Ephratah, New York…..Owner/Promoter Todd Moran raised the bar this season when he announced his 2017 Melodies Center of Albany Medical Center Children with Cancer or Blood Disorders Fundraiser was using a different racing format. At first, Moran wanted to promote an event consisting of Wing Champ Karts. His mind was made up with a little suggestion box filled by staff members that would involve Wing Champ Kart owners offering their karts to be raced by big name drivers who compete at Afton Motorsports Park, Airborne Park, Albany-Saratoga, Brett Deyoe Series, Brewerton, CSRA Sprints, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, DirtCar Series, Fonda, Fulton, Glen Ridge, Lebanon Valley, Orange County Fair Speedway and Oswego Speedway. It certainly brought a huge smile to Todd Moran’s face when the commitments starting to come in at a rapid rate from invited drivers.
Those Nineteen (19) committed drivers race fans will see compete are Andy Bachetti, Justin Boehler, Pepi Corradi, Matt DeLorenzo, Chad Edwards, Keith Flach, Jessica Zemken Friesen, Stewart Friesen, Craig Hanson, Josh Hohenforst, Marc Johnson, Mike Perrotte, Otto Sitterly, Jeff Trombley, Bobby Varin, Danny Varin, Rocky Warner, Larry Wight and Jeremy Wilder. A truly great competitor field to compete in practice, qualifying and a 20 lap feature. Again, race car drivers along with Wing Champ Kart owners rising to the occasion of helping those less fortunate. Then there is Charlie and Millie Moran giving out free to every race team a gallon of Sunoco Methanol fuel so roughly 50 plus teams will not have a fuel expense.
Also, expect to see two premiere Caroga Creek Speedway divisions in action to compliment the entire program that Todd Moran personally selected. The Junior 2 Turquoise division has seen drivers Landon Campagnone, Stephen Gray, Brodie Sousie, Kirsten Swartz, Joe Venditti and Taylor Wason visit victory lane. Matt Chavis has won six features to date in the Stock Heavy division with Nick Story and Jeremiah Wagner also claiming wins. Promoter Moran has established two separate purses for the top five finishers in each division plus trophies. The Junior 2 Turquoise purse will be 1. $250. 2. $150. 3. $100. 4. $50. 5. $25. while the Stock Heavy 375 Lb. division purse will be 1. $500. 2. $250. 3. $150. 4. $100. 5. $50. both divisions will run 20 lap features.
In addition to the three divisions mentioned above, the speedway will honor the following media members for their long time coverge of area racing. Betty and Ed Biittig Sr. will be on hand as they are currently columnists for the DTG or Dirt Track Digest with their weekly column This and That. Ed Biittig Jr. and his son Andrew will also be on hand representing RPW or Race Pro Weekly. Long time AARN or Area Auto Racing News “New York Modifieds” columnist Don Davies has indicated that he will be in attendance along with local racing columnist Jim Ellis of “Racin Around” from the Leader- Herald will make the short trip out to the 1/5 mile clay oval. Not to be outdone, long time area racing photographer Clancy Miller will appear. Miller was very well known for years as one of the best racing lensman ever!
The final piece of the fundraising event will feature twelve (12) past area drivers who had competed in karts, motorcycles or in stock cars raising the awareness of the sport for area fans. Committed to appearing in the Supply Wagon VIP Party tent will be CD Coville, Mike Dwyer, Jack Farquhar, Kenny Hanson, Jimmy Johnson Sr., Bill Kollar, Dave Lape, Ted Luft, Alton Palmer, Andy Romano, Bob Sitterly and Bob Weaver. Around 4:15 pm in the VIP Supply Wagon tent the VIP guests will be welcomed by Todd Moran and his wife April and then there will be a “Weaver Weenie Roast” for our VIP attendees.
There will be three entrances to the pit area where all of the activities will be taking place. The first gate on Tillsboro Road will be for invited VIP guests only. There will be a sign-in, wrist bands given, VIP Parking and then our guests will be shown the Supply Wagon VIP tent. All race teams will enter the back sign-in area with their haulers and trailers. There will be assigned parking by division in the pit area. The third sign-in area will be located just down the road on Tillsboro Road with free parking right across the street. We ask all race fans to park in the speedway lot until it is filled up and refrain from parking on the edges of Tillsboro Road. If the weather cooperates like we are hoping, we expect history to be made at Caroga Creek Speedway with a huge crowd!
Finally, all gates will open at 3 pm for everyone. Please remember a portion of the general admission price will be going to our fundraising cause at Albany Med the Melodies Center for Children with Cancer or Blood Disorders. There will also be a 50/50 with the winner getting cash or fifty percent of what is taken in by our 50/50 sellers. We also from the sale of 50/50 tickets will be giving away donated prizes such as gift certificates, team apparel and a special package arrived in this week from Hendrick Motorsports. That package contained a Dale E. Jr. Mountain Dew team shirt, a Dale E. Jr. autographed picture and a Lowe’s autographed hat from Jimmy Johnson. Wow!!!
Admission to the facility is $20.00 for everyone ages 13 and older, $10.00 for everyone ages 5-12 and anyone ages 4 and under will be admitted free! The Caroga Creek Speedway is located at 4200 State Route 10 St. Johnsville NY 13452. The Raceday phone at the facilty is 518-993-3744. The famous Moran Concession will open at 4 pm and offers great food and beverage selections at very reasonable prices. Owner/Promoter Todd Moran and his entire staff have set the table for area fans to see their current favorites as well as heroes of days gone by. If you are an area race fan, believe in helping others in need through the fundraiser and want to witness local history in the making we certainly would like to see you live at Caroga Creek Speedway this Thursday night August 3rd. First practice starts at 6 pm. See you at CCS.