CRANDALL, Texas -- In what is becoming a bad scene from the movie Groundhog Day, the rains have come again and washed out the racing program at RPM Speedway set for April 19. This marks the third consecutive week that extremely heavy rains have put a temporary halt to the action at the ¼ mile speed plant.

The next scheduled event at RPM Speedway will be on Friday, April 26, and the current long-range forecast looks much more favorable at this time, with dry conditions and mid-70’s on the horizon.

That being said, promoter Jason Troutman plans for a blockbuster night of racing action that will be worth the wait fans have endured from the recent rainy weather.

So here’s the plan for Friday, April 26th:

The March 29th “Factory Stock Fracas” (postponed by rain) will be the first race of the night on April 26th, and their feature field is already set. Over $1,000 has been added to their regular purse for this special event. Their special event purse is posted at the track website (linked below).

Then, the complete scheduled program of heats and features for all five RPM race divisions will be underway, which includes the RaceSaver Sprint Cars, USRA Modifieds, Factory Stocks, Limited Modifieds and Street Stocks. A total of $17,000 cash is on the line. Regular grandstand ticket prices ($12 for adults) and pit passes ($30 for all ages) are in effect, with no driver entry fees in any division.

The regularly scheduled points races for the USRA Modifieds pay $600 to win and $100 to start. Complete payback is listed at the track website (link below).

This still leaves one piece of unfinished business from March 29 when the USRA Modified feature was rained out. That race is now scheduled for Friday, May 3rd.

Reminder that we are reverting back to the start times that were advertised prior to the season opening. Here are the new times each and every point’s night – unless otherwise advertised:

PIT GATE OPENS at 5:30pm

GRANDSTANDS OPEN at 6pm

MANDATORY* WHEEL PACKING 7pm (ALL CARS, ALL CLASSES)

DRAW CUT OFF & HOT LAPS at 7:30pm SHARP.

FIRST GREEN FLAG is at 8pm SHARP.

*Mandatory Wheel Packing from 7-7:30 for all cars in all classes details: Wheel packing will no longer be going in reverse direction on the track. Drivers will all pack the track in the direction they race in. When the Sprint Cars race at RPM, they will finish rolling in the track – which will also serve as warming up their engines. We want drivers to have a great track to race on. The fans want to watch races on a great racing surface. The only way that can be accomplished is if all race teams participate in wheel packing. That being said, this new policy is in effect for all races at RPM Speedway:

If your car does not wheel pack by 7:30 (at the time of the draw cutoff), you will start your heat race at the tail of the field and there are no passing points for those drivers. This applies to all drivers in all race divisions.

This new policy will keep the race schedule on time and the track surface in the best condition it can be.

Non-qualifiers. We’re thrilled with the great turnout of drivers in several of the classes. RPM’s purse breakdown goes to 20th. From this point forward, any non-qualifier in the USRA Modifieds, Street Stocks, Factory Stocks or Limited Modifieds will receive one pit pass to the next scheduled regular point’s event (that night only) for their division. Your driver name will be on a list at the pit gate.

Drivers not making the A-feature on March 29 will have one free pit pass with their name on it at the gate for the April 26 (only) race.

We want to make RPM Speedway the place that race fans can get a great night of entertainment, with drivers racing for some of the top purses throughout the region; and with these minor tweaks in the schedule and format, we can make that happen.

Thanks again for the great turnout of fans and race teams at all three RPM Speedway races in 2013, and we’ll see you all Friday night, April 26th, when the Factory Stock Fracas will kick off the night and all five RPM race divisions will race a complete program – with no entry fee – and drivers will be taking home $17,000 in total purse money…all with a regularly priced grandstand ticket of $12.

Please click www.RPMSpeedwayTX.com for the latest updates.