(Owego, NY) The word ‘huge’
will have special, albeit poignant, meaning come the end of
this month. The weekend of August 27th and 28th marks the
end of stock car racing at Tioga Motorsports Park. And the
old gal is going out in style. Promoter Chris Zacharias has
put together a full weekend aptly fitting the end of an era.
The 2-day event will appropriately end with a big one for
the Modifieds on Sunday afternoon. The last race, a 200-lap
Sunoco Race of Champions (North) Modified Tour event, will
pay the winner a minimum of $8,000 with additional bonus
monies available. The leader at lap 100 of the Southern Tier
200 pockets a hefty $1,000 bonus.
“I’ve
worked hard to put a program together that’s fitting with
the track and all it’s  meant to so many people for over 55
years,” Zacharias stated. “I’ve been in touch with
racers in the various divisions and everyone is set to go.
The Modified drivers all want the $8,000+ first place money
for this win, but I think it’s just as important for them
to be the final winner here. That’s what people will
always remember.”
The track will host an open
paid practice session Saturday afternoon, August 27th, from 11 AM to
3 PM. Pit admission for that open practice only is $15 per person.
Pit gates then open at 4 PM for the racing program, with pit passes
$30 each. Grandstand gates open at 5, practice begins at 5:30, and
racing gets underway at  7 PM. On tap Saturday, August 27th are a
Tour race for the SST-Modifieds, the Late Models and the Legends.
The SST’s will run a 75-lap SST-Tour event/Race of Champions
Qualifier. Late Models will also run an ROC qualifier for their
30-lap feature, while the Legends will run a 20-lap race. “The
racing will be great but we’ve added some special treats for
everyone. We’ll have a large display of antique race cars, and
former racers at Tioga/Shangri-la will be available for autographs
throughout the evening,“ Zacharias explained.
Things shift gears -
literally - for what will surely be a tearjerker on Sunday, August
28th. The Sunoco Race of Champions Modifieds will be joined by the
Street Stocks, whose 30-lap feature will also be an ROC Qualifier.
Pits open Sunday morning at 9, with practice getting underway at
noon. Pit passes are $40 for Sunday. Grandstand gates will also open
at noon and the first heat hits the track at 2 PM. “I’ve got
commitments from some of the best in the business for this final
show. This will be one incredible salute to this legendary facility,”
Zacharias stated. “Some of the greatest drivers ever to race have
had track time at this place. It’s sad to see it all end so we’ve
worked extra hard to put this all together for the final hurrah.”
Race fans are invited to stick around Sunday after the racing
program for a post-race driver reception and pig roast. Admission is
free with a pit wrist band or $5 for those without them. That party
will get underway at approximately 6 PM and continue until 11 PM
Sunday night. The lights will then go out at Tioga Motorsports Park.
More information will be available and fans are encouraged to
consult the track’s website at www.tiogamotorsportspark.com.
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