Most Major Events Remain on Schedule

American Motorcyclist Assn. officials postponed this weekend’s national championship Superbike race at Willow Springs Raceway in Rosamond because of team travel problems, but most major racing events remained on schedule.

Qualifying was canceled for NASCAR’s New Hampshire 300 Winston Cup race at Loudon, N.H., and the Indy Racing League’s Chevy 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, but officials said Sunday’s races would be held as planned. NASCAR Craftsman Trucks, in a Saturday support race at Texas, also will also run without qualifying.

“We think this abbreviated schedule is the proper way to carry on during this very difficult time,” said Eddie Gossage, Texas Motor Speedway general manager.

“Any decision we could have made will be met with approval by some and disapproval from others, but it will be a time when Americans can gather together, begin the healing process and show the world that you cannot break us.”

CART officials in Germany said that the German 500, the sanctioning body’s first race in Europe, would “probably run” as scheduled Saturday on the 90,000-seat Euro-Speedway, a two-mile trioval. Chief operating officer Joe Heitzler and race promoter Hans Joerg Fischer said a final decision would be made today.

Kenny Brack, a Swede who drives for Bobby Rahal, has won three races and is the CART points leader.

“The drivers feel the same as the rest of the world about this horrific series of events,” he told the Associated Press. “We’re going to go ahead and prepare as good as we can.”

Former CART champion Jimmy Vasser, one of five Americans in the race, said it was a difficult decision.

“I’m on a bit of a roller coaster from absolute disbelief and sadness and sorrow to a bit of anger,” he said. “I’m not sure everyone is going through a similar spectrum of emotions. I’m just trying to take it one hour at a time.

“Part of me says no--racing is not appropriate. And a part of me says we can’t have them disrupt our lives like this and stop us from going on.”

Only one of the 27 drivers entered, Michael Andretti, had not arrived from the U.S.

The National Hot Rod Assn. announced postponement Tuesday of the Keystone Nationals drag races, scheduled this weekend at Reading, Pa. The new dates are Oct. 4-7.

The Unlimited Hydroplane Racing Assn.’s season-ending event at Mission Bay in San Diego will be held as planned this weekend. Qualifying is Friday with heat races Saturday and finals Sunday for the Budweiser Bill Muncey Cup.

The races are part of the San Diego Bayfair.

Also on schedule for Saturday night are weekly racing at Irwindale Speedway, Perris Auto Speedway, Ventura Raceway and Costa Mesa Speedway.