Phippen Jr. recuperates, enjoys productive year

John Phippen Jr. of Town Hill has been having a productive year.

In fact, it has been somewhat remarkable in lieu of what happened to him at this time last year.

Phippen suffered a heart attack and found himself sitting at home recuperating quietly.

“I couldn’t do anything for six weeks,” said Phippen. “It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.”

Phippen eventually returned to his business, the Hillside Garage, and he has had his lifestyle altered. He has dropped some weight and said he is feeling better.

“I exercise regularly and I don’t eat much fat any more,” said the 43-year-old Phippen.

Phippen has won three pro stock races at Wiscasset Raceway this season and is second in the points race.

He drove his Chevy Monte Carlo to a third place finish in the Northeast Pro Stock Association tour race last Sunday at Hermon’s Speedway 95.

Sunday’s Oxford 250 is the most important race of the year in Maine and one of the reasons is the purse.

Scarborough’s Larry Gelinas pocketed a cool $50,000 for winning last year’s race.

How did he spend his money?

“I paid off some bills I owed on the car [Chevy Monte Carlo], I bought a new trailer and got a little better truck,” said Gelinas. “That took care of it.”

“This race can make your season,” said Unity’s Stan Meserve. “I finished fifth a year ago and made $12,000. That’s the difference between a good season and a bad season.”

In addition to the purse, any driver who leads a lap receives $100 per lap.

The drivers who race on the NEPSA circuit have had to make a few alterations to their cars to conform with the Oxford 250 guidelines.

“On the NEPSA tour, the height minimum [from the track to the body of the car] is four inches. The minimum at the Oxford 250 is three inches. And the tire tread can be 66 inches wide at Oxford. Our maximum on the NEPSA tour is 64 inches,” said Nason. “So our cars can be lower and wider now. This will make the cars faster. You can go faster when you can reduce the air from under the car.”

Nason and his crew have been making the necessary alterations this week.