Weather causes promoter to lose money from canceled events

Numerous dangers lurk for race track promoters. High fuel prices, bad economies and competing venues can all threaten the financial success of local race tracks. But this season, mother nature has swindled a lot of cash from promoters in Oklahoma.

While this summer's rain continues to set records, longtime promoter Lanny Edwards has already exceeded record rainout numbers.

Between the State Fair Speedway, which Edwards leases, and his own Lawton Speedway and Devil's Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas, Edwards has suffered 21 rainouts.

"It is absolutely mind boggling,” Edwards said. "Somebody would have a better chance at hitting the lottery than I would of having 21 rainouts.”

Edwards estimates he has lost anywhere from $15,000 to $17,000 in money spent on staff and advertising for races that never happened.

"If this would have happened to me 20 years ago and I would have gone out of business,” said Edwards, who has been promoting races since 1962. "This year has just been awful.”

Edwards has five races starting tonight through July 4 that could be added to the list of rainouts.

Edwards has his regularly scheduled shows tonight at the Speedway and Saturday night in Lawton and Mesquite. Edwards is also putting on Independence Day shows on Tuesday night at Devil's Bowl and State Fair Speedway. Both shows are scheduled to have a fireworks display afterwards.

"If it just stops raining in Oklahoma City, we have a chance to race,” Edwards said. "The other tracks can get canceled just from the mud in the pit area even if it has stopped raining.”

Edwards will determine sometime today whether tonight's show will go on.