The persistence of exceptionally cold nighttime air, the expected unseasonable cold air projected to move into the area on Sunday and the prospect for unneeded rain on Saturday has forced Port Royal Speedway officials to cancel both the March 21 practice session and the planned March 22 season opener.
Oval officials have continued to ready the facility on a daily basis for this weekends planned activities despite fielding concerning phone calls from drivers and owners expressing their desire to avoid costly early-season mechanical and equipment woes and failures brought on by being forced to compete in unfavorable temperatures.
Significant facility operational complications are also feared if the oval goes live just prior to the onset of the cold and then is plunged into the cold with its entire infrastructure having been made very susceptible to a damaging flash freeze.
Thus, the 2014 season opener has been moved to Saturday, March 29 with a change in starting time to 5 pm. General admission gates will open at 3 pm