Zero Chance of Rain Morphs Into Three Hour Storm Cancelling Riverhead Raceway Races Saturday
Riverhead, NY July 16th — Despite the predictions by the high-priced New York City and local weather forecasters calling for a 0% chance of rain on Long Island Saturday, a potent storm rolled in over Riverhead Raceway just 30 minutes after the garage area opened at 2:00 pm. The system featured three separate rain showers, the last of which put a halt to the night’s NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series program that featured a School Bus Demolition Derby. The events lost Saturday move to Wednesday, August 3rd.
Tom Gatz, who along with his aunt Connie Partridge own the track shook his head in disbelief looking out the window of race control, “nobody forecast this as late as 2:00 pm today, in fact, while it was raining at 3:00 pm the weather app still said zero chance of rain” Gatz, stunned by the chain of events commented. The first shower hit at 2:30 and dampened the track which was quickly dried. Just as the Super Pro Trucks lined up to start practice another round of rain, this one a bit heavier hit and track drying resumed. Teams were given a 30-minute warning to start practice but then came the knockout punch in the form of heavy, wind-driven rain. Still, Gatz, along with GM John Ellwood held out hope for the race card but when the third round of rain hung around for well over an hour all hope was lost. Rain lingered at the track well past 6:00 pm.
The Wednesday, August 3rd make-up date for the show lost Saturday will feature a condensed schedule concerning practice, qualifying, and other time-saving measures. In the event of rain on August 3rd, the show would then move back one week to August 10th. The blue pit wristbands issued Saturday are only good for the make-up date August 3rd.
To keep up on the latest championship standings, news, and our 2022 schedule please visit www.riverheadraceway.com, e-mails reach us at office@riverheadraceway.com while our phone number remains 631-842-RACE
Sources: Bob Finan/Riverhead Raceway PR