Thursday, August 06, 2015

Bayne, McDowell Headline Black Rock MRO Fundraiser

Big names will be on hand for some old-fashioned dirt track racing at Black Rock (NY) Speedway on Friday night. The eighth annual event coincides with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekend at Watkins Glen International, and will feature several NASCAR drivers competing in the Modified Sportsman division to benefit the Motor Racing Outreach.

This season’s event will be called “Trevor Bayne MRO Night,” named for the driver of the No. 6 AdvoCare Ford Fusion who in recent years has become closely associated with both the event and the MRO organization.

“MRO does so much for our community – the race tracks, drivers and families -- at so many levels of racing,” said Bayne, who is in his first season of full-time Sprint Cup Series competition for Roush Fenway Racing. “This event is a lot of fun. It’s a great way to fundraise for a charity and put on a fun show for the great fans there at Black Rock. It also publicly paints a picture of how close knit our faith-based community really is; and MRO is such a big part of that.”

In last year’s race, Bayne earned a dramatic victory, holding off charges by Sprint Cup drivers Alex Bowman, JJ Yeley, David Ragan and Michael McDowell to claim the checkered flag. The 2011 Daytona 500 Champion is not the only NASCAR driver competing this year. Michael McDowell, the 2013 victor at Black Rock, hopes he can return to Victory Lane for a second time.

“I look forward to this every year,” said the driver of the No. 95 Leavine Family Racing/K-Love Ford Fusion. “I’ve built a great relationship with the team that lets me drive their car and they are great people. I love driving those racecars too. Winning on dirt was so special for me. Even more cool was meeting and signing for so many fans behind the grandstands after the race.”

For MRO President Billy Mauldin, this event is special.

“This event is beneficial on so many levels,” stated Mauldin. “It’s a good fundraiser for us, but more importantly the drivers get to have fun and we give back to a fantastic grass roots race track. The Hoag family that operates Black Rock are good, honest people.”
In addition to the race, MRO will sponsor a silent auction, offering several unique items autographed by various drivers.

“The fans of Black Rock will have an opportunity to bid for some truly unique items,” said Mauldin. “These items are donated and signed specifically for this event.”

The silent auction table can be found behind the main grandstands.
Regardless of the outcome on the track, Bayne and his fellow competitors look forward to the opportunity to support such a good cause.

 “We’re going to try to win it again,” said Bayne. “I know I’ll only have 12 laps to do it and a lot of competition. Win or lose, MRO Night will be a blast for all of us.”


Trevor Bayne MRO Night starts with local racing action at Black Rock Speedway at 6:45pm ET. The 12-Lap driver match race is tentatively scheduled for 8:30pm. Media availability and a group photo will take place on the frontstretch following the race. 

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