RAIN ON OUR PARADE

Well, what can I say? On track, there wasn’t much to talk about unless you are into the science of precipitation.

For those that always ask or critique the call to cancel a race because of weather, there was no way to dispute this one. The rain last Friday started mid-afternoon and lasted into the evening. Throughout most of it, it was a driving, hard rain that would ultimately flood the tech area and make the whole pit area a soggy mess. I drove back up past the track around 6:30pm after being there about three hours earlier and the rain was driving down so hard on the “Airport Hill” that cars were either doing 70 KPH on the road, or they were pulled over because of lack of visibility.

In the end, there was no way we were getting this one in. I’ve beat the dead horse here a couple times why rain dates do not work for all and how the other two weekly operating tracks in the region do not offer rain dates on the same weekend, or at all, period. The best we can do in our short season is move on and look toward this Friday.

With no racing, there hasn’t been anything changing from the last time we spoke in this space, so I invite you over to last week’s article to preview this Friday night’s action. This Friday is Canadian National Autism Foundation night, which brings out a pretty big crowd each year to raise awareness for the CNAF. When a big crowd shows up, the drivers within those race cars and trucks usually ramp up their game to put on a show for those in the stands. Remember the Cy Harvey vs. Jeff Campbell and Dan Smith vs. Cy Harvey mid-season showdown last year? That happened on CNAF Night in 2014.

It’s hard to believe we are into August after Friday night’s show. Speaking of big crowds, the beginning of August means one thing - the Atlantic Cat 250 weekend. While I cannot divulge too much information, if I am a short track fan, I will have a lot of things to get excited about next weekend. From the Atlantic Cat Meet ‘n Greet Party at Atlantic Cat in Burnside Thursday, to the Dartmouth Dodge Sportsman 100 on Friday (which is attracting a lot of attention from outside the Halifax Regional Municipality) to the crown jewel of our season, the Atlantic Cat 250 for the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour on Saturday, it’s a HUGE three days.

Among the cars and stars of the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour is expected to be former Atlantic Cat 250 titlist Cassius Clark, who stated last weekend that his next race with the King Racing team is expected to be in next weekend’s 250. Brady Creamer from the Mighty Miramichi will be bringing his Pro Stock down to play. The last time Brady was down was three seasons ago in a Dartmouth Dodge Sportsman where he turned some heads. Speaking of Dartmouth Dodge Sportsman, the Rodgers brothers of Smithtown, New Brunswick have had this race circled on their calendar for months. If you’ve never seen Andrew and Matt Rodgers race, you are in for a treat on the Friday night portion of the show. Who knows who else may show up Friday night for the Sportsman race?!

We’ll talk more about the Atlantic Cat 250 next week leading into the big show, but first it’s Canadian National Autism Foundation Night for the Weekly Racing Series, and a big point night for five of our Weekly Racing Series classes as they begin their stretch run to the end of the season and those coveted track championships.

Until Friday, keep the hammer down and we’ll see you at the track!