55TH Renewal of Fall Classic to Fill Historic Fairgrounds
Story By: JOHN SNYDER / OCFS MEDIA
Photos By: DAVE DALESANDRO / RACERSGUIDE.COM
MIDDLETOWN, NY – October 11, 2016- .When the Orange County Fair Speedway gates swing open on Friday morning, October 21, it will signal the start of the 55TH annual Eastern States Weekend and the headline Eastern States 200, the oldest consecutively-run championship race weekend for dirt track Modifieds. And this year’s event promises to be bigger than ever.
In front of the historic covered grandstand, more than 200 race teams and their drivers will compete in a full weekend of dirt track stock car action. With $35,000 going to the winner of the 2016 Eastern States 200, and $15,000 to the Saturday preliminary Small-Block Modified 100 victor, plus a $10,000 bonus for a sweep of the two races, one driver could leave the historic Middletown “Hard Clay” track on Sunday evening, October 23 some $60,000 richer. And this doesn’t include special awards like $1,000 for fast time and the pole position in the 200 and $500 for the outside pole slot, nor the lap money in both races to the leader of each completed circuit.
In the previous 54 Eastern States 200 races, there have been 31 different winners. Legendary Frankie Schneider won the inaugural race, then run at 100 laps, back in 1962. Schneider won twice more, becoming one of seven drivers to capture this prestigious race more than once. Tommy Meier, the current Modified division track champion, won the 2015 Eastern States 200, and he’s out to become the next multi-time winner of the fall classic.
Brett Hearn, Orange County’s all-time race winner and champion, holds the record for the most Eastern States 200 victories with 11, the latest in 2014. Other multiple winners include Danny Johnson (six victories), Will Cagle (four), Schneider (three), and two wins each by Gerald Chamberlain, Frank Cozze, and Jimmy Horton.
Twenty-four outstanding dirt track Modified drivers have won a single Eastern States 200 race, including former Orange County point champions Jerry Higbie, Jeff Heotzler, Chuck McKee, and Rich Eurich. Higbie, Heotzler, and Eurich who are expected to be in this year’s race.
The 55th annual Eastern States Weekend presented by Halmar International, Arkel Motors, and WLR Construction Company is set for Friday through Sunday, October 21-23 at the Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, New York. Advance ticket information and weekend schedules are available by calling the track office at 845-342-2573 during business hours, or by visiting www.orangecountyfairspeedway.net.
