Repaving at Oxford Plains reduces home-track advantage

The last two years, Oxford Plains Speedway Pro Stock drivers have won the Oxford True Value 250 at their home track.

Windham’s Gary Drew pocketed $35,400 for taking the checkered flag in 2001 and Dixfield’s Scott Robbins triumphed a year ago and walked away with a check for $36,900.

But Oxford Plains Speedway director of communications Bobby Walker said the home-track advantage won’t be as much in evidence at the 30th Oxford True Value 250 in nine days because the track was re-paved.

“That throws things wide open again,” said Walker. “The locals used to have the edge on the rest of the field because the track [conditions] would change as the race wore on and they knew the ins and the outs of the surface changes.

“Now the track stays consistent so they won’t have that advantage. Everyone’s on a level playing field. It’s a super surface. The track is a little wider and the [preferred] line has changed a bit,” added Walker.

He said the paving by Pike Industries was done last October and the result has been “fantastic.

In addition to being wider, the track is much faster and smoother, according to Walker.

He said cars’ lap times have been “more than a second quicker” over the third-mile oval.

Qualifying for the Oxford True Value 250 will begin at 2 p.m. July 13. There will be six qualifying heats before the race.

Whitman glad to be back racing

China’s Clarence Whitman is glad to be back.

The 57-year-old Whitman has returned to racing at Unity Raceway for the first time in more than 20 years this season.

“I had a stroke and I’ve been hounding my doctor ever since to let me race again,” said Whitman. “He finally said I could.

“I love racing. It was tough being without it,” added Whitman.

He had raced stock cars in a number of divisions but now he finds himself in the Mini-Truck Division.

“I’m having a ball. Trucks aren’t my division but it’s all right,” said Whitman, who is in the top 10 in points.

Whitman has been welcomed back.

“Clarence is a good guy,” said Sidney’s Bill Winter, one of the contenders for the points championship. “He’s a clean runner and he’s got a fast truck.”

Allison series sets Little Dawg 150

PASS Tour director Tom Mayberry, the promoter and general manager of Wiscasset Raceway, will bring the Little Dawg 150 for the Allison Legacy Series cars to Wiscasset on Aug. 31.

They are three-quarter-size replica Winston Cup cars with four-cylinder Mazda truck engines.

For the first time, there is a Northeast Tour under the direction of former Unity Raceway stock car racer Mark Bogue.

There are other Allison Legacy tours across the country.

The Little Dawg 150 will offer a total purse of more than $20,000 with the winner taking home $5,000.

One of the favorites in that race will be Katie Hagar of Damariscotta, who already has three wins this season.

“I like this a lot,” said Hagar, who cut her teeth on go-karts and ranks second in points.

Hagar will be a senior at Lincoln Academy of Newcastle in the fall.