All systems are go for the 2017 season opener at Chemung Speedrome. The track hosts two touring series events along with two of its regular divisions for the Saturday, May 6th lid-lifter. Sunday, May 7th is the track’s rain date.
Next weekend kicks off with 5/5 at 5 - Chemung is holding a test and tune session on the 5th day of the 5th month at 5 PM. Race fans are encouraged to stop over and enjoy free admission to the grandstand on Friday, May 5th.
The Speedrome’s 5/5 at 5 sets the stage for the opener the next day, and it’s a dandy. The 75-lap race for the Modifieds represents the second scheduled stop on the Ferris Mowers Race of Champions (RoC) Asphalt Tour. Chuck Hossfeld is going for a three-peat, having won Chemung’s first RoC show the past two years in a row. Last year he held off Patrick Emerling and Mike Leaty for the win. The RoC tour will return to Chemung in August.
The New York Super Stock (NYSS) series is on tap for a 30-lap event. Last year, due to the opening day rainout, the NYSS series didn’t run at Chemung until June. The delay was not an issue for Tim Gullo, who won then and hopes to win now for his own high-speed ‘hat trick’ of three wins in a row of round one for the NYSS at Chemung.
INEX Legends and the Bowen Racecars Bandoleros are also on the May 6th race card. The Speedrome welcomes US Legend Cars/INEX authorized parts dealer, Bowen Racecars, on board as the title sponsor of the Bandoleros for the 2017 season. That’s not the only change, as the competitors will run in separate races based on their INEX licensed division. The Bowen Racecars Bandits will be required to run an INEX legal ‘Red Plate” while the Outlaws will remain unrestricted. The change came about as a result of testing earlier this month.
From week two on, Super Stock competitors can keep their NYSS set-up. At least for now. After some careful consideration and lengthy discussions among track officials and weekly competitors, the Speedrome will allow NYSS rules on a trial basis to begin the 2017 season. Track owner John White stressed that this trial is an attempt to increase weekly car counts. “We don’t want to chase cars away,” said White. “We’re looking for ways to make this class bigger and better.” The feedback from competitors was the driving force behind the change back, to allowing NYSS rules. “We hope it will allow cars that otherwise could not compete at Chemung to compete on Saturday nights on a regular basis,” White added. At the beginning of the season, drivers must register their car as a Chemung car or a NYSS car. All NYSS cars will add a yet-to-be-determined amount of weight to level out the playing field. “We’ll monitor this very closely to maintain fairness, and to build and maintain good car counts in the Super Stock division.” If you have any questions, contact John White at (631) 745-9805.
Another change this year comes as the result of increasing liability. Fans will no longer be allowed to bring in their own alcohol, but beer remains available for purchase at the track.
Pits open at 10 AM on Saturday, May 6th for the season opener, with grandstand gates open and practice for all divisions kicking off at 12 noon. The first heat race will begin at 1:00 PM. Admission is $22 for adults, $20 for those ages 65 and older, $6 for kids ages 6-12, and free to children 5 and under.
For more information, log on to www.chemungspeedrome.net or “like” us on Facebook.

Carol Houssock