For The Second Time, The Bullring Outlaw Blitz Is Postponed

For The Second Time, The Bullring Outlaw Blitz Is Postponed

Jason Sides will lead the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series regulars to Riverside International Raceway for a makeup race, but he will wait till October.

May 3, 2017 by Dan Beaver
For The Second Time, The Bullring Outlaw Blitz Is Postponed
For the second time in the past 10 days, the Bullring Outlaw Blitz at Riverside International Raceway in West Memphis, AR, has been postponed. Originally set for April 21 and then rescheduled for Wednesday, May 3, the new date for this race will be Wednesday, October 18.

Less than 24 hours before the green flag was scheduled to unfurl, the series postponed the race because of record rainfall in the area and rising waters in the Mississippi River.

The World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series has been attempting to return to Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, AR, for the first time since April 24, 2009 -- just a few days shy of eight years. Mother Nature has not been cooperative.

Whenever it finally gets underway, fans are going to see a race steeped in history.

Riverside sits on the west bank of the Mississippi in the shadow of Memphis, TN. The quarter-mile oval first was established in 1949, which makes it one of the longest continuously operated tracks in the United States.

The Outlaws have been part of that history for nine of the previous 67 years.

"We have some pretty top-notch drivers around here on a local basis, but anytime you get a national brand here like the World of Outlaws, it's always more exciting," Riverside owner Clayton Allen said. "We're looking forward to it."

Tim Kaeding was the last Outlaw to visit Victory Lane. Daryn Pittman and current points leader Donny Schatz won in 2007 and 2008, respectively.

The track should be fast and durable. Jason Solwold set the track record at 11.060 seconds back in 2007. It's gumbo clay surface holds water well and releases it as the night progresses.

"There's no dirt like it in the country," Allen said. "As a rule, we're faster at the end of the night. It's the highest clay content anywhere around."

Bartlett, TN's Jason Sides said, "It can be wet and fast, really sticky after the rain or when they can't control how much water is on it.

"It's got that super sticky gumbo. It will pull your shoes off."

Local favorite Sides -- along with Schatz, Kraig Kinser, and Joey Saldana -- is one of only four current Outlaw regulars who raced on this track when the tour last visited.

"It's always nice to get close to home and race there," Sides said. "Last year Little Rock was the closest that we raced to home. This one here is a lot closer yet, so it will be good. Hopefully, we can have a good run there."