The Evans Mills Raceway Park is gearing up for Father’s Day Weekend this Saturday June 14th after an exciting weekend of hosting Relay for Life and Legends Night. The weekend will feature all EMRP points divisions with a twist to the schedule. The annual Kevin Ward Jr. Memorial race for the Empire Super Sprints is cancelled for 2025 due to low car commitments from 360 sprint car teams.
The five divisions racing on June 14th are the Kinney Drugs Modifieds, Christman Fuel Service INEX Legends, Excess Storage Pro Late Models, Stewart’s Shops Sport Compacts, and Thunderstocks.
In discussions with the Ward family and honoring their wish to keep this remembrance of Kevin Jr.’s life, EMRP looks forward to transferring the Kevin Ward Jr. Memorial moniker to the Christman Fuel Service INEX Legends class for a special race later in 2025.
Though Kevin Jr. never raced an INEX Legend car, his nephew Landen Herring is currently cutting his teeth at EMRP in the division with help from his family and grandfather, Kevin Ward Sr. In 2025, only in his sophomore campaign Herring spent time racing against national competition in Florida and has finished second and fifth in feature racing at EMRP.
Dalton Rombough, the only multi-time winner of the ESS version of the Kevin Ward Jr. Memorial Asphalt Spectacular (2023,2024) is also a Lowville, NY native, consistent EMRP competitor, and already a Christman Fuel Service INEX Legend feature winner in 2025.
Each year, as part of this event, a student in the B.O.C.E.S. auto-tech program at the Howard G. Sackett Technical Center is selected to receive a scholarship from the Evans Mills Raceway Park as Kevin Jr. was a student in the program through high school. This year’s recipient will be announced Thursday June 12th.
The evening will also feature a major fundraiser supporting our local Children’s Miracle Network of NNY as part of the Samaritan Medical Center. Ways to fundraise during the night include basket raffles, a pie in the face contest, and so much more!
Empire Super Sprints series director John Tiff Jr. reports many factors affecting participation in 2025 including mechanical failures, medical issues, etc.
Evans Mills Raceway Park owner Peggy Gill stated “This is a very difficult and heart-breaking decision to make with all that this race means to so many. We in no way, want this to reflect on the purpose that this race fulfilled; and that was to continue to honor the legacy of Kevin Jr. and his deep passion for this sport.”
General Manager Nick Czerow commented “This is difficult news to break to the North Country, but in a quick turn around I feel bringing the Ward family’s support to our INEX Legends division is a very natural and intriguing concept to build on to honor Kevin Jr.’s legacy. We are very grateful that they wish to see this event remain with EMRP in some form.”
EMRP will also revisit the possibility of a date with ESS in 2026.
The INEX Legends division across multiple countries is a strong division supporting young drivers’ development. Thus, fitting with elements surrounding the Ward Jr. Memorial like student scholarships and Kevin Jr.’s youthful spirit.
General admission doors for this weekend open at 5:00pm with heat racing action at 6:00pm. For more information contact EMRP at emrpgm@yahoo.com or (315) 323-6033.