Fogged out, GIS sets Saturday doubleheader
By Joshua Joiner
DirtonDirt.com staff writerBRUNSWICK, Ga. (Feb. 4) – Heavy fog and wet track conditions Friday night at Golden Isles Speedway forced officials to postpone the opening round of the Super Bowl of Racing VII until Saturday morning. The complete $10,000-to-win event will be run prior to the weekend’s second $10,000-to-win event previously scheduled for Saturday night. | Complete Speedweeks coverage
Patchy drizzle fell on the 4/10-mile oval most of the day, but track crews worked the speedway into decent shape by late in the afternoon. Track owner Frankie Lloyd decided to forge ahead with the night’s program, until the heavy fog rolled in and raised safety concerns among officials and drivers.
The event is the second race of the Georgia-Florida Speedweeks to be spoiled by weather. Thursday night’s Speedweeks opener at Screven Motor Speedway was midway through the program when rain forced it to be postponed until Nov. 2.
Hot laps for the first race of Saturday's doubleheader are scheduled for 10 a.m. The second event will begin Saturday evening unless approaching weather forces an earlier start.
Pre-race notes
The guardrail several feet from the fronstretch wall that was added days before the 2008 Super Bowl was removed during the off-season. Installed initially to narrow the frontstretch and slow cars down exiting turn four, track owner Frankie Lloyd decided to go without it. "We got to thinking it was safer if the cars just floated off the corner instead of having to cut it," he said. ... Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, is scheduled to drive a second car for West Virginia's John Blankenship at Golden Ises. Blankenship is in a Rocket Chassis and Birkhofer in a MasterSbilt. ... Dan Schlieper's car carries primary sponsorship from Arnie Ranta Motorsports; Ranta has been a significant sponsor with Wisconsin driver Terry Casey in past years. ... Among drivers making their competitive debuts in Bloomquist Race Cars: Dennis Erb Jr., Scott Creel and Tyler Reddick. ... Erb's typically white and blue decal scheme has subbed black for white.
