In sports-speak, it has become known as a three-peat – the act of winning back-to-back-to-back titles.

After winning two straight sportsman division championships at Speedway 95 over the last two seasons, John Kalel looked past the challenge of a three-peat for this season, opting to take on another challenge.

Instead of returning to the Hermon-based Speedway 95 oval for a run at title No. 3, Kalel will spend the 1992 racing campaign gunning for the season points title at Oxford Plains Speedway.

“Basically, we won two driving titles over there during the last two years. We pretty much did all we could do,” said Kalel, an Orrington native. “It’s one of the things I’ve got to do. I can’t stay up here and say I’m doing good when there is more out there. I’m sure it’s going to be quite a challenge. I’m looking forward to it.”

While leaving behind the familiarity of Speedway 95, the challenge of racing against the likes of OPS regulars Tracy Gordon, Mike Rowe, and others was much more appealing to Kalel. Still, Kalel isn’t expecting to climb into his car and find instant success at OPS.

“I look at this to be a hard year,” Kalel said. “I’m looking to eat some crow since I won’t be the top dog down there. Everybody is going to have to bear with me. I’m not going to look at the first month, when I may not do so good, but I’ll just hang with it. It would be too easy for me to give up and come back to Bangor (Speedway 95).”

Kalel’s Speedway 95-based fans will get to see him race, however.

“I definitely will try to get back if it doesn’t conflict with my (Oxford) schedule,” Kalel said. “It’s not on the top of my list, however.”

Kalel, proprietor of Little Jay’s Auto Repair in Brewer, is also a full-time husband and father. He is married to the former Tammy Booker, also of Orrington. The couple has two children, John Jr. (5) and Kayla (3).

On top of those duties, the 28-year-old Kalel will look to make a name for himself at Oxford, possibly leading to future stock car racing endeavors somewhere down the road.

“I’m just going to take it a year at a time,” he said. “Hopefully, I show something to someone who can pick me up. I’m running all this out of my own pocket.”

There is little change in Kalel’s game plan. He’ll race his same car (Larry Eckert General Contractors of Orrington is the primary sponsor), but will have to haul it 120 miles farther to race.

But, as Kalel says, it’s the challenge of testing his skills against some of the state’s best which will make it all worthwhile.

Billy Clark of Farmington and George Church of Plaistow, N.H., have teamed up with C&H Motor Sports for a full-time NASCAR Grand National North showing this season.

Clark, the former driver of Quint Boisvert’s Skoal-sponsored racing team, joined up with his new team late last month.

“I still can’t believe we were so lucky in bringing Bill on board with C&H Motor Sports,” said Jerry Hart, the vice president and “H” of the team. “Billy really fits into the program that C&H wants to establish in 1992.”

Earlier this year, one-time Beech Ridge Motor Speedway driver Bob Gahan was named as C&H’s new GNN driver. Due to conflicting responsibilities for Gahan, C&H released him from his contract.

The Ricky Craven watch continues:

After seven races, the 25-year-old Newburgh native, racing his first season down South with the NASCAR Grand National tour, is currently a very impressive 10th in the season point standings with 778 points.

Craven is leading the points in the rookie-of-the-year race.

Tour leader Kenny Wallace sits atop the standings with 1,015 points. Jeff Gordon is a distant second.