Orange County Fair Speedway’s Eastern States 200 Favors “Home Track” Drivers

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Story By: JOHN SNYDER / ORANGE COUNTY FAIR SPEEDWAY – MIDDLETOWN, NY – The 62nd Annual Eastern States 200 for dirt track Modifieds is set for Sunday, October 22 at Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, New York.

It is the oldest consecutively-run championship race for Northeastern-type dirt track Modifieds.

First run as a 100-lap race in 1962 with legendary driver Frankie Schneider taking home the trophy and $1,000 winner’s share of the then outstanding purse. Schneider, a weekly competitor at Orange County, set a precedent that day that continues right to the present. Drivers who have raced at Orange County on a regular basis have a decided edge over outside “invaders” in terms of winning this classic event.

Matt Sheppard is the defending Eastern States 200 winner, having won back-to-back races in 2021 and 2022. He was also the track’s Big-Block Modified point champion in 2020 and 2022. Sheppard is one of 34 different drivers to have won the Eastern States 200, 20 of whom have raced at Orange County at least one full year.

These 20 weekly competitors total 34 Eastern States 200 victories. The “Home Track Heroes” brigade is led by all-time Orange County feature race winner Brett Hearn, who has won the 200 a record 12 times. Others with multiple 200 victories include Danny Johnson (6 wins), Will Cagle (4), Frankie Schneider (3), Stewart Friesen (3), Frank Cozze (2), Jimmy Horton (2), and Sheppard (2). Gerald Chamberlain also won two times, but never raced a full season at Orange County.

Weekly competitors with single Eastern States 200 triumphs include Alan “Rags” Carter, Emil “Buzzie” Reutimann, Bobby Bottcher, Wayne Reutimann, Gary Balough, and Harry Behrent. Also Doug Hoffman, Rich Eurich, Chuck McKee, Jeff Heotzler, Jerry Higbie, and Tommy Meier.

Drivers who fit the “invaders” ranking, in addition to Chamberlain’s pair of 200 wins, include Ron Lux, Al Tasnady, Lou Lazzaro, Kenny Brightbill, C.D. Coville, Dave Lape, and Jack Johnson. Also Bob McCreadie, Billy Decker, Alan Johnson, Bobby Varin, Tim McCreadie, and Mat Williamson.

Advance ticket sale for the October 20-22 Eastern States Weekend can be found on the Orange County Fair Speedway website, www.orangecountyfairspeedway.net, or from the Speedway Office, 239 Wisner Avenue, Middletown, NY 10940, M-F 10:00 am-4:00 pm.

 
 
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