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Pro stocks will survive at Hermon’s Speedway 95.
But co-owner Del Merritt intends to combine the next two classes, limited and super street, into one for next season.
“I haven’t finalized it all yet. It’s a matter of fundamentals and money. You’ve got to support the divisions you have but we have too many divisions,” explained Merritt.
Merritt had toyed with the idea of combining the pro stocks and the limiteds “but it looks like the limiteds and super streets will be the two easiest to put together.
“The pro stocks, limiteds and super streets cost you a lot of money. Maybe by tying them together, that can help support the whole field better. There may not be as many divisions but you’ll have a better field of cars [in each],” said Merritt.
The numbers haven’t been very good in those three classes, particularly the pro stocks.
“We’ve averaged 10 or 12 cars in the pro stocks, 12-13 in the limiteds and 13-14 in the super streets,” explained Merritt. “We’re looking for two or three cars to move up to pro stock [from limited] next year to give us something in the 15 range. Hopefully, we’ll have 16-18 in the new limited super street class. That would be a nice field of cars.”
Merritt did entertain some thought of eliminating the pro stocks but feels it is important to have them at the track.
“Everybody has to have a place to aim for,” said Merritt referring to the fact the pro stock class is the highest in the state.
“I’m gambling on them coming back. Pro stocks go in cycles. They’ll come back. We’ll have a healthy field of pro stocks again,” said Merritt.
Merritt acknowledged that there is a lot of work to do because whenever classes are combined, rule adjustments are needed so that there is a minimal amount of alteration required and expenses are limited when conforming the car to the new standards.
Merritt does have a couple of option packages to try to ensure that both the limiteds and super streets can compete on a level playing field next season.
The maximum weight of the cars, the tires and various chassis and engine design requirements must be met.
For example, he may elevate the maximum weight from 3,000 to 3,300 pounds.
The limited class uses slicks for tires while the super streets use treaded tires. He said they will have to decide which tire to use and it could be based on the weight they choose.
“We want to get the two classes even,” said Merritt.
Stockton Springs’ Duane Seekins, who runs in the pro stock and super street divisions, and Little Deer Isle’s Matt Eaton, the points leader in the super streets, said no matter what Merritt decides upon for rules, they will be strapped to comply.
“It will put the super streets in a bind. The super streets won’t be competitive with the limiteds, even with the weight break. It won’t be good for us. We will have to buy new tubular chassis,” said Seekins who estimated the cost to upgrade his super street car in the $10,000 range.
If that is the case, an irritated Eaton said he won’t be able to afford to race at Speedway 95 next season.
“The rule book said these [current] classes will be good until 2003. I was hoping to get four years out of this division. This is my second year with my brand new car [Monte Carlo 2000],” said Eaton. “This is discouraging. I’ll have to go somewhere else to race. A lot of other cars will have to drop out, too.”
Eaton said he agrees with friend Anthony Wilcox, who built his car and feels they should do away with the pro stocks and make the limiteds the top division at Speedway 95. He said the pro stock drivers drain the money pool because they earn so much more per race than the other classes.
Pro stock cars are much more expensive to run.
“Have five pro stock races a year and have somebody help to pay for the event, like PTM [Partnership for a Tobacco-free Maine],” suggested Eaton.
Pro stock cars get anywhere from $750 to $1,000 to win and the PTM races pay $1,500. Limiteds earn $500 to win after getting $350 at the start of the season and super street winners pocket $275.
Eaton said the money saved from the pro stock pool could be used to pay higher purses to the other classes.
Eaton said he is encouraged by the fact Merritt has expressed a willingness to listen to the drivers’ concerns about the class merger.
“I want their input,” said Merritt who intends to add a four-cylinder pickup truck class for next season.
Larry Mahoney’s auto racing column is published each Friday. He can be reached at 990-8231 or lmahoney@bangordailynews.net
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