Story by: Andy Marquis ~ [email protected]

Myrtle Beach, SC(November 18, 2012) – Drivers and fans reacted to the news that the Myrtle Beach 400 has been postponed until March 22, 2013 with ire. Within minutes of the announcement, drivers and fans took to social media to express their outrage that the race was rescheduled for late March and not during the winter.

“Myrtle beach 400 is cancelled….this track could not even reschedule it for next weekend and chose to reschedule it for March of 2013,” Robert Tyler said on Facebook. “Completely disrespectful to all race teams…..track owner didn’t even have the respect to attend the NASCAR meeting.

“So Myrtle Beach Speedway wants to keep all the money they took in from all these Late Model Stock teams that spent between $7 and $10 grand at their fine facility and not even have a rain date scheduled in the same year as the race? Good luck getting anybody to support that decision…..Caraway Speedway is my home track for a reason!”

Tyler told RACE22.com on Monday that he did not know if he would come back.

Myrtle Beach Speedway said they made the move so they could have a doubleheader weekend on March 22nd and 23rd. Normally, Myrtle Beach would reschedule for the following week, but the reopening of Southern National Motorsports Park in Kenly and their annual Thanksgiving Classic may have had an impact on that, although track officials would not comment publicly.

“Thanks to NASCAR and Myrtle Beach Speedway for really screwing a lot of people today,” Michael Faulk said in a post on Facebook. “Race is rescheduled for march22 a day before opening day that hickory, opening day for Kingsport and many more and on top of that too bad to everyone who paid for their race tires. No refunds and got to buy two more sets if/when we come back. The promoters and owners wouldn’t even address us”

Faulk told RACE22.com that neither he nor Tyler Brown would be back to compete at the event in March.

Others were more reserved in their criticism of track officials, though still disappointed.

Jason Stix Buckley (‏@jasonstix) via Twitter:

Damn weather. MB400 postponed until 2013. Heading home. #notcoolatall

Meagan Creech (‏@MeaganCreech) via Twitter:

Race cancelled….what a disappointing way to end a great weekend

“Waiting that long will cause everyone to buy new NASCAR licenses, more tires for practice and race, plus all this talk about the rule changes, not a good decision,” Michael Crews said on the RACE22.com Facebook page.
“That is stupid. You should run it in December,” Sarah Hough Gerrald also said on the RACE22.com Facebook page. “That is too long to hold a race over. These guys have home tracks that start then.”

“Total lack of care for the racers and teams,” Nathan Eller posted. “There is plenty of time after Thanksgiving to run it! That is another reason MBS is going under!”

While there is concern among racers about the possible impact on other tracks, Myrtle Beach Speedway and South Boston Speedway are the only tracks that have officially released their 2013 season schedules.