By Ralph Smith
WHITE LAKE — April 11, 2003 – Kauneonga Speedway owners David and Joanne Rocket recently announced the schedule for their sixth consecutive season of race promotion at the asphalt quarter-mile oval located near White Lake.
Opening day has been set for Saturday, April 26, with gates opening at 4 p.m., hot laps at 6 p.m. and racing starting at 7 p.m. The weekly racing card will consist of the powerful IMCA Asphalt Modifieds, Street Stocks, Eight Cylinder Hobby Stocks and Four Cylinder Stocks, along with specials dotted throughout the racing calendar.
INEX Legend cars will invade the Sullivan County oval 11 times, including the fall Kauneonga Klassic Weekend. Their first appearance is schduled for May 3.
The Northeast Dirt Vintage Modifieds will make two appearances at Kauneonga Speedway. The first visit for these racers from the past will be on July 26, with the second race on September 6.
A new and exciting Fourth of July weekend of action will take place with the first running of the Fire Kracker Klassic Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, July 5 and 6. The IMCA Asphalt Modifieds, Street Stocks, Eight Cylinder Hobby Stocks and Four Cylinder Stocks will race under a special two-day format that weekend. The Fire Kracker Klassic Weekend will highlight a 75-Lap Enduro with a $1,000 winner-take-all prize.
Preregistration for the Enduro is required, as is a minimum car count.
Each of the weekly divisions will have a Triple 20’s night during the regular season. The Four Cylinder Stocks will contest their triple on May 17, followed by the Eight Cylinders on June 21, Street Stocks on August 9 and IMCA Modifieds on August 30.
A non-racing event is a new addition to the Kauneonga Speedway calendar. The Kauneonga Kustom Klassic and Race Car Show will be held on Sunday, August 17.
The Northeast Enduro Tour Series will race at the track as part of its traveling show on Sunday, September 14.
The annual Kauneonga Klassic Weekend will take place on Saturday and Sunday, November 1 and 2. Joining the weekly divisions in the special format show will be the INEX Legends and a 75-Lap Enduro with a $1,200 winner-take-all prize. Enduro cars must preregister and are subject to a minimum car count.
There is something for everyone at Kauneonga Speedway, including the youngsters. On the schedule are Kids Big Wheel Races, Little League Night, Kids Long Ball Contest, Kids Face Painting, Hot Dog Eating Contest, Camera Night and two evenings of fireworks.
Specials include Senior Citizen’s Night, Mother’s Appreciation Day, A Tribute to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, A Tribute to Make a Wish of the Hudson Valley and A Tribute to a Cure for Alzheimer’s. Two additional evenings of activities will be sponsored by 17B Quick Stop Night and the Middletown Motorsports Show Night.
The 2003 racing calendar will close out on November 14 with the Kauneonga Speedway Awards Banquet at Brookside Manor in Middletown.
The schedule for night racing, opening night through September, is gates open at 4 p.m., hot laps begin at 6 p.m. and racing starts at 7 p.m.
The afternoon schedule for October and Sunday shows: gates open at noon, hot laps begin at 2 p.m. and racing starts at 3 p.m.
General admission ticket prices are as follows, although they will differ for some of the special events: adults – $9, seniors (ages 60 and over) – $7, children 7-13 years old – $5, children 2-6 years old – $2 and children under 2 – free.
The schedule is subject to change without notice.
For more information, call the speedway office at (845) 778-PITS or on race day call (845) 583-1056. Fans are encouraged to check out the newly revamped web site at www.kauneongaspeedway.com.

2003 Kauneonga
Speedway Schedule
• April 19 – Practice and membership sign-ups for all divisions, gates open noon to 6 p.m.
• April 26 – Opening Day, points begin; Mod-SS-8-4 Cyl.
• May 3 – INEX Legends; Mod-SS-8-4 Cyl.; Winston Cup Race-Richmond via satellite on big screen TV.
• May 10 – Mod-SS-8-4 Cyl.; Mother’s Day Appreciation; Kids Big Wheels Race.
• May 17 – Triple 20’s 4 Cyl.; Mod-SS-8 Cyl.; “The Winston” NASCAR race from Lowes Motor Speedway via satellite on big screen TV.
• May 24 – INEX Legends; “Little League Night”; Mod-SS-8-4 Cyl.
• May 31 – “A Tribute to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital” Mod-SS-8-4 Cyl.
• June 7 – “Camera Night”; A Tribute to “Make a Wish” of the Hudson Valley; Driver Point Fund Night Mod-SS-8-4 Cyl.
• June 14 – INEX Legends; Mod-SS-8-4 Cyl.; Kids Long Ball Contest.
• June 21 – Triple 20’s 8 Cyl. - Mod-SS-4 Cyl.; Kids Face Painting.
• June 28 – INEX Legends; Mod-SS-8-4 Cyl.; Kids Big Wheels.
• July 5 – Fire Kracker Klassic Weekend; 50 Point Bonus; Winston Cup Race at Daytona via satellite on big screen TV; Mod-SS-8-4 Cyl.
• July 6 – Fire Kracker Klassic Weekend; Mod-SS-8-4 Cyl.; 75-lap Enduro, Pre-Register-$1,000 winner-take-all.
• July 12 – Fireworks Spectacular; Mod-SS-8-4 Cyl.; Kids Big Wheels.
• July 19 – “17B Quick Stop Night”; INEX Legends; Mod-SS-8-4 Cyl.; Kids Long Ball Contest.
• July 26 – North East Dirt Vintage Modifieds; 8 Cylinder 50 laps, $300 to Win; Mod-SS-4 Cyl.; Driver Point Fund Night – “A Tribute To A Cure For Alzheimer’s.”
• August 2 – INEX Legends; Mod-SS-8-4 Cyl.; Kids Long Ball Contest.
• August 9 – Triple 20’s SS; “Middletown Motor Sports Show Night”; Mod-8-4 Cyl.
• August 16 – Driver Point Fund Night; Mod SS 8-4 Cyl.
• August 17 – Kauneonga Kustom Klassic and Race Car Show.
• August 23 – Street Stocks 50 Laps, $500 to Win; INEX Legends; NASCAR Winston Cup Race at Bristol via satellite on big screen TV; Mod-8-4 Cyl.
• August 30 – Fireworks Spectacular; Triple 20’S Mod SS-8-4 Cyl.; Kids Big Wheels.
• September 6 – North East Dirt Vintage Modifieds; NASCAR Winston Cup Race at Richmond via satellite on big screen TV; Mod-SS-8-4 Cyl.
• September 13 – INEX Legends; Mod-SS-8-4 Cyl.; Kids Big Wheels Finale
• September 14 – North East Enduro Tour Series, 8 cyl.-4cyl.-SS.
• September 20 – Drivers Point Fund Night; Mod-SS-8-4 Cyl “Senior Citizens Night”; Seniors half-price General Admission.
• September 27 – INEX Legends; Mod-SS-8-4 Cyl.

Afternoon Schedule
• October 4 – Mod-SS-8-4 Cyl.
• October 11 – INEX Legends; Winston Cup Race at Richmond via satellite on big screen TV; Mod-SS-8-4 Cyl.
• October 18 – Drivers Point Fund Night; Mod SS 8-4 Cyl.
• October 25 – Mod - SS - 8-4 Cyl.
• November 1 – Kauneonga Klassic Weekend, 50-point bonus; INEX Legends; Mod-SS-8-4 Cyl.
• November 2 – Kauneonga Klassic Weekend; INEX Legends; Mod SS 8-4 Cyl.; 75-Lap Enduro, Pre-Register, $1,200 winner-take-all.
• November 14 – Awards Banquet at Brookside Manor, Middletown.