RAPID CITY, SD – July 8, 2013 – A long battle to recondition the racing surface following a late-afternoon shower ultimately proved futile, forcing the cancelation of Monday night’s World of Outlaws Late Model Series ‘Wild West Tour’ event at Black Hills Speedway.
The 40-lap, $8,000-to-win race, which drew a field of 31 cars, will not be rescheduled.
A warm, sunny day took a turn for the worse around 5:30 p.m. MT when black clouds that had been threatening the sprawling half-mile oval began to produce precipitation. While severe thunderstorms avoided the speedway to the south, a half-hour’s worth of moderate rain soaked the racing surface.
After nearly three hours of the track crew working on the speedway and Street Stocks helping to pack the surface, officials called the Late Models out to attempt a hot-lap session around 9 p.m. MT. The track was extremely greasy and rough – lap times were more than two seconds off those turned in qualifying for last year’s WoO LMS event at Black Hills – so officials brought out the motor-grader in hopes of making the speedway suitable for safe and competitive racing.
But with the moisture that continued to come up through the surface hampering the track work and the clock approaching 10:30 p.m. MT, track and series officials agreed that all options had been exhausted and the event was canceled. Moments later a thunderstorm deluged the speedway, making the call a moot point.
All ticketholders for the event can receive full refunds. More information will be available at www.black-hillsspeedway.org.
The WoO LMS Wild West Tour will roll on to Gillette (Wyo.) Thunder Speedway on Tuesday night (July 9) before concluding with events on Thurs., July 11, at Red River Co-op Speedway in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Fri., July 12, at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, N.D.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.
The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: American Racing Custom Wheels (Official Custom Wheel), Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), KMC (Official Custom Truck Wheel), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), Vicci (Official Uniform), VP Racing Fuel (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and McCarthy’s One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning (Raye Vest Memorial Pill Draw Award); in addition to contingency sponsors: Butlerbuilt, Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Dominator Race Products, Edelbrock, Eibach Springs, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, QuarterMaster, Roush Yates Performance Parts, Superflow Dynos, Wrisco Aluminum and XS Power Racing Batteries; along with manufacturer sponsors Capital Race Cars, Integra Shocks, GRT Chassis, Jake’s Carts, Racing Electronics, Rocket Chassis, TNT Rescue, and Warrior Chassis.