The Butler County Motor Sports Park was a little late celebrating the Fourth of July this year.

Racers and fans annually celebrate Independence Day at the track the weekend prior to the holiday, but were unable to this year due to several rainouts in late June and early July.

Saturday night, despite torrential downpours throughout the county, the raceway remained dry and races were held as scheduled. A fireworks show interrupted racing in observances of July 4th.

"We'd been holding them (fireworks) ever since the Fourth of July after being rained out two or three times," track owner Bo Thagard said. "Two weeks ago, we just didn't have time to get it done. We were so pushed up to get our race in before it rained again. Then we got rained out last weekend."

Two weeks ago, racing wasn't cancelled, but was delayed for over an hour to prepare the track following a brief shower. Packing trucks circled the track over and over and racing didn't begin until nearly 10 p.m. and ended right at midnight. Thagard said a fireworks show wouldn't have been appropriate that night.

David Windham of Florala finished on top in the hobby division. Wayne Gunn placed second followed by Fort Deposit's Brandon Hood.

Greenville's Dewey Boggan captured the checkered flag in the novice division after beating Gerald Brown of Lapine to the finish line. Rodney Best of Highland home rounded out the Top Three.

Todd Adams of Fort Deposit topped the competition in the rearnwheel hogg division. Greenville's Curt Ryals finished runnernup in the event and Jack Daughtry of Greenville placed third.

David Ward beat out Greenville's Ben Callen and Shane Ellis to win the frontnwheel hogg division.

Seventeennyearnold Nick Engle claimed first in the mini sprints feature race. He outran Rick Barragarye and Bobby Zaiontz.

In the dwarf's feature race, Phillip Clevenger finished on top. He defeated Jack Pierce and James McDonald to take home the trophy.

"We had pretty good racing," Thagard said. "I think everybody was pleased. We had a good novice race and a good hogg race. It was some good, close racing. We had about 58 cars."

Butler County Motor Sports Park will hold races this Saturday night. Hot laps begin at 7 p.m. and races start at 8 p.m.