Alex Payne Crowned Mod Champion As Outlaw Speedway Closes Out ’24 With Banquet

Story By: KENNY SHUPP / OUTLAW SPEEDWAY – WATKINS GLEN, NY – Outlaw Speedway track owner and promoter, Tyler Siri officially wrapped up the 2024 season with the tracks Annual Awards Banquet.

The Harbor Hotel located on the southern shores of Seneca Lake in Watkins Glen, NY was the setting for the 9th Outlaw Speedway Awards Banquet.

With 300 drivers, crew members, team owners, fans, sponsors and track employees in attendance, the evening began with an Invocation presented by Chaplin Greg Nitz of Finish Line Ministries who over the past few seasons has become a welcome addition to the Outlaw Speedway family of friends and well-wishers.

A mouthwatering prime rib buffet put on by the staff of the Harbor Hotel was then enjoyed by those in attendance prior to the awards presentations.

The evening began with opening remarks by Outlaw Speedway writer, Kenny Shupp Jr.

Shupp gave an overview of the 2024 season which was without question the best year in the 9 years that Siri has owned and promoted the historic Yates County Facility. An absolutely perfect racing surface awaited racers on a weekly basis providing for fantastic three and four wide competition on the Fast 4/10 of a mile clay oval.

Highlighted by the inaugural appearance of the Brad Sweet and Kyle Larson owned High Limit 410 Sprint Car Series in May, the event drew a standing room only crowd with Sweet taking the green to checkered nonstop win over a star-studded field of some three dozen of the best 410 Sprint Car Drivers in the world.

Brett Deyo and Tyler Siri collaborated once again to present the Short Track Supe Series as many of the top Modified pilots in the northeast converged on the Outlaw Speedway with Stewart Friesen besting a stellar field.

The United Late Model Series (ULMS) made appearances at Outlaw in 2024 with a pair of shows in July and September.

Dylan Yoder was able to hold off local favorite, Dylan Cecce, to pick up the Summer Nationals victory with Dave Hess holding off 2024 Lucas Late Model Rookie of the Year, Drake Troutman to claim the Fall Nationals ULMS Event.

Another first at Outlaw in 2024 found upcoming Pennsylvania super star, Briggs Danner claim the East Coast Non-Winged 360 Sprint A-Main Event.

Also, making their maiden voyage was the SCDRA Front Wheel Drive 4 Cylinder Mini Stocks.

The highly popular CRSA 305 Sprints made an appearance at Outlaw during the 2024 campaign, and they will be back on the 2025 schedule of events.

An absolutely perfect racing surface greeted competitors each and every week compliments of track owner, Tyler Siri and his top-notch track preparation crew as the Fast 4/10 of a mile clay oval was smooth, wide and fast for all weekly and touring divisions. The competition was well received by the loyal fan base with excellent turnouts at each race event.

The 2024 Track Champions were then recognized along with all the class sponsors and their representatives that were in attendance.

The 2025 Outlaw Schedule was briefly addressed which includes numerous weekly high dollar shows for the tracks regular 5 Adult Divisions as well as a slew of touring groups including the Empire Super Sprints, CRSA 305 Sprints and a $10,000 to win ULMS Show. In addition, the tracks headline Modified Division will have the highest paying event in track history as the Mod Squad will compete for a whomping $10,000 to win event in August.

Track announcer and Outlaw Speedway Facebook Specialist, Craig “Spazman” Simmons then took to the podium and in his unique style presented trophies and checks to the top point finishers in each of Outlaw Speedway’s 5 Adult classes along with trophies to the Youth Bandit Division.

In addition, Rookie of the Year recipients were also acknowledged.

Simmons again introduced each class sponsor as they were summoned to help present their respective class awards and after all the money and hardware was handed out, some $50,000 total, Simmons introduced Outlaw Speedway owner/promoter, Tyler Siri as he took center stage.

As he has over his tenure at the track Siri went into detail on the track’s success because of the support of a terrific group of race teams, fans and sponsors. In addition, he presented several special awards to numerous worthy recipients including Sportsmanship, Car Owner of the Year, Media Awards, Dedication to Motorsports as well as a slew of appreciation plaques going out to several of his track employees.

Siri also announced that each class from top to bottom will receive more money at the pay window in 2025.

With the youth movement in full force at Outlaw Speedway it was pointed out that of the six classes receiving their accolades, four of the six divisions had track champions twenty years of age or younger.

Those in attendance were reminded that Outlaw Speedway will have a display booth at the upcoming Motorsports Expo at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, NY on Saturday and Sunday, March 8-9, 2025.

Outlaw Speedway will also be ready to open for the 2025 season in just a month with practice on Saturday, March 29, 2025 with the two day Lucas Oil Nationals set to go off on Friday and Saturday, April 4-5, 2025 followed by the Cal Lane Memorial Spring Nationals the following weekend on April 11-12, 2025.

Top finishers in each weekly division. Number in parentheses indicates regular point season feature wins.

FRIENDLY CHRYSLER, DODGE, JEEP, RAM MODIFIEDS.

ALEX PAYNE (1), 2) Ajay Potrzebowski Jr. (4), 3) Bobby Varin (2), 4) Danny Johnson (1), 5) Tommy Collins Jr., 6) Jeff Daugherty (1), 7) Tyler Siri, 8) Kreg Crooker, 9) Jim LaRock (1), 10) Steve Paine.

Rookie of the Year. KREG CROOKER.

 

SUNRISE INSULATION/KNAPP AND SCHLAPPI LUMBER CRATE SPORTSMAN.

CARTER CROOKER (4), 2) Daryl Krebs, 3) Chris Fisher (1), 4) Brent Ayers, 5) Ben Feldman (1), 6) Karl Comfort (1), 7) Blake Parsons (1), 8) Tim Guild, 9) Scott Torbitt, 10) Brett Buono.

Rookie of the Year. DARYL KREBS

 

SWARTHOUT RECYCLING STREET STOCKS.

GENE SHARPSTEEN (2), 2) Damon Decker (4), 3) Joe Giardina (1), 4) Jered Hill, 5) Carl Cleveland (1), 6) Chris Woodard, 7) Zach Teed, 8) Brett Crawford, 9) Tim Grady, 10) Jesse Tuthill.

Rookie of the Year. DAMON DECKER.

 

ADDISON, CORNING, HORNELL AND WELLSVILLE NAPA HOBBY STOCKS.

JEREDD DENNIS (1), 2) Marc Minutolo (3), 3) Doug Batterson (3), 4) Justin Eldredge, 5) Willy Easling (2), 6) Jesse Balance, 7) Ed Stevens, 8) Tyler Burnell.

Rookie of the Year. JEREDD DENNIS.

 

WINNERS CIRCLE DELI 4 CYLINDER MINI STOCKS.

WILLY EASLING (7), 2) Jason Smart (2), 3) Mike Stone, 4) Connor Erick, 5) Lee Fritz, 6) Gavin Hall, 7) Brady Richardson, 8) Chris Davis, 9) Corky Grant, 10) Mike Ayers.

Rookie of the Year. CONNOR ERICK.

 

FRITZ MASONRY BANDITS

ZACH DAUGHERTY (5), 2) Parker Cunningham (1), 3) Danica Hall, 4) Kassitie Clugstone, 5) Connor Crane.

Rookie of the Year. PARKER CUNNINGHAM

 

TRACK CHAMPION POINT FUND PAYOUT.

• Modifieds, Alex Payne $10,000
• Crate Sportsman, Carter Crooker $2,000
• Street Stocks, Gene Sharpsteen $2,000
• Hobby Stocks, Jeredd Dennis $2,000
• Mini Stocks, Willy Easling $2,000

SPECIAL AWARDS.

• Sportsmanship. CARL CLEVELAND
• Car Owner of the Year. GENE SHARPSTEEN
• Dedication to Motorsports. TOMMY CURTIS
• Employee of the Year. JASON MACMILLAN
• Sponsor Awards. FISHER TREE SERVICE, LANE’S YAMAHA
• Media Awards. CRAIG SPAZMAN SIMMONS, DAN TOME, MARK SINCOCK, KENNY SHUPP JR.