Sat, 14 Jun 2003, 11:53 AM Further Rain Complicates Columbus Schedule

By Larry Sullivan

HEBRON, Ohio - Saturday, 11:45 AM -- Overnight rain delayed the start of racing at National Trail Raceway by about an hour this morning and rain started falling again around 10:30 AM, in the middle of the second round of qualifying for Top Alcohol Dragster. It is still raining, but the weather radar appears to show an end to the rain is approaching.

When (if) the rain stops, race officials will dry the track and complete the Top Alcohol Dragster round, then try to get two rounds of Professional qualifying in today.

Unpaved pit areas and spectator parking lots are very wet. The river near the parking lots west of the track is flooding and the rising water enveloped the TV compound, forcing them to relocate all the TV production trucks and cables closer to the tower.

The schedule for completing Sportsman eliminations is uncertain, wet grounds making it difficult for many to get their cars out of their trailers and into the staging lanes.

Despite the rain and the flooding, race officials are still working toward completing this event this weekend. Stay tuned, we'll let you know how this mini-drama turns out.