Story by Kenny Shupp Jr.
(Woodhull, NY) Mother Nature has not been very kind to many race venues across the northeast particularly the Woodhull Raceway. With a new racing surface that was laid down two weeks ago in preparation for the August 10, 2021 Short Track Super Series Event, Woodhull was in hopes of getting a second consecutive event into the books. After an early afternoon dousing at the historic Steuben County Speedway, the track preparation crew went to work and groomed the high banked one-third of a mile oval and the program began precisely at the advertised 6:30 pm start time.
However, shortly after the first few qualifying heat events were tucked into the record books, the National Weather Service issued a weather alert for the Southern Tier portion of the county and just like clockwork the track took another shot of heavy rain coupled with thunder and lightning track owners, Terry and Niki Brewer had no choice but to pull the plug, literally.
With well over 100 machines in the pit area representing Woodhull’s 8 weekly divisions of competition, the rainout came as a huge disappointment to both drivers and fans alike and with only a handful of point races remaining it will, in most cases keep the top five in each class well within striking distance of a Track Championship.
“This has been just such a teeter/totter of a season, claimed Terry and Niki Brewer. When the weather is nice it makes for some awesome racing as evident in last week’s show. We had just put over 600 ton of new clay and the track was perfect. The hope was to get tonight’s show into the books in anticipation of the August 10 STSS event. “
Of the seventeen events that should have been run thus far only ten have been completed with either rain or wet ground claiming victory in the other seven.
“Last year even with an abbreviated season due to Covid 19 restrictions we never lost an event from early June thru late September. Couldn’t buy a drop of rain for most of the summer, the complete opposite of this year.” That once again according to the Brewers.
Woodhull Raceway will now prepare for their biggest event of 2021 as the Brett Deyo promoted Short Track Super Series will make its way to the facility for a Tuesday night special on August 10. Previous winners of the “Hustlin the High Banks 50 plus lap feature events include Stewart Friesen, Ryan Godown, Andy Bachetti and Billy VanPelt.
Current STSS North Series point leader, Super Matt Sheppard will headline a who’s who list of the best open wheel pilots in the northeast’s Modified Division along with other standouts like Friesen, Bachetti, Mike Mahaney, Anthony Perrigo, Mat Williamson, Mike Gular and Billy Decker. Woodhull’s winningest driver, Billy VanPelt will look to back up his 2018 STSS win, his only thus far in STSS competition.
With only a few qualifying heats completed prior to the rain, the show will be scrubbed and made up in its entirety on August 14.
Fans and drivers are encouraged to keep their rain stubs and wrist bands from the August 7 rainout.
As more information becomes available it will be posted at www.facebook.com/WoodhullRaceway/
For a complete look at the remainder of the 2021 schedule of events, the point standings, class rules and purse structures along with sponsor information and much more log on at www.woodhullraceway.com
The Woodhull Raceway is located on Cr. 102 just off Rt. 417. 25 miles west of Corning, 25 miles east of Hornell, 25 miles south of Bath and 25 miles north of Wellsboro.
It’s the Greatest Show on Dirt at the Best Track in the Country. New York’s Toughest Dirt Bullring.