Pictured is Champion Speedway Promoter Jason Bonsignore and National Champion Billy Janniro at the track on May 25. Photos provided by Jason Bonsignore.
After a very successful opening Memorial Day Weekend event that featured 9-time U.S. National Speedway Champion Billy Janniro, Champion Speedway has released the rest of its 2015 summer schedule. The next event is the June 27 Omar Lightner Cup, in honor of the former Vestal police officer and track worker, who was friends with many of the racers throughout the tracks history.
Further races are as follows – July 18 (Legends Night and Hank Bassett Cup / New York State Championship); Aug. 29 (Larry and Kathy McBride Memorial); Sept. 5 and 6 (U.S. Open National Championships); and Oct. 11 (Fall Brawl Classic).
Opening night was May 25 and the fans got a real treat with Janniro making his first ever appearance at the bullring Owego, N.Y. venue. He swept every one of his heat races and went on to win both the handicap and scratch main events.
Janniro may have been the story, but several of the young up and coming riders put in a great performance including Spencer Portararo of Newark Valley, Roger Roberts of Johnson City, and Brandon Sturzenegger of Towanda, Pa. The future seems bright for these racers.
Crowd favorite, Owego’s own privateer, Alex “The Hazard” Heath, made a great comeback from a long layoff to narrowly miss a spot in the handicap feature. Veteran Dave Oakden, of Rochester, N.Y. looked sharp and turned in his best result, making the Handicap final. Overall, a nice turnout of riders and fans were on hand to see some great racing,
Pictured, is the 1978 U.S. Open Champion Norm Robinson (in the white) leading Californian Bobby Schwartz at the 78 U.S. Open.
Many riders are set to race on June 27 in support of the Lightner family. The big news for July 18 is that the former U.S. Open Champion, and track favorite in the 70’s and 80’s, Stormin Norman Robinson, may be making an on track return. He has been practicing and has expressed an interest in a racing return.
Champion Promoter Jason Bonsignore has a lot of interest from notable stars in the sport for the September U.S. Open Nationals including Janniro, who wants to return; and former World Speedway Champion Sam Ermolenko.
For more information, visit www.eastcoastspeedway.com or call (585) 739-9612.
