seems that i missed something, but when did NYIRP become empiredragway?
When Vito changed the name.
So Vito’s keeping the track? I had heard rumors that he backed out of it after the 1 year trial?
Is he going to finally throw some $$ into it and put the concrete dividers in so they can run Top-Fuel cars again?
from what i understood vito never backed out but got screwed outta his contract/lease do to some sorta misunderstanding. Its good to see vito in charge again. Hopefully it will be easy to rent the track again.
I don’t know that he is still the owner. I was merely saying 
I don’t doubt this one bit… Heard a LOT of shady things about Bob (Prior owner) over the years…
Bob the owner of the track for 25 years (expect for that one year about 2 years ago) changed it back to Empire Dragway in January at the Track Banquet, which was the name of the track back in the day.
So… he’s still the owner of the track? So therefore no concrete barriers… therefore still no Top-Fuels… :thumbdown::thumbdown:
I was hoping he finally sold it to someone who would invest some $$ and bring them back to WNY.
He is investing money, last year they re-built the burnout boxes. There is suppose to be some improvement to the pits. The one year he didn’t own it was one of the worst years ever at the track because it was run like a clusterfuck
That maybe true about him investing in the burnout boxes and pits… but if he would just put the concrete dividers in he could make a CRAPLOAD more $$ with the track. Hell, I’m willing to bet he made well into the 6-figures when they used to have the Empire Drags with the Top Fuel Rails & Funny Cars, Jet Cars, etc. That place was always PACKED that weekend. Do that twice in one season and the upgrades would be paid for.
Not sure when the last time the NHRA was ever there…IHRA was last there in 2002 and they are only Alcohol cars…
2002 I believe was the last IHRA Carquest Empire Nationals… and there was Top-Fuels… it was the first and only time I’ve ever seen them… and that’s NOT something you forget.
IHRA came in after that and changed the safety regs to require concrete dividers to be allowed to run Top-Fuel cars. Bob said he wasn’t going to spend the $$… they haven’t been back since.
Proof: http://www.ihramotorsports.com/results/2002/empire/index.html
You will never see a real show at that track, track is wayyyy to small.
+1 i believe you have to be able to hold so many thousands of people in the grandstands for NHRA.
Yea stands are wayyyy to small and the lanes are wayyy to small.
IHRA… not NHRA…
The Carquest Empire Nationals pulled 1000’s of people if not to 10’000s… not quite the draw of the NHRA; but they PACKED the track, entrance road, and everywhere else in the area. The 2 or 3 years I went it was always loaded with people that weekend.
Plus if I remember correctly… Bob removed some of the grandstands since the IHRA pulled the big events from the track; there used to be a bunch more.
when does it open up?