Shawano Speedway has been forced to delay the start of its 2014 racing season for the second straight week.
Track conditions and forecasts of rain and cold temperatures prompted the speedway to move its season start from Saturday to May 3, with a practice session scheduled for May 2.
“It is still pretty wet yet,” said Dale Hodkiewicz, Shawano Speedway president. “The grounds are wet and rain is supposed to come tomorrow, and the weather is going to be miserably cold. We’re talking a high of 49 on Saturday, 30s in the evening. That isn’t very hospitable.”
This is the second year in a row where the track has been delayed by two weeks. Last year, the track opened on May 4.
“We know we play outside, we’re at the will of Mother Nature,” Hodkiewicz said. “When she lets us race, I guess we’ll race.”
Hodkiewicz said the drivers are ready to go but understand the situation and are taking the extra time to get their cars ready.
“They’ve been very supportive of our decisions to not open because of the weather,” he said. “They all want to race, but they want to enjoy themselves when they are there.”
Hodkiewicz said the practice session is very important for both the drivers and the track managers.
“It gives the drives a chance to shake out cars,” he said, “and then it gives some rookie guys a chance to get around the track without competition, just get around the track and get a feel for it.”
The track workers use the session to see how the track is holding up.
“We see what kind of adjustments we have to make to race on Saturday,” Hodkiewicz said. “It’s good for both of us.”
If conditions don’t improve the track would move both the practice and opening night back another week.