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Syracuse Mile
Sammy Swindell takes the checkered flag at the 1984 Syracuse Dirt Nationals
LocationNew York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, New York
Opened1826 (harness)
1903 (automobile)
Closed2015
Major eventsSuper DIRT Week
oval
SurfaceDirt
Length1 miles (1.6 km)
Turns4

The Syracuse Mile was a 1-mile (1.6 km) dirt oval raceway located at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, New York. Originally built for harness racing in 1826, the first auto race was run in 1903, making it the second oldest auto racing facility in United States history. The racetrack was also nicknamed "The Moody Mile" after driver Wes Moody turned a 100-mile-per-hour lap in 1970.[1] The track and grandstands were torn down in 2016 by state government officials with the plan to modernize facilities.[2]

Harness racing

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The Syracuse Mile hosted harness racing from its opening until 2005. The Hambletonian Stakes were held from 1926 through 1929.[3] In the early 1970s, a new 16,000-seat grandstand was built as part of an unsuccessful attempt to bring back the Hambletonian Stakes.[4]

Auto racing

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Jac Haudenschild standing beside his sprint car at Syracuse
Sprint cars at Super Dirt Week in 1983
Big Block Modifieds during the 1983 Super Dirt Week

In 1900, a $10,000 bid was awarded to build a dirt track suitable for auto racing on the perimeter of the harness track.[5]

The first auto race at the track was held in 1903, and won by Barney Oldfield in his "Baby Bullet". Oldfield averaged more than 60 mph in a lap around the mile. Syracuse was one of the several tracks one mile in length that made up the AAA national championship.[6] From 1925 to 1971 the Fairgrounds Board contracted with former Indianapolis driver Ira Vail to promote auto racing.[7] With Vail's promotion, drivers such as Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt and Al Unser competed for wins during one of the Indianapolis 500's golden era's, putting the Syracuse Mile in the national spotlight.

On Labor Day 1949 the sportsman modified stock cars took to the track. The New York State Fair Championship then became a Labor Day a tradition that lasted until 2002.[8] Floyd, New York driver Cliff Kotary reigned as State Fair Champion for six straight years (1960-1965).[9] In 1955 the first of three races for what is now referred to as the NASCAR Cup Series at the fairgrounds. Tim Flock, Buck Baker and Gwyn Staley were victorious in the three events held from 55-57.[2] NASCAR's Convertible Stock Series also competed in 56 and 57. Curtis Turner and Possum Jones were victorious in those events.

In 1972, Glenn Donnelly began promoting races at the fairgrounds adding to the Labor Day event with races on the Fourth of July and Columbus Day weekend. The October race became Super DIRT Week, and continued at the Fairgrounds until 2015.[8] Buzzie Reutimann beat NASCAR Hall of Famer Jerry Cook for the 1972 Championship.[10] Brett Hearn of Kinnelon, New Jersey, became the all-time win leader at the "Moody Mile," after claiming 6 Super Dirt Week main event victories and 6 "358 Modified" triumphs, the final coming in 2014.[11][12]

New York State Fair Championship Race

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Year Champion Year Champion Year Champion
1949 Ray Hill 1967 Dutch Hoag 1985 Ken Brenn Jr.
1950 no race 1968 1986 Jack Johnson
1951 Dick Eagan 1969 Don Diffendorf 1987 Kenny Tremont Jr.
1952 Don Henderberg 1970 Jack Murphy 1988 Danny Johnson
1953 Bill Lang 1971 Don Diffendorf 1989 Jimmy Horton
1954 George Bower 1972 Kenny Brightbill 1990 Ernie Marshall
1955 Ralph Smith 1973 Ernie Marshall 1991 Doug Hoffman
1956 Nolan Swift 1974 Gerald Chamberlain 1992 Brett Hearn
1957 no race 1975 Merv Treichler 1993 Doug Hoffman
1958 Nolan Swift 1976 Wayne Reutimann 1994 Toby Tobias Jr.
1959 Jack Murphy[13] Billy Rafter[14] 1977 Toby Tobias 1995 Joe Plazek
1960 Cliff Kotary 1978 Billy Osmun 1996
1961 1979 1997
1962 1980 1998 Pat Ward
1963 1981 Merv Treichler 1999 Eddie Marshall
1964 1982 Dickie Larkin 2000 Jack Johnson
1965 1983 Merv Treichler 2001 Brett Hearn
1966 Larry Nye 1984 Jack Johnson 2002 Danny Johnson
[15][16]

Super Dirt Week Champions

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Main article: Super Dirt Week

The first event was scheduled over three days, from September 29, through October 1, 1972. Inspection and qualifying races were conducted on Friday and Saturday, and the Championship race was held on Sunday.[17] The Syracuse Mile remained the featured racetrack until 2015.

Closure

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In 2015, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a sweeping redesign of the fairgrounds that included taking out what was the 16,000-seat grandstand and mile-long dirt track.[18] The last stock car race was held that year on Columbus day weekend. The Super DIRT Week events were moved to a temporary dirt track at Oswego Speedway until construction of a new venue was completed.[10] The proposed CNYRP or Central New York Raceway Park was cancelled and the property was repurposed when Micron Technology agreed in October 2022 to invest up to $100 billion to build a mega-complex of chip manufacturing plants in Syracuse's northern suburbs.[19][20] The race remains at Oswego Speedway today.[10]

References

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  1. ^ "Farewell to the 'Moody Mile'". TheStar.com. 9 October 2015. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
  2. ^ a b "The history of the Moody Mile". 360nitro.tv. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
  3. ^ "The Early Years". The Hambletonian Society, Inc. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
  4. ^ The Post-Standard (1976, February 23, p.15)
  5. ^ "Place of 'mystery, lore and legend'". Syracuse.com. 3 September 2015. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
  6. ^ "Farewell to the 'Moody Mile'". TheStar.com. 9 October 2015. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
  7. ^ "Fourth National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Inductions". National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
  8. ^ a b "Fairgrounds' track faces final memories of long racing history". Syracuse.com. 12 March 2015. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
  9. ^ "Cliff Kotary dies at 91". Utica Observer Dispatch. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  10. ^ a b c "Syracuse's Moody Mile Hosting Final Stock Car Race". USA Today. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
  11. ^ "Brett Hearn Wins Record 6th Title". Syracuse.com. 8 October 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  12. ^ "Brett Hearn Wins 358 Modified Championship". Syracuse.com. 12 October 2014. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  13. ^ Hill, John (March 10, 2000). "Motorsport Expo at fairgrounds". Syracuse Herald Journal. p. C5. Retrieved April 2, 2024 – via NewspaperArchive.
  14. ^ "Rafter wins at Syracuse". The Schenectady Gazette. September 8, 1959. Retrieved February 9, 2024 – via Google Books.
  15. ^ Hill, John (September 1, 1995). "Fair race has had its moments". The Post-Standard. p. C6. Retrieved February 10, 2024 – via NewspaperArchive.
  16. ^ "New York State Fairgrounds: Touring Series and Major Events". The Third Turn. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  17. ^ "Coming; Palmer and Varin Have Great Weekend". Dirt Track Digest. September 24, 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  18. ^ "Development plans may doom the dirt mile track at Syracuse, New York". Hemmings Daily. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
  19. ^ Weiner, Mark (April 17, 2024). "Micron wins $6.1 billion CHIPS grant for Central NY and Idaho projects, Schumer says". The Post-Standard. NY. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  20. ^ "Maltz Auctions to conduct online-only public auction of the former site of Central New York Raceway Park". Norwell MA: New York Real Estate Journal. July 16, 2024. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
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