Lancaster Motorplex
Lancaster Motorplex is an automotive racing facility in the Buffalo-Niagara Region of Western New York which features a 5⁄8-mile (1.0 km) slightly banked D-shaped asphalt oval. The complex also includes a quarter-mile inner oval and an eighth-mile dragway.
| Location | Lancaster, New York |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 42°57′02″N 78°37′38″W / 42.9506°N 78.6271°W |
| Owner | Mike Swinarski, Scott Nurmi |
| Opened | 1959 |
| Former names | New York International Raceway Park, Lancaster Raceway Park, Lancaster Motorsports Park, Lancaster Speedway, Lancaster National Speedway; Elegant Builders Raceway Park; Dunn Tire Raceway Park |
| Website | www.lancastermotorplexny.com |
| Oval | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 0.965 km (0.600 mi) |
| Turns | 4 |
| Banking | 6° (turns 1-2), 9° (turns 3-4) |
| Dragway | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | .201 km (0.125 mi) |
| Inner oval | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | .4 km (0.25 mi) |
| Turns | 4 |
Lancaster Motorplex is an automotive racing facility in the Buffalo-Niagara Region of Western New York which features a 5⁄8-mile (1.0 km) slightly banked D-shaped asphalt oval. The complex also includes a quarter-mile inner oval and an eighth-mile dragway.
Overview
[edit]The Lancaster Motorplex opened by promoter Ed Serwacki and 10 partners in 1959 as the Lancaster Speedway.[1] The campus originally included a dirt oval track, a half-mile drag strip, sports car course and clubhouse complete with showers, but the surface was paved in 1963.[2] By 1971 Serwacki had bought out most of his partners, and sold the complex to Jim Vollertsen, former promoter of the Spencer Speedway in Williamson, New York. Vollersten owned the property until 1984, and his upgrades included incorporating the drag strip into the oval in 1976.[1][3]
In 1989 Alex Friesen, whose family also owned the Ransomville Speedway, purchased the facility from Alan Moore and Bob Fedder.[4][5] Following Friesen's death in late 1996 the family continued to manage the racetrack until selling it to Gordon Reger, who then operated the venue for the next 20 years.[6][7][8]
In 2019 Reger leased the facility to a group of investors who renamed the complex the New York International Raceway Park.[9] Headed by drag racer Mike Swinarski and stock car driver Scott Nurmi, the investor group reorganized in 2022 to purchase the facility outright, rebranding it the Lancaster Motorplex.[10][11]
Events
[edit]On most Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday nights throughout the racing season, the Motorplex hosts a variety of Junior Dragsters, Trophy Class, Senior Nostalgia and other classes competing on the drag strip.[12]
Saturday nights feature oval track racing, with weekly racing by the Sportsman, Street Stocks, and 4 Cylinders, supplemented by special appearances by the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and Race of Champions Asphalt Modified Series, Asphalt Super Late Models, Supermodifieds, and TQ Midgets.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Bisci, John (November 25, 2010). "Edward Serwacki - Obituary". Racers Reunion. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
- ^ Wilbur, Bob (July 4, 1959). "July opening charted for Ithaca speedway". Sunday Telegram. Elmira NY. p. 7D. Retrieved March 14, 2025 – via NewspaperArchive.
- ^ "Racing scheduled at Williamson International Speedway". The Times. Newark NY. April 23, 1996. p. 1. Retrieved March 15, 2025 – via NYS Historic Newspapers.
- ^ O'Brien, Dick (May 25, 1989). "Friesens look to revive track". Syracuse Herald American. NY. p. 8E. Retrieved March 15, 2025 – via NewspaperArchive.
- ^ Irvine, Dennis (May 19, 1989). "Hot Laps". The Daily Review. Towanda PA. p. 8. Retrieved March 14, 2025 – via NewspaperArchive.
- ^ Beebe, Michael (December 6, 1996). "Accident kills man credited in car-race rebirth". NY: The Buffalo News. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
- ^ Rosenthal Drury, Tracey (May 5, 1997). "Lancaster Speedway marketing motors into fast lane". Buffalo Business First. NY. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
- ^ Richert, George (March 4, 2019). "Attorney Paul Cambria considering purchase of Lancaster Speedway". Buffalo NY: WIVB-TV. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
- ^ Roberts, Jackie (May 15, 2019). "Lancaster Speedway approaches opening weekend with new owners and a new name". Buffalo NY: WGRZ-TV. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
- ^ Fink, James (June 10, 2022). "New York International Raceway Park rebrands as Lancaster Motorplex". Buffalo Business First. NY. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
- ^ "New Owners for Lancaster National Speedway (NY)". Performance Racing Industry. June 14, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
- ^ "Lancaster Dragway". MyRacePass. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
- ^ Ott, Larry (November 24, 2023). "WNY Autos: Racing calendar for 2024 taking shape around region". The Buffalo News. NY. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Lancaster Motorplex race results at Racing-Reference