I have to admit…
I did a complete double take when the flyer for the Bus Races at Outlaw Speedway rolled across my Facebook feed.
School buses?
Racing?
Honestly, it felt like something dreamed up after too much coffee (or moonshine) and one too many episodes of Dukes of Hazzard.
But then my overactive imagination immediately took over — and suddenly a whole movie scene started playing in my head.
Picture this…
Friday afternoon. Around 4:00 PM.
Bus drivers across Yates County have just completed their final routes of the week. Sticky fruit snack wrappers litter the floors. Someone’s half-eaten granola bar is still rolling around under Seat 12. The sound of “Are we there yet?” has finally faded into silence.
One exhausted driver pulls into the bus garage… shuts the door… removes the aviator sunglasses dramatically… then slowly reaches for the CB radio microphone.
Static crackles.
A voice cuts through the speaker:
“Alright boys and girls… kids are delivered safely home. Meet me at Outlaw Speedway. Tonight… we ride.”
Another voice chimes in:
“You better bring your A-game this time, Earl. I put new tires on Bus 22.”
Then somewhere off in the distance another driver responds:
“Winner buys coffee at the diner tomorrow morning.”
And just like that…
The quiet yellow guardians of childhood transform into roaring beasts of dirt-track glory.
I mean honestly — how has this not already become a Netflix series?
Can’t you just picture it?
Bus drivers rolling into Dundee like seasoned race car legends. Proudly polishing the hoods of vehicles that normally spend their days navigating field trips, snow days, forgotten backpacks, and middle-school drama.
Only around here could something as wonderfully chaotic as bus racing become a community event.
And honestly?
That’s exactly why small towns are magic.
Because somewhere between the vineyards, farm roads, Friday night lights, and dirt tracks… communities like ours still know how to have fun.
No fancy production.
No big-city glitz.
Just buses. Dirt. Laughter. A little harmless competition. And probably at least one driver yelling:
“THIS THING WAS NOT BUILT FOR SPEED!”
Which, of course, only makes it even better.
So if you hear rumbling across Yates County Friday night… don’t panic.
It’s probably just the school buses living their best NASCAR dreams at Outlaw Speedway.
Fast Facts!
And if you think the school bus races are just some goofy side attraction… think again.
This is the second consecutive year, Leland Harris Bus Company of Lindley, NY is teaming up with Outlaw Speedway to bring fans another round of organized chaos as the historic Yates County dirt track celebrates its 69th season of racing.
And apparently… these drivers do not mess around.
Last year’s race became the stuff of local legend when Corning driver Aiden Grover and Hayden Myers battled door-to-door, bumper-to-bumper, for nearly the entire race.
According to Outlaw Speedway owner Tyler Siri, the crowd absolutely lost their minds as the two giant yellow buses thundered around the track side-by-side all the way to the finish line.
The victory?
Won by Grover… by literally a front bumper.
Broken glass? Yep.
Broken marker lights? Also yep.
Common sense quietly leaving the building? Probably.
But according to Siri, fans loved every second of it.
“Last year’s school bus races were unbelievable,” Siri said. “Grover and Myers ran their asses off and it came down to a photo finish.”
Honestly… if you had told me a school bus race could end in a photo finish, I probably would not have believed you either.
And because Outlaw Speedway apparently believes in giving the people exactly what they want, the buses are returning for another round in 2026.
Along with the bus races, fans will also get a full FAST 5* racing card featuring everything from Modifieds and Crate Sportsman to Street Stocks, Hobby Stocks, Mini Stocks, and the Bandit Division — showcasing some of the future stars of dirt track racing.
And perhaps best of all?
It is also
$10 Fan Appreciation Night.
Because even Outlaw Speedway knows that between grocery bills, gas prices, and life in general… sometimes families just need an affordable night out filled with noise, dirt, laughter, and wildly questionable school bus driving decisions.
Honestly?
That sounds kind of perfect.
Small-town America at its finest.
Outlaw Speedway
82 Main St, Dundee, NY
OutlawSpeedwayLLC.com
$10 Fan Appreciation - School Bus Races
Sponsored by: Leland F Harris INC
Friday - May 15th at 7:00PM
Fast 5* Show
School Bus Races
Pits Open at 5PM
Stands open at 5:30PM
Hot Laps at 6:45PM
Heats at 7:30PM
Pits $42
Stands General Admission $10
Kids 12 & Under FREE
Stay Rooted. Stay Keuka. 🌿
