WHITE LAKE — Engines roared to life at Bethel Motor Speedway on Saturday, Oct. 31, as the historic quarter-mile oval hosted its first racing event in two years, bringing drivers and spectators back to the track for an afternoon of competition and Halloween festivities.

The event featured five racing divisions, including Street Stocks, East Coast TQ Midgets, Run What You Brung, four-cylinder cars and an open competition enduro. The Sullivan 50 Street Stock race and Run What You Brung each offered a $1,000 winner’s purse.

The speedway, which first opened in 1960, has been a fixture of Sullivan County motorsports for more than six decades. Originally a dirt track, it was paved in 1962 and has operated under several names, including Kauneonga Speedway and White Lake Speedway. Following an earlier closure in 2007, the track reopened under its current name in August 2008.

After hosting races during the 2024 season, the speedway remained idle throughout 2025 despite efforts to renew its annual operating permit. The Halloween event marked the return of competition to the track.

Families also joined the festivities, with children dressed in Halloween costumes and a community Trunk or Treat planned to follow the races. Local firefighters and emergency personnel participated in the day’s activities, including a display of a large American flag across the infield.