Press Releases

Please find attached picture to add to posting of the first release.

LEBANON VALLEY SPEEDWAY RECEIVES FACELIFT

DECEMBER 10, 2001
WEST LEBANON, NY-The entire staff at Lebanon Valley has been as busy as the 
U.S. search for Bin Laden.
    Ever since the final checkered flag of the CARQUEST National 200, which 
was Danny Johnson's final win for the Sweetener's Plus #27J team, the entire 
staff has been working full bore toward the 2002 race season.  New exciting 
promotions, along with an upgrading of the facility, are just a few projects 
being launched at the Lebanon speedplant.
    Track crews have been busy resurfacing the 5/8-mile high-banked speedway. 
 Close to 3,000 yards of rock free clay have been brought into the grounds 
and laid on the track.  The track has received a major facelift with more 
banking on the turns and a bit more banking on the straight-aways. 
 " This is perhaps the best clay we have ever had here at the Valley.  It 
should definitely enhance the side by side racing and produce some of the 
fastest speeds ever witnessed," commented track owner Howard Commander.
In addition to resurfacing, over 250 feet of sections of the outside 
retaining wall have been replaced with new steel.  New concrete barriers now 
line the entire pit road, which should enable race teams a safer area to pit 
and work on their cars.  On another safety note, new caution lights will be 
installed around the speedway.  Several other off-season improvements are 
beginning even though the weather is starting to take a turn for the worse.  
The 2002 season will mark the 50th year of auto racing at the famed 5/8-mile 
oval.  An exciting schedule is being developed along with some awesome fan 
oriented promotions, which will make Lebanon Valley the place to be at on 
Saturday nights.

ENGINE BUILDER DENNY RASPUZZI PASSES AWAY
BUILT MOTORS FOR LEBANON VALLEY DRIVERS

DECEMBER 11, 2001
WEST LEBANON, NY - Dennis Richard Raspuzzi, 58, of 5 Hemlock Hill, Great 
Barrington, MA died Saturday, December 8, 2001 at Fairview Hospital after a 
short illness.
    Born in Westfield, MA on April 22, 1943, son of the late Mario John and 
Mary Angelini Raspuzzi, he moved to West Stockbridge, MA as a child and was a 
1961 graduate of the former Williams High School.
    Denny was proprietor of Denny's Speed Shop in West Stockbridge from 1961 
to 1988. He then became semi-retired, working part-time building engines for 
dirt-modified racecars at Lebanon Valley Speedway in West Lebanon, N.Y., and 
other racetracks in the Northeast.
    Dickie Larkin, John Hewitt and Todd Wilkinson are just a few of the 
modified drivers who have competed with engines built by Denny. Denny was 
more than just an engine builder to these drivers he was a cherished friend 
and will be deeply missed.
    Denny was a communicant of Corpus Christi Church. He and his wife of 39 
years, the former Roberta Joan "Bobbie" Kinne, were married November 3, 1962 
in Corpus Christi Church.
    Besides his wife, he leaves two sons, Michael Dennis Raspuzzi of 
Leominister, MA and Mark John Raspuzzi of West Springfield, MA; a daughter, 
Joan Marie Gagnon of Nashua, N.H.; a sister, Maryann Hamling of St. 
Augustine, Fla., and four grandchildren.
    Lebanon Valley Speedway would like to extend our deepest sympathy to the 
Raspuzzi family.