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ABC racers and fans disappointed by washout of 63rd season starter on Saturday

By Nick Gima

ASHLAND, WI (May 22) - Mother Nature has continued to throw her monkey wrench into the plans of the Ashland-Bayfield County Racing Association, as the association’s board of directors was forced to cancel the opener of its 63rd season of stock car racing for the second straight Saturday night at ABC Raceway.

The program was to include a salute to military personnel as part of the raceway’s annual Military Appreciation Night but a light, persistent morning rainfall and a forecast for temperatures in the 40s to low 50s for the Chequamegon Bay area forced the decision, much to the dismay of the board as well as the track’s all-volunteer staff.

The five weekly divisions – the WISSOTA Modifieds, Super Stocks, Midwest Modifieds, Pure Stocks, and the ABC Six-Cylinders – will have to wait one more week before kicking off their season at the award-winning three-eighths-mile red-clay oval just south of Ashland.

Next up on the schedule at ABC will be the first-ever visit by the USRA Limited Late Models on Saturday, May 30.

The six-division show starts with the pit gates opening at 4:30 p.m. and grandstand gates opening at 5:30. The first green flag of the program is set to fly at 7 p.m.

ABC Raceway is located 3-1/2 miles south of Ashland on State Highway 13 and one mile west on Butterworth Road. For raceday information call (715) 682-4990, log on to the track's website, www.abcraceway.com.