The Columbus Half Mile scheduled to take place today at the 5/8-mile Scioto Downs south of Columbus, Ohio, has been rained out. The race has been rescheduled for September 22.
After a dry Saturday, heavy rains hit the area in the early morning and have continued ever since, washing away any chances of completing the event.
The situation hits hard on several fronts, as this will already mark the second time this season that the Grand National teams will have to drive to an event twice in order to race it once. Worse yet for the currently suspended factory Harley-Davidson, the Columbus rainout means that team rider Rich King will not be eligible to return to AMA competition until the Granite City, Illinois, Half Mile on June 15, whereas the completion of the Columbus race would have meant that King would be able to race at the Hagerstown Half Mile on June 1.
The situation increases the likelihood that King and Harley will focus their efforts on the Formula USA National Dirt Track Series presented by Drag Specialties, which kicks off its 2002 season next weekend at Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas.
