Feb 5, 2015 09:04 PM EDT
Steven Ovens, Mel Thomas Named Announcing Duo For 2015
DUNDEE, NY - February 5th, 2015 - For Immediate Release -
Mike Jackson and Sue Foster, co-Promoters of the Black Rock Speedway, are happy to announce that they have hired Steven Ovens and Mel Thomas to share announcing duties at the speedway in 2015. Both have officially been brought onboard within the last week and will take their posts in the booth when the regular season opens up on Friday April 24th.
Both Ovens and Thomas will also serve secondary roles at Black Rock on top of their announcing duties. Ovens will carry the title of Public Relations Director while Thomas’ homegrown business Thomas Video Productions will be the official videographer of the Black Rock Speedway.
“One item on our checklist after taking over the speedway was trying to get Steven and Mel in the booth as our announcers for the 2015 season and beyond,” said Foster.
“We feel that getting our crowd involved in the racing program is very important with us bringing back the Modifieds this year. Both Steven and Mel came to us with ideas on how to do that and the fans will enjoy what they have planned. Our social media sites have already shown us how much everyone is looking forward to getting back to ‘The Rock’.”
Mel Thomas and the Thomas name has been a mainstay for years all over the Northeast not only behind the camera but behind the mic as well. There aren’t too many tracks where Thomas hasn’t been on the microphone in some capacity but he is prominently known for his announcing days at Ransomville, Shangri La, Canandaigua and many years at Black Rock Speedway dating back to the 80’s among others.
“I think the combination of seasoned announcer and a new young guy is going to be fun for us in the booth and the fans in the grandstands. Steven worked for me for years at all the different tracks we film at so this won’t be our first time calling races,” said Thomas about returning to the booth in Dundee for the second consecutive season.
For Ovens, taking post in the tower behind Black Rock’s microphone “Is a dream come true and one that is still hard to put into words.”
“I have been coming to Dundee on Friday nights as long as I can remember. You don’t grow up as an Ovens or Kerrick and not find yourself at the racetrack on Friday nights. Being the announcer brings me full circle- race fan, championship-winning driver, videographer, media member and now on staff as an announcer. It’s an honor just to be asked by Mike and Sue,” added Ovens.
The new announcing duo for Black Rock Speedway will take to their post on Friday April 24th as the Small-Block/Big-Block Modifieds make their full-time return to the 4/10 mile clay oval. Also returning in 2015 will be the 602 Crate Sportsman, IMCA Modifieds, Street Stocks, 4-Cylinders and the Black Rock Bandits.
Black Rock Speedway is located at 82 Main Street in Dundee, NY and holds dirt track racing weekly on Friday nights from Late April through Labor Day Weekend in September. The speedway also hosts special events on the grounds with special races run during the fall months of September and October.
For more information race over to www.blackrockspeedway.com , follow Black Rock Speedway on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BlackRockSpeedway or follow us on Twitter @BlackRockSpeed
