Post by fpmspr on Sept 16, 2008 17:24:51 GMT -5
CARTERSVILLE, GA – The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Touring events scheduled for this weekend have been postponed due to the high spike of gasoline prices that has occurred in the Southeast United States, and caused an unprecedented fall in attendance at dirt tracks throughout the region.
The events scheduled for Saturday night at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL and Sunday night at Fort Payne Motor Speedway in Fort Payne, AL will be rescheduled for a later date according to series and track officials, who will be closely monitoring gas prices in the coming days.
“After talking with several track promoters on Monday, we have discovered that the rapid rise of gasoline prices kept both fans and competitors at home last weekend in record numbers,” NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Director Mike Vaughn said. “Tracks that have always had good attendance were reporting the lowest crowds that they have ever had over the weekend.”
Gasoline prices in the Southeast dramatically rose from $3.40 per gallon up to over $5.00 per gallon on Saturday causing a buying frenzy by consumers fearing that the gas supply would run out. Vaughn, who also operates Fort Payne Motor Speedway with Marvin Ford and David Turner, reported that many gas stations around the track were out of fuel, and they would not be getting any more gasoline for two weeks.
“I spoke with Talladega Short Track promoter Lynn Phillips today, and we both agreed the best thing to do for everyone involved was to postpone this weekend’s events until this gasoline situation works itself out,” Vaughn said. “We hope this is a temporary situation, and we can announce a rescheduled date for both events in the near future.”
Several news outlets have reported that the highest gasoline prices in the country, including Hawaii and Alaska, were in Knoxville, TN where the average price per gallon of gasoline was $4.99. While local news reports said there was no shortage of gasoline in the area, there were several gas stations throughout Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee with plastic bags over their pumps on Tuesday.
“Promoters have always wondered how much the fans and competitors could take with the rising gas prices over the last two years before they could no longer afford to come to the races,” Vaughn said. “I think we got our answer last weekend.”
The events scheduled for Saturday night at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL and Sunday night at Fort Payne Motor Speedway in Fort Payne, AL will be rescheduled for a later date according to series and track officials, who will be closely monitoring gas prices in the coming days.
“After talking with several track promoters on Monday, we have discovered that the rapid rise of gasoline prices kept both fans and competitors at home last weekend in record numbers,” NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Director Mike Vaughn said. “Tracks that have always had good attendance were reporting the lowest crowds that they have ever had over the weekend.”
Gasoline prices in the Southeast dramatically rose from $3.40 per gallon up to over $5.00 per gallon on Saturday causing a buying frenzy by consumers fearing that the gas supply would run out. Vaughn, who also operates Fort Payne Motor Speedway with Marvin Ford and David Turner, reported that many gas stations around the track were out of fuel, and they would not be getting any more gasoline for two weeks.
“I spoke with Talladega Short Track promoter Lynn Phillips today, and we both agreed the best thing to do for everyone involved was to postpone this weekend’s events until this gasoline situation works itself out,” Vaughn said. “We hope this is a temporary situation, and we can announce a rescheduled date for both events in the near future.”
Several news outlets have reported that the highest gasoline prices in the country, including Hawaii and Alaska, were in Knoxville, TN where the average price per gallon of gasoline was $4.99. While local news reports said there was no shortage of gasoline in the area, there were several gas stations throughout Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee with plastic bags over their pumps on Tuesday.
“Promoters have always wondered how much the fans and competitors could take with the rising gas prices over the last two years before they could no longer afford to come to the races,” Vaughn said. “I think we got our answer last weekend.”