Apr 3, 2007 10:40 PM EDT

Black Rock Opener 'Frozen Out', Schedule Changes Announced

Jack Frost has won his first event at Black Rock In a long time. Due to a forecast for April 7 calling for record low temperatures and snow showers, the third annual 'Rock Launcher Weekend' has been postponed.

All of the excitement built up around this season-opening event, featuring the first races of the season for three major series, could not keep enough heat in the Finger Lakes Region to keep the temperature above freezing on the weekend of April 7.

“We we're definitely excited about this race so it really is a downer we couldn't get it in,” said BRS General Manager Alex Hoag. “We are doing everything we can though to make the best of this situation.”

Among the alterations that have been made is the postponement of the big Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman race 364 days. Black Rock will hold just one $5,000-to-win Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman race in 2007 now (October 13), but next year the money will roll over and the Sportsman series will open up their new all-crate engine series on April 5, 2008 by running for an unprecedented $10,000-to-win.

With no way to place a race of this magnitude on another weekend, a replacement was not suitable until next year, something that the Black Rock will make sure is larger than ever.

“Just to show how committed we are to the crate motor program and this race in particular we decided to up the ante for the first ever crate-only DIRT Sportsman Series race,” added Hoag. “We still will be having a $5,000-to-win race in October which should be big.”

With the new GM Crate program taking full effect next year, the winner of the April 2008 race will forfeit the winning engine, with it being dynoed and checked for legality. Once the motor has passed all inspections it will be auctioned off at the National Parts Peddler Trade Show and Auction in November 2008 with all proceeds being donated to charity. As an added bonus to 2007 Black Rock Sportsman regulars, the top-5 in points from this year will be guaranteed starters in next year’s race.

The rescheduled dates for the Mr. DIRTcar Street Stocks and BRP Can-Am 360 Late Models are much simpler, both of which will take place within the next month.

The BRP Can-Am 360 Late Models will still call Black Rock their opening race, with the racing be pushed back a month to May 4. The Friday Night event will replace the regular Super Stock class for the night, as the 360 Late Models invade BRS four weeks into the season.

The Mr. DIRTcar Street Stocks will also still open at Black Rock, with their inaugural event taking place six days later, on Friday, April 13. The addition of this $1,000-to-win 35-lap feature will push back the opening race for the new Regional-International Street Stock/ Pro Truck division a week to April 20.

With Practice also being froze out, the speedway will hold an open practice on Thursday, April 12 from 6:00-9:00 p.m., with a technical and safety inspection on Friday afternoon, April 13 from 2:00-6:00 p.m.

The Street Stock event, coupled with the T-3 All-Star 358-Modified Series Opener, will headline the new date for the “Rock Launcher” event on April 13. The great thing about this night, sponsored by Swarthout Recycling, is that the ticket price is just $12 for adults, with great family package prices still available for six classes of racing.

The May 4 event, now featuring the 360 Late Models will now be $12, still a great deal to see all of the best of Black Rock’s six divisions, plus the finest the BRP Can-Am Series has to offer.