High Water
Table Drops Figure Eights from Season Opener
Riverhead Raceway promoters
Barbara & Jim Cromarty regretfully announced today that the
Figure Eight division would have to be dropped from the 2010
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series opening night program this
Saturday night May 1st. Water that is seeping from the ground up
on the infield portion of the Figure Eight course is the
culprit.
Track spokesman Bob Finan noted, " The water table in Riverhead
and all across Long Island is the highest it has been in well
over 50-years and the infield is our lowest point of our
property and unfortunately the water just keeps seeping up near
the intersection of the Figure Eight course". A record nine
inches of rain fell in and around Riverhead in late March, which
topped a very rainy and snowy winter that had already saturated
the ground. Prior to the two pre-season warm-up days track crews
pumped and swept the area to no avail discovering the water was
rising through the ground.
"We are going to drop the Figure Eights for opening night May
1st" Finan added, "after that we'll evaluate the situation week
to week". Once the water table decreases Riverhead Raceway crews
will then have to take a look at the asphalt and see if any
further damage has been done by all the water.
This is the first time in the 61-year history of Riverhead
Raceway that a situation of this nature has forced a
cancellation of a racing event, or division at the quarter mile
facility.
The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series opener this Saturday night
May 1st will be headlined by the NASCAR Modifieds and a 30-lap,
double point Blunderbust feature event with time trial
qualifying. Completing the program are the Late Models,
Chargers, Super Pro Trucks and Legend Race Cars with feature
event racing set for 5:00 pm.
For additional information please visit
www.riverheadraceway.com or phone 631-842-RACE
Source:
Bob Finan/Riverhead Raceway PR
Updated: April
26, 2010
