Local Headlines

by BJ Cavin- VSP Media

BARBERVILLE, FL- Sometimes even the best made plans can come undone, and such was the case at Volusia Speedway Park on Saturday night as weather forced the first postponement of a scheduled night of racing in the 2011 season. The "Holy Cow 25" Jack Miller Memorial for Sprint Cars, sponsored by Bruce Rossmeyer's Daytona Harley-Davidson, will be run on July 9th, as will the Elimination Race featuring the top ten sprints in the season points race. The Quality Brands Budweiser $1000 to win Modified feature, plus the Modified "Dash for Cash" sponsored by Murray Ford of Starke, will be held on July 16th. There will be no make up for the other divisional races that were halted by the weather.

Clouds and rain were building early in the afternoon just to the west of Volusia Speedway Park, and as the pit gates opened for the competitors at 4PM some moderate showers fell on the racetrack. But in the next hour and a half things turned very ugly just to the west as severe weather erupted, prompting a tornado warning for the Barberville area and producing high winds, hail, torrential rain, and dangerous lightning, within a mile of the track. And while only sprinkles and light showers fell on the racing surface and the teams already setting up in the infield, the weather just to the west had the full attention of race officials. Racers and fans arriving to the track from the west reported that high winds, hail, and torrential rain, battered them along SR40 from Astor to Barberville. It was also reported that some racers were turned back, or were halted, by the weather conditions as they became more severe.

With light rain still falling on the track by 6PM and showing no indication of moving out of the area anytime soon, and with severe weather still being reported just to the west and expanding to the south of the facility, the racers on hand in the infield were asked if they minded postponing the events, and race officials made the call to suspend the night's schedule in the interest of safety, and to ensure that fans and racers still trying to get to the facility that were hunkered down while the weather passed, were free to turn back with no regrets. Wrist bands can be reused at the next scheduled race for each division, and fans may redeem their ticket stubs for admission for the Scott Thompson Memorial on June 25th. Anyone with questions as to how to redeem their wrist bands or tickets should phone the track at 386-985-4402.

This article posted by Volusia Speedway . Click here for more track information.