Area car tracks finished a tough year in high gear

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With the exception of Unity Raceway, where owner Ralph Nason had to cut the season short due to low car counts and dwindling attendance, the other four car track owners survived unusually dismal spring weather and the rising fuel costs to finish the season on a high note.

“We had a rotten first half and a great second half,” said Beech Ridge Motor Speedway owner Andy Cusack. “Once we got through July 10, the weather really changed and we had a great Maine summer for the first time in a lot of years. The crowds were better than the previous five or six years. That doesn’t always happen because when you have a lot of wet weather in the spring, you kind of lose momentum. People don’t get in the habit of going to races.”

“The rain was the biggest factor. It was the worst I’ve ever seen in my seven years. We didn’t have a [clear] day until late June. But when we had good weather, we had great crowds and great racing,” said Oxford Plains Speedway owner Bill Ryan.

“After the slow start, we came out pretty decent. Nothing spectacular,” said Speedway 95 co-owner Del Merritt who also wanted to dispel rumors he and co-owner Alice Baker are selling the facility.

“We’ll be there next year,” said Merritt.

“It was just an off season [attendance-wise]. The car counts were good. The racing was good, except for the rain,” said Wiscasset Raceway owner Dave St. Clair. “There is a lull in racing in general at short tracks. But I think it will come back. Things cycle around. It happened in ’92.”

“Eight short tracks in California closed this fall. And not just for the season, but for good,” pointed out Nason.

Nason said he had no choice but to cancel the final seven racing dates because he was losing money.

“If you have a business, you have to be able to make money,” said Nason.

But Nason said “it’s looking good for next year.”

The owners are looking forward to next season and are cautiously optimistic the rising fuel costs won’t be too damaging.

“Most of our crowds are made up of people who live 25-30 miles from the track,” said Ryan. “The big question is will they have money left [after the winter] to pursue their hobbies.”

Cusack said if people are looking to save money, they are more likely to limit their expensive vacation trips and stay closer to home. He concurred with Ryan that most of his drivers and fans live within 35-40 miles of the track.

He also pointed out that all hobbies carry an expense, whether it be golf or auto racing, and racing fuel has “always been expensive.” But it hasn’t prevented the drivers from racing.

“I’m a strong believer that the American people will find a way to have some type of entertainment or activity in their lives,” said Merritt.

There will be some changes in the offing for next season at some of the tracks.

“We intend to run all of the divisions we had on Wednesday and Saturday except for the small trucks,” said Merritt. “They didn’t make it. I don’t want our fans to have to watch a four or five-truck race. Maybe we’ll let them run with the Sport-Fours next year.”

Nason is looking at combining his pro stock and super sportsman classes into one and also molding his mini-trucks and min-stocks into one class. He also plans to continue with the cheaper spec engines and to try to reduce costs and prices.

“Everybody is going to have to take a hit to make racing fun again,” said Nason.

St. Clair intends to add a teenage class and a ladies division next season and stick to just Saturday night racing instead of occasion doubleheader weekends.

“Sunday doesn’t work as a race day,” said St. Clair who added that he doesn’t have time to run a mid-week show.

Cusack said he is contemplating adding a four-cylinder division for youngsters 15 and under.

Cusack added that he was extremely pleased with the first ever PASS race held at his track and hopes to bring the tour back next season.

Ryan said he is excited that he was able to schedule next year’s TD Banknorth Oxford 250 on another off weekend for Nextel Cup drivers (July 30) and anticipates bringing in more Nextel Cup drivers. He has had two in each of the past two seasons, Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch two years ago and Kenseth and Kyle Busch this past season.

Unity Racing on Oct. 15

Just a reminder, there will be one more race day as Nason’s Unity Raceway will be the site for one full card on Saturday, Oct. 15.

There will be the Long John 150 pro stock race and nine other features.

Racing starts at 1. The rain date will be Sunday.

“It’s going to be an interesting deal,” promised Nason.