PORT ROYAL - Races at Port Royal Speedway fell to rain part way through qualifying Saturday night on Race To Cure Cancer Night. But the racing community was far from all wet when it came to generosity in the name of curing cancer.
After the track announced its donation to the American Cancer Society during a rain delay - a preliminary total of $400 - spontaneous donations began pouring in from fans and racers.
By the time the races had to be called for the rainfall after a lengthy delay, the amount of the donation that will be given to the American Cancer Society eclipsed $2,100, including a single $1,000 donation from late model sponsor Rocky Ridge Stone.
Article Photos
Sentinel photo by TIM SHUMAKER
Kaitlan Mitchell, right, buys some baked goods from members of the ‘Cajun Cuties for a Cure’ Relay for Life team — from left, Caleb Smith, Brenna Dobson, Kelly Dobson and Shianne Smith — Saturday evening at Port Royal Speedway. The speedway held a fundraising evening for the Mifflin-Juniata Relay for Life; more than $2,100 was raised for the American Cancer Society.
Port Royal Speedway officials hope to make the race an annual occurrence at the track. Fifty cents from every general admission ticket sold during the night went towards the oval's portion of the ACS donation.
Despite the rain, some 27 late models were signed in for action along with 22 410 sprints and 26 305 sprints.
Originally slated to take place during the April 14 program, the make up late model main held over from March 31 will now be run this week, April 21, along with the make up pro stock main held over from the same date. The make up features will be part of a full program of racing for the 410 sprints, late models, pro stocks and enduros at 6 p.m. Rain checks from the April 14 program will be honored.
Another community cause will be on the card this week as well as the track hosts Food Pantry Night. A donation of a non-perishable food item by fans will net them a shot at more than a dozen prizes.
Members of the Port Royal and Matamoras United Methodist Youth Ministries will be on hand to help collect and organize the pantry donations. The donations will go to the Juniata County Food Pantry for distribution. Only non-perishable items will be accepted.
