AFTON – It’s been no secret that this racing season has not been the best for the Afton Motorsports Park (AMP). From a new racing surface that had to be removed after just three weeks of racing to the silty remains – which has continued to hinder the ability to race side by side – to drivers leaving the track and not returning because of the track surface and the inability to pass.
After the recent Short Track Super Series (STSS) race, Brett Deyo of STSS told AMP track promoter Ronnie Ford that he had to do something about the racing surface or he would move the Short Track Super Nationals to another facility.
Ford decided after hearing that from Deyo, looking things over and thinking about the track surface and what to do, decided to cancel the August 3 show. As it rained on Friday, the show would have been cancelled due to weather.
On Saturday and Sunday, Ford has been hard at work on the race track, removing more surface in an attempt to have a racy surface by Friday, night August 10. The hope is that this recent large removal of track surface will allow side by side racing to take place with less silt being present on the race track.
“I keep hearing all the time how people enjoy the racing and the atmosphere here at Afton Motorsports Park,” said Ford. “Now it’s even more important that if you care about the park, you need to come out and support the track this Friday night. Being brutally honest with everyone, the track cannot continue to operate and stay open the way it has been of late.”
“I encourage all racers and racing fans to come out and not only support Afton Motorsports Park but any local race track. Local weekly short track auto racing is in trouble, not only here in this area but all over the United States. Racers and race fans need to realize this and get out and support your local race track before it closes, not only for the season but for good.”
There are only four point shows remaining on the 2018 racing schedule and the championship title is very tight in the Modified division as Mitch Gibbs leads Brett Tonkin by just four points. Over in the IMCA Modified division, Beau Ballard leads Tyler Stoddard by just one point while in the Open Sportsman ,Claude Hutchings Jr. leads Tyler Hart by 21 points.
