Big bucks up for grabs at OPS, NHIS

Motor Sports

Terry Labonte’s victory on Saturday afternoon in the Fay’s 150 at Watkins Glen, N.Y., kicked off a three-week Northeast swing for stock car racers in which nearly three quarters of a million dollars will be up for grabs.

That’s $750,000, folks.

Even with Labonte, a Winston Cup regular, beating out Joe Nemechek for the victory in the $152,000 road course race, there is still over a half a million dollars up for grabs with next weekend’s Oxford 250 in Oxford and the following weekend’s Budweiser 300 at the New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, N.H.

The 18th running of the Oxford 250, the richest non-Winston Cup short track race in the country, posts awards of $221,000, while the Budweiser 300, to be run at the one-mile super speedway at NHIS, will cough up about $354,000.

All told, the total amount of money to be given away through the three races totals $727,755.

“Those are the three biggest races of the year for our series,” said Grand National driver and defending Oxford 250 champion Chuck Bown of Ridgeway, Va. “They pay a lot of money and they also take the series out of our normal area. This is an important part of our schedule.”

Bown should know. He won close to $100,000 last season in these two races.

While the GN drivers got their shot at the Watkins Glen money, drivers from the North join their southern counterparts for the next two races.

In all over 70 drivers are expected to attempt to get their share of the $500,000-plus remaining.

It should make for tough competition and plenty of exciting racing action for the fans. —

Speedway 95 in Hermon will hold a mid-week race this week.

On Thursday, a full card of racing action will be held along with the second bomber race of the season. Round two of the “Car Wars” series, a 50-lap event for the strictly street division, will also be held.

Post time is 7 p.m. —

You’ve got to give Kris Huff of Bucksport credit.

He’s been racing at Speedway 95 for years and on Saturday he reached the pinnacle of a true Saturday night racer – he won a feature race in the late model sportsman division.

The way Huff won was both impressive and lucky.

Starting the pole, Huff didn’t have to worry about any restarts as he went wire-to-wire for the victory. —

O.K., I give up.

What exactly are these super sportsman cars racing down at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough?

Track spokeswoman Bonnie Coffin explains.

“A super sportsman is a step up from the limited, but a step down from the late models,” Coffin said. “Basically, it’s a late model chassis with a limited sportsman engine.”

After dropping the modified division following last season, BRMS officials adopted the super sportsman class as a stepping stone for drivers who wanted to make the jump from limited to sportsman.

“It gives the drivers a chance to learn about the setup of a late model car while not worrying about the late model motor or power,” Coffin said. “It also divides up the cost to make the jump. Instead of just jumping from limited to the more expensive late models, a driver can build up to the move.”

Coffin also reported with 17 cars racing regularly in the new division, and more cars expected, the super sportsman class seems like a super idea. —

IN THE PITS – Those planning on making the trek to Loudon, N.H., for the Bud 300 on July 14 take note: on Saturday, July 13, the track will be hosting an hour-long autograph session involving all the drivers. Names on hand include Dale Earnhardt, Davey Allison, Michael Waltrip, Dale Jarrett and others…. Speaking of Winston Cup stars, a number of the above mentioned will be on hand at Lee/USA in Lee, N.H., for a Top Gun Invitational race on Friday, July 12. They’ll be driving local cars…. The reason for the American Canadian Tour’s odd Wednesday, July 28 make up date? The drivers will be headed to Nova Scotia for a weekend race and can save many a mile by stopping at Unity on Wednesday…. While in Nova Scotia, Junior Hanley of Campbellville, Ontario, has a chance to win $50,000 if he wins the third and final installment of the Bud Triple Crown series….