodd 1951 Harry North 1952 Ray Brown 1953 Ray Brown 1954 Bud Marl 1955 Charlie South 1956 Bud Marl 1957 Ray Brown 1958 Sonny Strupp 1959 Russ Delp 1960 Sonny Strupp 1961 Bob Malzahn 1962 Ken Wismer Sr. Jay Zanetti 1963 Frankie Schneider Billy Tanosh 1964 Frankie Schneider / Billy Deskovick Doc Norton 1965 Bob Malzahn Jerry Wilson 1966 Will Cagle Eddie Yonkers 1967 Will Cagle Stan Sherman 1968 Will Cagle Harold Wood Jack Rassiga 1969 Will Cagle Bob Dean George Kueck 1970 Will Cagle Rich Eurich George Kueck 1971 Carl Van Horn Jerry Wilson Brian DuBois 1972 Buzzie Reutimann Jerry Wilson Loren Holland Sr. 1973 Bobby Bottcher Bobby Green Bob DeLease 1974 Buzzie Reutimann Jim Horton Jr. 1975 Wayne Reutimann Harry Behrent 1976 Jimmy Horton Russ Meyer 1977 Wayne Reutimann Brett Hearn 1978 Billy Osmun Larry Brolsma 1979 Brett Hearn Ralph Heotzler Eddie Woodruff 1980 Brett Hearn Jeff Heotzler John Falcone 1981 Rich Eurich Ralph Heotzler Mike Barlow 1982 Rich Eurich Steve Bottcher Mike Barlow 1983 Brett Hearn Jeff Scaccio Tom Cox Terry Zuidema Bobby Knipe 1984 Brett Hearn Robbie Green Tom Cannizzaro Bobby Knipe Vinnie Yannone 1985 Carl Collis Gary LaBagh Bobby Knipe Emerson Cargain Sr. Ken Tompkins 1986 Brett Hearn Jeff Heotzler Cris Grispin John Finley Tommy Meier 1987 Brett Hearn Brett Hearn Bobby Knipe Ken Tompkins John Majka 1988 Rich Eurich Chuck LoPresti Steve Dodd Rob Medynski / Bobby Knipe Craig Lynch 1989 Brett Hearn Brett Hearn Eddie Redner Tommy Kuck Scott Kehr 1990 Brett Hearn Brett Hearn Ken Boniface Tommy Meier Steve Galgano 1991 Brett Hearn Brett Hearn Tommy Meier Steve Durand Ken Pettit 1992 Brett Hearn Brett Hearn Steve Birchwale Scott Kehr Jim Cancel 1993 Brett Hearn Danny Johnson Dave Werber Tim Green Mark Hufcut 1994 Brett Hearn Howie Finch Tim Hindley Scott Kehr Tim Dembek 1995 Brett Hearn Jimmy Hauser Stan Jablonka Barry Filipowski Andy Dembek 1996 Jimmy Horton Bob Hayes Jr. Tim Hindley Tom Cannizzaro John Bryson 1997 Jeff Heotzler Danny Johnson Jimmy Johnson Tom Cannizzaro Mike Pomarico 1998 Chuck McKee Andy Bachetti Tony Paes Jr. Brian Houghtaling Cliff Tinnely Willie Auchmoody 1999 Brett Hearn Brett Hearn Chris Shultz Al D'Antonio Cliff Tinnely Rob Lowe 2000 Chuck McKee Andy Bachetti Chris Shultz Ron Irvin Tom Kuck Jamie McGannon 2001 Chuck McKee Andy Bachetti Mark Hufcut Al D'Antonio Andy Dembek Pete Goydich 2002 Chuck McKee Tim Hindley Stan Jablonka Ron Irvan Tom Dembek Bob Waters Jr. 2003 Jeff Heotzler Tommy Meier Joe Dunay Al D'Antonio John Bryson Marty Pender 2004 Tommy Meier Jerry Higbie Rick Mill Greg Kurtzman Jamie McGannon Ron Carlson 2005 Jeff Heotzler Jerry Higbie Rick Mill Al D'Antonio / Ray Tarantino Sean Corr Don Williams 2006 Brett Hearn Brett Hearn Joe Morel Julius Pepin / Marty Van Neiuwland Bill Pacual 2007 Jeff Heotzler David Van Horn Rich Coons Emerson Cargain Sr. / John Hechinger Bob Waters Jr. 2008 David Van Horn Jerry Higbie Mike Ruggiero Tim McCarthy / Joel Murns Mike Dutka 2009 Chuck McKee / Jerry Higbie Chuck McKee Mike Ruggiero Emerson Cargain Sr. / Matt Burke Bill Pascual 2010 Jerry Higbie Brian Krummel Emerson Cargain Sr. Don Carlson Jason Harayda 2011 Tommy Meier Gary Edwards Jr. Charlie Donald Mike Dutka 2012 Jerry Higbie Gary Edwards Jr. Charlie Donald Mike Dutka 2013 Tim Hindley Danny Creeden Brian Krummel Stephen Kammer Jason Harayda 2014 Tim Hindley Chuck McKee LJ Lombardo Mike Vigiletti 2015 Jerry Higbie Gary Edwards Jr. Randy Sweetman Jim Maher 2016 Tommy Meier Tommy Meier Tyler Boniface Mike Vigiletti 2017 Jimmy Horton Anthony Perrego Jessie Leiby Mike Vigiletti 2018 Anthony Perrego Brian Krummel Greg Sleight Jim Maher 2019 Brett Hearn Anthony Perrego Grant Hilfiger Bobby Sleight Jr. 2020 Matt Sheppard Anthony Perrego Tanner Vandoren Bobby Sleight Jr. 2021 Anthony Perrego Anthony Perrego Joe Bonetti Mike Vigiletti 2022 Matt Sheppard Anthony Perrego Cody Higbie Bobby Sleight Jr.
References
External links
Victory Speedway History