Lebanon Valley Speedway: Racing Near the Berkshires

Lebanon Valley Speedway is a half-mile, high-banked dirt oval just over the New York state line, about a 40-minute drive from The Yankee Inn in Lenox. If you want a loud, family-friendly summer night out that's a little different from the Berkshires' usual arts-and-nature fare, a Saturday at 'the Valley' delivers.

It's a genuine slice of grassroots Northeast motorsports, drawing local drivers and devoted fans week after week from spring into fall. This is a real local institution, not a tourist show, which is a big part of its appeal.

About Lebanon Valley Speedway

The speedway was built in 1953 by a group of Massachusetts racing enthusiasts and has been running dirt-track racing ever since, making it one of the longest-running tracks in the region. The Spanier family took ownership in the mid-1950s and added the drag strip in 1963, and the complex in West Lebanon, NY, is now three venues in one: the half-mile dirt oval, the quarter-mile Lebanon Valley Dragway, and a go-kart track.

That combination means the site hosts a wide spread of motorsports across the season, from weekly wheel-to-wheel oval racing to straight-line drag racing and grassroots kart events, and it has become a fixture of the summer calendar for families across the Berkshires and the nearby Capital Region of New York.

What racing you'll see

The headline action on the dirt oval is the DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds, roughly 800-horsepower cars that throw dirt through the high-banked turns, alongside a full card of other divisions including 358 Modifieds, Pro Stocks, Sportsman, Limited Sportsman, Street Stocks, and four-cylinders. Oval races run on Saturday nights through the summer, building from qualifying heats to the main feature events.

Next door, the dragway hosts NHRA-style quarter-mile drag racing on select days from April through October, open to everything from street cars and motorcycles to junior and professional dragsters, and it draws its own following with signature events like the annual Night of Fire and the Hemmings Musclepalooza car gathering. Beyond the weekly programs, the speedway is known for special events including monster trucks, fireworks nights, and its long-running 'Eve of Destruction,' a crowd-pleasing bill that has featured a school-bus race, a trailer race, and a demolition derby.

What a race night is like

Gates open in the late afternoon for Saturday-night oval racing, with heats building to the feature events after dark. It's an affordable, come-as-you-are outing, and it's especially good value for families, with children often admitted for just a couple of dollars. Bring seat cushions for the grandstand, layers for the cool evening air once the sun drops, and ear protection, since the modifieds are genuinely loud. Concessions are on site, so you can make a full evening of it.

Planning your visit

The season runs roughly April through October, with oval racing on Saturday nights and dragway events on select days. Schedules and special-event lineups change through the year, so always check the official site before heading over. Season tickets and single-night admission are both available, and children's admission is famously cheap, which keeps a night at the races well within reach for families. Now well past its seventieth season, Lebanon Valley remains one of the Northeast's premier dirt tracks and still draws top modified drivers from across the region. From The Yankee Inn it's about a 40-minute drive west via Route 20, which makes it an easy evening outing if you're already exploring the western Berkshires, and a memorable one for anyone traveling with motorsport fans.

More than the Saturday oval

While the dirt oval is the headliner, the complex earns its reputation as a full motorsports destination. The quarter-mile Lebanon Valley Dragway runs its own program on select days from April through October, welcoming everything from street cars and motorcycles to junior dragsters and full professional machines, with test-and-tune sessions, bracket racing, and marquee gatherings like the Night of Fire and the Hemmings Musclepalooza.

There's also a go-kart track on the property, which keeps grassroots racing in the mix. Because the oval and the dragway keep separate schedules on the same site, it's worth confirming which venue is running on the date you want before you drive over.

Tips for a great night

A few things make the evening go smoothly. Arrive on the earlier side to get parking and a good grandstand seat, since Saturday features draw a crowd. Bring a cushion for the aluminum bleachers, layers for when the temperature drops after sunset, and ear protection, especially for kids, because the big-block modifieds are genuinely loud.

Concessions are on site, so you can grab dinner at the track and make a full evening of it. Weather can affect the program on a dirt oval, so it's worth checking the speedway's website or social media on race day for updates. If you're new to dirt racing, the modified features toward the end of the night are the ones not to miss.

Pair it with

Because the speedway sits at the western edge of the region, it works well as the finale to a day spent in the northwestern Berkshires. You might combine it with a morning at Jiminy Peak's summer adventure park or a visit to Hancock Shaker Village, then head to the track for the evening's racing before the drive back to Lenox.

Lebanon Valley Speedway FAQ

Where is Lebanon Valley Speedway?

At 1746 US Route 20 in West Lebanon, NY, just over the New York line from the Berkshires.

How far is it from Lenox?

About a 40-minute drive from The Yankee Inn.

When do they race?

The dirt oval runs Saturday nights through the summer; the dragway runs on select days April through October. Check the schedule.

What is the Eve of Destruction?

A popular special-event night that has included features like a school-bus race, a trailer race, and a demolition derby.

Is it good for families?

Yes. It is an affordable, family-friendly night out, with children typically admitted at a very low rate. Bring ear protection for young kids.

Making a weekend of it? We're about 40 minutes east in Lenox with plenty to see between races.

From The Yankee Inn

25 Min drive

Directions

Address

1746 US Route 20, West Lebanon, NY 12195

Phone Number

+1 (518) 603-2466

Operating Hours

Seasonal, roughly April through October. The dirt oval races on Saturday nights; the dragway runs on select days from April–October. Confirm the current schedule before you go.