Unity Raceway and Hermon’s Speedway 95 will open for the season on Sunday afternoon and there is no shortage of optimism from Unity manager John Crawford and Speedway 95 co-owner Del Merritt.

“Things are going to be awesome. We’re going to keep working hard at it,” said the energetic Crawford, who is in his second season as the track manager.

Crawford’s tireless devotion to the track paved the way for an impressive inaugural season.

“I was extremely happy with John,” said Unity owner Ralph Nason. “He did a helluva’ good job and I think we’re going to have an even better year this year.

“The secret word [in Crawford’s success] was ‘enthusiasm,” added Nason. “He was bubbling with it and he got other people enthusiastic. He grew up going to races with his mother and father and he remembers how it was. He wants to restore that. He has the place looking good.”

The nostalgic Crawford has a variety of pictures and other mementos from previous years posted all over the raceway.

His motto from day one has been “Bringing back the pride.”

He has even scheduled a Legends Night for current and former Unity racers and fans on Aug. 16. There will be a pig roast for the drivers and each will be allowed to bring one guest.

“I like history,” said Crawford, who put his first season into perspective.

“I made some mistakes but I learned from them. We were able to fill the stands and the car counts were great. The main thing this year is I want to speed up the program,” he said.

The one misfortune for Crawford and the entire Unity Raceway contingent was the death of 39-year-old Allen Fletcher of Milford, who died from head injuries he received in a crash during a pro stock race.

“Like [Wiscasset Raceway owner] Dave St. Clair told me: the one thing you’ll never forget is when a driver passes away on your track. It’s something that always sticks with you,” said Crawford.

Sunday’s pro stock race, a 103-lapper, will pay the winner $3,500. Racing gets under way at 1:30 p.m.

Among track improvements will be the paving of the pit area and the removal of a bump in turn three.

“We’re going to wait until the end of the month or the first of June to make sure it’s dry,” said Crawford.

Meanwhile, Merritt’s optimism stems from a possible upturn in the fortunes of the pro stock class.

“Things look pretty good. Indications are that we will have over 20 pro stocks this year,” said Merritt, who had only 9-12 in the class a year ago.

“Wiscasset changing to Friday night racing will help us,” said Merritt. “A lot of the drivers would rather race on Saturday and Sunday nights.”

He added that “three or four” drivers who raced in the limited sportsman class a year ago like Hermon’s Dale Swoboda and Hudson’s Deane Smart have indicated they will make the jump to pro stock and veteran racer John Phippen Jr. of Town Hill has told him he will race at Speedway 95 after several years at Wiscasset.

In addition to the pro stocks and limited sportsmen, the weekend race cards will include a newly renamed super street class and a newly structured strictly street division that will be “what our large enduro class had been on Wednesday nights. It’s our new entry level class.”

There will also be sport fours and the mini-truck class.

The Wacky Wednesday racing won’t start until June.

There will be a 35-lap strictly street series race on Sunday and the half-scale Winston Cup cars will also highlight the activity.

A pretty car contest opens the card at 1:30 p.m.

St. Clair enjoying free time

Since Pro All-Stars Series president Tom Mayberry is leasing Wiscasset Raceway from St. Clair, the 12-year owner of the track is enjoying some well-deserved freedom.

“I have no plans this year. I’m just going to do what I want to do,” said St. Clair. “It feels pretty good not to have to watch the weather and worry about it.”

But you will see St. Clair racing when the urge hits him.

“I bought a big, old fast hot rod [pro stock car] in Virginia and I’m going to race it once in a while,” said St. Clair.

The hot rod is one of two Chevy Monte Carlos he plans to race.

Santerre tied for 4th on wins list

Cherryfield’s Andy Santerre is now tied for fourth on the all-time Busch North victories list with Bobby Dragon.

Santerre’s second straight season-opening Busch North win at Lee USA Speedway (N.H.), coming in last weekend’s Freedom 150, was the 14th of his career.

Scarborough’s Kelly Moore was second and his 19-year-old son Ryan, making his Busch North debut, was ninth.

Larry Mahoney can be reached at 990-8231 or 1-800-310-8600. His e-mail address is lmahoney@bangordailynews.net.