By Rich Vleck
DUNDEE, NY (August 10, 2010)- Fresh off a scintillating sprint show at Black Rock Speedway on Friday, the biggest event of the year in Dundee is now under one month on the countdown.
One month from today, the first of two nights of action for Black Rock’s Fall Sprint Nationals will take place on the 4/10-mile. It will mark the first time since 2006 that this historic event will run on its traditional mid-September weekend, this year falling on September 10th and 11th.
The Friday and Saturday shows will feature most of the top sprint drivers from the Northeast United States. In addition, a multitude of Canadian competitors will be in attendance along with some Midwest shoes making an eastern swing.
Among the sanctioning bodies signed up for the Fall Sprint Nationals are New York’s ASCS Patriots, Michigan’s ASCS Sprints on Dirt, Ohsweken Speedway’s Corr/Pak Sprint Division and Ohio’s National Racing Alliance.
Nearly $40,000 in prize money is set up for the sprint cars alone. Saturday’s 30-lap Finale will pay $5,000-to-win, just as it did for the first event back in 1999. A record purse has been configured, including $1000 for 5th and $300 for 24th place. A DMI rear end will also be available for the highest finishing driver that chooses to take the rear end instead of their cash payout. Also returning is the popular “Sweet 16” triple feature format on Friday, with title sponsorship for the races by M&W Aluminum Products, Insinger Race Fuels and Mike Emhof Motorsports.
There will be many subtle changes to the weekend of racing as well. Time trials will be held on Saturday now, allowing teams interested in chasing the top prize the opportunity to attend just that one night. The three winners from Friday Night’s “Sweet 16’s” will be guaranteed a top-12 starting spot for Saturday’s A-Main though.
Prior Fall Nationals still active include Curt Michael, of Ocean View, DE, who won the last Fall Sprint Nationals in 2006 and has since not been back to BRS. Trevor Lewis, of Upper Black Eddy, PA, won the race in 2004 and 2005 and plans to return once again this year. George Suprick, of Clarks Summit, PA, was the winner in 2000 and 2001 and was on hand on Friday Night.
A massive list of past winners at BRS are also expected including Blake and Bobby Breen, Jared Zimbardi, Justin Barger, Chuck Hebing and Friday’s winner Bryan Howland. Locals Lance Yonge and Tim Kelly will also get to take on the best in front of many friends and family.
Jessica Zemken, of Sprakers, NY, has always run well at BRS but has yet to pick up a win there in her Corr/Pak Merchandising/ Tony Stewart Racing No. 14. She leads an endless group of drivers, like Steve Poirier, Alain Bergeron and Bubba Broderick that have come close before and look to break through this fall
With the Canadian Sprint Car Nationals the following week at Ohsweken Speedway, the possibility of top teams from across the continent coming to the Finger Lakes Region as their first stop on a racing extravaganza is strong. To entice these long travelers even more, as well as local teams, Lias Tire, along with Black Rock Speedway, has offered up a $5,000 bonus to any team that wins both the Fall Nationals as well as the Canadian Sprint Car Nationals using an American Racer Tire MC-2 or Harder Right Rear. To be eligible, at least two American Racer tires must be purchased at Black Rock Speedway on Fall Nationals weekend. This would mean $20,000 for any driver that could capture both feature events!
Entry forms are available for competitors will be posted later this week on the Fall Nationals page on the www.BlackRockSpeedway.com website Those registering before August 31st will receive a complimentary pit pass for Saturday Night’s show.
On Friday Night, heat racing will get underway at 6:30 p.m. with the 1000cc Mini Sprints/Sidewinders, Original Pizza Logs 600cc Micro Sprints, 4-cylinders and enduro as part of the card.
Saturday’s action will get competitive during time trials at 6:30 p.m. The mini sprints/sidewinders, micro sprints and an enduro will return along with the Tobias Speedstr’s and street stocks also part of the weekend.
Camping will be a major part of this restored traditional weekend of racing. Dubbed as “Camp Out and Race Weekend”, the grounds are sure to fill up with recreational vehicles and trailers.
For more information, including upcoming details about event t-shirts being created by ASI Racewear, log onto www.BlackRockSpeedway.com.