Looking through the pictures I could not help but noticed many are of NASCAR Modifieds. Brings back some memories of when they would race at Oswego. I can remember a time where Oswego was on the NASCAR Modified tour schedule and some races were not NASCAR points races like Classic Weekend. Oswego may be "Home of the Supermodifeds" as they say but I can remember when the Modifieds were in town it was always a treat. The oldest class in NASCAR is one that this sport was built on and has enjoyed a rich history.
I watched some old videos on Youtube. One of them was of the old Budweiser 200 on Classic Weekend in 1982. Sadly this was the race where Jim Shampine died. But what was also on the video was an interview with legendary driver Richie Evans. In that year he was running for the NASCAR Championship in the Modifieds and the interviewer asked, "when you are in such a tight race for that Championship, what brings you to a race like this one where its not a NASCAR point payer where you could be possibly home working on the car and getting things ready for that final stretch run? With that said Richie just looked up and said, "10,000 to win" smiled and said "its only an hour from home, you know its a long winter without money so you got to come here and try and get it." Keep in mind the Modifieds ran a race at Stafford the night before on the Modified tour and alot of the top guys did not have to run this race but the money and prestige of winning at Oswego was huge. It attracted drivers from all over. $10,000 to win was a huge draw and sure was alot back then.
It continued to attract. There were several NASCAR Modified Tour races run there for years. Then they no longer had NASCAR Tour races there.They still had the Classic though. Over the years I noticed how the Modified field began to shrink when they ran the Classic. Alot of the New England drivers did not show. The money was still there but it ran so close to Tour races it made it hard for some teams to compete at Oswego. Then one year the Modifieds were dropped from the Classic Weekend program. I was so upset. I missed just something different to see every now and then. That and they put on a great show.
Later as NASCAR began to slowly drop sanctioning short tracks and racesin the Northeast,another sanctioning body was formed. Race of Champions was formed. With that said the Modifieds returned again to Oswego. Not only that but the historic Race of Champions found a home at Oswego as well. Great news. I would go to some of those races but the thing that troubled me was alot was the NASCAR Modified Tour regulars would not run it. Sure Jan Leaty, George Kent, some guys from PA and NY ran it. Unfortunatlyit just was not the kind of field like it used to be. It did notattract drivers from all over.Some years the field has been really small and it just upsets me how the prestige is going away from Oswego and the historic race. This year I hope that changes. Oswego Speedway has new ownership. This year they are running the Race of Champions in July and calling it a Richie Evans Memorial Race because its the 61st one held. That and the Modifieds will be back on Classic Weekend running a 200 lap race again. Hopefully this will bring back some of that prestige.
This sounds great for theModifieds because ithas been described on some boards as a class that is dying. Its a real shame because its NASCAR's oldest. It annoys me howwhen its biggest race does not have a big draw in car counts what are its reasons? I can think of several. The costs is one of them. I really think the Race of Champions could attract drivers from all over but unfortunatly the money is not there to make it worth it. Not many tracks run them weekly like they used to and if they do, its not the "Tour TypeModifieds" as they are calledbut a sort cheaper support class like the SK Modifieds at Stafford, SST Modifieds in the ROCor the B Modifieds at Chemung Speedrome. We see moreracers in those classes citing costs.As we have all discussed before I think the loss of Winston backing local racing could be another factor. The fact that there is such divison within the Modified sanctioning body is upsetting as well. In the Northeast drivers can either run the Dart ROC Series, Whelen Modified Tour or the Valenti MRS. This kind of division is bad because the one thing I missed was the locals mixing it up with the tour regulars. We just do not see this anymore.
I wish this class was big and strongagain like it was before. What I would love to see ismore exposure for the Modifieds. In some cases it already has happened. Speed has broadcast some races. But I thinkSpeed is more concerned with promoting Sprint Cup rather then grassroots or regional racing. HoweverI think Bowman Gray Stadium can say the reality show Madhouse has helped them. Burt Myers, Jason Myers,Tim Brown andJr Miller have become well known just because of this show.This kind ofexposure is also good for the class in that it introduces the fans to these cars and drivers. NASCARrunning the Modifieds at Bristol, Martinsville andNew Hampshire is another way NASCAR promotes it. I think thats a good move there and in some cases running them the same weekend as the Sprint Cup Race. Another good move was having Richie Evans old car on display in the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The class is fighing on and I hope it continues to fight on. I just would love to see it grow, not die or ever be forgotten. It was this class that put the wheels in motion for NASCAR. Why kill it?
Thanks Christopher. I loved the modifieds too. I remember going to Daytona in the early sixties when the 300 on Saturday was the Modified-Sportsman race. Those old Studebakers with the 2000 Cubic Inch (exaggeration of course) engines would scream by everything. Or the Martinsville Modified races where the real modifieds ran. Many of my early races at Newberry, Columbia, and Edmunds Speedways were modified races. Great events and I loved the cars. You wrote a great blog and I appreciate you adding it.Tim
the old modified s were unique in many ways--not like those missiles down at daytona. hooking up and playing follow the leader at over 100mph sideways on a mile dirt track has a feeling all its own.the modifieds and skeeters were close to my heart back then - the little coupe is a replay of the cars back then, its coming soon to a reunion near you-----------------------------------------------memories
I do remember seeing the Mid State Antique Stock Cars running at Oswego from time to time. They always put on a good show. I know I was not born around the time you guys speak of but what was cool about the Modifieds in those days was they could run on both dirt and asphalt.
Nicely written piece Christopher. I can relate to your feelings on this. I am thankful that I grew up in a time that I could see the modifieds race each week and developed a love for them. So much of our history includes this great venue. I am thankful to have seen so many of the great drivers and events over the years. My son who is 10 years old, also loves them. We love going to Bowman Gray, and we enjoy our times there with our friends and racers. I know that things change but that doesn't mean we have to like it. As the BG slogan goes "still the most exciting of them all".