Mid-State Speedway
| Location | Morris, New York |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 42°32′53″N 75°14′03″W / 42.5481°N 75.2343°W |
| Owner | Otsego County Fair Association |
| Opened | 1949 |
| Closed | 1972 |
| Former names | Morris Speedway, Morris Fairgrounds |
| Oval | |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Length | .8 km (.5 miles) |
| Turns | 4 |
Mid-State Speedway was a half-mile dirt oval raceway located on the Otsego County Fairgrounds in Central New York State.
Overview
The newly reorganized Otsego County Fair Association took the helm in 1948 of the county fairgrounds in Morris, New York, and introduced auto racing to the former horse track the next year.[1][2] From 1950 to 1952, the Eastern States Racing Club sponsored weekly stock car racing each summer. One NASCAR sanctioned modified race was held in 1956, but the track otherwise remained quiet from 1953 through mid-year 1957 when the Eastern Mutual Racing Club began promoting weekly events.[3]
In 1962, the Fair Association turned track management over to the Mid-State Speedway Inc. while allocating concession operations to local non-profit organizations.[4] The corporation also promoted races at the Brookfield Speedway on the Madison County Fairgrounds for a period of time.[5] Within a handful of years, Mid-State had nearly 250 members.[6]
The first ever Super DIRTcar Series event, then known as the Schaefer Circle of Champions, was hosted by the track on July 14, 1972, and was claimed by veteran driver Dick Hansen.[7][8] However, weekly racing ended after the 1972 season, and except for some exhibition races by a regional antique stock car club, the track has remained dormant since.[9]
External links
References
- ^ "Eckert to race at Morris Speedway". Catskill Mountain News. Arkville NY. July 1, 1949. p. 1. Retrieved April 28, 2025 – via NYS Historic Newspapers.
- ^ "About the Fair". Otsego County Fair. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
- ^ "Tracks, Series & Organizations - Mid-State (Morris, NY) Speedway". Auto Racing Research Associates. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
- ^ "Stock car racing gets underway at Morris Fairgrounds". The Morris Chronicle. May 17, 1962. p. 9. Retrieved April 28, 2025 – via NYS Historic Newspapers.
- ^ "Lent new public relations head at Morris Speedway". Evening Sun. Norwich NY. March 28, 1963. p. 11. Retrieved April 28, 2025 – via NewspaperArchive.
- ^ "Mid State Speedway has meeting Sunday". Evening Sun. Norwich NY. April 7, 1967. p. 8. Retrieved April 28, 2025 – via NewspaperArchive.
- ^ "Midstate Speedway". The Freeman's Journal. Coopertown NY. July 25, 1972. p. 35. Retrieved April 28, 2025 – via NYS Historic Newspapers.
- ^ "Schaefer Circle:1972-01". The Third Turn. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
- ^ Hills, Ron (September 22, 2013). Bud Hinman & Bruce Carman (Oral history interviews). Race Report TV. Retrieved April 28, 2025 – via YouTube.