Night of Fire Kicks Off a High-Horsepower Weekend at Lebanon Valley Dragway

What a weekend!! From thrills of the Night of Fire to a fun filled weekend of wheel standing stockers and bracket racing, the quarter mile at Lebanon Valley Dragway in West Lebanon, NY was on fire.

On Friday, June 26, 2026, although the weather forecast for over a week before said rain at almost 100%, they lied. Many were skeptical whether the show would get in or not similar to last year’s rain, but it was definitely a different night.

Those who attended were treated to some awesome side by side racing at the 2026 Night of Fire presented by a lot of our regular family of racers in such categories as Super, Pro and Motorcycle Eliminators as well as the kids from our Junior Dragster group. As a treat, some of the Top Dragster and Top Sportsman racers put on a show of top speeds to qualify for a top 16. The All-Star Stock/Super Stock had a special eight car shootout displaying their wild wheel standing starts.

The best show was one of a side by side race by two vehicles from one of our main sponsors. Thank you NAPA for being part of our family of fun!

The crowd was treated to a special Color Guard by the Young Marines of Westover Airforce base who presented the Nation’s colors with pride and dignity.

Special guests and cars that put on an awesome show for a great crowd included the US Marines sponsored motorcycle driven by Jim Doyle who match races the pro stock bike of Shawn Rainey. 

The Airborne Express wheel stander shots sparks down the quarter mile on two wheels followed by five second side by side runs by the jet dragster “Wicked Sinsation” and the “Beast from the East” jet dragster.

Hanna’s jet funny car “First Strike” returned to racing for the first time driven by Gary Schwartz which was a great sight to see.

PT Cruiser and Quartermaster Mustang jet funny cars did an spectacular side by side into the sun set while the funny cars of “Total Insanity” and Hofmann Racing doubled 6 second runs side by side.

The thrill of the evening was the 18,000 Horsepower Jet Truck “Bone Shaker” who didn’t leave anyone without a bone shake or two when he fired it up and let it rip down the quarter mile.  Thank you to everyone who attended and shared in our thrill of some once in a lifetime chance to check out these unique vehicles.

On Saturday, June 27, 2026, the track hosted an open test and tune as well as gamblers races and day one of two points races for the All Star Stock/Super Stock Racing Association (ASRA) and the North East Super Street Association (NESSA) as they prepare for the upcoming NHRA Division 1 Regional event over the July 4^th weekend.

In the No Box Gamblers, Warren Wright of Waterford, CT took the win when he defeated  Mark Richards of Wappingers Falls, NY in the final. Ed Martelli of Schenectady, NY finished in the semi-finals.

In the Box Gamblers Shawn Rainey of Waterford, CT traded in his bike for the day to take to the seat of the dragster where he defeated Grant Nichols Sr of Marlborough, CT in the final. Mike Shinault of Waterford, CT finished his day in the semi-finals.

In NESSA, Laura LeQue of Troy, NY defeated Mike Fitts of Groton, CT in the final of the 10.90 class. Nicholas Volpe of Poughkeepsie, NY and William Blaker III of New Rochelle, NY finished their day in the semi-finals.

In the All Stars, Bob Moran of East Falmouth, MA defeated George Mirza of North Attleboro, MA in the final. Jim Whitehead of Peabody, MA and Tim Stickles of Dover, NH finished their day in the semi-finals.

On to Sunday, June 28, 2026. The day was busy with another Summit ET points race, sponsored this week by Mike Farrell’s Innovative Performance for the bracket classes along with day 2 of races for ASRA and NESSA.

In Super Pro, Adam Sheran of Blandford, MA  defeated Matt Ticcony of Marlboro, NY. Mike Demicco of Kingston, NY and Herb Wagner of Ravena, NY finished their day in the semi-finals.

In Pro Eliminator, Vito Parrinello of Rhinebeck, NY took top honors when he defeated Geno Picozzi of Warwick, RI. Loretta Boyle of Wappingers Falls, NY and Billy Kirpens, Jr of Pittsfield, MA finished in the semi-finals.

Adam Sheran doubled up when he won in Motorcycle/Sled ET as well as Super Eliminator. Something is to be said about these motorcycle racers taking to a dragster and taking home a trophy. Adam defeated  Jeff Tisdale of Reddick, FL, who by the way also drives a dragster in Super in the final of motorcycle. Adam Rutkauskas of Waterbury, CT and Jonathan Tisdale of Napanoch, NY finished their day in the semi-finals.

In Junior Dragster, it was Giuseppe Porfilio of East Longmeadow, MA that took the trophy when he defeated Mason Spinelli of Latham, NY.  Annastasia Watson of Middle Grove, NY and Mason Varin of Coventry, RI finished their day in the semi-finals.

Junior Street saw Colton Couture of Manchester, CT take top honors when he defeated Gavin Russo of Norfolk, CT in the final. John Couture of Manchester, CT and Colin Morin of Chicopee, MA finished in the semi-finals.

In Open Trophy, Donald Yonta of Saugerties, NY defeated David Marriner of Guilderland, NY in the final round. Mike Morgan of Saratoga, NY and Thomas Stocklas of Troy, NY finished their day in the semi-finals.

George McGuigan, Jr of East Hampton, CT defeated Mike Falcone of Wolcott, CT in the final of Super Street 10.90 class on their second race of the weekend.

Bill Pomponi of West Granby, CT took the win on day two of the All Star Stock/Super Stock Association when he defeated Dan Ficacci of Randolph, NJ. Mike Farrell of East Nassau, NY finished his day in the semi-finals.

If you missed the weekend’s racing, don’t miss this week! As we turn up the heat at the track for the NHRA Division 1 Regional Event, there is guaranteed to be a lot of exciting side by side action throughout the weekend.  Check out the Dragway website at www.dragway.com for more information on this coming weekend’s schedule.