TV, radio gear up for auto racing

Bangor television station WABI (Channel 5) and WSKW radio (1160 AM) in Skowhegan will shift into coverage of local and national auto racing in June.

WABI – in conjunction with WGME-TV (Ch. 13) in Portland – will air four races from Wiscasset Raceway live this summer, beginning with a 100-lap, pro stock race Sunday, June 2 at 4 p.m.

“We mentioned we were doing some auto racing and WGME indicated they’d be interested in airing them also,” said WABI program director Steve Hiltz. “They’ll take the feed and will help us with personnel.”

WGME will not air the first race due to scheduling commitments, but will do the final three.

Tim Throckmorton, Dave Eid and Dan Ayotte will handle the broadcasts.

“I think it’ll give the track a lot of exposure and will make for a lot more entries from drivers who want to be on TV,” said Wiscasset owner Dave St. Clair, who added this is the first time Wiscasset’s races will be televised on a statewide basis.

WABI broadcast four races from Speedway 95 last year, but couldn’t reach an agreement this year.

“We wanted to be back with Speedway 95, but couldn’t come to terms,” said Hiltz. “Their goals weren’t in accord with ours.”

Speedway 95 eventually signed a deal with WVII-TV (Ch. 7) in Bangor.

The all-sports WSKW will air 10 races live from the NASCAR Winston Cup and Busch Series circuits starting with the Goodwrench-AC Delco 200 June 1 at 1 p.m.

“We’ve had some interest from listeners and clients and we just decided to pick them up to go with our all-sports format,” said Denny Morin, station manager. “There are a lot of people who race in this area and we thought it would tie in well for us.”

Ernie Clark, co-host of the afternoon sports show on Bangor radio station WZON (620 AM), will leave his post this summer to concentrate on a teaching career.

Clark is taking classes to be certified as a high school history or English teacher and is about a year away from finishing.

“When I moved to Bangor last may, I did so to take education courses to eventually teach,” said Clark. “I can’t work full-time at WZON and do what I need to do to pursue a teaching certificate.”

Clark and Brenda Beckwith were hired last August. Their 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. show first aired in September. Clark will stay on until a replacement is found.

“It’s kind of open-ended until we find someone who’s qualified,” said program director Dale Duff. “We’re in the early stages of accepting applications. How long it takes depends on how many applications we have to go through.”

Clark is not totally closing the door on a broadcasting career.

“I definitely want to continue to work there on a part-time basis,” he said.

SOUND BITE OF THE WEEK: WABI radio announcer George Hale commenting on Maine right fielder Jeff Longo’s crash into the outfield fence during Black Bears’ 15-2 loss to Drexel Friday: “Thank goodness that was a chain-link fence!” As opposed to what? An electrified or barbed-wire one?