NASCAR postpones race

Elwood · September 13, 2001

From Yahoo Sports:

"NASCAR postpones Winston Cup race

September 13, 2001

LOUDON, N.H. (AP) -- NASCAR's Winston Cup race in New Hampshire on Sunday was postponed because of the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

The move to put off the New Hampshire 300 followed a decision by the NFL to scrap its games for this Sunday. The race was rescheduled for Friday, Nov. 23, the day after Thanksgiving.

``It was NASCAR's decision, but we agreed with them 100 percent,'' track owner Bob Bahre said Thursday.

``We hated to cancel, but at the same time you have to think of the people, all the problems they have in New York. I think all our fans will understand, and we'll honor all their tickets.''

It was only the second non-weather postponement for NASCAR in at least 30 years. The Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway was postponed from July until October in 1999 because of forest fires in central Florida.

Two other weekend races in the Featherlite Modified Series and the Busch North Series also were postponed. It was unclear whether they would be rescheduled.

About 4,000 fans in mobile homes had arrived at the New Hamphire International Speedway before the postponement, some of them as early as last Saturday. The race, the second of the season at the 1-mile oval, attracts about 100,000 fans.

Track workers and vendors had been setting up for the weekend, and the NASCAR officials' truck also had arrived.

None of the drivers for the three races had traveled to the track because Thursday's practices were already called off and the Winston Cup qualifying canceled Friday.

The NFL postponed its 15 Sunday games earlier in the day, and Bahre said that played a role in the decision.

``If football and a few other things had gone along, I think we would have gone along,'' he said. ``I don't think they wanted to be the only one to go on.''

Baseball has postponed its games for the past three days and the PGA canceled its event in St. Louis. Other sports also have canceled or postponed events.

``At this time, I don't think of dollars; I think about what's right. It's the right thing to do,'' Bahre said. "

Kansas Kid · September 13, 2001

I was just going to post this. I've got some thoughts on this that I will post later when I have a bit more time to post. I will say now though, does Goodyear make snow tires?

Elwood · September 13, 2001

If they don't, they better start working on them now.

General Lee 01 · September 13, 2001

Wow. I thought they would postpone the race but not in this way.

This shakes up things bigtime.

Bill89 · September 13, 2001

It's going to be a very interesting end of the season. They better go to sears and get a few snow blowers!!! The drivers needed a break but not this way.

September 13, 2001

Everyone will freeze their patooties off. I've been to Atlanta and been pretty cold, but there is no way I'd go to NHIS in The last week of November!

Zane · September 14, 2001

And i was going to this one too!!!

Now i better get out my winter coat for the next race!

bowtiefan · September 14, 2001

Hey i have a snowmobile maybe we could have snowmobile races instead of nascar races lol. But thats crazy it will be cold as #### up there for everybody.

Kansas Kid · September 14, 2001

Quote: from Mervz
And i was going to this one too!!!

Now i better get out my winter coat for the next race!

Actually I was thinking you might need more then just a coat. You will probably need about 2 pairs of insulated coveralls to wear, at the same time.... LOL

Seriously though, what was Nascar thinking? The Friday after Thanksgiving, in the north east, come on. Not to mention that the teams will have to rush back from Atlanta, load the flat track cars up and head right for Louden. They will probably have to have the cars at the track on Wed, practice on Thur, race on Friday. So much for Thanksgiving for those guys.

General Lee 01 · September 15, 2001

I think it would've been in the best ineterest to just push every race back a week instead of doing this.

OR, running it the Friday before Atlanta and Making the Atlanta race a Sunday Night race.

(it usuall ends up a night race or a Monday Morning race anyway in the fall.)

BUT, that's just my opinion.

Elwood · September 17, 2001

I'm sure that NASCAR could find a track in the southern part of the country that would be willing to trade with NH for this one time in light of the situation. They could eaily run this race sooner and move another one to the end. I know some tracks may not be able to because of other things they might have going on, but I'm sure one of them could and would do it.