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Oswego Speedway Founders To Be Honored
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Harry, George and Bill Caruso, the founders of Oswego Speedway, will be memorialized as East Albany Street will be recognized as Caruso Bros Blvd at a dedication ceremony on Saturday, June 30, at 4 p.m.
The dedication will take place at the corner of East Albany St. and Shampine Drive just across from the speedway in Oswego, New York.
The Caruso brothers built Oswego Speedway from an old horse track and opened the famed oval in August of 1951 as a third-mile dirt track. It was paved the following year and expanded to its present five-eighths-mile course in 1961.
While under the guidance of the Caruso brothers, Oswego Speedway was acclaimed as one of the premier short tracks in the US. They nurtured the growth and popularity of the ultra-fast supermodifieds by paying one of the largest weekly purses for a single division in the country.
Additionally, they were the first to introduce modern innovations such as the electronic lap counter and scoreboard. The group was at the forefront of driver safety with innovations such as corner lights and corner flagmen in radio communication with each other and race officials. The track was also widely recognized as having some of the best concession stands of any sports venue.
The resolution to recognize the Caruso Bros’ accomplishments was brought before the City of Oswego common council by 6th ward Councilor Ron Tesoriero on Monday, June 11, and was unanimously passed.
“I was excited to sponsor the resolution that was originally brought to the floor by former 4th Ward councilor Shawn Walker,” Tesoriero said. “We’re both big Oswego Speedway supporters; I’m currently on a race team and Shawn was a former SBS competitor. Robert Metcalf, an Oswegonian who obviously has a passion for Oswego Speedway and all that it has meant to the community, spearheaded the campaign.”
“My father and uncles would be humbled by this honor, but they weren’t much for accolades,” Romey Caruso said, who spoke on behalf of the Carusos. “It was their passion for auto racing, particularly for supermodified racing, that drove them to make Oswego Speedway a success. And, I’m sure that they would be the first to share their legacy with the dedicated employees, drivers, owners, crew members, volunteers and race fans, all of whom I believe just wanted to be part of this special fraternity."
The dedication will take place at the corner of East Albany St. and Shampine Drive just across from the speedway in Oswego, New York.
The Caruso brothers built Oswego Speedway from an old horse track and opened the famed oval in August of 1951 as a third-mile dirt track. It was paved the following year and expanded to its present five-eighths-mile course in 1961.
While under the guidance of the Caruso brothers, Oswego Speedway was acclaimed as one of the premier short tracks in the US. They nurtured the growth and popularity of the ultra-fast supermodifieds by paying one of the largest weekly purses for a single division in the country.
Additionally, they were the first to introduce modern innovations such as the electronic lap counter and scoreboard. The group was at the forefront of driver safety with innovations such as corner lights and corner flagmen in radio communication with each other and race officials. The track was also widely recognized as having some of the best concession stands of any sports venue.
The resolution to recognize the Caruso Bros’ accomplishments was brought before the City of Oswego common council by 6th ward Councilor Ron Tesoriero on Monday, June 11, and was unanimously passed.
“I was excited to sponsor the resolution that was originally brought to the floor by former 4th Ward councilor Shawn Walker,” Tesoriero said. “We’re both big Oswego Speedway supporters; I’m currently on a race team and Shawn was a former SBS competitor. Robert Metcalf, an Oswegonian who obviously has a passion for Oswego Speedway and all that it has meant to the community, spearheaded the campaign.”
“My father and uncles would be humbled by this honor, but they weren’t much for accolades,” Romey Caruso said, who spoke on behalf of the Carusos. “It was their passion for auto racing, particularly for supermodified racing, that drove them to make Oswego Speedway a success. And, I’m sure that they would be the first to share their legacy with the dedicated employees, drivers, owners, crew members, volunteers and race fans, all of whom I believe just wanted to be part of this special fraternity."
