Heavy rains on Thursday night provided a challenge to get the Chateau Raceway ready for action this week. The hard work paid off and racing went off without a hitch this week.

Late afternoon thunderstorms dropped enough rain to knockout any chance of racing this week at Chateau Raceway. Although the heaviest of the weather went to the north and south of the facility, a persistent showery pattern made it too wet to race.

Todd Scharkey picked up his third USRA RHS Modified win of the season Friday night at the Chateau Raceway, and scored an extra $250 in the Miner’s Outdoor & Rec promotion.

The sun shined gloriously over the Chateau Raceway for once this Friday, July 2. The large crowd in attendance got a “bang for their buck” and then some this Fourth of July holiday weekend as seven make-up features were run and 104 cars filled the pit area.

Things looked good through the mid afternoon hours for the Chateau Raceway to get a complete show in this week. However, the warm and humid conditions were condusive for thunderstorm activity and the area was under a tornado watch as racers and fans filed into the facility.

Jacob Dahle of Morristown, Minn., was involved in a viloent crash Friday night during the USRA RHS Modified feature at the Chateau Raceway. He was released from the Austin Medical Center last night shortly after 1 a.m.

Heavy rains and thunderstorms Thursday and again on Friday morning did not put a stop to the racing action at the Chateau Raceway. The rain ended early on Friday and the crew got to work early Friday afternoon and whipped the facility into shape.

This week the Chateau Raceway hosted the 13th Annual Mike Guttormson Memorial Race. It is held every year honoring Guttormson, who suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after winning the modified feature at Lansing on May 31, 1997.

Morning and afternoon showers made racers and fans wonder for a while if racing would take place at the Chateau Raceway this week. The rain was light and ended early enough to allow American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series action to move forward.

Mother Nature has not been kind to the racers and fans at the Chateau Raceway in 2010. After four of the first six nights were weathered out, she provided a picture perfect evening for night number three.

Mother Nature delayed the start of the 2009 racing season at the Chateau Raceway and she ended it early as well. Track officials will now go to work on making plans for the 2010 season next spring.

The USRA Modified drivers were gunning for a $1,500 first-place paycheck, and second place in the feature was a cool $1,000 with $100 to start.