After the opening race for the Championship Auto Racing Series (CARS) started late because time-trial qualifying ran long due in part to the number of cars in the race, the series had made alterations to their race day schedule ahead of next Saturday’s Orange Blossom 300 at Orange County Speedway.

Those alterations build in more practice time and push the advertised time of the start of the race back.

Qualifying began right on schedule at Southern National Motorsports Park on March 28th but, with nearly 70 cars qualifying with two timed laps, and a dead lap before that, qualifying did not end until around 6:30pm.  With a last chance qualifier and pre-race ceremonies still having to take place, the first of the two feature races did not go green until after 7:45pm.

When the Late Models and Super Late Models head to Orange County Speedway on April 18th, they will be greeted with a different race day schedule which has more time built in for qualifying.  Instead of starting at 5pm, qualifying will begin at 4:30pm with the Late Model Stock Cars qualifying first.  The Last Chance races, if necessary, will be held at 6pm.  Driver introductions, following those races, will be held at 7pm with the race starting at 7:30pm and, like in qualifying, the 150-lap Late Model Stock Car feature will be the first race on the evening.

The other problem that the series encountered came in the form of weather.  All day rains on Friday forced the series to cancel their open practice.  To compensate, they added 15 minutes of practice for both divisions to the Saturday schedule – something that the series will keep heading into Orange County Speedway.

Complete Race Day Schedule:

Saturday, April 18, 2015
7:00AM Trailer and Hauler Parking
8:00AM Garage Opens
8:15AM MANDATORY Crew Chief Meeting LMSC (drawing for race tire selection &
qualifying position)
8:30AM MANDATORY Crew Chief Meeting SLM (drawing for race tire selection &
qualifying position)
9:00AM-10:15AM Race Tire Selection – LMSC & SLM (two teams per division)
10:45AM-11:30AM First LMSC Practice
11:35AM-12:05PM First SLM Practice
12:10PM-12:40PM Final LMSC Practice
12:45PM-1:30PM Final SLM Practice
1:40PM MANDATORY Crew Chief, Driver, and Spotter Meeting
2:00PM Chapel Service
2:00PM MANDATORY Pre-Qualify Tech LMSC begins (ALL LMSC in line by 2:45PM)
2:45PM MANDATORY Pre-Qualify Tech SLM begins (ALL SLM in line by 3:30PM)
4:00PM GRANDSTAND GATES OPEN
4:30PM LMSC Qualifying
5:15PM SLM Qualifying
6:00PM Last Chance race: 15 Laps/Top 4 Transfer (if necessary)
LMSC
SLM
7:00PM Driver Introductions
7:15PM Pre-Race Ceremonies
7:30PM Orange Blossom 300 pres. By The Grilling Store
LMSC (150 LAPS)
SLM (150 LAPS)