Overlock revved up for racing season

Dwayne Overlock has been racing at Speedway 95 since 1989 when he got his start in the Strictly Street series. Over the years, he has been through the good times and the bad.

After the opening weekend of racing at Speedway 95, Andy Saunders took the checkered flag for the first Late Model Sportsman race of the year. Last year’s championship runner-up, Overlock, finished eighth after his power-steering belt came off.

From his Limited Sportsman Championship season in 2000 to a bad crash when he had to be cut out of his car and couldn’t move his arm for five hours, Overlock has been fortunate enough to have had more of the good than bad. As long as he has his car, he’ll be at the track doing what he loves to do: race.

“Some enjoy fishing or playing basketball. I enjoy racing,” Overlock said.

Overlock got his start at the speedway by helping his uncle and his father in the pits when he was a teenager. He also has two brothers who have taken turns around the one-third mile oval. Mike Overlock is racing in the Super Street division and Danny Overlock is taking the year off.

Since 2001, Dwayne Overlock has raced in the Late Model Sportsman series and has posted point finishes of fourth, third and second, respectively. This year, he hopes for more success and his first Pro Stock championship.

But racing in Speedway 95’s top division isn’t cheap. Overlock has invested $45,000 to $50,000 in his car and says he needs to race smart to keep costs down, especially with sponsorships being so hard to come by.

“Racing costs a lot of money. You need to save your stuff and not wreck it. Because what you break, you have to fix. You have to be smart, be patient, and take your time.”

Overlock has enjoyed most of his success at Speedway 95, but he also has raced at Lee USA Speedway in New Hampshire and at Unity Raceway. He has even driven the Richard Petty Driving Experience at Walt Disney World Speedway in Florida.

“I’d love to race in a Busch North car or even run in … ASA [American Speed Association] or anything like that,” he said.

The Oxford 250 and the DNK 250 at Unity – two major Maine races – are in the back of his mind, but the sponsorship just isn’t there. With engines running at $10,000 and four shocks for $1,200, it’s hard to take a chance at breaking anything without backing from a sponsor.

For now, Overlock is looking to put himself into the victory circle in the Pro Stock ranks and hopes to have his No. 90 Chevrolet Monte Carlo on top of the standings by the end of the year.

Racing action is set for this Sunday at 2 p.m. with the Coca-Cola 50-lap Limited Series No. 1. At 1:30 p.m., fans can ride with their favorite drivers.