Unity Raceway changes include new look, attitude Nason thinks Crawford can return track to ‘heyday’

A new scoreboard, plenty of fresh paint and newly paved stretches on the back and front stretches along with the areas going and coming from the pits are among the cosmetic changes auto race fans will see at Unity Raceway when it opens for the season on Sunday.

Gates will open at noon and racing begins at 2 p.m.

An enthusiastic John Crawford, who began attending races with his parents (Richard and Ginny Metivier) in 1974, will be leasing the track after signing an agreement with track owner Ralph Nason in November. He will take over from Brent Hutchins and Brian Leary, who had leased it the previous two years.

“Unity has been in my heart since I started going to the races. Everybody is pretty gung-ho,” said the 34-year-old Crawford. “We had a car show at Wal-Mart in Waterville last Saturday and we must have had 2,500 to 3,500 go through from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. We had 60 cars and then, last Sunday, we had 61 cars at our first practice.”

He has lined up sponsors for every one of his six racing divisions and they have names of sponsors on the boards surrounding the track and on the new scoreboard.

“There is one board open on the scoreboard and we will be looking to sell it this weekend. The proceeds will go to the Childrens Miracle Network (for terminally ill children),” said Crawford.

In addition, Budweiser will sponsor a Wednesday night airing of the previous weekend’s racing at the Center Court Sports Pub and Restaurant in Oakland.

The races will be televised from 6-11 and drivers, crew members and fans are invited to attend.

Crawford also said newly-appointed race director Dan Ayotte will have his own weekly half-hour television show on cable.

Crawford said the hiring of Ayotte and tech man Ray Hall was designed to “cut down on the foolishness” at the track.

There have been several incidents involving angry drivers, crew members and fans during the past several years and Crawford is addressing the problem.

“We have one of the best management teams around. And that’s what you need to make it work. You need to have everybody involved. Dan is one of the best race directors around. He will be consistent in his calls and he won’t play favorites. He will be fair and that is all the people want,” said Crawford.

Crawford also said he has given free reign to the sheriff’s department to arrest anyone involved in an altercation at the track.

“If they see anybody try to get physical, they don’t have to run to me. Just put the cuffs on them and take them to jail,” said Crawford.

Crawford, who has been a flag man and racer at Unity in addition to being a fan, wants a safe and healthy family environment for the fans. Charlie and Emma the Clowns will be on hand to entertain the children every weekend.

Their motto is ‘Bringing Back the Pride.’

He said there will be $24,000 in the points fund and he has added a three-race series in each division which will also have a points fund.

In addition rookies of the year in each division will receive a check ranging from $200 in pro stocks to $100 in the super sportsman; $75 in the street stocks and sport fours and $50 in the minis and mini-trucks.

He added that he is encouraged by the car numbers.

“It looks like we’ll have 17-23 in the pro stocks; 15-20 in the super sportsman; 25-35 in the street stocks; 25-40 in the mini stocks and 12-15 in the sport fours and mini trucks,” said Crawford.

The Maine State Lottery 102-lap pro stock race will headline Sunday’s opener.

Crawford said his fiancee, Tammy Pooler, will run the concession stands and has been very helpful.

Nason has been impressed with the work already put in by Crawford and Pooler.

“They have done a helluva job,” said Nason. “He has been going to Unity races his whole life and he remembers the heyday. The last two or three years haven’t been so good but John will revitalize it.”