Jan 28, 2015 05:52 PM EDT

The Deal Is Done! Mike Jackson Signs Lease For Black Rock Speedway

DUNDEE, NY -- (January 14th, 2015) -- For Official Release --

The deal is done!  Officially officially done!

No really, the lease is signed and we can now refer to the 4/10 mile clay oval in Dundee, New York as the Black Rock Speedway, with Mike Jackson at the helm.

Jackson officially signed his lease of the facility on Wednesday making him the third different promoter of the speedway in as many years, with the track remaining under the ownership of Dean Hoag.

Jackson dropped the bombshell to Race Chaser Online on December 30, 2014 but at that time did not realize there were several other offers on the table being considered by track ownership to either sell or lease the facility.  The December 30 announcement also came as quite a shock to, at the time, current promoter Dan Harpell — who promoted racing at the track under the name Yates County Speedway in 2014.

Harpell was ready to discuss a 2015 lease when he learned of Jackson’s intent to promote the speedway in 2015.  Jackson announced his intent to promote and announced the division lineup for 2015 when he learned of the two to three other potential buyers/lessees.  Harpell was never contacted by Hoag to pick up the option for 2015.

Meanwhile, Hoag told the media that Jackson didn’t have a signed lease and all options were on the table with Jackson being the leading candidate.  Jackson took some rather unfair heat from some racers and race fans about announcing his intentions, even though his announcement made it clear that he had yet to formally sign the lease paperwork.

Dean Hoag confirmed to sources that on Wednesday, Jackson had indeed signed a lease to promote the speedway under the name ‘Black Rock Speedway’ and that Jackson was now in possession of the keys to the facility.  He indicated to these sources that the track will return to weekly Friday night racing and that the mighty modifieds will be returning on a full-time basis.

“I’m overwhelmed but relieved to have this deal done,” said Jackson when reached by phone on Wedsnesday. ”Our first priority is to get with the staff members that were in place to see who wants to retain their positions as well as bring in those that I have in mind for certain roles.  Once we get our staff set we will then work to get together with each division at the speedway to meet with drivers and finalize the rules for 2015.”

As far as rules and classes go, Jackson committed to seeing the Big-Block/Small-Block Modifieds, GM Crate Sportsman, Street Stocks, IMCA Modifieds, 4-Cylinders and the 4-Cylinder Bandits on a weekly basis.  Here are some notes that Jackson laid out that the speedway is committed to for 2015:

Big-Block/Small-Block Modifieds:

• Weekly division
• Small-Block or Big-Block Engine Package with weight breaks to be announced
• Sail Panels will be legal for either engine package but will remain optional
• $1,200 to win weekly with positions 17-24 receiving $100 to take the green flag

Street Stocks:

• $500 to win weekly with $50 to take the green flag (same purse structure from 2014)
• Rules from 2014 season will remain intact, however there are ongoing discussions about adopting the rules package from the 2014 Empire 100

One question that has come up from several drivers and teams is what Jackson’s and Hoag’s roles are for the operation of the speedway.

“Sue Foster and I have leased the track from Dean, however Dean will continue to operate the Beer Booth as he did in 2014 as the liquor license is in his name.  Other than that, we are running Black Rock Speedway in 2015,” explained Jackson.

Two Grit Racing Series dates have been announced by the series and Jackson confirmed that both of those dates are still intact and other special event dates will be forthcoming with the schedule.  Jackson went on to say that the schedule and several other announcements will be coming once they get a staff in place and can reach out to their racers.

Race Chaser Online and the Turn 5 Racing Podcast Facebook page will continue to follow this story as more developments come in.