1/24/2024
Can-Am Speedway
Golden Jubilee: LAPCO Summer Starter Showcased the Best in Big Block and Small Block Racing
As the Jubilee 50th season at the Can-Am Speedway approaches, we take a look back at one of the popular events that brought some of the top stars in Modified to thew North Country annually. The event was known as the Summer Starter.
After success with what was simply known to everyone at Can-Am as “The Big Block Show” Promoters Dave Lape and Andy Fusco began the Memorial Day weekend tradition in 1990, with crowd favorites and Hall of Famers gracing victory lane.
Local legend Bearfoot Bob McCreadie took the inaugural 33 lap Summer Starter event over a rising superstar at the time Pat O’Brien. Billy Decker, Steve Paine and Fonda Speedway regular Jeff Trombley completed the top 5 in that first event. Four of the top five finishers in that debut event are now enshrined in the Northeast Modified Hall of Fame in Weedsport New York.
From that first race several other Hall of Fame drivers went to victory lane including “The Doctor” Danny Johnson who won the very next year in 1991 over Jack Johnson, Steve Paine, Bob McCreadie and Brett Hearn.
Speaking of Brett “The Jet”, he also went to victory lane, winning the 1992 edition with Bob McCreadie, Alan Johnson, Steve Paine and Pat O’Brien following him.
Alan Johnson also tasted victory twice in the annual big block/small block battle, “AJ Slideways” scored the win in 1994 and then again in 1996 over the late Doug Hoffman.
Three of the final four Summer Starter events went to three of the most popular drivers that have ever turned laps at Can-Am.
Zephyr Hills Florida native Buzzie Reutimann outran Tim Fuller to the checkered flag in the 1995 event, which brought the near capacity crowd on hand to their feet. Danny O’Brien would cross in third with then 358 Modified sophomore Lee Gill finishing fourth and Pat O’Brien fifth. This event marked the first time the top five finishers were all Can-Am Speedway regulars.
Another popular name turned heads in the 1997 event with his first career Big Block Modified win, beating a stellar field. Plessis New York’s Bill Gill shocked the Modified stars by winning the Summer Starter over then Fonda Speedway regular Bobby Varin, Steve Paine, Billy Decker and Tim McCreadie. Gill would later go on to win two 358 Modified track titles to go along with his numerous championships in the Street Stock division
The final Summer Starter was held on May 25th 1998 and “T-Mac” Tim McCreadie would head to victory lane joining he dad Bob as the first ever, Father/Son duo to win the Memorial Day race. Billy Decker, Pat Ward, Alan Johnson and former NASCAR Racing Series champion Dale Planck finishing 5th.
The event was not held after the 1998 season but still ranks as one of the prestigious events and important parts of Can-Am Speedway’s 50th year in racing.
The Jubilee celebration continues at Can-Am as the 2024 schedule is currently in the works and the staff and management are working extra hard to make the 50th season, the best one yet.
Can-Am Summer Starter Winners:
1990- Bob McCreadie
1991- Danny Johnson
1992- Brett Hearn
1993- Rained Out
1994- Alan Johnson
1995- Buzzie Reutimann
1996- Alan Johnson
1997- Bill Gill
1998- Tim McCreadie
Can-Am Speedway Golden Jubilee Article: 2/50
Article Credit: Tim Baltz
Submitted By: Tyler & Michelle Bartlett