TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020 - AREA AUTO RACING NEWS - PAGE 3 - Coronavirus Pandemic Forces Racing Cancelations Worldwide But Not In Pennsylvania - ited national media members past weekend, two in Arizona through the end of March. onship and will be run Nov. 11- of safety. We have faith in local, It appears as if the event would only. on March 21-22, and four in The Saturday’s March 14 14 at Sebring International state, and federal authorities to have run otherwise. Trucks had begun to be un- California. West Coast Sprint Car event at Raceway. act in the same manner,” track CARS LATE MODELS: loaded from trailers and Cup At this point, the WoO Sprint Hanford, California’s Keller BAPS: BAPS Motor Speed- management expressed. The CARS Late Model race teams were reportedly only schedule will resume on Friday, Auto Speedway at Kings Fair- way in Newberrytown, Pa. can- A make-up date will be an- which was planned for next miles away when the plan was April 10 at Ocean Speedway in grounds was postponed with of- celed Saturday’s (March 14) nounced in the near future. Saturday, March 21 at the Hick- scrapped and the event can- Watsonville, CA. The next ficials hopeful to make up the Test & Tune Session. The man- USCS 360 SPRINTS: The ory Speedway was canceled. celled. WoO Late Model series race is Twin 20s event at a later date agement team at BAPS made two day USCS Shoals Shootout The issuance of North Carolina NHRA: The National Hot slated for March 27th at the this season. the decision in an effort to keep at North Alabama Speedway in Governor Roy Cooper’s Exec- Rod Association postponed a Volunteer Speedway in Tenn. The Western States Midget employees safe and for the Tuscumbia, AL was moved utive Order No. 117, which significant portion of the 51st FORMULA 1: Formula 1 season opener on Saturday, well-being of race teams and back a week and rescheduled banned public gatherings of annual Gatornationals at canceled its season opening March 21, at Bakersfield the fans traveling to the speed- for Friday and Saturday, March Gainesville (Florida) Raceway Grand Prix in Melbourne, Aus- (Calif.) Speedway has been way. 20-21 because of wet grounds. (continued on page 5) due to the ongoing global out- tralia in part because the postponed as well as the Satur- The speedway said on is web- break of the COVID-19 virus. McLaren Formula 1 team had day, March 28 USAC CRA site that it is “monitoring the The partial postponement was declined to participate. It was Sprint Car event from Perris situation as it progresses and in accordance with the recom- subsequently reported that a (Calif.) Auto Speedway, which will provide updates on upcom- mendation of the Florida gover- Team McLaren employee had has also been postponed. ing events.” This week’s opener Starting Line-Up nor. Some Sportsman racing tested positive for the coron- California governor Gavin on Saturday at BAPS remained was held without spectators. avirus. The race was canceled Newsom, along with California on the schedule when AARN THE SHOWS WENT ON: Central Pennsylvania’s three Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Thursday. state health officials, recom- went to press. weekly 410 Sprint tracks, Lincoln, Port Royal, and Stock, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Formula 1 champion Lewis mended the cancellation of POTOMAC: The state of Williams Grove ran their races off as scheduled last Pro Mod, Factory Stock Show- Hamilton said he was “very, gatherings of 250 or more peo- Maryland’s governor issued an weekend, the only state in the union to run more than one down, Top Fuel Harley, Top Al- very surprised” that the teams ple across the entire state. The executive order late last week race. Drivers, car owners and fans turned out out in good cohol Dragster and Top Alcohol had even travelled to Mel- new policy from the California banning gatherings of 100 peo- numbers. AARN’s Todd Heintzelman, who was at Port Funny Car will compete at a bourne. Mercedes’s F1 team re- Department of Public Health ple or more. Potomac Speed- and the Grove, has the comments of race winners Lance later date to be determined. leased a statement calling for will be in effect at least through way’s management thus Dewease and Carson Macedo. On Monday they suspended the race to be cancelled, noting March. canceled their season opener all NHRA drag racing for 30 the “well being of our team The West Coast Sprints will and two other events planned in Sprint Car Scene, Page 14. days. This suspension includes members and of the wider F1 now begin on April 25 at Perris March. ANDY J CROWNED IN FRONT OF EMPTY STANDS: events at all NHRA-owned community” took priority. Auto Speedway; the USAC/ “This is obviously not in our The empty arena may have dimmed the majesty of the tracks and any NHRA-sanc- Races in China, Bahrain and CRA series will now open its plan and not what we wanted to moment somewhat, but for Andy Jankowiak he would tioned events such as the Vietnam have been postponed. season with a rare double- happen at the start of our racing have been happy receiving the TC Cup in the middle of NHRA Mello Yellow Drag Formula 1 and governing header, starting Saturday, April season. We’re just as eager to an ice storm. One of racing’s true characters, Jankowiak Racing Series and the Lucas Oil body the FIA have said they 18th at Bakersfield Speedway. start the season as you all are. reflected on his achievement, his career and his life with Drag Racing Series. now ‘expect’ the 2020 season to A 360 Sprint car event was We feel that based off of this AARN Editor Len Sammons. Focus On Speed, Page 4. The NHRA intends at this begin at the end of May. held in Chico, Ca. with specta- statement by Governor Hogan time to resume the original The outbreak of COVID-19 tors limited to 250 per state reg- that we are affected” Potomac REACTIONS AT PORT: An unusual situation played out schedule on April 17-19 in forced the Chinese round of the ulation. If those in the pit area management posted on its web- Saturday at Port Royal Speedway as COVID-19 news Houston, and continue there- calender to be postponed last working on the cars and the site. They are planning to now was fast-breaking and the threat to the immediate future after, subject to developments month. drivers were part of that count start the season on Friday April of the sport was becoming real. In the midst of it, drivers in the interim. The spring Las The Bahrain Grand Prix, is not known. 3. and car owners paused to share their thoughts, some Vegas event is postponed with which was due to take place IMSA: The International ARCA - The ARCA race well reasoned, others reflexive. AARN’s Steve Barrick new dates to be determined. next weekend, and the first ever Motor Sports Association planned for Five Flags Speed- compiled them. Port COVID-19 Thoughts, Page 9. WORLD RACING Vietnam Grand Prix, scheduled (IMSA) announced that the way in Pensacola Speedway GROUP: World Racing Group for the beginning of April, have 68th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of was postponed. Five Flags ad- MOD TOUR MEN TALK COVID-19: The NASCAR Mod- has announced it has postponed also been postponed. Sebring Presented by Advance mitted the decision to postpone ified Touring Series drivers were ready to head to South all of its scheduled World of USAC: USAC announced Auto Parts scheduled for March was a difficult one. Boston this week until the Coronavirus outbreak hit. It’s Outlaw Sprint Car series events early Friday afternoon that it 18-21 was postponed due to the “Months of preparation by a differnt world now. Ron Silk and Eric Goodale are con- through April 9. That involved has postponed all of its events recent United States ban on multiple parties had us opti- cerned about the economic impact on their business, eight races, two in Texas this across all of its divisions travel from Europe, which mistic that we were in for some Woody Pitkat is worried his wife, who is a nurse. Burt would have prevented a number fantastic racing. We do feel Myers thinks it’s political. AARN’s Kevin Rice ties it all to- of drivers, teams and key per- however, that the well being of gether. Perspective, Page 19. sonnel from participation. our Fans, Competitors, and Em- The rescheduled race will ployees far exceeds our need to REMEMBERING WADE COLE: Wade Cole, one of the now become the season-ending run a race. In all facets of our genuine nice guys in the sport, died over the past week- event of the 2020 IMSA Weath- operation, we always make it end in an accident at his race shop. Cole, whose exploits erTech SportsCar Champi- our mission to error on the side on the the NASCAR Whelen Mod Tour were the stuff of legend, is remembed fondly by AARN’s Mod Tour Author- EVENT . .RACE WINNER PG Delaware Int., DE: Delaware State Championship - ity Brian Danko. In Memoriam, Page 7. Saturday . WEATHER 55 NJ Mandate Could Delay Debut JUST KEEPS ON WINNING: Davey Brown built the en- Sunday . WEATHER 55 gine in the Don Kreitz, Jr. owned 410 Sprint Lance * * * * * Dewease drove to victory Saturday at Port Royal. It was Indoor Auto Racing Series: Syracuse, NY - Of New Bridgeport Speedway nothing new for Brown, who first came into prominence Friday .