Alpha-Buffalo: A is for Auto Racing

While the Buffalo-Niagara area is hardly on par with auto racing hot beds like Charlotte or Indianapolis, there is a substantial presence in the area when it comes to stock car racing, drag racing and dirt track racing. If Saturday night local racing isn’t enough for you, there are some NASCAR, IndyCar, NHRA and World of Outlaws tracks within just a few hours of the area.

Sportsman mods - Lancaster - 2013

Lancaster Speedway/Elegant Builders Raceway Park – the combination asphalt oval track and drag strip seems to be in flux management-wise right now, but there is stock car racing and drag racing scheduled  for 2014. The stock car side will feature Saturday night racing featuring 4-cylinders, street stocks and sportsman modifieds, as well as special shows from the Race of Champions Asphalt Modifieds and the Big 10 Super Stocks, among others; the annual U.S. Open is scheduled for September 19^th through 21^st. Friday night drag show special events include the Nitro Night of Fire on July 11^th.

Summernationals - Ransomville - 2013

Ransomville Speedway – Friday night dirt track racing in Niagara County features 358 modifieds, sportsman, street stocks, 4-cylinders and more. The biggest race of the year is the Alex Friesen Sumernationals, taking place Tuesday, August 5^th and featuring the SuperDIRT Series BigBlock Modifieds for the race’s 30^th anniversary running.

Race of Champions Mods - Holland - 2013

Holland Speedway – the NASCAR-sanctioned asphalt oval track's schedule included the recent Race of Champions Asphalt Modifieds on Saturday, July 5^th.

What’s nearby? – among others:

Super DIRT Week in Syracuse – the biggest dirt track racing party in New York! Taking place at Rolling Wheels, Weedsport and the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse on Columbus Day weekend in October.

World of Outlaws STP Sprint Cars - Rolling Wheels - 2013

Raceway 5 – Batavia

Rolling Wheels Raceway Park – Elbridge

Weedsport Speedway – Weedsport

Fulton Speedway – Baldwinsville

Ohsweken Speedway – dirt track in Ontario – hosts the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series.

Merrittville Speedway – dirt track in Ontario – hosts the Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds.

Humberstone Speedway – dirt track in Ontario.

Supermodifieds - Oswego - 2013

Oswego Speedway – Oswego – home of the Classic Weekend and the Race of Champions Weekend.

Honda Indy Toronto – Exhibition Place in Toronto – home of the IndyCar Series and other open-wheel racing.

Summit Motorsports Park – Norwalk, Ohio – home of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and the annual Night Under Fire.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series - Watkins Glen - 2010

Watkins Glen International – Watkins Glen in the Finger Lakes – home of NASCAR and the TUDOR United Sports Car Championship.

all photos: paulathompsonfreelance.com