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By Ransomville Speedway
While nary a lap was turned at Ransomville Speedway in 2020, that didn’t mean the facility laid dormant during the last few months. Speedway management used the extended offseason to complete some needed upgrades to the facility that will have it ready to come back to life even better in 2021.
The first of these projects was the replacement of the catch fence along the front straightaway. The entire length of the frontstretch has brand-new fencing with freshly poured supports for the fence posts and a new gate at the start/finish line. This will provide a safer environment for both fans and drivers as well as add to the professional appearance of the track.
One of the biggest issues with the “Big R” during times of inclement weather was the saturation of the parking lot and pit area, which made it difficult for vehicles to get in and out of the property. To combat this, the grandstand and pit parking lots, as well as the pit area, have been completely covered with recycled millings to help sure up the grounds. With the parking areas covered, this will encourage better draining and hopefully lead to fewer events being postponed because of wet grounds.
Ransomville Speedway officials are busy putting together a schedule for the 2021 season. Details on special events and the complete season schedule will be published in the coming weeks.
Opened in 1958, Ransomville Speedway is located on Braley Road in the hamlet of Ransomville. “The Big R” is a 3/8-mile DIRTcar-sanctioned facility that is the home of the Summer Nationals. Ransomville also features a 1/16-mile Go-Kart track for action on the “Little R” on Thursday nights. For more information, visit www.ransomvillespeedway.com or follow on Twitter @Ransomville and “Like” on Facebook. One can also contact the speedway by phone by calling 716-791-3602 or 716-791-3611.
•On Tuesday evening, the Western New York racing family suffered a terrible loss when 11-year-old Mackenzie Kulesza was struck and killed by a car while walking with her friends in Lockport.
Mackenzie was the daughter of Tony Kulesza who has been a participant in WNY racing for a number of years, most recently as an official with the BEI Lightning Sportsman Series and as a mini-stock driver at Genesee Speedway. Kulesza also previously worked at the Speedway Park indoor go-kart track in Lockport.
Ransomville Speedway will honor the memory of Mackenzie during the 2021 season with the inaugural Mackenzie Kulesza Memorial Mini Stock race. This event will be held on a to be announced date during the upcoming season and will be 36 laps in honor of her father’s car number.
Speedway management will be putting together a lap sponsorship program to help generate interest for the Mackenzie Kulesza Memorial. Anyone interested in sponsoring a lap can contact General Manager Jenn Martin at [email protected] or direct message her on social media.
The staff and management of Ransomville Speedway would like to send its deepest condolences to the Kulesza family during this terrible time and we will keep them in our thoughts and prayers.
Mackenzie Kulesza from the 2019 Ransomville Speedway Mall Car Show (Photo by Tom Stevens)