Fri, 20 Oct 2000, 08:56 PM Rain Wipes Out Friday Qualifying

By Larry Sullivan

ENNIS, Texas - 7:40 PM - We're through for today. After seven hours of on-again, off-again rain, it's once again raining heavily, wiping out all traces of the track drying process.

For a couple hours the rain never got heavier than a light drizzle, not enough water for boat racing, but too much for drag racing. Then the bottom fell out and it poured, leaving puddles standing on the race track and staging lanes.

Each time the rain stopped, the Safety Safari "Conga line" started making laps, the tractor pushing standing water aside, the sweeper trucks vacuuming it up, and the jet driers warming the track to speed the drying process. A couple times the track was dry enough to call the drivers back to their cars, only to see raindrops start falling once again.

The final straw came just moments ago. after the rain stopped almost long enough to get the cars fired and running. Almost. Then it started again and race officials threw in the towel.

We will be back tomorrow morning, facing a weather forecast much worse than today's. The three Federal-Mogul Dragsters left in line when the rain started at 12:40 this afternoon will get their final qualifying run at 9:30 AM, followed by the final qualifying session for Federal-Mogul Funny Car. Pro sessions are scheduled for 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM CDT.