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MIDDLETOWN (September 17)……..The 64
th Annual Eastern States Will Cagle 200 presented by Hauser
Bros., Inc. for dirt track Modifieds is set for Sunday, October 26 at Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, New York. It is the oldest consecutively-run championship race for Northeastern-type dirt track Modifieds. Firstrun as a 100-lap race in 1962 with legendary driver Frankie Schneider taking home the trophy and $1,000 winner’s share of the then outstanding $4,000 purse. Schneider, a weekly competitor at Orange County, set a precedent that day that continues right to the present. Drivers who have raced at Orange County on a regular basis have a decided edge over outside “invaders” in terms of winning this classic event.
Stewart Friesen is the defending Eastern States 200 winner, having won the double-century race a total of four times–2024, 2019, 2018, and 2016. Friesen is one of 34 different drivers to have won the Eastern States 200, 20 of whom have raced at Orange County at least one full year.
These 20 weekly competitors total 47 Eastern States 200 victories. The “Home Track Heroes” brigade is led by all-time Orange County feature race winner Brett Hearn, who has won the 200 a record 12 times. Others with multiple 200 victories include Danny Johnson (6 wins), Will Cagle (4), Stewart Friesen (4), Frankie Schneider (3), Frank Cozze (2), Jimmy Horton (2), and Matt Sheppard (2). Gerald Chamberlain and Mat Williamson have also won two times, but never raced a full season at Orange County.
Weekly competitors with single Eastern States 200 triumphs include Alan “Rags” Carter, Emil “Buzzie”
Reutimann, Bobby Bottcher, Wayne Reutimann, Gary Balough, and Harry Behrent. Also Doug Hoffman, Rich Eurich, Chuck McKee, Jeff Heotzler, Jerry Higbie, and Tommy Meier.
Among the “Invaders,” in addition to the pair of 200 wins by both Chamberlain and Williamson, include Ron Lux, Al Tasnady, Lou Lazzaro, Kenny Brightbill, C.D. Coville, Dave Lape, and Jack Johnson. Also Bob McCreadie, Billy Decker, Alan Johnson, Bobby Varin, and Tim McCreadie.
The 64th Annual Eastern States Will Cagle 200 culminates United Rentals Eastern States Weekend, Thursday October 23 through Sunday, October 26, with exciting racing in all the divisions that compete at Orange County plus the annual Appearance of the Short Track Super Series (STSS) Modifieds in their Hard Clay Finale.
For the latest racing news and updated event information for the October 23-26 United Rentals Eastern States Weekend at historic Orange County Fair Speedway, fans and competitors should always check the speedway website, www.orangecountyfairspeedway.net and social media.
