News Director 
Story By: BRETT DEYO / SHORT TRACK SUPER SERIES – KIRKWOOD, NY – Ozzy Osborne sang it best: “Mama, I’m coming home.”
At the stroke of midnight to start the New Year, the news broke. For the first time since October 2013, BD Motorsports Media LLC returns to promote an event at one of its original facilities: Five Mile Point Speedway in Kirkwood, N.Y.
The historic quarter-mile oval celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2020 and BD Motorsports Media LLC will be part of it.
On Sunday, May 3, the ‘70th Anniversary Special’ will take over ‘the Point.’ The Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco Modifieds and Crate 602 Sportsman will both take part in the program.
STSS Modifieds compete in a $7,000-to-win, 51-lap main event. The 51-lap distance reflects the first year of operation at the speedway: 1951.
Crate 602 Sportsman ($1,500 to win) and Four Cylinders will complete the tripleheader program.
For the STSS Modifieds, the event marks Race No. 2 of the Halmar International North Region. The Crate 602 Sportsman program will open the STSS North Region title fight.
“Five Mile Point Speedway is celebrating a milestone season in 2020,” Brett Deyo of BD Motorsports Media LLC. “We are looking forward to being part of the 70th anniversary celebration.”
Prior to the official formation of the Short Track Super Series in ’14, BD Motorsports Media LLC promoted events at Five Mile Point from 2009 to 2013.
The most recent event – on October 12, 2013 – was won by Craig Hanson of Johnstown, N.Y. Prior Five Mile Point winners include Danny Tyler (2012), Duane Howard (2011), Justin Holland (2010) and Kevin Hirthler (2009).
The 2020 Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco gets the green flag February 5-8 at All-Tech Raceway in Lake City, Fla., with the ‘Sunshine Swing’ inaugural running for both STSS Modifieds and Crate 602 Sportsman.
The Northeast season kicks off March 6-7 at Georgetown (Del.) Speedway with the Melvin L. Joseph Memorial. Point battles begin for the Velocita-USA South Region presented by Sunglass Central and Design for Vision Modifieds and Crate 602 Sportsman South Region at the Sussex County facility.
Short Track Super Series, Fonda & Georgetown Speedways Selected As EMPA ‘Promotional Effort of the Year’
BD Motorsports Media LLC has been selected by the membership of the Eastern Motorsport Press Association (EMPA) to receive the ‘Promotional Effort of the Year’ recognition.
Founded in 1969, EMPA is an organization of professional writers, broadcasters, announcers, videographers and photographers working in the motorsports industry, along with associate and corporate members.
The ceremony and awards dinner, presented by NASCAR, takes place on Saturday, Jan. 11 at the Crowne Plaza in King of Prussia, Pa., as part of the 47th annual EMPA convention.
The distinction – voted upon by members of EMPA – recognizes the BD Motorsports Media-run Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco, Fonda (N.Y.) Speedway and Georgetown (Del.) Speedway.
“It’s an honor to be recognized by the EMPA membership,” Brett Deyo of BD Motorsports Media LLC said. “This is a credit to our whole team. There are so many people who work hard throughout the race season on our behalf to keep a touring series and two tracks, located six hours apart, operating successfully.”
The Short Track Super Series broke new ground in 2019 with the most lucrative dirt Modified championship payout in the nation. By winning the Insinger Performance/Sunoco Race Fuels ‘Grand Championship’ encompassing the STSS North and South regions and the American Racer Cup, Matt Sheppard of Savannah, N.Y., will receive $58,500 cash.
The STSS Modified circuit completed events in four states – New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania – while maintaining an average car count of 41.7 per event. 291 competitors took part in at least one Modified event. The Crate 602 Sportsman series saw 232 entrants received over the 11 total races.
The first season for BD Motorsports Media promotion at the historic Fonda Speedway saw an upswing in competitor participation and fans in the grandstand. Among the season highlights were the $53,000-to-win Fonda 200 in September, the nationally televised on MAV-TV ‘Firecracker 50’ in July and a massive ‘Dollar Night’ in May featuring $1 grandstand admission.
A specials-only format at Georgetown Speedway included a number of high-profile events including the two-day Mid-Atlantic Championship Weekend with a pay structure of nearly $90,000, the Melvin L. Joseph Memorial and the ‘Blast at the Beach’ filmed for national television by the cameras of MAV-TV.
