Jul 2, 2012 01:15 PM EDT
Black Rock Kicks off July with a Bang (And Plenty of Boom)
BRP CanAm Late Model Series Makes Only Tour Stop This Firework-loaded Friday
Rich Vleck and Gary Montgomery, DUNDEE, NY, (July 2, 2012)- The BRP CanAm Tour is now in its 10th season of late model action, and Black Rock Speedway has been an integral part for much of that time. That tradition officially continues this Friday when the popular tour makes holds its only point race of the year at the 4/10-mile oval.
The Douglas B. Miles Insurance Agency is celebrating its 100th Anniversary this year. One of the many events planned for the Anniversary celebration is the Friday, July 6 program at Black Rock Speedway. Not only will this celebration be special, so too will be the fireworks presentation that will feature more than $10,000 worth of pyrotechnics.
Furman Kendall, president of the Miles Agency, and Dean Hoag, owner and operator of Black Rock Speedway have partnered to present a block-buster program with something for everybody. Stock car racing, a $10,000 fireworks display, and bicycle give-a-way will provide the main ingredients for what promises to be a great night of family entertainment.
“This is a very special year for the agency as we celebrate 100 years in the insurance business. Many of our customers are race fans. Even our Dundee neighbors that are not customers are always cheering on Quinn Sutherland in his Miles-Agency.com BRP race car. To help celebrate the BRP Tour event and 100 years we will give away three bicycles to kids in attendance on the 6th. All they have to do is sign-up and hope that Rocky (track mascot) pulls their name from the entries. Exciting stock car races, a giant fireworks program, free bikes, and good friends all add up to a great night in downtown Dundee,” shares Kendall from this office in the heart of Dundee’s business district.
The highlight of the stock car racing program will be the Bicknell Racing Products (BRP) CanAm Late Model Series tour event. The BRP CanAm Series is celebrating its 10th anniversary season. Prior to Friday’s race 59 drivers have entered 29 BRP CanAm events which have produced nine different winners. Friday night the drivers will be vying for a $6000 purse and the very important points for the overall Series point fund of approximately $40,000.
Local Flavor…Carl Cleveland, Jared Hill, Bill Miller, and Quinn Sutherland are the Dundee drivers that will compete. Sutherland’s car is sponsored, in part, by the Miles Agency. Sutherland’s family and friends will view the racing and the fireworks from the Miles Agency VIP suite. Mikey Wonderling, the defending Black Rock Speedway late model champion, is winless so far this year. Wonderling drives the Himrod Hot Rod owned by Sharon and Jim Schuyler of Himrod. The pressure is on Mikey at every race, but the Himrod connection makes winning at Black Rock very important.
John Waters has won all four weekly point races at BRS this season and thus holds a strong point lead over Jason Knowles, who was runner-up this past Friday. The lead a group of “invaders” that are sure to factor in this Friday.
The late models will take center stage on the night, but that does not mean that the sportsman feature will be any less significant. Off a race night in which 24 crate-powered modifieds were on hand, the race figures to be tight once again to kick off the fifth different month of racing at BRS this weekend.
Brady Fultz holds a healthy point lead over Donnie Lawson, Karl Comfort and Ross Vleck, a trio of drivers yet to grace BRS Victory Lane this season but was all in the mix late last Friday. Randy McCulloch picked up the breakthrough win and will look work his way through the handicap this weekend.
Jake Karlnoski was also a breakthrough winner last week, as he lead wire-to-wire for his first street stock win. The Dundee resident will look for back-to-back wins, but will have some serious challengers including point leader Bob Buono, defending champion Chris Fisher, and rising stars Dylan Cecce and Larry Fenton Jr.
Shawn Bruce became the fifth different IMCA Modified winner this season, and in the process has moved himself in to the discussion for the championship. Phil Yaw still leads the points, but defending title holder Mike Smith is closing, with Dave Yehl also in hot pursuit.
The friendly yet fierce duel between Rich Sharpsteen II and James Kreidler III for the Signs Plus of Kanona 4-Cylinder point lead rages on, with Sharpsteen holding just a 2 point after scoring his third straight BRS win on Friday. Other 4-cylinder action at the track also finds a two-man, or in the bandits case two kid, battle for the point lead with Steve Rogers 13 points up on Jamie Eldridge for the FWD point lead while Lance Irwin has taken over the bandit point lead from Justin Eldridge by just three points.
When the racing action is complete the biggest, best, and most expensive ($10,000+) fireworks display will light the sky over Dundee.
During the evening three kids will win bicycles. All that is required is to sign in and be there when their name is called. There will be three drawings – one for little kids – one for girls – one for boys. All bikes are courtesy of Douglas B. Miles Insurance Agency.
Racing action, as always, will kick off at 6:45 P.M., grandstand general admission is just $15 and remember that kids 16 and under are free. For more information, visit www.BlackRockSpeedway.com.
