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Marion Center Speedway had to cut short the Saturday night racing program due to a rain storm blowing through the area in the middle of the agenda for the evening. First a late afternoon thundershower dumped enough rain on the track that the crew had to “run in” the track really well before the races started. The Potts family that has owned and operated the racetrack for the past 49 years decided to give it a go and they were able to complete the heats for all six divisions and enough of the first feature to make it an official race. Then the rains came again and washed away the hopes of finishing the night’s races. The rest of the races that were scheduled for May 30 will be made up at later dates, doubling up on features one at a time as long as it takes to make up the rained out races. Keep checking the marioncenterspeedway.net website for the most current update of what’s happening at the track.

Here’s what happened Saturday night in the 49^TH season of racing at the Potts family owned and operated racetrack:

The Willow Farm Campground Strictly Stock feature was won by Nick Erskine from Mahaffey. Erskine started on the outside pole position and jumped in front of pole starter Dillon Smith of Glen Campbell to take the lead from the start. Erskine was able to maintain the lead even though some cautions kept the pack close together. Craig Fox from Smithmill had started the feature in ninth place but came up to challenge Erskine after the first five laps. Running with Fox was Nick Fulmer of Marion Center who started eighth and worked his way up through to third. After ten of the originally scheduled fifteen laps were completed the checkered flag was displayed and the caution lights came on as rains came down ending the feature five laps shorter than usual.

The Willow Farm Campground Strictly Stock Feature – 1. Nick Erskine 2. Craig Fox 3. Nick Fulmer 4. Brandon Lansberry 5. Ryan Caldwell 6. Dalton Gustusson 7. Dillon Smith 8. Kenny Haight 9. Gary Stitt 10. Andrew Frey 11. Andy Komlosky, Jr. 12. Larry Brewer 13. Duke Davidson 14. Dustin Gray 15. John Phillips 16. Jim Decker 17. Chris Hickok 18. Gary Fulmer 19. Jim Hamilton The Willow Farm Campground Strictly Stock heat races were won by Chris Hickok and Ryan Caldwell.

Congratulations to Kid’s Club members Tanner Coleman and Brady Keener who won by drawing the honor of presenting the checkered flag to the first and second feature’s winner. There are lots of activities planned for a fun time for the Kid’s Club members this season. Kids can also plan ahead to participate in the Kid’s Bike Races which were postponed Saturday night May 16 and 30, so the first bike races will be Saturday, June 6. There’s a whole lot more information and news relating to the upcoming season on the website: marioncenterspeedway.net, or you can follow us on Facebook, or catch up on twitter or the blog with what’s happening like the upcoming Independence Day Celebration at Marion Center Speedway this season with a Demolition Derby and Fireworks plus a flea market and car cruise! There will also be a pet parade, Kid’s Demo Derby and at a special starting time of 8 PM the Lias Super Late Models, The W. G. Satterlee & Sons Street Stocks and the Willow Farm Campground Strictly Stocks are also scheduled to race that night. Stay tuned in for more news on the Fourth of July activities at Marion Center Speedway that start on Thursday July 2 with a multiple class truck pull event. You can also make sure you don’t make that unnecessary drive up to the top of the hill if we’re rained out by signing up for text messages or e-mails from “Rainedout.com” and receive up to the minute messages if the track should cancel for the night. Plus there’s the new Race Day Hotline phone number 724-397-2108 to call on days of events only for a recorded message of the status of the events for the day.

Thanks to our sponsors for the season which include those picking up division sponsorships like Lias Tire, Willow Farm Campground, W. G. Satterlee & Sons, and our newest additions R. D. Shaffer Well Services, Huey Bros, Inc., and Butler Auto Supplies. Also thanks to Rich’s Garage at 724-388-6462 for all their help to get things going for the season and Integra Racing Shocks, Colonial Motor Mart and others.

MCS is looking forward to the rest of the 2015 Racing Season, the 49th racing season at MCS under the continued direction the the Potts Family. Hope to see you at "The Thrill On The Hill" Marion Center Speedway, “The Little Track With The BIG Attitude.”