Aug 2, 2010 03:35 PM EDT
ASCS Patriots All Set for $4,000-to-win A-Verdi Championship at Black Rock
Every year since 2001 Black Rock Speedway has hosted a major sprint car event in early August in front of major crowds. This Friday, that tradition continues in a big money event that not only will have a race winner, but crown a champion as well.
In what is dubbed “NASCAR Night” at the Yates County Oval, the Friday Night event at the 4/10-mile serves as the perfect appetizer to many fans in town for the Sunday Afternoon event at Watkins Glen International, located just 12 miles south of the speedway. The drivers and crews from the stock car world also use the night as a way to relax, have fun, or get down to business in a sprint car, sportsman or FWD 4-cylinder.
Fans are sure to get their money’s worth Friday with a full card of sprints, late models and micro sprints, plus a NASCAR Drivers Match Race, NASCAR Crew and Media Match Race and features for the sportsman, street stocks, 4-cylinders and bandits.
Sprint Cars:
The ASCS Patriots return to the Black Rock Speedway for the second time this season this Friday for the $4,000-to-win A-Verdi Storage Containers King of Upstate New York Championship presented by S.P. Wilson/Lakes Gas. Not only will first place pay more, an extra $1,000 has also been added to other top-10 spots to make this one of the biggest shows of the season. Plenty will be on the line in this event which is perennially enhanced by the stock car personalities that are in attendance and sometimes in competition at “The Rock”.
Black Rock has easily hosted more ASCS Patriots than any other venue over the eight year history of the region, due in large part to the weekly competition held in Dundee in 2004. George Suprick, of Clarks Summit, PA, won the track championship that year and will be looking to rebound from a disappointing finish this past Saturday at Woodhull.
Bryan Howland enters Friday Night with a slim eight-point advantage over Jared Zimbardi in the overall standings, the first time the three-time Patriot Champion has led the standings since June 11. Howland has never won in a sprint at BRS, but has finished in the top-five in five of the last six events on the blue clay.
In 2007, Jared Zimbardi pulled off a thrilling win in this event and could desperately use a win this Friday to rebound from a minor slid his team has been on. With the win, Zimbardi would at least take a share of the point lead back with just five point races remaining after Friday.
Tim Kelly has recently taken hold of third in the standings and is the only Patriot competitor with a top-10 in each of the last four races. Kelly was second at the track just a stone’s throw north of his Rock Stream residence and could think of no better place to bust through into Victory Lane.
Bubba Broderick and Don Adamczyk have both shown their prowess at Black Rock, but it has often come from deeper in the field. A quality starting spot could be what they need to capture the lion’s share of the purse Friday.
Blake and Bobby Breen have been on fire as of late and are amongst the favorites this weekend. Each of the Savannah, NY drivers has a pair of wins at the first track they ever ran a sprint car on.
Jessica Zemken will have her Corr/Pak Merchandising Tony Stewart Racing entry on hand this Friday as well. “JZ” has finished in the top-10 in her last four starts at Black Rock, including a third in this race last season. It’s also plausible that her boss will have an opportunity to check out the car he owns as he has been in attendance at each race on this weekend since 2002, including finishing sixth in the ASCS Patriot event in 2008.
A host of others plan on throwing their hand in the mix for the $4,000 top prize, including Vern Wasson, leading Insinger Race Fuels Rookie of the Year Contender Shayne Ely, fellow rookie Dylan Swiernik, Chris Muhleisen, Gary Troutman, Ray Preston, Jared Fink, T.J. Newton, Brad Knab and the debut of Ross Vleck.
Late Models:
One of the most exciting divisions over the last few weeks has been the Insinger/Sunoco Race Fuels 360 Late Models. Things will only get better this week as the BRP CanAm 360 Late Model Tour makes their third stop at “The Rock” this weekend.
Larry Knowles, of Painted Post, holds a slim 18-point advantage in the standings and will look to expand on that at a track where he has been a champion in weekly action.
Wayne Robertson, the winner in this race last year, is second in points and hopes to steal the spotlight once again this time around.
Bryce Davis, Greg Galligan, John Waters, Mikey Wonderling and Bruce Miller are just some of the other key names that will be on hand this Friday.
Micro Sprints:
The Patriots won’t be the only winged things on hand Friday as the Original Pizza Logs 600 Micro Sprint Tour will once again swing in to town.
Nick Cooper and Darryl Ruggles are tied a top the standings and should lead a host of cars that should help to establish what this event is all about.
NASCAR Match Race:
Many of the fans will be on hand Friday to check out their favorite stock car stars racing on the dirt. The pieces are already coming together for this annual race utilizing sportsman modifieds once again this year. Over the years names such as David Reutimann, Marcos Ambrose, A.J. Allmendinger, Jeremy Mayfield Michael McDowell, Tim Fedewa and Speed TV Personality Bob Dillner have competed in the event. Many of these same names should be on hand, plus many of their friends.
Sportsman, Street Stock, 4-Cylinders and Bandits:
Not to be forgotten, weekly action will also be in the spotlight Friday Night with feature-only action that will be point races that could have major implications here in the late stages of the season.
All four divisions will be running their hot laps and features early in the night and plan on being completed before the lights even need to be turned on. Teams are urged to be ready for hot laps around 6:00 p.m. and are reminded that second hot lap sessions for the sportsman and street stocks will not be run this week.
Reminders:
In anticipation of this big night of action, Black Rock Management must stress that while most of the competitors are planning on being in attendance, potential unforeseen circumstances may affect their attendance or participation. BRS also asks that fans respect wishes of drivers that choose to focus on racing or enjoying a night at the track. Some drivers may be available for signatures but autograph seekers must realize that until the pits are open after all racing is completed that such opportunities with competitors are unlikely.
Hot Wings TV will also be shooting the event for an upcoming airing on Time Warner Cable Sportsnet across Upstate New York. Because of this, video distribution or broadcast of any Black Rock action is prohibited without expressed written consent of Hot Wings Media. Those wishing to purchase a copy of the night’s video are, as always, able to contact Chris Neu via the www.BlackRockSpeedway.com website.
Lastly, with a capacity crowd expected, fans in the main grandstand should remember that the front plank of each row is for seating while the back plank is for the feet of the person in the row above. BRS Management thanks you for your cooperation in advance.
Racing action will begin at 6:30 this Friday with the bandit feature. The NASCAR Match race will be at 8:00 P.M. and the NASCAR Media Race at 9:30 P.M. For more updates and information, visit www.BlackRockSpeedway.com.
