Sydney Speedway season opener postponed due to COVID restrictions
SYDNEY — The Sydney Speedway has fallen victim to the provincial lockdown, like many other sporting events scheduled for May.
The Sydney-Glace Bay Highway venue was scheduled to begin its 2021 season on Saturday, however, organizers were forced to postpone the event because of the current provincial restrictions to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
“We have no choice but to cancel all May events,” said Greg Dowe, owner of the Sydney Speedway, in a social media post on May 3.
“We are disappointed, but the safety of everyone is our concern. Let's get this pandemic under control so we can get back to the norm.”
Earlier this year, Sydney Speedway announced plans to expand its roster of divisions and schedule for 2021. The expansion was to feature 10 to 12 race dates between May and October.
The expanded roster and schedule were expected to provide opportunities for track champions to be crowned in a minimum of three divisions, which would mark the first time since 2015 the facility would award season-long
championships.
As part of the expansion, grassroots events were planned to run every two to three weeks during the season with the returning mini stock and street stock divisions on the schedule for each card.
Two demolition derby events are also slated for the 2021 schedule on June 12 and Oct. 30. No word on whether the June 12 event will take place as scheduled given the delayed start of the season.
Saturday's event was expected to feature races in the sportsman, legend, mini stock, V6 thunder and hobby stock classes.
The Cape Breton Post contacted Dowe for more information and to discuss the delayed start to the season, however he did not respond before press deadline.
For more information on the Sydney Speedway and its race schedule, visit the facility's Facebook page by searching Sydney Speedway or at www.timscorner.ca.