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July 1, 2024 – Steve Vasey has been a fixture at tracks around the Northeast for years. Always available with a smile and some friendly advice – or even an extra set of hands when needed – Steve dedicated many years to helping to promote auto racing. He himself had raced earlier in his career – running both Pro Stocks and Asphalt Modifieds at Bethel (NY) Speedway during his career. In more recent years, he fielded cars for Kenny Atkins Jr. and Amber (VanOrden) Knecht in the New York Super Stock Series.
The racing community was shocked, however, as word spread that Vasey had passed away after suffering a medical emergency on June 18th. Just more than a month shy of his 64th birthday, Vasey – who was employed by Grimm Construction of Pennsylvania and frequently helped with the racing efforts of Eddie MacDonald in the ARCA, K&N NASCAR, PASS, and ACT Racing Series – was still very much involved in the sport.
“Steve was a true definition of what a friend is,” said Bethel racer Mac Crawson, whom Steve helped out as recently as early June. “Any time I had a question or needed a tool, or just needed an extra set of hands, Steve was there with no questions asked. He did so much for so many people out of the goodness of his heart.”
Crawson and some friends have decided to honor Vasey’s memory – and his family – by promoting a Renegades division race at Bethel Speedway in his honor on July 27th. While Bethel dropped the Pro Stock class for the 2024 race season, the rules for Renegades give the Pro Stock racers a place to race, while also allowing many other types of cars. The Renegades rules are simple, and are contained on a single page on the Bethel Speedway web site – (1) the car must have a hood and fenders, (2) 2,800 lbs. minimum with eight cylinder motor or 1,800 lbs. minimum weight on cars with four or six cylinders, (3) 14-inch maximum treadwidth for wheel/tire, (4) no alcohol for race fuel, (5) general safety rules, (6) no mirrors, and (7) no two-way radios.
Bethel’s payout for the division reaches $500 to win if 20 cars are present, and nearly all laps have been sold, offering $10 to the leader of each lap, with $5 to the second place car, $3 to third, and $2 to fourth. Lap money will be presented to drivers in cash at the conclusion of the event. Additional awards are being accepted for other random positions as well, including $50 to the eighth place car on lap 16, courtesy of Mobile Metals and the Holland family. Grimm Construction will also be offering a $100 bonus for each heat race winner, and other awards will be announced as they are received.
In addition to regular Bethel competitors who are expected to run the race, several drivers from other tracks have expressed interest in running, aided by the open nature of the rules that make virtually any 4- or 6-cylinder car, Factory Stock, Hobby Stock, Street Stock, Pro Stock, Limited Late Model, or similar car eligible to enter the race. Promoters of this event see this as an ideal opportunity for racers to try the track without having to make any wholesale changes to meet rules, and to run for a substantial payout in the process. It is particularly well suited for racers who normally race on Fridays or Sundays and would not have to forgo prior commitments to attend or even get seat time prior to the Brett Deyo Street Stock race being promoted at Bethel Speedway for October.
T-shirts printed in Steve’s memory have also been ordered and will be available for sale, in sizes from adult small-3XL, and memorial decal stickers are also available for purchase for $5 each. All proceeds from the t-shirt and decal sales will be presented to the family, for a trust fund Vasey had set up for his great nephews who tragically lost their father earlier this year. T-shirts and decals can be ordered in person at the track, or by emailing tracychirico@yahoo.com.
July 27th is also Camera Night at Bethel, so drivers choosing to take part in the event will have the opportunity to take their cars on the track and meet fans from the grandstands during intermission. Fans in the grandstands will be permitted on the track to talk with the drivers, look at the cars up close, and collect pictures and other souvenirs the drivers may have.
Bethel’s pit entry fee is $45 per person and grandstand entry fee is $12, and gates open at 2:30 pm, with hot laps at 4:30 pm and racing getting underway at 6 pm. Any questions can be directed to Bethel Speedway’s management team at (845) 319-7908 or can be emailed to Tracy Chirico (race co-promoter) at tracychirico@yahoo.com.
