WEATHER PROVIDES DOUBLE-UP OPPORTUNITY FOR ROCK RACERS

A particularly challenging weather pattern has forced Rockingham Dragway owner Steve Earwood to adjust his track’s schedule for the second consecutive week, a circumstance that has presented a unique opportunity for racers to expend half the effort for twice the reward during the season-opening event in the Hoosier Tires Carolina Coalition Series.

Instead of a two day, two-race program encompassing Top Eliminator, Footbrake and Jr. Dragster, the competition will be consolidated into one day of racing on Sunday with the promise of double payouts in both cash and points applying to the Carolina Coaltion championship and the Rockingham Dragway track championship.

The revised Top Eliminator purse will pay $6,000 to the winner, $2,000 to the runner-up and $400 each to Sunday’s semifinal losers. In Footbrake, the payout will be $3,000 to win, $1,000 to the losing finalist and $300 to the semifinalists. Top prize in Jr. Dragster will be $400 with $150 to the runner-up.

Points also will be doubled, Earwood said, with six points for entering and two points for each round won.

“The reality of running a racetrack is that you can’t control the weather,” Earwood said. “We got snowed out last week and this week’s forecast isn’t much better – until Sunday. Sunday is supposed to be sunny and 63 degrees, a perfect day for racing. I know my racers are anxious to turn a tire and I am, too.

“That’s why we doubled-up the purse – as a reward to everyone who has stuck with us through all the weather. We wanted to make it that much more rewarding for all our die-hard racers.”

Although no racing is planned on Saturday, the gates will be open from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. for pit parking. Gates will open at 8 a.m. Sunday with God Speed Ministries chapel service at 9 a.m. and time trials at 10. Entry fee is $125 in Top Eliminator, $95 in Footbrake and $35 in Jr. Dragster. Buybax will remain only $40 for Top, $20 for Footbrake and $15 for the Juniors. Spectator admission is $15.