WEBSTER CITY, Iowa — With tons of new dirt sitting soaked and track crews unable to properly prepare the racing surface, officials from the 34 Raceway and USMTS have postponed the inaugural USMTS vs UMP Spring Challenge powered by MSD slated for this weekend.

However, USMTS will instead compete at Karl Chevrolet Hamilton County Speedway.

“Having watched several Midwestern racing surfaces fall apart over the past two weeks, the USMTS and 34 Raceway feel it’s best to postpone our event until the fall,” said Jessi Mynatt, who operates the West Burlington, Iowa, facility with her partner Brad Stevens. “We want to give the fans and drivers a good show and do not feel our track is in the condition to do so at this time.

“Every race track is different in drainage and drying time, and ours is still very wet — last week’s rain did not help. We have not yet had any cars on the track and do not feel that having one hundred-plus cars from all over the U.S. on it in just four days is the best way to test the new dirt out. Junking equipment and putting drivers at risk is not acceptable to USMTS or 34 Raceway.”

Billed as a clash between the two most powerful empires in the dirt modified universe, the inaugural USMTS vs UMP event will likely take place this fall, but UMP racers are still invited to come race at the historic Hamilton County Speedway.

Set for this Friday and Saturday, April 2-3, most everything — such as times and ticket prices —will remain the same as originally planned. The main event on Friday will pay $5,000 to win and $500 to start while Saturday’s big show has a $10,000 top prize up for grabs with a minimum $700 to start the feature race.