Lakeside Speedway in Wolcott, Kansas (just outside of Kansas City, Kansas), was supposed to kick off its 65th season of racing April 19.
The Missouri River had other ideas, unfortunately.
A levee just north of the speedway collapsed Saturday, sending river water gushing all over the track property – including the .4-mile semi-banked dirt track – and adjacent areas.
“Just the way the water rushed in was pretty devastating,” track owner Pete Howey told Fox4KC.com. “One of them is a 10-foot tall building and I think I have about two foot of roof showing so it’s pretty far under.”
While some estimates indicate it may take 5-6 weeks for the water to recede and cleanup to be completed, Howey took to Facebook to assure fans racing will be back soon: “Once (the water) goes down, the dirt will fly and the 65th season of Lakeside will begin!!!”
According to Fox4KC.com, this is the third time the track has flooded in the last eight years, also having been inundated with water in 2011 and 2013, as well as earlier in 1993.
Clint Bowyer has long been one of Lakeside Speedway’s biggest cheerleaders. It’s where he cut his racing teeth and began his journey to become a NASCAR star.
He praised the track and how it important it was in his racing development after his win last year at Martinsville Speedway.
Bowyer took to Twitter later Monday night to express his concern for the track.
Feel so bad for all the people effected by the flooding in the Midwest. Picture pretty much sums up the devastation! https://t.co/Kt7wZbkGb4
— Clint Bowyer (@ClintBowyer) March 26, 2019
Several fans who know of Bowyer’s affinity for Lakeside Speedway took to Twitter earlier to show him the destruction.
#lakesidespeedway current state of our local dirt track....They will need our support more than ever. @ClintBowyer have you seen this mess!?!? pic.twitter.com/Qq8SfX6Xpm
— 🏁🏳️🌈Buckle KB18🏳️🌈🏁 (@speedway_18) March 25, 2019
Lakeside Speedway located in Kansas City, Kansas has been forced to postpone their opening day previously scheduled for April 19, 2019. Lakeside Speedway has a long history of racing that began in 1955. The track will celebrate its 65th anniversary during the 2019 racing season. pic.twitter.com/pamJDRl690
— Open Wheel Leader (@OpenWheelLeader) March 24, 2019
