MERCED, California — Merced Speedway will be on break Sunday so that drivers, crews and fans can spend the holiday with their families. Since Oval Motorsports, Inc. began promoting the facility last season, it has kept the track dark on the three holiday weekends of summer.
"Family time is important."— John Soares
“Family time is important,” Promoter John Soares explained. “When we make a season’s schedule, we allow for the three summer holidays. In addition, we try to give each division a week off in the rotation so people can plan vacations.”
Also, the speedway will not hold races on Sunday, Sept. 11, but will return to action on Friday, July 16 with “Fantastic Friday”, a full program including all of the track’s divisions. The reason for the schedule change is the significance of the 10th anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center, and that World of Outlaws Sprint Cars will be in California, stopping at sister track Antioch Speedway, on Monday, Sept. 12.
“We know from the immense amount preparation needed for the arrival of the World of Outlaws, and the fact that many fans will be attending the Monday event at Antioch, that is best to leave the Sept. 11 date alone,” Soares said. “Fans should remember that it is the day America changed. It affected everyone - even us as stock car racers.”
The Speedway will host the second Friday night event of the season on Sept. 16, and then there will be another full card of racing on September 25. The first Budweiser Fall Classic, a two day two division event will take place at Antioch Speedway on October 1, and Merced Speedway October 2. This big event will feature both the DIRTcar West modified stock cars and the Western All Stars Late Models. The will be the first appearance of the Western All Stars at Merced Speedway.
