CRESCO, Iowa — The season opener for Sunday, May 17, at the Cresco Speedway has been canceled. Despite hundreds of hours of work on the track, officials have determined that recent weather conditions have made the track unsafe for drivers due to the turns being very soft and loose.

Track crews will be tearing up the track again today to get it dried out in preparation for the 5th Annual Cresco Bowl this Thursday, May 21, featuring the high-powered Modifieds of the USMTS Casey's General Stores National Tour.

NASCAR veteran Ken Schrader will be competing with the USMTS as well as signing autographs for the fans.

Also on tap for the Thursday, May 21, event will be the first points race of the season for the American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series featuring USRA Karl Chevrolet Stock Cars, USRA Karl Chevrolet B-Mods and USRA Hobby Stocks.

Pit gates will open at the Mighty Howard County Fairgrounds at 4:00, with grandstand gates opening at 5:00. Hot laps begin at 6:30 and the first heat race takes to the track at 7:00.

Fans can pick up $2-off discount coupons at Casey's General Store locations in Cresco, Decorah and New Hampton.

Drivers expected Thursday include defending USMTS National Champion Tim Donlinger, defending Cresco Speedway track champion Darrin Walch, Zack VanderBeek, Jason Hughes, eight-time USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock, Al Hejna, Alan Mondus, Bob Timm, Dereck Ramirez, Steve Wetzstein, Dan Bohr, Tommy Myer, Jason Krohn, Mark Noble, Corey Dripps, Dean Mahlstedt, Mike Sorensen, Brad Waits, Doug Hillson, Bryan Rowland, Ryan Gustin, Jeff Schluetter, Scott Green, Jay Poidinger, Ryan York, Tom Paulson, Joe Wernecke, Nate Wasmund, Josh Reisch, Terry Timmerman, Ron Konkel, Jay Ihrke, Layne Meyer, Jon Tesch, Joel Alberts, Josh Angst, Don Eischens, Andrew Gordon, Pat Graham, Rich Lewerke, Anthony Mann, Craig Scott, Matt Waugh and many others.

The Cresco Speedway is a 4/10-mile semi-banked clay oval located 0.2 miles north of SR 9 on SW 7th (at the Howard County Fairgrounds). For more information, contact the RL Promotions offices at (515) 832-6000 or visit www.rlpromotions.com online. Race day info is available by calling the track hotline at (563) 547-3400.

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CRESCO SPEEDWAY SPONSORS: A&W/Long John Silvers, Budweiser, CARQUEST Auto Parts, Casey's General Stores, CIA Insurance, Cresco Liquor Store, Cresco Times-Plain Dealer, Cresco Union Savings Bank, Dan's Standard, Fisk's Farm & Home Supply Store, Hawkeye Sanitation, Kabrick Distributing, NAPA Auto Parts, New Hampton Chiropractic, Pepsi, Subway, V&V Insurance Agency, Zahasky Photography & Art Gallery.