SPRING VALLEY, Minn. (March 31) -- This winter has lasted for what seems like an eternity to race fans throughout the Great Plains and Upper Midwest, and it appears that Mother Nature is reluctant to release her grip on the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

With wet and bitter cold weather forecasted for Southern Minnesota next week, officials from the Deer Creek Speedway and United States Modified Touring Series have reluctantly postponed the inaugural World Modified Dirt Track Championship.

The most-talked-about event in dirt track racing is now scheduled for Wednesday through Saturday, July 27-30.

“Racing is supposed to be fun,” said USMTS President Todd Staley. “If it wasn’t fun, none of us – the fans, the drivers and the track promoters – would go through the personal and financial expense, hard work and risk that we do for this sport.”

The National Weather Service is calling for nighttime temperatures in the 30s, with a good chance of rain and possibly snow throughout next week.

“Unfortunately, even if the weatherman is wrong and we don’t get any precipitation next week it is still going to be uncomfortably cold and that will not be fun for anybody.”