Inside Groove 207: DIRT Week, Oswego Memories & The Streaming Debate

Super DIRT Week 54 is underway at Oswego Speedway, and with 287 cars on the entry list, there's plenty to talk about on this week's Inside Groove Short Track Show.

I start Episode 207 with our weekend racing roundup, including the controversy surrounding Matt Williamson's disqualification following what appeared to be his third consecutive Fulton Speedway Outlaw 200 victory. What happened, and could the dispute over engine intake rules become a bigger issue for the 358 Modified division?

We also cover Chase Dietz's $75,000 National Open victory at Williams Grove, Caden Kvapil's CARS Tour championship-clinching win at Newport, John McKennedy's domination at Stafford, and plenty more from the dirt and pavement racing world.

Then we turn our attention to Oswego.

Growing up just blocks from Oswego Speedway, I've watched the sport change considerably over the past five decades. While looking through a 1972 Modified 200 program, I started remembering the days when drivers like Lou Lazzaro, Dave Lape, Richie Evans and others competed on both dirt and pavement, sometimes in the same cars.

That led to some memories of Oswego's old midweek Modified races, the Syracuse Mile, and a few stories about the drivers and events that helped make Central New York such an important part of short track racing history.

We also get into a subject I've talked about before, but one that's worth revisiting.

Does streaming actually hurt attendance at local racetracks?

I've heard that argument for years, but I don't buy it. Streaming has introduced fans to tracks and divisions they might never have discovered otherwise. Thunder Road in Vermont is one example I discuss, along with Land of Legends Raceway and Oshweken Speedway.

I believe the opportunity is there for promoters to use streaming to bring more people through the gates, provided they're giving fans an experience worth leaving home for.

There's a difference between watching a race and being part of it.

Super DIRT Week, Oswego's racing history, the evolution of short track racing and a look at where the sport might be heading are all part of Episode 207.

Inside Groove is produced by Steering Wheel Nation, the home of America's racers.