WHEELERSBURG, OH-After fighting issues with an unacceptable amount of dust, the Southern Ohio Speedway has made the decision to cancel the July 20th races to do major work on the track surface and get the issue corrected. The track would like to release the following statement regarding the track’s plans:
Over the course of the past month we have had a couple nights where the dust level has been simply unacceptable. We’ve made changes to the track prep techniques each week. There’s not been a week since the Southern 100 that the track hasn’t been opened up and at least 80,000 gallons of water put on the track (over 80,000 gallons of water was put on the track for the Southern 100 as well, but the track was not opened up). But none of those changes have worked the way that we have needed it to. With that being said, it’s time that some major changes are made to correct the issue, and correct the issue right now.
This week we are going to cut the track extremely deep, deep enough to bring the old clay to the top of the surface. While the old clay isn’t the best clay, it at least binds with the dust control chemicals. We are also going to water, water water in an effort to get moisture at least a foot down into the track surface. Our plans our to put at least 500,000 gallons of water onto the track surface this week. We will also put a lot of focus on preventing the track from peeling off and getting rough. If that doesn’t work, we will take even more extreme measures such as stripping 2 feet of clay off the entire racing surface to get the surface back to where it was last year. One way or the other, we WILL get this dust issue fixed.
To really know if the problem is fixed (and if it’s not completely fixed to get a feel on what to change), we are going to need to have race cars on the track running in conditions close to what they would be on a race night. Instead of having a private test session, we are going to open the track up this Friday, July 20th from 7:00 pm-10:00 pm for an open practice. All race cars in all classes are invited to come and practice and spectators are welcome as well. This is a free test session, there will be no cost to attend and no cost to practice the car. As far as the track prep is concerned, we are treating this just like it is a race night and will have the track prepped like that.
We are going to be back on our race schedule on Friday, July 27th for “Hall of Fame Night” with Late Models-$2,000 to win, Jordan Heating & Cooling UMP Modifieds-$600 to win, GCP Engines Sport Mods-Regular Purse, and Street Stocks-$400 to win. When we race on July 27th, we want race teams and race fans to know without a doubt that when they come to the track, they will have a smooth surface with very minimal dust. We hate not to race this week, but fixing the track and being 100% sure we have a premium track surface the next time we race is our prime concern right now. We owe it to all the race fans and race teams to have a premium track surface.
We are going to document all of the work that is going to be going on at the track this week through pictures and videos on our Facebook page and website this week. You are also welcome to drive by the track and see the work in action. We encourage people to come out this Friday for no cost and test the surface out. We will have pictures and videos from the open practice as well.
Today, July 15th, 2012, marks the one year anniversary that the track has been open. In that one year we have paid out over $300,000 worth of purse money to the race teams, have brought over $1,000,000 into the local economy, and most importantly, have had some absolutely incredible races. Think about races such as last years Southern Showdown when Tim Dohm came from last to take the lead in 12 laps, this years Southern 50, epic battles for the race win between Josh McGuire and Eddie Carrier Jr. on April 20th and Jackie Boggs and Eddie Carrier Jr. on May 25th. There’s been so much good that’s came out of this track over the one year period. This past month (Southern 100 and Southern Showdown in particular) has been bad, and has been absolutey gut-wrenching to the owners of H&L Motorsports, LLC, but we are 100% commited and determined to fix this dust problem and get the track back to producing incredible shows when we race again on July 27th.
H&L Motorsports, LLC would also like to express a heart felt thank you to all of the race fans and race teams who support Southern Ohio Speedway. In our opinion, there is not a better group of racers and race fans anywhere in the country than what is at Southern Ohio Speedway. We fully believe that the racers and race fans at SOS want to see the track succeed just as badly as we do. With that being said, we ask any race fan and driver that wants to give their suggestions on what they think needs improved, and how they would improve it, to please send an email this week to southernohiospeedway@gmail.com. Because of the extreme amount of work that will be going on at the track by the owners, we may not have a chance to respond to all emails, but all emails will be read.
July 20th Open Practice Information
Time: 7:00 pm-10:00 pm (If there are lots of cars in attendance, we will turn on the lights and go past 9:00 pm)
Admission: FREE!
