# Orange County Fair Speedway

Orange County Fair Speedway is a 0.625 mi (1.006 km) dirt oval speedway in Middletown, Orange County, New York. The facility used to hold weekly stock car races and demolition derbies during the summer months. The track was built in 1857 for horse racing at the Orange County Fair and staged its first automobile race on August 16, 1919. The fair began as an agricultural exhibit in 1843 and was permanently located in the Wallkill–Middletown area in 1857. The speedway is located at 239 Wisner Avenue in Middletown on land which was known as The Ogden Tract in the mid-1850s. It was originally a half-mile horse racing track known as the Harry Clay Oval, named after a race horse that was famous at that time. Over the years, the track was widened and lengthened to a true 5/8-mile race track.

## History

In 1913, the Orange County Fair Society director, George Martin, who was an auto racing enthusiast, brought the idea of replacing the horses with automobiles to the board of directors but his proposition was denied for six straight years. Martin's idea was vetoed by the board but he was stubborn and he argued, talked and persisted until he finally convinced the board of directors to at least try it in 1919. The race was witnessed by 5,000 in attendance and was won by James Benedict driving a Benedict Special powered by a Deusenberg motor. 1924 saw the track resurfaced with clay from a nearby pond, which was found to be soft enough for the horse races that still occasionally took place on the track yet tacky and stable enough for auto racing. This "hard clay" allowed for the track to gain a reputation for its speed that persists to this day.
Auto racing continued at the speedway each year until the beginning of World War II when motorsports nationwide was suspended due to shortages of gasoline, iron, steel, rubber and aluminum. Weekly stock car racing began on April 16, 1950 and has continued every week since that time. In 1946, after World War II ended, the Harry Clay Oval was renamed Victory Speedway, Inc and saw the return of ARDC Midget racing. Stock car racing officially began at the speedway on September 18, 1948 as Rocky Dinatale is credited with the first-ever stock car win. The first fully contested championship season began on April 16, 1950 and the first race of the season was won by Tex Enright driving # 407 Modified coupe. Enright would later go on to be one of the most popular flagmen in dirt track auto racing.
Today, the Orange County Fair Speedway still operates on a weekly basis from April to September. Nicknamed "The House of Power", the Orange County Fair Speedway boasts a long history of dirt track auto racing where many legendary northeast dirt track drivers have tested the boundaries of the hard clay. The speedway has been home to many dirt track modified drivers such as Frankie Schneider, Ray Brown, Will Cagle and Buzzie Reutimann and drivers of today are still testing their limits on the 5/8-mile track; like Brett Hearn, Rich Eurich, Danny Johnson and Jerry Higbie.
In addition to auto racing, the facility will begin a new era of motocross racing on a race track built in 2013 outside of turns 3 and 4.
On November 26, 2014, speedway owner Mike Gurda announced that in 2015 the speedway will run as an independent track and end its sanction with DIRTcar NorthEast.

## Eastern States Weekend

The track also hosts the annual Eastern States Weekend, where dirt Modified, 358- Modified, and Sportsman drivers race their cars in 200 (modified), 150 (358s), and 50 lap races. The weekend usually falls in mid-October. This is the end of the racing season for most regulars at the track.
The Eastern States 200 Modified race is the oldest consecutively-run championship event for dirt track Modified stock cars in the United States.
The first race was run on October 28, 1962 and was won by Frankie Schneider of Lambertville, New Jersey.
In 1968 the annual 100-lap event was increased to 200 laps. The all-time track champion at Orange County Fair Speedway, Brett Hearn has won the Eastern States 200 a record 12 times since 1979.

### Eastern States 200 Winners

(As of 2023)
| Year | Driver |
| 2024 | Stewart Friesen |
| 2023 | Mat Williamson |
| 2022 | Matt Sheppard |
| 2021 | Matt Sheppard |
| 2020 | Mat Williamson |
| 2019 | Stewart Friesen |
| 2018 | Stewart Friesen |
| 2017 | Brett Hearn |
| 2016 | Stewart Friesen |
| 2015 | Tommy Meier |
| 2014 | Brett Hearn |
| 2013 | Brett Hearn |
| 2012 | Brett Hearn |
| 2011 | Danny Johnson |
| 2010 | Tim McCreadie |
| 2009 | Jerry Higbie |
| 2008 | Danny Johnson |
| 2007 | Jeff Heotzler |
| 2006 | Brett Hearn |
| 2005 | Brett Hearn |
| 2004 | Brett Hearn |
| 2003 | Bobby Varin |
| 2002 | Brett Hearn |
| 2001 | Danny Johnson |
| 2000 | Chuck McKee |
| 1999 | Alan Johnson |
| 1998 | Billy Decker |
| 1997 | Danny Johnson |
| 1996 | Brett Hearn |
| 1995 | Jimmy Horton |
| 1994 | Bob McCreadie |
| 1993 | Danny Johnson |
| 1992 | Danny Johnson |
| 1991 | Jimmy Horton |
| 1990 | Frank Cozze |
| 1989 | Frank Cozze |
| 1988 | Rich Eurich |
| 1987 | Doug Hoffman |
| 1986 | Brett Hearn |
| 1985 | Jack Johnson |
| 1984 | Dave Lape |
| 1983 | C. D. Coville |
| 1982 | Harry Behrent |
| 1981 | Brett Hearn |
| 1980 | Kenny Brightbill |
| 1979 | Brett Hearn |
| 1978 | Lou Lazzaro |
| 1977 | Gary Balough |
| 1976 | Gerald Chamberlain |
| 1975 | Wayne Reutimann |
| 1974 | Bobby Bottcher |
| 1973 | Gerald Chamberlain |
| 1972 | Buzzie Reutimann |
| 1971 | Will Cagle |
| 1970 | Will Cagle |
| 1969 | Al Tasnady |
| 1968 | Will Cagle |
| 1967 | Frankie Schneider |
| 1966 | Will Cagle |
| 1965 | Ron Lux |
| 1964 | Rags Carter |
| 1963 | Frankie Schneider |
| 1962 | Frankie Schneider |

## Weekly events

Auto races used to be run every Saturday night from April through September and featured a variety of stock car divisions including Big Block Modifieds, Small Block Modifieds, Sportsman, Rookie Sportsman, Street Stocks, Thunder Trucks, CRSA Sprints, Slingshots and hosts an annual World of Outlaws Late Model race. Weekly races are not being held for 2024 race season.
In addition to weekly auto racing, the Orange County Fair Speedway has built a brand new motocross track on the grounds which made its inaugural debut in 2014 with six dates of racing.

## List of track champions

Stock car championships have been contested at the Orange County Fair Speedway consecutively since 1950 when the first Modified championship was won by Russ Dodd of Middletown.
| Season | Modified | 358 Modified | Sportsman | LM/Street Stock/Pure Stock | Pro-Stock - Expert | Pro-Stock - Novice | Pro-Stock - Rookie |
| 1950 | Russ Dodd | | | | | | |
| 1951 | Harry North | | | | | | |
| 1952 | Ray Brown | | | | | | |
| 1953 | Ray Brown | | | | | | |
| 1954 | Bud Marl | | | | | | |
| 1955 | Charlie South | | | | | | |
| 1956 | Bud Marl | | | | | | |
| 1957 | Ray Brown | | | | | | |
| 1958 | Sonny Strupp | | | | | | |
| 1959 | Russ Delp | | | | | | |
| 1960 | Sonny Strupp | | | | | | |
| 1961 | Bob Malzahn | | | | | | |
| 1962 | Ken Wismer Sr. | Jay Zanetti | | | | | |
| 1963 | Frankie Schneider | Billy Tanosh | | | | | |
| 1964 | Frankie Schneider / Billy Deskovick | Doc Norton | | | | | |
| 1965 | Bob Malzahn | Jerry Wilson | | | | | |
| 1966 | Will Cagle | Eddie Yonkers | | | | | |
| 1967 | Will Cagle | Stan Sherman | | | | | |
| 1968 | Will Cagle | Harold Wood | | Jack Rassiga | | | |
| 1969 | Will Cagle | Bob Dean | | George Kueck | | | |
| 1970 | Will Cagle | Rich Eurich | | George Kueck | | | |
| 1971 | Carl Van Horn | Jerry Wilson | | Brian DuBois | | | |
| 1972 | Buzzie Reutimann | Jerry Wilson | | Loren Holland Sr. | | | |
| 1973 | Bobby Bottcher | Bobby Green | | Bob DeLease | | | |
| 1974 | Buzzie Reutimann | Jim Horton Jr. | | | | | |
| 1975 | Wayne Reutimann | Harry Behrent | | | | | |
| 1976 | Jimmy Horton | Russ Meyer | | | | | |
| 1977 | Wayne Reutimann | Brett Hearn | | | | | |
| 1978 | Billy Osmun | Larry Brolsma | | | | | |
| 1979 | Brett Hearn | Ralph Heotzler | | Eddie Woodruff | | | |
| 1980 | Brett Hearn | Jeff Heotzler | | John Falcone | | | |
| 1981 | Rich Eurich | Ralph Heotzler | | Mike Barlow | | | |
| 1982 | Rich Eurich | Steve Bottcher | | Mike Barlow | | | |
| 1983 | Brett Hearn | Jeff Scaccio | | | Tom Cox | Terry Zuidema | Bobby Knipe |
| 1984 | Brett Hearn | Robbie Green | | | Tom Cannizzaro | Bobby Knipe | Vinnie Yannone |
| 1985 | Carl Collis | Gary LaBagh | | | Bobby Knipe | Emerson Cargain Sr. | Ken Tompkins |
| 1986 | Brett Hearn | Jeff Heotzler | | | Cris Grispin | John Finley | Tommy Meier |
| 1987 | Brett Hearn | Brett Hearn | | | Bobby Knipe | Ken Tompkins | John Majka |
| 1988 | Rich Eurich | Chuck LoPresti | Steve Dodd | | | Rob Medynski / Bobby Knipe | Craig Lynch |
| 1989 | Brett Hearn | Brett Hearn | Eddie Redner | | | Tommy Kuck | Scott Kehr |
| 1990 | Brett Hearn | Brett Hearn | Ken Boniface | | | Tommy Meier | Steve Galgano |
| 1991 | Brett Hearn | Brett Hearn | Tommy Meier | | | Steve Durand | Ken Pettit |
| 1992 | Brett Hearn | Brett Hearn | Steve Birchwale | | | Scott Kehr | Jim Cancel |
| 1993 | Brett Hearn | Danny Johnson | Dave Werber | | | Tim Green | Mark Hufcut |
| 1994 | Brett Hearn | Howie Finch | Tim Hindley | | | Scott Kehr | Tim Dembek |
| 1995 | Brett Hearn | Jimmy Hauser | Stan Jablonka | | | Barry Filipowski | Andy Dembek |
| 1996 | Jimmy Horton | Bob Hayes Jr. | Tim Hindley | | | Tom Cannizzaro | John Bryson |
| 1997 | Jeff Heotzler | Danny Johnson | Jimmy Johnson | | | Tom Cannizzaro | Mike Pomarico |
| 1998 | Chuck McKee | Andy Bachetti | Tony Paes Jr. | Brian Houghtaling | | Cliff Tinnely | Willie Auchmoody |
| 1999 | Brett Hearn | Brett Hearn | Chris Shultz | Al D'Antonio | | Cliff Tinnely | Rob Lowe |
| 2000 | Chuck McKee | Andy Bachetti | Chris Shultz | Ron Irvin | | Tom Kuck | Jamie McGannon |
| 2001 | Chuck McKee | Andy Bachetti | Mark Hufcut | Al D'Antonio | Andy Dembek | | Pete Goydich |
| 2002 | Chuck McKee | Tim Hindley | Stan Jablonka | Ron Irvan | Tom Dembek | | Bob Waters Jr. |
| 2003 | Jeff Heotzler | Tommy Meier | Joe Dunay | Al D'Antonio | John Bryson | | Marty Pender |
| 2004 | Tommy Meier | Jerry Higbie | Rick Mill | Greg Kurtzman | Jamie McGannon | | Ron Carlson |
| 2005 | Jeff Heotzler | Jerry Higbie | Rick Mill | Al D'Antonio / Ray Tarantino | Sean Corr | | Don Williams |
| 2006 | Brett Hearn | Brett Hearn | Joe Morel | Julius Pepin / Marty Van Neiuwland | Bill Pacual | | |
| 2007 | Jeff Heotzler | David Van Horn | Rich Coons | Emerson Cargain Sr. / John Hechinger | Bob Waters Jr. | | |
| 2008 | David Van Horn | Jerry Higbie | Mike Ruggiero | Tim McCarthy / Joel Murns | Mike Dutka | | |
| 2009 | Chuck McKee / Jerry Higbie | Chuck McKee | Mike Ruggiero | Emerson Cargain Sr. / Matt Burke | Bill Pascual | | |
| 2010 | Jerry Higbie | | Brian Krummel | Emerson Cargain Sr. | Don Carlson | Jason Harayda | |
| 2011 | Tommy Meier | | Gary Edwards Jr. | Charlie Donald | Mike Dutka | | |
| 2012 | Jerry Higbie | | Gary Edwards Jr. | Charlie Donald | Mike Dutka | | |
| 2013 | Tim Hindley | Danny Creeden | Brian Krummel | Stephen Kammer | Jason Harayda | | |
| 2014 | Tim Hindley | Chuck McKee | LJ Lombardo | Mike Vigiletti | | | |
| 2015 | Jerry Higbie | Gary Edwards Jr. | Randy Sweetman | Jim Maher | | | |
| 2016 | Tommy Meier | Tommy Meier | Tyler Boniface | Mike Vigiletti | | | |
| 2017 | Jimmy Horton | Anthony Perrego | Jessie Leiby | Mike Vigiletti | | | |
| 2018 | Anthony Perrego | Brian Krummel | Greg Sleight | Jim Maher | | | |
| 2019 | Brett Hearn | Anthony Perrego | Grant Hilfiger | Bobby Sleight Jr. | | | |
| 2020 | Matt Sheppard | Anthony Perrego | Tanner Vandoren | Bobby Sleight Jr. | | | |
| 2021 | Anthony Perrego | Anthony Perrego | Joe Bonetti | Mike Vigiletti | | | |
| 2022 | Matt Sheppard | Anthony Perrego | Cody Higbie | Bobby Sleight Jr. | | | |