Staff report

Due to inclement weather, Friday’s NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series program at Southampton Motor Speedway has been canceled. The final event of the `03 regular season, RaceWorld.com Night at the Races, is slated for Friday, Sept. 19, with Round 5 of the Dodge Power Super Series for the Late Model Stock Car division topping the bill.

Pit gates open at 3 p.m. Front gates open and practice starts at 4:30.

Time trials begin at 6:40 and the racing gets under way at 8. The lineup includes: RaceWorld.com Late Model Stock Cars (200 laps); Mike Duman Auto Sales Limited Late Models (Twin 30s); Ukrop’s Mid-Atlantic Champ Karts (20 laps); VMCRA Mini-Cup cars (25 laps); and, U-Cars (25 laps).

Tickets are $12 for adults and $4 for youths (6-12). Children under 6 are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Active-duty military (with ID), senior citizens (65+) and teens (13-19) receive a $2 discount off the adult admission price.

With the possibility of a visit from Hurricane Isabel looming in the week ahead, SMS General Manager Brad Skelding has put a &uot;Rain on Friday – Race on Sunday&uot; plan into effect for the Sept. 19 program. If next Friday’s races should fall victim to the elements, then a makeup event will be held on Sunday, Sept. 21 – the cutoff date for races to count toward the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series regional Competition Performance Index.

NASCAR mandates that Feature Division drivers (Late Model Stock Cars at SMS) run a minimum of 18 races to qualify for regional and national honors. ShorTrack Division drivers (Limited Late Models at SMS) must compete in a minimum of 16 events.

Currently, SMS has held 17 races for the Late Model Stock Cars and 14 for the Limited Late Models. Next weekend’s 200-lapper would put the Late Model Stock Cars at 18, while twin 30-lap features have been scheduled for the Limited Late Models to bring them to 16.

More details are emerging about OktoberFAST 2003, slated for Saturday, Oct. 25, at SMS. The event will be highlighted by a 150-lap feature for the Limited Late Model division with support races for the U-Car and Street Stock classes.

The track will be open from noon `til 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 24, to park car haulers. No other activities are scheduled for Friday.

On Saturday, Oct. 25, driver registration will open at 7 a.m. and the pit gates will open at 7:30. After car inspections have been completed (approximately 10 a.m.), practice will get under way and will run `til 12:45 p.m. The grandstands will be open and fans are invited to watch practice at no charge.

The front gate ticket windows open at 1 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $4 for youths (6-12). Children under 6 are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. 2003 season passes and season trackside parking passes will be honored for this event.

Time trials for the Limited Late Models begin at 2:30, followed by the U-Car feature. Heat races and a last-chance race will complete the 36-car starting lineup for the Limited Late Model 150, which will be run in two 75-lap segments. A Street Stock race will follow the Limited Late Model feature. A full event itinerary will be posted on the track’s Web site, SouthamptonMotorSpeedway.com, in the next few days.

In its fourth season under the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series banner, Southampton Motor Speedway is a 4/10-mile, paved tri-oval, similar in configuration to Richmond International Race-way. The track is located on U.S. Highway 58, one mile west of Capron and 17 miles east of I-95 (Emporia exit).

To learn more about SMS and its schedule of upcoming events, fans may call the Speedway office at (434) 658-RACE or visit the track’s Web site at SouthamptonMotorSpeedway.com.