Little Valley 2004 preview, 2003 highlights

Little Valley Speedway Ready For 2004

(Little Valley, NY) Little Valley Speedway has finalized plans for another exciting season stock car racing at the lightning fast half mile clay track at the Cattaraugus County Fairgrounds at Little Valley. Entering its eighth season since resuming auto racing in 1997, Little Valley is coming off a very entertaining 2003 season which saw three of the four track championships decided on the final night.

Ron Davies from Warren, PA, looked like he was going to run away with the Super Late Model division, winning the first two events, but going into the final race it was David Scott from Garland, PA, Dick Barton from Asheville, and Davies vying for the title. In an incredible finish, which saw the lead change twice on the final lap, Scott rim-rode past Ron Davies' brother, Dutch from Warren, PA, in the final turn to claim the win, and, with Barton finishing third, Scott claimed the title by a mere three points over "the King."

In the Super Stock Division, Bill Holmes from Chaffee won three races, and reclaimed the title he won two years before, prevailing over Andy Miller from Wellsville by a razor thin seven points after another thrilling finish in the last event. History was made as well in the division when the Miller family finished first, second, and third in the first ever Can am Super Stock Series race, with Bruce winning, followed by brother Andy, and father Dave. It was the first time that family members swept the top three spots at an event at Little Valley, and maybe anywhere.

Lee Wulff from Machias scored his first win ever and captured the street stock title over Mike Holford from Churchville, also at the last show of the year.

Other highlights were wins by local favorites Ron Smoker from North Boston in the BRP big block modified tour event and Mike Woodring from Eden, eight time ESS champ who won the lone sprint car race of the season.

The big news for 2004 is the formation of the RRS (Regional Racing Series) to govern late model races at Little Valley, McKean, and Raceway 7. The brainchild of Dennis Shutt from McKean in collaboration with John Charlesworth of Little Valley, and Ron Neilson of Raceway 7, the series is designed to offer attractive purses, and a championship point fund while keeping the travel costs down by staying in the area. At this point five late model races at McKean, all five late model events at Little Valley, and one race at Raceway 7 will be under the RRS banner, with the Series winner pocketing $4,000, while each race winner will receive $3,000 in the generous purse structure. Local late model drivers seem enthusiastic about the concept, which was sweetened even more when the Duffy's, who contracted to operate McKean this season, offering to double the money if a driver wins both the McKean and the RRS titles, a potential windfall of some $14,000 in extra cash. This incentive should attract the top late model drivers in the area and perhaps beyond to compete at Little Valley, and the other two tracks. The RRS schedule started off with a bang on Saturday, May 1st at McKean County, as Dick Barton edged Todd Andrews to take the inaugural race in the series.

Other highlights for the upcoming Little Valley season are two appearances by the Empire Super Sprints, a return of the ARDC Midgets, who will have twin 20 lap features, one with a wing and one without. The season will be capped off on September 25th by the season championships in all classes, including the final event of the RRS Late Models, the BRP Can Am Super Stock Series, and the DIRT 358 Syracuse and Victoria All star qualifier, paying $2500 to win for 25 laps.

The action starts on Memorial Day Weekend, Sunday, May 30th at 6:00PM, featuring the Late Models, the BRP Can Am Super Stock Series, the RRS Sportsman Series (an offshoot of the RRS concept), and the Street Stocks. Other dates on the schedule include: Friday, June 11th, with the Empire Super Sprints heading the card; Sunday, July 4th, with the Late Models leading the charge; Thursday, July 15th, again headlined by the Late Models; Friday, August 27th, featuring a return of the Empire Super Sprints; Saturday, September 11th, with the Late Models and ARDC Midgets the headliners; and concluding with the popular Late Model/358 DIRT Modified doubleheader on Saturday, September 25th.

Little Valley offers the finest accommodations for the race fan, including: covered stadium seats, great food at reasonable prices, free camping with 50 campsites with hookups, and pit passes are still only $20. The first five race events are $12.00 for adults, with those under 12 admitted free. The final two doubleheader events are $15, with those under 12 still admitted free of charge. An added bonus is the Freedom Daze Demolition Derby on Saturday, July 3rd, paying $1,000 to win, followed by a giant fireworks display. Admission for that event is only $7.00, with those under 7 admitted free. For more information, call the Speedway at 716-938-9146 or visit our website at www.littlevalleyspeedway.com.

-lvs-