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When Severe Weather Changes Your Race Plans, What's Next?
It was bound to happen at some point during the historic 60th Anniversary Season at America's Favorite Bullring, Wake County Speedway...a race canceled due to severe weather.
In the case of Friday night May 6th, 2022, a round of severe weather was headed for Wake County and most of central North Carolina between 6 pm and 9 pm, the remnants of a severe weather pattern that had wreaked havoc across parts of Oklahoma only days before.
"One of the toughest calls to make in this business, is canceling a race", said Charlie Hansen, Promoter at Wake County Speedway. "But in these kinds of situations when it's more than possibly a rain event, but actually severe weather is predicted, we need to get out in front of it as soon as possible and make that call in the interest of safety for our fans, staff, and racing families. We have race teams from around the corner but also many who travel hours from home to race on a Friday night at Wake County Speedway. When we can, we try to give them a heads-up before they hit the road", said Hansen.
The Friday storms, however, took time to develop and were very spotty across the region. But once the dark storm clouds appeared, thunder rolled in, and strong lighting bolts began piercing the evening sky around 8 pm, it was obvious that there could not have been any racing on May 6th at the 1/4 mile asphalt track located at 2109 Simpkins Rd, just south of downtown Raleigh, N.C.
Once the call went out Friday morning to cancel the scheduled Mojo's Grill 155, the wheels were put into motion to also reschedule the annual Wake County Speedway Kid's Bike Race and Bike Giveaway powered by H&H Motorsports. With more than 20 children's bikes to be given away on race night, this special event has been moved to Friday, May 13th prior to the Rockside Tire 165. Parents planning to enter their child into the Bike Race, need to be at the track and ready to go, prior to the 8 pm start time.
The planned Bike Giveaway will take place next, followed by the invocation and National Anthem. The green flag will drop on the first of two, 35-lap LeithCars.com Late Model Series races around 8:30 pm, followed by a 20-lap Country Superstars Bandolero event, 25-lap INEX Legend race, 25-lap Mod-4, and 25-lap Mini-Stock battle. The second of the twin 35-lap LeithCars.com Late Model Series races are set for the nightcap.
As of this writing, there is no word yet, if or when the Mojo's Grill 155 race that had been scheduled for May 6th, might be rescheduled later in the season. If the race had been able to take place, it would have featured the Zaxby's Charger Division for just the second time so far this season, in a planned 30-lap double-header feature. The Mod-4, Mini-Stock, Legend, Bomber, and Country Superstars Bandolero Division was set to race on May 6th also.
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Be sure to watch for Wake County Speedway to be featured on WRAL TV's #TarHeelTraveler on May 12th at 5:55 pm in their "20 Places to Visit in 20 Days" series. 😉
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Our friends from TaptruckNC will be back at Wake County Speedway on Friday, May 13th for the Rockside Tire 165. Look for their classic hotrod '54 Ford Panel Truck near the race tower where they'll be serving up some cold, locally crafted brew, straight from the "tap*"
*You must be at least 21 years of age and have a valid ID to purchase.