Del Merritt, co-owner of Speedway 95 in Hermon, has added a full day of nonpoints racing and is hoping to also attract drivers from Unity Raceway and Wiscasset Raceway.

It will be held on Oct. 2 beginning at 2 p.m.

There will be a 50-lap Limited Sportsman/Late Model Sportsman feature and a 75-lap Super Street race that will each pay the winners $1,000. A 50-lap Strictly Street race will pay the winner $500 and a 35-lap Sport Four feature will be worth $350 to the driver who takes the checkered flag.

Drivers from other tracks are encouraged to bring their rule books because Merritt said he is willing “work with them” to develop a rules package that will be palatable to drivers from all tracks.

“We want to even off the field and give everybody a chance,” said Merritt.

And Merritt said he expects a wide range of cars, especially in the Strictly Street and Sport-Four races.

He said the “Large Enduros” and some other cars that may run in the entry level, midweek divisions at Speedway 95 and the other tracks could very well be eligible to run in the Strictly Street race and the midweek Small Enduro cars could probably qualify to run in the Sport-Four feature.

Unity Raceway owner Ralph Nason announced last week that he was canceling his track’s last seven race dates due to rising fuel costs and dwindling car counts and attendance.

But Merritt said that didn’t prompt him to add his race date.

“I had wanted to add some races and I discussed it around,” said Merritt.

“I think it’s going to be good. I’m looking for a lot of cars. I think it will please the crowd,” said Merritt.

Questions about the rules can be directed to Wayne Parritt at 546-7696 or 546-2912.

NHIS gets more national media

New Hampshire International Speedway media relations director Fred Neergaard said the fact this Sunday’s Sylvania 300 Nextel Cup race is the first in the Chase for the Cup will mean more national media coverage than usual.

Last year’s Sylvania 300 was also the opening race in the Chase for the Cup.

“We’ll have the same local media we have in July [for the New England 300], but the national media will probably triple. By triple, I mean from around 10 to 30,” said Neergaard. “For us, this has taken on a lot of characteristics of an All-Star game or the Super Bowl.”

He said he has received media requests for the race from as far away as Louisiana, Texas, Kansas, Florida, and Illinois along with Canada and overseas.

“It’s a happening,” said Neergaard.

He added that the additional exposure is “great for our sponsors and great for our fans. It spotlights what we have going on in the state of New Hampshire and makes even more fans aware of it.”

The race will take on added importance to the 10 drivers who have qualified for the Chase.

Kurt Busch won last year’s Sylvania 300 and went on to win the points championship. Two years ago, Matt Kenseth finished a solid seventh in the Sylvania 300 en route to the points title.

Neergaard said the track should be in excellent shape. It was repaved in June 2002.

“The more it sits, the better it gets. It’s got a lot more grip now. We received a lot of praise after the last race [in July]. Pike Industries [N.H.] did a heck of a job re-paving it,” said Neergaard.

Oxford 250 set for July 30

Look for more Nextel Cup drivers in next year’s TD Banknorth 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway.

The race will again be held during an off weekend in the Nextel Cup series. It will be held on July 30.

Kurt Busch and Matt Kenseth ran the Oxford 250 two years ago and Kenseth returned this past July along with Kyle Busch, Kurt’s younger brother.

“We’re real happy they’re still having an open date in July,” said OPS owner Bill Ryan. “The fans love [having Cup drivers here], the drivers love it, and we love it.”

He said he was willing to move the race to a weekend when the Nextel Cup drivers were off to ensure adding Cup drivers to the field.

He said he has at least five local pro stock drivers willing to supply Cup drivers with one of their extra pro stock cars.