The fast, concrete half-mile on top of the hill just east of Tioga Center, New York will once again play host to the popular tour type Modifieds this summer. On Sunday, May 29, the ground pounding machines will be the highlight division in a very special 2016 racing season kickoff, competing in a 61-lap feature in memory of the late and great modified legend, Richie Evans. Also on the schedule will be the popular Sportsman Modifieds, the always exciting Street Stocks, and the INEX Legend cars. The sleek Late Models will return to action after being absent from the Speedway for a few years, and the Mini Stocks will add the exclamation point to a great afternoon of auto racing action.
Local entrepreneur George Swansbrough constructed the oval, adjacent to his popular eighth mile drag strip, Skyview Drags, and hosted a few years worth of weekly racing action, temporarily shutting down operation in early 2015. Enter veteran racer and diehard race fan Gilbert “Buck” Sharpsteen Sr. of Waverly. He, and his wife Cathy, stepped in and made a deal to promote a special season ending event in October of last year, “The Haunting on the Hill”. The race was successful enough that the first time promotional team made the decision over the winter that they wanted to do more.
“That place was designed with the full bore Modifieds in mind,” said Sharpsteen, “and the track has been very good to my family. This is about giving back to the racing community and keeping a great facility active.”
For Sharpsteen, a race at Shangri La 2 in memory of Richie Evans was a no brainer. He watched the Rome, N.Y. native perform his magic for years.
“Richie was arguably the best to come out of the Northeast,” remembers Buck. “Multiple NASCAR Modified Championships, multiple track Championships, wins at an unbelievable number of different tracks – but he’s very special locally too. He won a couple features up the road at Chemung Speedrome, but the place he won the most at was the old Shangri La Speedway in Owego. He won over 60 races down there, and the fans loved him.”
The first action for the 2016 season at Shangri La 2 will be May 21, with a noon to 6 p.m. practice session for all classes, and another open practice is scheduled for Saturday May 28, also from noon to 6 p.m. Race gates will swing open at 8 a.m. on Sunday, May 29. Practice will start at noon, followed by Race Director Jerry Sinsebaugh’ driver’s meeting, and first of the qualifying races will get the green flag promptly at 2 p.m.
The Modified 61 lap feature will pay a minimum of $2,200 to win, with last place paying a minimum of $250. The minimums are already being added to, with sponsorship being worked on, and a unique fan program in effect. Instead of lap bonus money, fans and businesses can sponsor a finishing position for $25 per sponsorship. These sponsorships can be an advertisement, a memorial, or just a support statement. The sponsorship money will be added to the specified finishing position. All drivers throughout the finishing order will benefit. Sportsman will run 30 laps, Super Stocks 25 laps, Late Models 30 laps, Legends 20, and Mini Stocks 15.
Pit entry is $35, adult grandstand is $20, teens 10 to 16 years old are $10, and under 10 is free. For a great day of family fun, and some exciting, highly competitive stock car racing, plan to head on out to Shangri La 2 Speedway on Sunday, May 29; it’s shaping up to be one of the premier events of the racing season. And don’t forget to check out the remaining summer schedule of at least one special event a month.
Shangrila La 2 Speedway and Skyview Drags are located at the top of Skyline Drive, just north of Route 17c, East of Tioga Center, N.Y. Shangri La 2 is a medium banked half mile concrete oval, Skyview is an eighth mile drag strip. Many weekends of the season both places are hosting competition at the same time and one gate admission will get you access to both facilities. Campers (no hookups) are always welcome all race weekends at no additional charge.
