Race 1 of ABC Mid-Mod Summer Series Washed Out
Late models, sprints coming June 27
by Nick Gima
Ashland, WI, June 20 — While Saturday’s late-afternoon shower may have been a welcome relief for lawns and gardens, it put a damper on the ABC Raceway’s plans for the opening round of the Ashland Ford-Chrysler Center Summer Series for WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds.
Set to be presented by Zar’s Bar & Banquet Hall of Ashland, the first night of the three-race series at the historic three-eighths-mile red-clay oval, along with the rest of the six-division race program, was cancelled about a half-hour before the scheduled start of the hot-lap practice session. Weather forecasts at the time called for the rains to continue over a two- to three-hour window, which would not allow the Raceway’s track prep crews enough time to run in the moisture so racing action could start at a reasonable hour.
“It was a frustrating decision for us to make,” president Eric Erickson said of the Raceway Board’s verdict. “A lot of work went into this event, just like for every race night here. Our staff wants to put on a show for our drivers and fans, but we also understand that the weather plays a big factor in what we do here.”
The Raceway Board will discuss options regarding a possible rescheduling of the first night of the Series. Races two and three of the Series are set for July 18 and August 8, respectively, and will pay $500 to the winner of the Midwest Mod feature each night. A Series points tally will also be kept, with the top three in points receiving bonuses of $300, $200 and $150 at the conclusion of the Series.
The next planned event on the ABC Raceway schedule is a visit by the WISSOTA Late Models and the Northern Renegades traditional (non-winged) sprints, in a program to be presented by the NAPA Auto Parts stores of Ashland & Washburn on Saturday, June 27. The Late Models will be running for $1,000 to win that night, and the WISSOTA Modifieds, Super Stocks, Midwest Mods and Hornets will join the sprints and Late Models for a full night of action.
The adult grandstand admission price will be $15 per person for this special night of racing, with kids ages 12 and under still admitted free in the grandstands when accompanied by a paying adult. The pits will open at 4:30 pm and the grandstands will open at 5; hot laps will start at 6:15, and the first green flag of the night is scheduled for 7 pm.
Raceway news and other updates will air during the week on radio stations WBSZ, 93.3 FM; WJJH, 96.7 FM; WNXR, 107.3 FM; and WATW, 101.3 FM and 1400 AM; as well as online via the stations’ respective websites and on the free Heartland Communications Group radio app.
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, log on to the track’s website, www.abcraceway.com, or check out the track’s FaceBook page.