Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Friday’s AMA racing and qualifying schedule has been called off. That’s the word from Daytona International Speedway spokesperson Kathy Catron, who made the announcement in the media center at approximately 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

A revised schedule is expected to be released by AMA Pro Racing shortly.

The decision to call it a day was apparently made based on the progress–or lack thereof–of efforts to dry the Daytona infield.

“I think it’s a wise call,” Miguel Duhamel told track announcer Richard Chambers. “There’s a lot of painted lines and tar strips out there.”

Daytona International Speedway is scheduled to hold an AMA Supercross event on Saturday. The Supercross is run on a course constructed on a grassy area of the tri-oval’s apron between the Speedway’s start/finish line and hot pit lane and therefore no road racing can take place on the road course at the same time. That means all four AMA road races – Supersport, Superstock, 250cc Grand Prix and Superbike – plus the BMW Boxer Cup race will have to run on Sunday.

When asked about the consequences of having to race both the Supersport final and the Daytona 200 on Sunday, Duhamel told Chambers, “I guess that gym membership I bought – and I did go a few times – is going to pay off.”