Aug 6, 2014 09:08 AM EDT
SEVENTH ANNUAL MRO NIGHT
Yates County Speedway in Dundee is gearing up for its biggest event of the year this Friday. The 7th Annual MRO Night features Cup drivers from Watkins Glen racing on the dirt. They, along with the Patriot Sprint Cars will highlight a huge night of racing beginning at 7:00 p.m.
There will be something for everyone on Friday night. In addition to the Cup Drivers competing on the dirt and the Patriot Sprint Cars, the 602 Crate Sportsman will compete in a Survivor Race. They will be joined by the IMCA Modifieds, Late Models, Street Stocks, Four Cylinders and Bandits. Cup crew members and spotters will also compete in special match races and the night will be capped off by a Media Race.
Several Cup drivers will make the short ten minute drive over to Yates County Speedway, formerly Black Rock Speedway, to go head to head on the dirt in Sportsman cars. Michael McDowell is the two time defending champion of this race. Last year he edged out Trevor Bayne for the win. They were followed by Alex Bowman, David Ragan, Bob Dillner, Kevin White, Blake Koch, Josh Wise, Dave Blaney and David Gilliland. Several of those drivers will return this year along with a few new ones. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for updated entries.
Robbie Stillwagon romped to the win last year in the Patriot Sprint Car feature. Stillwagon overcame a late race encounter with Steve Collins to claim the win. He was followed across the stripe by Scott Kreutter, Bryan Howland, J.J. Grasso and Jared Zimbardi. Sixth through tenth went to Justin Barger, Josh Weller, Davie Franek, Billy Pauch, Jr. and Geoff Quackenbush.
Zimbardi picked up the win on July 18th at Yates County while competing with the Empire Super Sprints. It was his first ESS win. The competition will be gunning for him this Friday as he will be the early favorite to take home the checkers.
Zimbardi is the current Patriot Sprint Tour point leader by a wide margine over Collins, Brad Knab, Dave Just and Scott Just. Sixth through tenth in the standings are Derek Jonathon, Dane Lorenc, Scott Kruetter, Tyler Graves and Parker Evans.
The Sportsman will compete in a unique event on Friday night. It is called a Survivor Race. All cars in attendance will start the 35 lap feature. After 20 laps have been run, the top ten finishers advance to the next round. Positions 11th on back will be paid and receive points for where they finish. The ten drivers that survive will go onto race for ten more laps. At that time the top five are the survivors and sixth through tenth will be paid and receive points for where they finished. The final five remaining drivers will then go five laps to determine the Ultimate Survivor.
There will be no pit stops in between segments. The drivers that don’t survive head to the pits and the next segment will begin. If a driver goes into the pits under yellow, it is no different than any other race. They will start at the tail of the field if they make it out on time without going down a lap. If a driver that advances to the next round goes to the pits between segments they will join in at the back of the pack in the next segment, providing they make it back out onto the track on time before the green flag is waved.
The Patriot Sprint Tour and the IMCA Modifieds will both run qualifying events leading up to their features. All of the other divisions will compete in features only as there is a lot of racing to be contested with the special events that are going on for the Cup drivers and their crews and spotters. The Late Models, Street Stocks, Four Cylinders and Bandits will all be in competition as well.
Don’t miss a minute of what is certain to be an action packed night of racing this Friday at Yates County Speedway in Dundee. Pit gates will open at 4:30 p.m., grandstand gates at 5:00 p.m. and race time is 7:00 p.m.
Yates County Speedway is located on Route 14A in Dundee, New York, just nine miles from Watkins Glen. For further information look us up on Facebook or call us at 607-243-8686.
