Auto Racing News

By Tom Coughlin

The Adirondack Motor Enthusiast Club's upcoming banquet at the Cowboy Up Saloon in Broadalbin is fast approaching. Located at 230 Stevers Mill Road, the January 3 "Racers Reunion" will take place from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. with dinner at 6 p.m.

You can register by email at racing48@nycap.rr.com, which will allow you to also receive more details being released soon. There will be AMEC videos playing and memorabilia. There will be a short presentation during dinner, but the majority of the night will be spent socializing with everyone in attendance.

Renegade Racing snowmobile Drag Races will be at Royal Mountain Ski Area tomorrow for the first of three scheduled events in the 2025-2026 season. Sign-in will take place from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m., test passes will happen at 6 p.m., and racing begins at 7 p.m. Royal Mountain is located at 3072 Rt. 10 Johnstown 12095, between Johnstown and Caroga Lake.

The Super DIRTcar Series released their big block modified division 2026 schedule on Tuesday. Two new (returning sites) are Airborne Park Speedway in Plattsburgh for the first time since 2019, when they present Thunder in the Adirondacks on Wednesday, July 22 with a rain date of Thursday, July 23.

At Utica-Rome Speedway in Vernon, the Super DIRTcar Series will be returning to the Home of Heroes on Wednesday, August 19th as a part of the SummerFast Series. The SDS will be at Albany-Saratoga Speedway on April 17 and September 26, and Lebanon Valley Speedway on June 16.

There will be northeast dirt open wheel racing in February in Florida at the All-Tech Raceway in Lake City, Florida. Following DIRTcar rules and using Hoosier tires, the big block modified division and crate 602 sportsman division will begin with open practice on Wednesday, February 4. The next three nights of racing will consist of a 40-lap/$5,000 to win modified feature and a 25-lap/$2,000 to win sportsman feature.

The Super DIRTcar Series modified division will be at Volusia Speedway Park near Barberville the following week, February 11 through 14, competing in the Big Gator Championship.

Go-Karts were on the schedule last weekend and a number of drivers with familiar names were competing in the 32nd annual New York State Indoor Kart Championship, billed as "The Most Intense Oval Racing Imaginable" at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse.

Saturday, December 6 results and finishing positions follow:

In the Sr. Champ Clone class: Marc Johnson of Guilderland 4, Ryan Kendall of Troy 5. Clone Light class: Kirsten Swartz of St. Johnsville 3. Jr. Champ 206 Rookie 310 Slide class: Maverick Larkin 1 of Great Barrington, Massachusetts, Brexley Hartman 2 of Glenville. Pro Champ Clone class: Marc Johnson 8, Ryan Kendall 9. Jr. Champ Predator class: Brayden Stratton 2 of North Bennington, Vermont, Chase Johnson 4 of Guilderland, Jaxon Coon 5 of Glenville. WCRS Stage 1 predator class: Ryan Pepicelli 1 of Amsterdam, Carter Gibbons 2 of Esperance, Nicholas Ryder 3 of Gloversville, Mikey Lang 4 of Johnstown, David Herrick 5 of Johnstown, Ezra Rouse 6 of St. Johnsville, Kirsten Swartz 7, Tom Varin 8 of Johnstown.

Sunday, December 7 results:

Sr. Champ Clone class: Ryan Kendall 3, Marc Johnson 9. Clone Light class: Kirsten Swartz 3. Jr. Champ Predator class: Brayden Stratton 1, Chase Johnson 3, Jaxon Coon 4. Jr. Champ 206 Rookie 310 Slide class: Brexley Hartman 1, Maverick Larkin 3. Pro Champ Clone class: Ryan Kendall 2, Marc Johnson 3. WCRS class: Kirsten Swartz 1, Carter Gibbons 2. Unlimited 4 Cycle class: Chase Moran 5. Racers from throughout New England, N.Y., N.J., Delaware, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Canada were competing both days.

Unfortunately, the racing community lost another this week when John (Chris) Grady passed away after a long hard battle with cancer. Chris could be seen at many speedways and racing related events selling and displaying a countless number of old and classic racing photographs and memorabilia. Calling hours will be held on Saturday at the Saratoga Automobile Museum, 110 Avenue of the Pines, Saratoga Springs from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. with a Celebration of Life to follow.