‘Hard Clay Open’ Set For Tuesday, May 8 at Orange County Fair Speedway

Rescheduled Short Track Super Series ‘Hard Clay Open’ Set For Tuesday, May 8 at Orange County Fair Speedway

Story By: Brett Deyo/SSTS

Photos By: Pete MacDonald/RacersGuide.com

MIDDLETOWN, NY – Southeastern New York’s first major dirt Modified event of the season was postponed by one month in April.

But it will be worth the wait.

On Tuesday, May 8, N.Y.’s Orange County Fair Speedway is set to kick off the 10-race Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco Halmar International North Region with the fifth ‘Hard Clay Open’ at the five-eighths-mile oval.

The STSS Halmar International North Region will reward the championship-winning driver with $12,500. That chase begins with 50 fast laps around OCFS as the ‘Hard Clay Open’ moves under the lights.

The annual ‘Hard Clay Open’ features a non-top-heavy pay structure totaling more than $30,000. The winner receives a minimum of $5,000, with $1,000 for 10th and $500 to take the green flag. A field of 30 will start the main event.

Sail panels are featured on the Modifieds in a change from the norm. Only twice during the season – at the ‘Hard Clay Open’ and again at the ‘Hard Clay Finale’ Eastern States Weekend prelude – do the Modifieds sport the high sides at the Legendary House of Power.

Andy Bachetti is the defending ‘Hard Clay Open’ winner, doing it from 20th starting position a year ago. The Sheffield, Mass., driver went on to win the STSS North crown for the third time in four years.

Joining the STSS Modifieds on the docket are the OCFS Sportsman running 20-laps for a $1,000 top prize and $100 to take the green flag.

Just two divisions comprise the midweek program for an open-wheel doubleheader.

The ‘Hard Clay Open’ is the first midweek event under the new Orange Motorsports & Entertainment LLC operating group led by Halmar International’s Chris Larsen. Widespread improvements are underway across the facility including grandstand work, clean-up on the grounds and much more. The speedway is also in possession of all-new track prep equipment including a GPS grader, packer truck, water truck and more.

On the May 8 make-up date, pit gates and the drive-in gate will be unlocked at 3:30 p.m. Grandstand gates will open at 5 p.m.

The drivers meeting will take place at 6 p.m. along with the STSS Modified heat-race draw. Hot laps will follow at 6:20 p.m., with racing at 7:15 p.m.

Admission is $25 for Adults, $22 for Seniors and $2 for Kids 12 and under. Pit admission is $35 with no license required.

Complete race information can be found at the following link: http://bdmotorsportsmedia.com/hard-clay-open-rules-prices-general-info/

Located at 239 Wisner Avenue Middletown, N.Y., 10940 on the Orange County Fairgrounds, Orange County Fair Speedway is the oldest continuously operating dirt track in the United States. The first auto race was held at the speedway in 1919. The five-eighths-mile oval offers fully-covered and half-covered grandstands in addition to open bleacher seating on the frontstretch and turn one areas, with drive-in viewing on the backstretch. To learn more, contact the Orange County Fair Speedway office at 845.342.2573 or visit www.orangecountyfairspeedway.net.

To learn more about the 2018 Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco, visit www.shorttracksuperseries.com, e-mail bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com, check out ‘Short Track Super Series’ on Facebook or @ShortTrackSS on Twitter or Instagram.

The Short Track Super Series is presented by American Racer/Lias Tire, Sunoco Race Fuel, Insinger Performance, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, Halmar International, Allstar Performance, ATL Racing Fuel Cells, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Beyea Custom Headers, Bicknell Racing Products, Dirt Track Digest, Fast Axle, Fox Racing Shocks, Henry’s Exhaust, Hig Fab, HyperCo, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, K&N, Land Hoe Maintenance, Precision Hydraulic & Oil, QA1, Race Pro Weekly, Racing Optics, Superior Remodeling, Teo-Pro Car, Vahlco, Velocita, Weld & Wilwood.

Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco 2018 Schedule

Halmar International North Region

Tuesday, May 8 – Orange County Fair Speedway/Middletown, N.Y. – Hard Clay Open

Sunday, May 27 – Thunder Mountain Speedway/Center Lisle, N.Y. – Lightning on the Mountain

Tuesday, June 5 – Big Diamond Speedway/Minersville, Pa. – Anthracite Assault – COMBO

Wednesday, June 20 – Outlaw Speedway/Dundee, N.Y. – Outlaw Showdown

Tuesday, July 3 – Accord Speedway/Accord, N.Y. – Battle of the Bullring 6

Wednesday, July 25 – Afton Motorsports Park/Afton, N.Y. – Afton Action 50

Wednesday, August 8 – Woodhull Raceway/Woodhull, N.Y. – Hustlin’ the High Banks 54

Tuesday, August 14 – Albany-Saratoga Speedway/Malta, N.Y. – Stampede at ‘toga

Friday-Saturday, October 5-6 – Afton Motorsports Park/Afton, N.Y. – American Racer Cup Short Track SuperNationals 11

Thursday, October 18 – Orange County Fair Speedway/Middletown, N.Y. – Hard Clay Finale