PORT ROYAL — It’s always a gamble scheduling a dirt track race for early March in central Pennsylvania. Promoters hope to catch a nice day and fill the stands for the first race of the season.

It didn’t quite work out for Port Royal Speedway on Saturday as they were forced to cancel the racing program. Although it was sunny, a blustery, cold wind, plus the heavy rain on Thursday forced the cancellation. Unfortunately, they missed the nice weather by about 48 hours.

The focus now shifts to this weekend and the “Speed Showcase” featuring the Short Track Super Series modifieds at the speedway. The sportsman modifieds and pro stocks are also on the schedule.

Saturday’s 60-lap feature pays $12,000 to the winner, $4,500 for fifth, $2,000 for 10th and $1,000 to take the green flag from a total purse of more than $73,000.

The sportsman will go 40 laps for $4,000 to win, and the pro stocks will go 25 laps for $1,250 to win.

Qualifying will be Friday night featuring 15-lap Modified Qualifiers, 12-lap sportsman qualifiers and 8-lap pro stock heat races. Friday night practice laps begin at 6 p.m., with racing at 7 p.m.

On Saturday, consolation races give drivers a final shot to make the field. Gates open at noon with hot laps at 2 p.m. and racing at 3 p.m.

For the fifth time in his career, Matt Sheppard, of Savannah, N.Y., won the series championship last season. Three of his 50 series wins have come at Port Royal, including last March’s race.

Port Royal’s regular season opener for the sprint cars and late models is now set for Saturday, March 22. The limited late models join the sprint cars and late models on March 29.

Williams Grove Speedway is set to open its season on Sunday afternoon featuring the sprint cars. Race time is 2 p.m. with gates opening at noon.

DIETRICH WINS AT LINCOLN SPEEDWAY

Lincoln Speedway postponed its race until Sunday afternoon. A field of 30 sprint cars were on hand for the track’s second race of the season.

Danny Dietrich won the first heat race over Matt Campbell and Tyler Ross. Brock Zearfoss won the second heat race over Chad Trout and Chris Frank. It was Zearfoss’ debut in the Eichelberger Racing No. 8.

Defending track champion Troy Wagaman Jr. dominated the third heat race over Logan Rumsey and Icebreaker winner Chase Dietz. The top three finishers from the heats redrew for starting spots at the front of the 30-lap feature. Justin Whittall won the consolation race.

Wagaman Jr. and Trout shared the front row with Dietrich and Dietz in the second row of the main event.

Wagaman Jr. grabbed the lead as Dietz quickly raced into second.

As the leaders approached slower traffic, the caution came out with six laps completed. A four-car crash on the restart in turn one brought out the red flag. All the drivers were OK.

Dietz blasted under Wagaman Jr. entering turn three and grabbed the lead following the restart. Dietrich took second from Wagaman Jr. as well.

Dietz began lapping slower cars with Dietrich in hot pursuit. Dietz had a few car-length lead at the half-way point. They raced side-by-side down the frontstretch. Dietrich had the inside line and pulled ahead off turn two with 13 laps to go.

A caution slowed the pace with 11 laps to go. Dietrich controlled the restart and pulled away from Dietz. Zearfoss gave up a top five run when he slowed to a stop with seven laps to go.

Dietrich, of Gettysburg, pulled away again and raced to the $5,000 win over Dietz, Wagaman Jr., Tyler Ross and Matt Campbell. Aaron Bollinger, Chad Trout, Logan Rumsey, Dylan Norris and TJ Stutts rounded out the top 10.

“My car was good just about everywhere, but you had to be really patient,” Dietrich said. “We made some changes to be better later in the race.”

It was Dietrich’s first win of the season and the 65th of his career at Lincoln, which ranks sixth all-time.

Lincoln returns to action Saturday with the 410 and 358 sprints with a 6 p.m. start time.