Every race has been around longer than Northern Class Nationals, as the inaugural race isn't until May 2-4, 2014...
The Atco Open was scheduled the last week of April this year, the same as the Indy LODRS. We chose the best date available and announced it 14 months ahead of time. -=shrug=- Sometimes schedules shuffle. No, I'm not worried about it, because we unquestionably have the best program in the country.
Grade points aren't very relevant these days unless you're brand new to class racing, or coming out of a long retirement. I've gotten into Indy with a grade 1, earned just days before the event before. Anybody that raced much at all last year already has all the grade points they need.
You lettin' Fetch borrow the Nova to come down to Piedmont Thanksgiving weekend to run for $20K? He's a money-making machine at that race!