That date will mark the PRP Kickoff Classic sponsored by Assurance Realty Finance Group and when green flag drops, the 20th season at PRP will be underway.
"Right now we're still shooting for May 22," PRP co-promoter Chuck Greenslate said. "That is still the goal at this time."
At the end of each season the PRP staff must floodproof the facility by removing almost everything from the offices, concessions and bathrooms. At the start of each new year, the facilities are pressure washed, the bleachers are test for safety, debris is removed and on occasion fish are picked out of the fence.
Greenslate was hopeful that Wednesday's rain would not affect the current schedule.
On the PRP schedule this season there is at least one major change. Rather than having just one $10,000 to win Lucas Oil Series race, the track will host two Lucas Oil Races. The first will be a $10,000 to win race on July 4 and the other will be Sept. 4 and will pay $20,000 to the winner.
Hosting two big money races as part of one of America's premier dirt track racing series should attract big name racers to PRP not only on those nights but during regular race nights as well.
"With us having two such highly anticipated events I think that we'll have some big names and big race teams show up for regular events to get tuned up," Greenslate said. "Having these two big races on the schedule is not going to help us just those two nights but it will add to the quality of the races (all season)."
Along with the high-paying races the track points title races are expected to be hotly contested once again. Kenny Christy is the defending late model winner and now a three time champion. The question in late models will be whether or not Jackie Boggs, a two-time track champ, returns to challenge Christy after sustaining serious back and neck injuries during a wreck at PRP last season. Boggs recently competed and won a B-Main event at Rocky Top Speedway.
The always competitive bomber division saw Jeremie Bretz eke out a track championship over Justin Jaynes while the question in the modified and limited late divisions will be can anyone slow the dominance of Doug Adkins and John Melvin.
PRP plans to host all it's traditional events it has established over the last 19 seasons including the 16th annual Fred Dillow Memorial, Fan Appreciation Night and Shawnee State night just to name a few.
For more information on the track visit www.portsraceway.com or follow PRPdirt on Twitter for updates throughout the season.
"Throughout the course of the race season our track is as good looking a track as there is," Greenslate said. "To think it spends a large part of the year underwater is incredible.
"We've been blessed for 19 great years," Greenslate added. "We hope our 20th year is our best ever."
JOHN STEGEMAN can be reached at jstegeman@heartlandpublications.com
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