ABC Raceway Opener Nixed Due to Wet Grounds
by Nick Gima
Ashland, WI, May 22 – Saturday’s bright afternoon skies and 80-degree temperatures were not enough to offset the results of rain over the previous 72 hours in northern Wisconsin, forcing the Board of Directors at the ABC Raceway to cancel its 57th Season Opener.
The stock car racing program, which was to have been presented by the Northern State Bank of Ashland, fell victim to a track that was too soggy to race on, and pit and parking areas that were equally as saturated.
“We didn’t realize just how much rain we had received over the second half of last week,” stated Raceway Board president Eric Erickson in discussing the difficult decision made by the Board to cancel. “Our track prep crew worked very hard to bring the racing surface to a race-ready state earlier in the week, but the many hours of soaking rain just did a number on our entire facility.
“We all agreed that we would not be able to provide a track that was ready for good racing for our drivers, and we also didn’t feel that the show overall would be enjoyable for our fans.”
The Northern Renegade traditional sprint car series was to be a part of the opening-night program, along with the Raceway’s six regular weekly divisions. The Renegade sprints are scheduled for three more visits to the three-eighths-mile red-clay oval – on June 26, July 24, and August 14.
On Saturday, May 29, the ABC Raceway will host round one of the Ashland Ford-Chrysler Center Modified Series. The “Memorial Day Deal,” to be presented by Lake Shore Café and Zielies Tree Service, is expected to draw the region’s best WISSOTA Modifieds, Midwest Mods and Super Stocks for a huge night of action and for one of the biggest purses of the regular season.
The Modifieds will headline the night with a $2,000-to-win feature, while the Mid-Mods will race for $1,500 to win, and the Super Stock feature will pay out $1,200 to win. The WISSOTA Pure Stocks and Hornets and the ABC Six-Cylinders will also be in action.
The grandstands and pits will open at 5 pm on Saturday, hot laps will start at 6:15, and the first green flag of the night is scheduled for 7 pm. “Race Night” will provide pre-race coverage from 4:30-6 pm on WBSZ, 93.3 FM, and on www.wbszfm.com.
The ABC Raceway is located 3-1/2 miles south of Ashland on State Highway 13 and one mile west on Butterworth Road. For raceday information call (715) 682-4990, or for more info log on to the track’s website, www.abcraceway.com.