The effects of the Canada Day flood lingered around just long enough to stop people from coming out to the Yellowhead Speedway over the weekend.
He didn't necessarily have any statistics to back up that claim, but it wasn't particularly hard to believe.
Terry Heddon, president of the Parkland Racing Association, wasn't too happy Saturday afternoon when the PRA tried to hold only their third stock car race of the season, and labelled it "disappointing," suggesting that the numbers of those in attendance is falling.
"Attendance is down definitely."
He said it's understandably considering that many people in the area probably have far more on their minds than racing stock cars, but also noted that it was a bit of a risk planning the race to coincide with the Yorkton Exhibition.
He added that he thought the attendance for the Exhibition likely took a hit too.
"People are still tearing their basements apart," he suggested.
The attendance at the race track Saturday was low, but the racing itself was just fine, he noted.
Caylee Hiebert won two races that day; heat one of the Thunder Stock races and also captured the Features race. Garth Dickey won the second heat.
James Hansen and Dave Clarke won the first and second heats respectively in the Street Stock Heat races, while Hansen also won the Street Stock Features race. Brian Matkowski won the Mechanics race and Carolyn Heinrich took top honours in the Ladies race.
Heddon added that it probably didn't help the attendance that the race time was the same time as CFL kickoff for the Saskatchewan Roughriders as they played the Lions in British Columbia.
Even with the flood, exhibition, and football all hitting at the same time, the racing was still pretty good, Heddon said, and the track which has taken a beating over the past month or so, is holding up quite well.
"The racing was really good all day and the track conditions have been decent. The track wasn't as muddy."
Heddon said he had to give it about five hours of watering the night before (Friday).
The next race date for the PRA is scheduled for next month when Heddon and co., look to fill the stands a little more for the first two-day race weekend Aug. 14-15, being sponsored by CJ Audio and Truck Accessories and Crystal Clear Imprints. Custom Printers and Morgan Place sponsor day two.
