December 21, 2024
AUTO RACING

Bangor’s Corson, Hermon’s Wilcox going the extra mile

Bangor’s Mark Corson and Hermon’s Anthony Wilcox epitomize the word “dedication.”

Corson, who lives in Exeter, and Wilcox, who still lives in Hermon, commute to Auburn every day to work for the Richard Moody Racing team. They hook up in Newport.

The Moody Racing team supplies cars for Turner’s Ben Rowe, who is currently leading the Pro All-Stars Series Super Late Model North Division points chase.

They will also be supplying the Late Model car for two-time Nextel Cup points champion Terry Labonte, who will be running the TD Banknorth Oxford 250 Sunday night.

Wilcox, Corson and Leeds’ Brian Burgess, who is also Rowe’s crew chief, build the Super Late Model and Late Model cars for Moody racing.

Labonte will be driving a new car that was built by the trio.

“It’s pretty special to us,” said Corson.

Wilcox added that having a former Nextel Cup champ driving their car is “awesome.

“It’ll be a dream come true to be a part of it,” said Wilcox.

Rowe will drive a Super Late Model car at the IWK 250 at Riverside International Speedway in Antigonish, Nova Scotia on Saturday night and then compete in a Late Model car for the TD Banknorth Oxford 250.

“We have high hopes for all the cars,” said Corson.

Corson and Wilcox have been auto race fans since they were kids.

“I got the bug a long time ago,” said Corson. “When we lived in Winthrop, my dad used to bring me to Oxford every Saturday night. I think I’ve only missed one Oxford 250. That’s like the Daytona 500 for me.”

Corson and his family moved to Bangor when he was 10 and he used to spend a lot of time at Hermon’s Speedway 95 as well as the other tracks.

“I used to sell programs at Speedway 95,” said Corson, who eventually helped rebuild a Pro Stock car for Gary Reynolds 12 years ago.

Corson then went to work fabricating cars for Northern Racing Products in Albany, N.H., just outside of Conway.

Anthony said his dad, Tony, used to race at Speedway 95 and that’s how he got interested.

“I was always around it,” said Wilcox, who began building race cars in 1989.

His first car was a Super Street Camaro that he built for friend Bernie Thayer.

He figures he has built “a couple dozen” race cars during his career.

Wilcox and Corson began working together on a car for Corinna’s Paul White, who is a regular at Speedway 95.

Despite the long and late hours – they sometimes don’t get home until midnight – they enjoy their jobs.

“It gets a little tough at times but [the job] is what I like to do. It’s been worth it so far,” said Wilcox, who used to work in a sheet metal shop and is in his second year with Moody Racing.

He said he is fortunate to have an understanding wife [Barbara].

“I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do,” said Corson, who is in his first season with Moody Racing.

Corson is no stranger to long commutes because he used to drive two hours each way when he was working for NRP, commuting from Concord to Albany, N.H.

Rowe marvels at the commitment of Wilcox and Corson.

“You can’t say enough about those guys, coming all the way down from Bangor. And we work well together. We get along super,” said Ben Rowe.

Aube likes Oxford switch

Jamie Aube of Bow, N.H. said he likes the fact the TD Banknorth Oxford 250 has switched to a Late Model race.

The 53-year-old Aube won the race in 1987 and ’89.

“Late Models are a lot of fun. They’re economical and that’s why I really like them,” said Aube.

“In everybody’s life, you have to pick a point where you [ask yourself] how much money can you spend? Corporate money isn’t [readily] available in the northeast. You’ve got to be able to afford to do this and it will still provide great racing. I think this will be a great, great race,” said Aube.


Have feedback? Want to know more? Send us ideas for follow-up stories.

comments for this post are closed

You may also like