Snow postpones Lincoln Speedway opener

Record snowfall postpones Lincoln Northeast season opener.
20-30 inches of snow blankets Lincoln Speedway High-Banks.

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA, 2/18/03 - Mother Nature's weapon of choice is usually rain when it comes to putting a damper on Central Pennsylvania racing action. But when it comes to early season races, it can be something more brutal, like snow. Old Mother Nature didn't leave any doubt who runs the show this week as she dumped anywhere from 20 to 30 inches of the white stuff in and around the Lincoln Speedway area this past Presidents Day holiday. That left Lincoln Speedway promoters, Don & Bob Leiby, along with Alan Kreitzer, with little choice but to postpone this weekend's Saturday, February 22nd, scheduled Northeast Season Opener - the Ice Breaker 30 for the 410 sprints.

That will now move the $3,000-to-win sprint car opener to next Saturday, March 1st, at 2 PM. Joining the 410 sprinters will be the Thundercar regulars as they compete in the Spring Thaw 20.

Counting this year's 51st Lincoln Speedway Season Opener, Mother Nature has now postponed opening day festivities 20 times. Mother Nature wasted no time in showing Lincoln Speedway who's boss by postponing to first race ever scheduled (July 3, 1953) on the lightning-fast 3/8th mile high-banked oval. It wasn't until the following week, July 10, 1953 that Mel Kreiser bested Leroy Felty for the inaugural win.

When this year's season opener takes place, seven-time Lincoln Champ Fred Rahmer will be looking to set yet anther milestone in his storied career at the Pigeon Hills oval as he will seek to become the first six-time opening day winner. Rahmer is presently tied with five wins atop the all-time season opener win list with Steve Smith and Bobby Allen.

Only two drivers have stopped Rahmer over the past eight seasons from picking up opening day wins. Rahmer started his opening day streak in 1995, and has only been stopped by Todd Shaffer (1998) and Keith Kauffman (2000, 2002).

Next on the all-time opening day winners list is the legendary Bobby Abel with three opening day wins. He is then followed by Dan Dietrich, Kenny Weld, Kauffman, Troy Funck, and Gene Goodling each with two opening day wins a piece.

Two-time opening day winner Kauffman picked up his second win in three years in Lincoln Speedway's season opener just last season.

Picking up single Lincoln Speedway opener wins were Bobby Gerhart, Junie Taylor, Frankie Kerr, Lance Dewease, Frankie Thompson, Smokey Snellbaker, Dub May, Van May, Bobby Myers, Lynn Paxton, Paul Pitzer, Walt Ragan, Richard Lupo, Todd Shaffer, Mel Kreiser, Ralph Smith, Stevie Smith, Kramer Williamson, Bobby Davis Jr., Johnny Mackison Sr., Jimmy Edwards, and Glenn Fitzcharles.

So don't forget to change your calendar to Saturday, March 1, 2003 for Lincoln Speedway's Northeast Season Opener featuring the 410 sprints and the thundercars. Gates will open at noon, with hot laps getting underway at 1:30 PM, and the first heat taking the green at 2 PM.

To get all the latest news, results, schedule changes and rule changes, visit Lincoln Speedway's website at http://www.lincolnspeedway.com to stay up-to-date on all the action or pending weather conditions at Central Pennsylvania's premier Saturday night race track - Lincoln Speedway.

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