CANANDAIGUA LOST TO RAIN FOR THIRD TIME IN 2003

CANANDAIGUA, NY...Late afternoon rains began around 3 p.m. and continued to nearly 6:15 p.m., causing portions of the Canandaigua dirt half mile oval to be under water. At 6 p.m., the bottom third of both low ends of the speedway were under water and rains were continuing. A river of water, down the front straight, connected these two pools.

"Our track crew thought the track would drain within a half hour once the rains stopped," stated track general manager Jeff Farney. "We were then looking at nearly an hour and a half running-in and drying process before we could begin with the first heat race."

"We hated to lose this event," Farney continued. "First, it was a memorial race for my mother and father. A number of family members had made special trips to attend this race. Secondly, I hated it for the fans and race teams, as the weather in the west looked to change around for the better immediately after we threw in the towel."

On hand were the Mid-State Vintage Racers, who will be returning on September 13, as part of the huge year-end Finger Lakes 100 program. That program will also include a 100-lap Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series for big-blocks paying $7,000 to win, along with an Empire Sports Network Western Region Pro Stock Championship and a 20-lap Street Stock Championship. Racing on September 13 will begin at 5 p.m..

It was to have been "Legends Night" at Canandaigua, with a number of the past great drivers in attendance. Unfortunately this part of the program had to be canceled.

The Saturday the weekly racing action returns to Canandaigua Speedway when it will be Star Headlight & Lantern and Geneva Harley-Davidson night. A complete Four Star program of DIRT Modifieds/358-Modifieds, Sportsman, Pro-Stocks and Street Stocks will be on the track.

Canandaigua Speedway is located just east of the Village of Canandaigua, at the Ontario County Fairgrounds, off County Road 10. Race time come Saturday will be at 7 p.m. sharp.