EDITOR’S NOTE: Additional quotes from the promotional team added on July 30, 2023, below the original story.
Many race tracks across the country have unfortunately closed their doors over the last several years, and Chemung Speedrome in New York might be one of the latest after a contract breakdown, which ends after this season’s racing concludes.
On Saturday, July 29, a press release story by Carol Houssock, who writes for the track, was sent out and posted on the track’s social media. According to the release, the Hodge Promotional team owners Ray and Ellen Hodge were unable to come to terms with a lease agreement with track owner John White for 2024 and beyond. There are four more regular events planned in August with a final special event on September 9, which will end their 2023 commitment and the final race at the track under the promotional team.
It is unclear at this time whether White will run racing events in 2024 under his own promotional team, work a deal with another company, or close the track.
Chemung Speedrome is known as the “home track” for NASCAR veteran drivers and brothers, Geoff, Brett, and Todd Bodine. In 2023, the track has been building their Bandolero program with a potential goal of INEX sanctioning in the future for both Legends and Bandolero racing.
Below is the press release sent out. Legends Nation will post updates as more information arises.
“Ray and Ellen Hodge Ending Lease of Chemung Speedrome in September”
by Carol Houssock
(Chemung, NY) Chemung’s rumor mill has been active once again regarding what lies ahead, when the lease between Ray and Ellen Hodge and track owner John White expires after the 2023 season. The rumors can now be put to rest, as the Hodge Promotional team was unable to come to terms for a lease to cover 2024 and beyond. “We’ll finish out what we had planned for this year, but our September 9th show will be our last as lease-holders and Promoters,” Hodge stated.
Hodge, the track’s former Race Director when White ran the Speedrome, had said he was stepping down when White announced he was going back to Saturday night racing in 2019. Hodge had said that Saturday racing prevented them from attending events with their growing children and grandchildren. Friday shows had worked for them and for other employees who also had planned to leave for the same reason.
In the weeks following those announcements, and with the rumor mill in high gear, things changed. “We talked it over, had many conversations with John, and it all came together the first week of January,” Hodge recalled. Ray and Ellen Hodge came to an agreement with John White to lease the track and they would keep it as a Friday night venue in 2019. They have honored their lease arrangement every year since 2019.
For the past five years, the track has run B-Modifieds, Super Stocks, 4 Cylinders, and Bandoleros. Hodge introduced a Hobby Stock class three years ago, and it has proven to be fun, affordable, and the fastest-growing division. Special shows, such as visits by the Race of Champions, New York Super Stocks, Limited Supermodifieds, and TQ Midgets, among others, all combined to present a variety of racing for the public.
Operations Director Jerry Sinsabaugh sought out and secured business sponsorships for the track that include billboards and other signage, plus yearly race night sponsorships. Together, Hodge and Sinsabaugh kept the facility mowed, groomed, painted, and appealing to racers and fans alike.
“Ellen and I have enjoyed working with the dedicated team we put together five years ago, most of whom are still with us,” Hodge stated. “We’ve taken pride in keeping the track alive and providing a place for racers to do what they love. But when the numbers don’t add up we just can’t be in a position to face another financial hit,” he added. “The contract we proposed to John, and the one he proposed to us are just not close. After five years, I know what the track can generate, given the unknowns of weather and the many other factors affecting the bottom line.”
The four events planned in August (4th, 11th, 19th, and 25th), and the special event on September 9th will complete their 2023 commitment and serve as the end of another era at the historic facility.
“Ellen and I thank our employees, sponsors, race teams and fans for the past five years of support,” Ray stated.
Photo Caption: Ray and Ellen Hodge broke the news to their staff prior to Friday night’s program. Photo by Brian DeMark
ADDED JULY 30, 2023
Ray Hodge of the Hodge Promotional team, added the following statement on the track’s social media on Sunday, July 30, 2023:
First and most importantly, I want to say thank you to every single person that has been a part of Chemung Speedrome in any way in the last 5 years,
I want to clear up a few things with facts. My decision to not return to Chemung is 100% a business decision. It has nothing to do with fan support, competitor support, we have that. We have had great fan support, the stands may look empty in pictures, but the great fans that support Chemung Speedrome are dedicated.
Racing is an expensive sport, these racers spend a ton of money on a hobby that doesn’t have a big return. We spend a lot of time and money to provide a decent place to race. We all have a role and for the past 5 years I think both sides have given their all to keep it going.
I am in no way blaming anyone, not the fans, not the competitors and not John White. This is my decision based on the business side of it. Chemung Speedrome will survive, Bob Stapleton built a beautiful facility and John White saved it. If it weren’t for John, Chemung would be an abandoned race track. I want to see Chemung Survive and I am certain that it will. The reason I didn’t wait until after the season to start my contract talk with John is simple, I could not in good faith continue under the contract we have had for the past 5 years, I made a commitment and signed a contract for 5 years and I honored every part of that contract. The contract talk moving into 2024 was simply an attempt on my part to negotiate something that worked better for me and to allow me to make this better for everyone. I do not blame John White at all, its his race track and he is in business to make money as well.
My decision was made early to give John and everyone that wants to throw their hat in to promote a beautiful racing facility that is a turn key operation the opportunity to so. Regardless of what people say, I love Chemung Speedrome and all that it is and can be. My hope is that someone will come on board with new ideas, a new direction, and will continue local short track racing. There are quite a few people that have already reached out with interest in keeping Chemung open so I don’t see Chemung closing, I see a lot of interest and hopefully with the time given, someone will work with John and come up with a plan that works for everyone.
I will end with this, this decision was not made last year as some say, I am not blaming John White, I respect John White and understand the business side of this. At the end of the day, I made an offer to stay that only benefited me and because it didn’t work for John doesn’t make him the bad guy.
I am certain Chemung will be back stronger and better than ever in 2024.
Sincerely
Ray Hodge
