Champion Speedway opens for 45th Anniversary on May 26

Great news for local racing fans, Champion Speedway in Owego will open its doors for its 45th Anniversary year on Sunday, May 26, at 6 p.m. with the East Coast Spring Classic / Patrick Ahlund Championship!

This summer marks the 23rd year for track Promoter, Jason Bonsignore, by far the longest term of any of the track’s owners and the 38th year of actual races at the venue, although if you include season’s in which the facility was not used, this is the 45th year, which makes it one of the oldest racing sites in the whole Country. 

The action promises to be the best it has been in recent years and the sport looks to be making a strong comeback with a full Division 1 field already signed up for the Opener.

Among the riders committed to race the Spring Classic are regulars – current track Champion, Casey Donholt of Port Crane, who scored an upset victory in the U.S. Open National in 2015; Adam Mittl of Endicott, who has five track Championships; Lenny McBride of Windsor, who has four Titles; Dave and Dan Oakden of Rochester; Jerry Harman and Spencer Portararo of Newark Valley; Alex Heath of Owego; and Russ Cornell of Nichols. 

The exciting news, on top of that, is that quite a few riders who did not race at all last season, or only made one or two appearances, like Brian Hollenbeck of Owego, Jesse Diem of Pennsylvania, Jeff Garlinghouse of Rochester, Keith Hawkins from Nichols and multi-time Champion and East Coast Legend Tuff McBride of Windsor, have all pledged full-time comebacks and are on the program. 

Promising speedy youngsters like Mike Cortese Jr, Mason Higley, Jonny Oakden, and Dalton Oakden will be looking to make an impact at the famous track this season while a few rides by veteran heroes like Gene Bonsignore, Frank Watson, and John Lewis may be in store.

The ATV turnout was so strong last year that an additional class has been added. Local pros – Shane Smith, Donnie Archibald, Stoney Ray, Chris Merwin, Dan Hawk, Dylan Hawk, Lonnie Whitmore, Toby Relyea, and Jimmer Ulrich are just some of the names that will figure in on the action. 

The track also has a commitment this season from a new announcer, local Junior Hockey voice Andy Ritter, to handle the mic for all speedway events and is due to announce who will be promoting the dirt go-kart series the track will be hosting on off motorcycle nights very soon! 

The biggest news is that Bonsignore published that Action Park East, Champion’s sister track in Greene, N.Y. will be re-opening after an eight year layoff. A tentative opening date of June 15 has been set. Speedway enthusiasts will have a lot to cheer about in 2019.    

Start time for Sunday for the ATV races is 4 p.m. The Speedway Show begins at 6 p.m. More information can be found at www.eastcoastspeedway.com or www.speedwaybikes.com.