Lincoln Speedway March 15th preview

Everything is ready for Saturday's Lincoln Speedway opener; Mother Nature smiles as March 15th opener nears.

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA, 3/12/03 - Anticipation is high as everything continues to fall into place for Lincoln Speedway's Northeast season-opener this Saturday afternoon, March 15th.

Forecasted temps in the 50 to 60 degree range and zero percent chance of rain starting Friday has put master track preparer Fred Putney into high gear getting the lightning-quick 3/8th-mile high-banked oval into racing trim for Saturday's 2003 Northeast Season Opener.

All the snow has been removed from the track and grandstands and some of the most noticeable changes upon entering the speedway will be the change in location of the billboards form the backstretch to the third and fourth turn area. Also, the giant Coor's Light scoreboard has been moved from it's home in the middle of the backstretch into the third turn as well, giving teams in the outer pit area an almost totally unobstructed view of the on-track action.

On tap is the Annual Ice Breaker 30 for the 410 Sprints and $3,000 awaiting the victor. And if recent history is any indicator, Fred Putney works his best magic during the early-season daytime racing surface.

Some of the most prominent track records at the Pigeon Hills oval, the 10 and 25 lap 410 sprint records and the six, eight and 20 lap thundercar track records were all set during early-season daytime events.

But starting this season, an imaginary asterisk could be placed next to all the 410 sprint records presently in the books as the new universal 1,375 pound minimum weight rule for the headline division takes effect, as well as the modified top-wing rule and Lincoln's new Hoosier right-rear tire rule.

No asterisk will be needed next to the thundercar records and it is quite possible the most popular support division in Central Pennsylvania could shatter several records as they compete in the Spring Thaw 20.

Both the 410 Sprints and the Thundercars will draw for starting positions the first three shows before reverting to Central Pennsylvania's popular handicapping process.

The 410 sprinters will then redraw for the top-12 starting positions in the feature while the thundercars will have a single redraw for an inversion to determine there final starting spots in the feature.

The Northeast Classic Stock Cars will round out Saturday's season-opening action.

The only anticipated set-back in this years season-opener will be the operation of the scoreboard. The scoreboard has been moved, but not all the wiring . That means fans will have to listen a little more closely to the voice of Lincoln Speedway, Mr. Wayne Harper, as he magically weaves his tale of the tape to keep everyone informed of the racing action.

The scoreboard should be back in operation for next Saturday's first evening show of the season.

Gates will open at noon, with warm-ups beginning at 1:30 PM, followed by the green flag on the 2003 season at 2 PM.

Then starting next Saturday, March 22nd, Lincoln Speedway will quickly shift gears to night-time action as they move to 6 PM starts with the 410 sprinters and thundercars being joined by the third Lincoln point division - the 358 sprints.

-ls-