New York Drag Strips

[Paul Ceasrine]

Dover Drag Strip

Wingdale, New York (Dutchess County)

Southeastern New York

Location.....
Pleasant Ridge Road (County Road #21), Wingdale, New York

* Drag Racing......{1961 thru 1976}

* Race Days.........Sunday

* Track..................1/4 Mile
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Attracted Racers from;
* Dutchess County
* Putnam County...............(15 Miles South)
* Westchester County.......(40 Miles South)
* Orange County................(40 Miles West)
* Rockland County.............(60 Miles Southwest)
* Western Connecticut......(30 Miles East)
* New York.........................(70 Miles South)
* Long Island......................(90 Miles South)
* Northern New Jersey......(90 Miles Southwest)

* 'Hey-Day'........................{1961 thru 1974}

* Car Counts.....................300 to 350

Featured
* Stockers
* Super-Street
* Super Stock
* Gassers
* Modified Prodiction
* AWB's
* Altereds
* Junior Fuelers
* Funny Cars
* Dragsters
* Pro Stock

General Overview
* Opened to a large Racer Participation and fan attendance.
* Called the 'Fast Track'
* Followed NHRA car classifications
* NHRA sanctioned {1965-1966 and 1970-1971}
* Held many 'big events' and 'big name' Match Race events
* Many of the Drag Racers were regulars, giving the Track a 'warm atmosphere'.
* Dino 'The Weirdo' Lawrence, a popular track announcer {1965 thu 1972}.
* The 'gas crunch' of 1975 and lack of staging big name events hurt Racer Participation, and car counts dropped to 150 to 200.
* Insurance issues ended the season in May 1976.