Thunderstorms Too Much for IRA Sprints at ABC

by Nick Gima

                Ashland, WI, August 1 — A strong line of thunderstorms inched its way across northwestern Wisconsin on Saturday, reached the Chequamegon Bay area by late afternoon, and dumped enough rain on the ABC Raceway that it was forced to cancel its racing program.

                The event, to be presented by the Heartland Communications Group of radio stations and the Ashland-Bayfield County Sportsmen’s Club, was to include a visit by the Interstate Racing Association’s high-flying 410 winged “outlaw” sprint cars for the finale of a three-night weekend swing that included a huge $26,000-to-win special at Plymouth on Thursday (won by former NASCAR star Kyle Larson) and a show at Antigo on Friday (won by current IRA points leader and nine-time champ Bill Balog).

                The ABC Raceway will now prepare for its upcoming “Mid-Mod Madness” special, to be held on Saturday, August 8. The WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds will be running for a $1,500 feature winner’s check as part of a full six-division race program, to be presented by Lake Shore Cafe and Zelies Tree Service.

                The pit gates will open at 4:30 pm and the grandstands will be open at 5, with hot laps set for 6:15 and the first heat race of the night getting the green flag at 7 pm. Grandstand admission tickets are just $11 for adults, and kids ages 12 and under are admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult. Tickets are available either at the gate on race night or online via www.myracepass.com.

                “Race Reports” will air on WBSZ, 93.3 FM, as well as online at www.wbszfm.com, from 4:30 until 6 pm with the latest news and weather information from the track.

                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.