Can’t Beat Mother Nature: Rain Postpones World of Outlaws Late Model Series Ohio Speedweek Finale At Eriez Speedway To Sun., Aug. 23
By Kevin Kovac, WoO LMS P.R. Director
HAMMETT, PA – July 26, 2009 – Just when it looked like Sunday night’s World of Outlaws Late Model Series Ohio Speedweek event at Eriez Speedway might beat Mother Nature, the skies opened up to force a postponement of the evening’s action.
The one-third-mile oval’s program was rescheduled for Sun., Aug. 23, setting up a huge late-summer swing for the WoO LMS. Eriez Speedway’s 50-lap, $10,000-to-win show will top off four nights of racing that includes the rescheduled Ohio Speedweek event at Muskingum County Speedway in Zanesville, Ohio, on Thurs., Aug. 20, and the $20,000-to-win ‘Buckeye 100’ at K-C Raceway in Alma, Ohio, on Aug. 21-22.
Eriez narrowly dodged the waves of thunderstorms that rolled along the coast of Lake Erie throughout Sunday afternoon; only some periodic drizzle was felt at the track. But light rain began to fall late in Ohlins Shocks Time Trials and turned into a full-fledged cloudburst as the 50-car session’s final qualifiers – Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis., and Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs of Bear Lake, Pa. – were on the racetrack.
When Briggs spun in turn one on the slick surface, officials stopped the time-trial session. The rain ceased about 15 minutes later and track officials were hopeful that the show could resume, but the decision to postpone the program was made around 8:30 p.m. when it became apparent that the racing surface could not be dried in a reasonable amount of time – and radar indicated that more storms had developed in the area.
“We had a super field of 50 cars and a great crowd turned out despite the threat of rain,” said WoO LMS director Tim Christman. “We were looking forward to an exciting show to close out Ohio Speedweek, but unfortunately the weather just wouldn’t cooperate.
“(Eriez promoter) Bob Rohrer and his staff did everything they could, but we finally had to concede that even if there was no more rain we couldn’t complete the program without running far too late on a Sunday night.”
The WoO LMS program will start from scratch on Aug. 23 with a new set of Ohlins Shocks Time Trials.
The rain certainly disappointed Chad Valone of Warren, Pa., who was just moments away from celebrating his first career fast-time honor in WoO LMS competition. His lap of 15.832 seconds was the fastest through 48 of 50 time-trialers but was stricken from the recordbooks by the rain.
Rick Eckert of York, Pa., was sitting second on the qualifying chart when the rain arrived, followed by Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., Mike Knight of Ripley, N.Y., and Ron Davies of Erie, Pa.
Rainchecks and pit bands from Sunday’s program will be accepted for entry on Aug. 23.
The WoO LMS will be idle for two-and-a-half weeks before making a three-race swing in the Northeast from Aug. 13-15. Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville, Pa., leads off the tripleheader with its first-ever tour event on Thurs., Aug. 13, followed by stops on Fri., Aug. 14, at Bedford (Pa.) Speedway and Sat., Aug. 15, at Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.
Drivers signed in for Sunday night’s program at Eriez Speedway included:
0-Ryan Scott/Garland, PA
00-Rich Gardner/Waterford, PA
1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV
1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA
H1-Jared Miley/South Park, PA
1U-Matt Urban/Northeast, PA
2-Brady Smith/Solon Springs, WI
2J-Scott Johnson/Wattsburg, PA
2V-Chad Valone/Warren, PA
3H-Bruce Hordusky/Erie, PA
3R-Brent Robinson/Smithfield, PA
03-Doug Eck/Corry, PA
4-Merle Terry/Erie, PA
07R-Brent Rhebergen/Clymer, NY
8-Jason Morrell/Northeast, PA
N8-Nathan Short/Jamestown, PA
9-Scott Gurdak/Spring Creek, PA
9k-Mike Knight/Ripley, NY
11-Tyler Reddick/Corning, CA
won11-Robbie Blair/Titusville, PA
12-Jordan Bland/Campbellsville, KY
12b-Andy Boozel/Clymer, NY
17L-Dennis Lunger/Cherry Hill, PA
18H-Dustin Hapka/Grand Forks, ND
19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY
19-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY
20-Chad Ruhlman/Bemus Point, NY
21L-Matt Lux/Franklin, PA
21*-David Scott/Garland, PA
22-Greg Oakes/Franklinville, NY
B22-Bump Hedman/Sugar Grove, PA
24-Rick Eckert/York, PA
25-Shane Clanton/Locust Grove, GA
26G-George LaBarbera/Sugar Grove, PA
28J-John Lobb/Frewsburg, NY
28L-Randy Lobb/Jamestown, NY
29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY
32c-Vic Coffey/Caledonia, NY
33-Chris Hackett/Erie, PA
39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY
40-Dutch Davies/Warren, PA
44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA
44H-Dave Hess Jr./Waterford, PA
53-John Volpe/Lakewood, NY
55H-David Lyon/Corry, PA
56-Russell King/Bristolville, OH
71d-Ron Davies/Erie, PA
76-Andy Kania/Waterford, PA
79-Mike Coyle/Jamestown, PA
99b-Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs/Bear Lake, PA
The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Crane Cams (Official Valvetrain), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), Fusion Energy Boost (Official Energy Boost), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser) and VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel); in addition to contingency sponsors Champ Pans, Eibach Springs, Hoosier Tires, Integra Shocks, Jake’s Custom Golf Carts, Ohlins Shocks, Racing Electronics, Quarter Master and Wrisco Aluminum; Crane Cams Engine Builder’s Challenge participants Cornett Racing Engines, Custom Race Engines and Pro Power Racing Engines; and Chassis Builder Challenge participants Rocket Chassis and Team Zero by Bloomquist.
