Cresco opener pushed back to May 2

  • April 18, 2003

CRESCO, Iowa (Apri 18, 2003) - Cresco Speedway officials have pushed back the season opener to May 2, instead of April 25, as originally scheduled.

“We have too much work to do, and with the wet and cool April weather, we just cannot guarantee to have everything in order by our originally scheduled April 25 opening night,” track manager Tom Barnes said. “So we have decided to push the opening night back to May 2. We want to make sure the track is ready for competition. Right now, we haven’t had the warm and dry weather we need to work on the track.

“The track is the issue right now. We added 170 plus loads of clay late last fall. Our spring weather has not been cooperative in preparing the track. The biggest issue is two fold. First the south part of the track, turn one and turn two, face north, so this part of the track is always slow to thaw out. This end of the track is still quite soft. Plus with new clay brings rocks. We have been picking rocks when we can get on the track. But we are not done yet, and rocks are very dangerous to our drivers, and fans.

“The last thing we want to do is race on a track that we do not feel is safe. Plus the possibility of a rough track causes all kinds of problems for drivers. The track needs more than 2 or 3 warm and dry days. Ideally it needs several decent days in a row that will allow us to work the track in. Hopefully the weather will cooperate so we can open on May 2.”

Cresco Speedway will feature Modifieds, Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks, Street Stocks and two divisions of 4-Cylinders competing every Friday night, starting May 2. Hot laps start at 7:15 p.m. with racing immediately after hot laps. The track phone is (563) 547-3400.