The 2000's

2007

Orange County Fair Speedway went through some tough times at the dawn of the 21st Century. Attendance was down, racing was lackluster, and the track was in bad shape. In 2006, a new "Management Team" took the helm, and things began to change. Before the season started, a "Work Day" was held at the speedway. Nearly 100 volunteers descended on the facility. Track sponsors donated equipment, materials, paint, manpower, and pizza. The brushes flew and, in one day, much of the fencing around turns three and four was replaced. Participants left the field tired, but more enthusiastic about the upcoming racing season than they’d been in years. The grounds were cleaner, the race-related buildings were freshly painted and, a few weeks later, fans were delighted to see the improvements.

Opening night saw a huge crowd. There were some miscues, and the track was still in rough shape. Enter Vinnie Rotundo, master of track maintenance, the "Clay Guru." Week by week, the racing surface improved. Fans were witnessing two-and-three-wide racing. The racing program was running smoothly, and fans were on their way home by 11:00 or earlier most Saturday nights. Slowly, steadily, we began to believe there was lots of life left in the old race track.The highlight of the regular season was "Old Timers Night." What began as a twenty-minute intermission / autograph session turned into an hour-long love fest between fans and their heroes from days gone by. No one wanted to return to their seats! Carl Van Horn, Tighe Scott, Charlie Shire, the list goes on and on… had a ball, and so did we! And Jeff Heotzler, Sr. won the Modified Championship without winning a single feature race. His consistency, his ability to come through the pack propelled him to the Points Title. 

And, before we knew it, Eastern States Weekend was upon us. Of course, it rained Friday, but the skies brightened, the temperature warmed, and the crowds flocked once again to the best ESW in many years.

And it was "The Jeffer," starting 42nd, coming up through the pack, who won the 200-lapper for the first time in 20 tries!

No Hollywood script writer could’ve imagined such a storybook ending to such a storybook season!

   
Jeff "The Jeffer" Heotzler in Victory Lane ESW 2007