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The biggest rivalry locally when it comes to short track racing in 2019 has nothing to do with teams or drivers.
The real battle has been between Stafford Speedway and Mother Nature.
And Mother Nature has come out on top once again when it comes to the running of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour NAPA Spring Sizzler 200.
With the heavy rains forecast for much of Friday, for the third time Stafford Motor Speedway has been forced to postpone the event. Stafford Speedway officials announced Thursday that the event has been postponed from Friday to Saturday.
The event was originally scheduled to be run on April 28. It was then postponed because of rain to May 5. More weather forced a postponement last week to Friday.
“We appreciate all of our teams continuing to work with us,” Stafford Speedway general manager Mark Arute said in a release. “This weather has been unprecedented and we want to ensure we get the Spring Sizzler in this weekend. With the forecast calling for rain throughout the day and evening on Friday it made the most sense to move the event to Saturday. We apologize for any inconvenience, one thing we can’t control is the weather. Hope to see everyone at the track Saturday.”
All tickets purchased for the NAPA Spring Sizzler will be honored Saturday. The NAPA Auto Parts ticket holder buffet will be held from 11:00am to 1:00pm Saturday. Stafford’s five weekly divisions will compete in a feature only format with the Top-18 in points locked into their respective feature events. Consi’s will be held for SK Modified and SK Light Modified divisions if needed.
The track will be open on Friday until 6:00pm for trailer parking and the track office will be open until 5:00pm for pit band exchange and ticket sales. Pit gates will open at 7:30 a.m. Saturday morning with practice for Stafford’s weekly divisions scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. Whelen Modified Tour practice will start at 12:35 p.m. General admission gates will open at 10:30 a.m.
The Open Modified 80 event originally scheduled for May 10th has been moved to May 24th in conjunction with Dunleavy’s Truck and Trailer Repair Modifiedz Night.
The full Saturday schedule is listed below.
Thank-you to Stafford and all involved! Better weather, more racing, less traffic, no work dilemma, and MORE RACING!! I know I said racing twice, ‘CAUSE I REALLY LIKE RACING!!
Great decision. The weather looks much better on Saturday. And only 15 laps for the limiteds. Less racing is better in that case.
Thanks Stafford for giving us the advanced notice! It is much appreciated.
Thanks to SMS for the advanced notice. Hopefully we’ll have great weather and racing on Saturday.
Thank goodness… you people are going stir-crazy.
So Stafford after a respectable time staring at a bleak weather report turned it’s back on Friday and said Saturday…..come to Poppa. You know what that means…….rain likely Saturday. Let’s check. Nope,still sunny, high of 65 and breezy.
After all the bobbing and weaving, stutter steps and backtracking in the end it worked out pretty good.
But don’t get cocky Stafford. Cutting down the LLM race is a good start but be sharp. Move the program along, show the fans their opinions matter a make the start of the season a real Sizzler in more then name.
I would have liked to see a 3:30pm start and let it roll into Saturday night. Turn the tour boys loose around 7pm. Would make for a great Saturday night. People with kids have too much going on that early on a Saturday. I’m sure the “real fans” love it but I don’t see a box office bonanza on Saturday.
Not sure why Doug thinks it’s all worked out pretty good. Last Saturday was a disaster. This Saturday is TBD at best. Especially when not much has changed schedule wise and you now have a 200 lap feature. Still plenty of opportunity for Stafford to muck this up. Bring a sleeping bag boys. LOL.
dont forget to thank waterford speedbowl
Morning racedayct nation. Do we do it. Check the weather. It’s like being on the porch of the gal you finally landed a date with and are about to knock. The promise of an experience that could be sublime yet the nagging feeling in the back of your head it could end in disaster.
Surely things have changed and the clouds will be rolling in. Last check showed clouds and showers starting on Mothers day and going on as far as the eye could see.
———–Nope. Still looking great. Sunny, high near 65 and breezy.
This promises to be a great date.
This is “Sizzler Sunday” plus practice, possible consi’s, additional features, and WMT qualifying! Hanging in the warm partial sun instead of a cold damp night. What’s not to like?
JD, You want a later start but then you say bring your sleeping bags, makes no sense to me. I know there are a lot of youth activities on Sat but why would you want to try to keep tired kids up later. The weather is supposed to finally cooperate so let’s get the show in.