Affordable pro stock racing gets rave reviews from drivers

When Wiscasset Raceway and Unity Raceway decided to eliminate their pro stock classes due to low car counts caused by the high expense of running a pro stock car, a void was created.

But Pro All-Stars Series founder and president Tom Mayberry formed an Outlaws Late Model Division for pro stock drivers who wanted to keep costs down.

And it has been well received.

This is their first full season and there are two divisions for the Outlaws, North and Central. The two North Division races have attracted 19 and 22 racers, respectively. The Central Division had its first race rained out so it will debut Saturday at Canaan Fair Speedway (N.H.).

There will be 16 races between the two divisions, although two are combination races: at Beech Ridge on Sept. 23 and at Unity on Oct. 28.

“I love the tour,” said Mike Thomas, a longtime Speedway 95 pro stock driver from Brewer who is now living in Lewiston. “It’s the wave of the future. Once you get everybody in the [lightweight, low-cost] Crate engines in two or three years, you’re going to have a heck of a little tour.”

“It’s a great idea. The tour will eventually replace the [weekly] Saturday night pro stock races,” added Thomas. “For guys who can’t afford to run with the [Mike and Ben] Rowes and [Cassius and Johnny] Clarks of the world, it gives them a place to race. We can be competitive, we can keep the costs down, and I’ve been real impressed with the officiating.”

The Crate engines cost approximately $5,000, which is at least $5,000 cheaper than the engines used on the PASS super late model tour.

They also save money on tires.

When drivers race at a track for the first time in the weekly pro stock series, they’re required to buy four new tires at approximately $125 apiece.

They can only buy and use three new tires in the Outlaws series.

“You spend over $500 for four tires and it pays $750 to win at Speedway 95. You’ve got to win just to break even,” said Thomas.

The winner of an Outlaws race earns $1,500, second place is worth $1,000, third place pays $700, and so on. The drivers who finish 14th to last earn $200.

Albion’s Matt Lee, a former Unity Raceway pro stock driver, said he enjoys the Outlaws series.

“You get to run 100-lappers [instead of the usual 35 laps in weekly pro stock racing] and it’s more gentlemanly racing. There’s a lot more bumping and grinding when you’re trying to get to the front in a 35-lap race,” said Lee. “You also get to see some nice facilities and test your skills every week.”

Lee intends to run both the North and Central Division races.

Lee also likes not having to race every week.

“You get sick of racing 20 to 22 weeks in a row. This makes it nice. You get more time to prepare your car,” said Lee.

Lee added that the drivers receive great exposure through the PASS Web site (www.proallstarsseries.com).

“After I won the first race at Unity, a magazine reporter called me and he did something on me in Late Model Digest, which is based in North Carolina,” said Lee.

Brooks heading south to school

Rodney Brooks of Thomaston is going to attend the Bobby Isaacs Motorsports School in North Carolina beginning July 10.

The 18-year-old pro stock racer, who burst on the scene as a 15-year-old racer, said, “I’m going to learn how to work on Nextel Cup cars.”

The school covers every aspect of the race car, including welding, fabrication, setups, and pit crew training.

“After I finish, I’d like to get a job working on a Cup team. If I don’t like working on cars, I’ll take the knowledge and put it to my own use,” said Brooks, who will graduate from Georges Valley High School next month.

But don’t expect him to hang up his racing helmet for good.

“I still want to race,” said Brooks, who could possibly squeeze in some PASS South races.