The Official Site of Area Auto Racing News and Len Sammons Productions Area Auto Racing News
It’s finally here! This Friday night, April 22, will usher in the new era at Outlaw Speedway in Dundee, N.Y. (formerly known as Black Rock Speedway) under the leadership of Tyler Siri. Since the word of the sale of the track came out this winter the buzz has all been about what changes will be taking place at the speedway.
A lot of the news is now old, but just in case you missed it the purses for a weekly show are close to, if not the best in New York State. The big/small-block Modifieds will get $2,000 to win and $200 to start, for the RUSH Late Models it’s $750 on top and $80 to start, the Crate Sportsman division is $600 and $75, Street Stocks are $500 and $50, Four-Cylinders are $300 and $30 and the IMCA Mods receive $500 to win and $75 to start.
These purses have caught the attention of many of the top northeast drivers and teams and many have indicated that their regular Friday night home will be at Outlaw Speedway. I’d list the names but that would ruin the surprise for this Friday’s opening night. The Modified features will be 30 laps, while the Sportsman and Late Model divisions are at 25 circuits for their mains. All others will have 20-lap features, except for the Bandits at 10 laps.
At a meeting held this winter Siri outlined some of his plans for the speedway. I’m here to tell you that he has kept his word. He said one of the first things was to basically do a house cleaning and spruce up of the entire facility, and he did.
All the old brush around the premises is gone, the trash behind the pit sign-in booth is gone, all the walls have been painted and the old blue grandstands have new white siding over the old clapboard.
The fence along Route 14A has been replaced with all new chain link; and also along that road will be sponsor billboards. These billboards will have a dual purpose.
First, they will of course be showing off the track’s sponsors; and second they will block the view for those that park along the highway and watch the races for free. The local and State Police did their best to keep the people from parking there but these officers have more important things to do.
The infield has been all graded and leveled off and is being hydro-seeded.
Along with leveling off the infield the high berms on the inside of the track are lower and will not create such a moisture problem as they have in the past. New clay has been added to the track and held up very nicely at the practice session last Friday. More is expected to be added during the season.
The concessions have all been redone with new equipment and are clean enough to eat off the floors. The closed circuit TVs have all been delivered and will be at the concession areas so you won’t miss any action while getting your food. There is a new candy concession and a novelty stand with all new Outlaw Speedway apparel.
I could go on but the best way to see all the improvements is to be there Friday night for the Grand Opening.
As for opening night this Friday, April 22, it will be a blockbuster show that you sure don’t want to miss. The Modifieds will be running a regular 30-lap feature but it will be $3,000 to win and it will be the first leg of the Outlaw Challenge.
If a regular Outlaw Speedway runner can win this race, the Outlaw Fall Nationals in September and the Dutch Hoag National Open in October there will be a $25,000 bonus waiting for them.
If you only win two of the three there will still be a bonus. Also on the card Friday will be the first point race for the Empire Super Sprints, a GRIT Series race for the Crate Sportsman and a Fight Night Series race for the Street Stocks; along with the IMCA Modifieds, Four-Cylinder Stocks and the Outlaw Bandits.
As for the RUSH Late Models, they will be running a full show with a full purse but no points will be awarded on this night due to a lot of the regular runners not being able to attend because of a RUSH Series race in Ohio.
All divisions will draw for heat position and all qualified cars will draw again for their feature starting spots. Race time is 7:00 p.m. sharp and due to all that is going on the show will be pushed right along. So, all drivers must be ready to go when their time is there will be no waiting for anybody.
I told everybody at practice last week that the place looks like it did back when Lin and Cindy Hough owned the track, immaculate and everything in its place and clean.
When I told that to Tyler Siri, he said how nice it would be to have Lin and Cindy there for the grand opening. So I got right on the phone and called Lin. As of right now, if nothing happens between now and Friday, Lin and Cindy will be there.
I can’t wait to see the look on their faces when they see the place. I know it will make them proud to see it back where it was when they had it.
The track phone is (607)-243-8686, the web page is www.outlawspeedwayLLC.com and of course the track is also on Facebook. See you Friday… I’m excited!
