4/14/2021
Crate Racin' USA Dirt Late Model Series
Greenville’s Rumble on the Gumbo Again Falls to Inclement Weather
ADAIRSVILLE, Ga. — For the second weekend in a row, disappointed track and series officials have had to make the difficult call to postpone the Crate Racin’ USA Dirt Late Model Series-sanctioned Rumble on the Gumbo at Greenville (Miss.) Speedway.
The much-anticipated, season-opening event for the Newsome Raceway Parts touring series, which was originally slated to be held April 9-10 and was rescheduled to April 16-17, has been scratched once more due to inclement weather.
The giant weekend at the high-banked track was supposed to have featured a 40-lap event paying $2,000 to win on Friday night, and a 50-lapper paying $2,500-to-win on Saturday. Instead, the track will attempt to stage a practice session on Thursday night (weather permitting), and try to complete a weekly show on Saturday.
“There’s now a steadily-increasing chance of rain heading into the weekend, and that forecast has been getting worse each day from where it started earlier in the week,” said track promoters Charity and Carl Kilgore. “This isn’t a decision we’d make lightly, because it’s an event we know our fans look forward to attending, and we know the Crate Racin’ USA organization also likes to come here. We will definitely work closely with them to find a replacement date.”
Once again it was travel schedules that figured into the decision that will keep the touring series’ competitors home for yet another weekend, delaying the start of a season that was expected to be one of the best in the organization’s 17-year history.
“It’s a really huge disappointment to all of us at Crate Racin’ USA, and also our competitors, because we all know it’s such a great racetrack,” said series director Adam Stewart. “It’s truly a hidden gem tucked down there in the Mississippi Delta region, and by those in the know it’s probably considered to be among some of the best tracks in the sport. Very competitive, and it can be an extremely racy place. We always look forward to going there.”
Except for the second weekend in a row, weather has intervened. Considering travel schedules and forecasts, and trying to do what’s best for all, Stewart felt the track and his organization had little choice but to make the joint postponement decision.
“The weather just isn’t cooperating, the rain chances are increasing, and it’s difficult to take our drivers down there with a chance that only one of the races will be completed, and a possibility we might lose both events. Most of our teams were facing the trip in the morning, so it’s a decision we felt we had to make today on Wednesday.”
The postponement doesn’t mean the race has been canceled, and both track and series officials are planning to work together to find a suitable date.
“We’re both going to look at our schedules, and hope we can find an alternative date,” Stewart said. “It’s a race we’d especially hate to lose. You don’t want to lose any races, but at the end of the day it’s a business for us, and also for our race teams. When you’re looking at a 70 to 80 percent chance of rain, it’s hard to go down there for a one-day show paying $2,500. Sunday racing was an option to get the weekend completed, but that’s not an ideal solution because most of our teams aren’t full-time racers, and they need to be back home to go to work Monday morning.
The postponement means that the touring circuit’s next event slated April 23-24 at third-mile Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Ala., will now be the popular traveling series’ season-opening weekend. There will be a $2,000-to-win main event on Friday night, and a $2,500-to-win contest on Saturday, while NASCAR Cup Series and related activities take place across the street at 2.66-mile Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.
Wil Herrington of Hawkinsville, Ga., is the 2020 Crate Racin’ USA Dirt Late Model Series champion, and Dylan Knowles of Lanett, Ala., recently earned the 2021 Crate Racin’ USA Winter Shootout Series championship in late March, clinching the miniseries title March 20 in front of a great crowd at Modoc (S.C.) Speedway.
The economical Chevrolet Performance 602 and 604 Circle Track Engine is utilized by competitors in the various divisions presented by Crate Racin’ USA. It’s in stock and available for free, next-day delivery from Newsome Raceway Parts in Hartsville, S.C.
Each engine is built and sealed at the factory to prevent any expensive modifications. To place an order, call 1-877-497-3624.
For more information and rules, visit the organization’s website at www.crateracinusa.com, or follow our extensive social media programs on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Newsome Raceway Parts, a division of Raceway Chevrolet in Hartsville, S.C., is the title sponsor of Crate Racin’ USA. E-Z-GO Golf Carts is the title sponsor of the newly-established E-Z-GO $100,000+ Challenge.
Chevrolet Performance is an official sponsor of the organization, along with Advanced Laser & Machine, Cruise with the Champions, Hoosier Racing Tire, KRC Power Steering, Knowles Race Parts and Bodies, My Race Pass, VP Racing Fuels and Lubricants and Willy’s Carburetors.
Official chassis sponsors include Warrior Race Cars, Rocket Chassis and CVR Race Cars.
Article Credit: Brian McLeod
