3/22/2026
Oswego Speedway
Keith Zehr Joins Oswego Speedway Announcing Team for 75th Anniversary Season
OSWEGO, NY (March 22, 2026) – As Oswego Speedway prepares to celebrate its landmark 75th anniversary season in 2026, a new voice will join one of the most historic and consistent announcing teams in all of short track racing.
Keith Zehr has been named the newest member of the Oswego Speedway announcing staff, stepping into the role previously held by longtime SBS announcer Joe Marotta.
Zehr joins Hall of Fame announcer Roy Sova, who enters an astonishing 61st consecutive season behind the microphone at Oswego Speedway – an achievement virtually unmatched in the sport. Sova began his announcing career at Oswego in 1966 as an infield reporter before moving to the tower in 1968 alongside Jack Burgess. He later assumed the lead role for Supermodified competition in 1983, a position he continues to hold today.
The addition of Zehr comes following the retirement of Marotta, who concluded a remarkable 33-year run working alongside Sova since the inception of the SBS class in 1992. Together, the duo became synonymous with race nights at the Steel Palace, passionately calling countless SBS and Supermodified events together.
Oswego Speedway extends its sincere appreciation to Joe Marotta for his decades of dedication and contributions to the sport. His voice became a staple of SBS competition and a key part of the Speedway experience for generations of fans.
“After working with Joe for 33 years at Oswego, it’s definitely going to be different working with someone else,” said Sova. “Keith and I have been friends for a long time. I talked him into becoming the infield reporter at Oswego. He moved on to Evans Mills to be the head announcer. We’ve announced a few races together there. So, although it will be different, and I’ll certainly miss working with Joe, I’m excited about working with another friend.”
Zehr brings a strong background to the booth, most recently serving as head announcer at Evans Mills Raceway Park. He is no stranger to Oswego Speedway, having previously worked as an infield announcer before advancing his career behind the mic elsewhere.
“Of course I’m sorry to see that Joe retired. He’s done a great job with the SBS over the years,” said Zehr. “I’m looking forward to working with Roy. He got me involved as the infield announcer at Oswego, and we’ve done some races together at Evans Mills. This is going to be an exciting year!”
In 2026, Zehr and Sova will follow a format familiar to fans in recent seasons. The pair will alternate heat races, with Zehr handling Pathfinder Bank SBS feature coverage, Sova continuing as the voice of the Novelis Supermodifieds, and the two sharing duties for the Oswego County Tourism 350 Supermodified feature events.
Zehr’s addition also marks a rare and historic milestone for Oswego Speedway.
As Sova recently reflected, in the track’s 74-year history, only five announcers have served as weekly voices of the Speedway. From the early days of the 3/8-mile dirt track in 1951, to Jack Burgess and Leo “Poley” Lagoe, to Sova and Marotta’s decades-long partnership, consistency behind the microphone has been a defining characteristic of the Oswego Speedway.
With Zehr stepping into the booth for 2026, he will become just the sixth weekly announcer in Speedway history.
Barlow’s Concessions will present Oswego Speedway’s 75th Season Kickoff, featuring the winged ISMA/MSS/Oswego Novelis Supermodifieds competing in the opening round of the Oswego Super Challenge ($6,000 to win), the Pathfinder Bank SBS Ray Hedger Memorial (33 laps, $1,333 to win), and the Oswego County Tourism 350 Supermodified Season Opener (30 laps, $2,000 to win). Tickets are on sale now at OswegoSpeedway.com – click “Buy Tickets” to secure your seat for Opening Night.
Submitted By: Oswego Admin