Morgan County's UMP event cancelled by rain
By Todd Turner
DirtonDirt.com chief writerJACKSONVILLE, Ill. (July 2) — Officials have called off the 15th leg of the UMP DIRTcar Summernationals at Morgan County Speedway after a third smattering of rain hit the racetrack. The race was initially rescheduled for July 7, but later reset for Aug. 15. The third set of light showers began about 8:40 p.m. as officials were making plans to resume time trails.
A 6:20 p.m. shower just after the drivers' meeting caused a 40-minute delay before hot laps could begin. Then, with just over half the 35 qualifiers done with time trials, a second light rain shower caused another longer delay.
The $6,000-to-win event drew 35 cars, including series points leader Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., and his closest pursuer, Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill. Jeep Van Wormer of Pinconning, Mich., was the fastest qualifier before the rain came with a lap of 11.655 seconds on the high-banked quarter-mile oval.
The Summernationals tour is scheduled to run Thursday night at Macon (Ill.) Speedway for a $6,000 winning purse in the Herald & Review 100, the only 100-lapper on the series.
