Unity Raceway won’t be just for stock car racing beginning in October.

Ralph Nason Jr., the track manager and race director, is in the process of adding a supercross course to the infield of the raceway.

Supercross is a form of motocross racing that involves dirt bikes and quads (all-terrain vehicles) running on a dirt track with steep jumps and obstacles.

“We race [stock cars] one day a week. The track is just sitting here the other six days. We don’t want to limit our options,” explained Nason Jr., son of track owners Ralph and Nancy Nason. “We want to turn this into a multi-use, motorsports park. Oxford Plains Speedway has its own dragway next to it.

“Unity Raceway has luckily been able to survive for 59 years [as just a stock car track]. But you have to evolve or you die. That’s life. You have to ask yourself what else can you do with what you have. It’s all about being in business,” said Nason Jr.

The Nason family has spent approximately $10,000 to date on the supercross track. They have had 100 loads of dirt trucked in and the dirt is being mixed with sawdust and wood chips to “help hold the water and pack the dirt.” The dirt, Nason explained, has a “sandy, loam” texture and doesn’t have rocks in it.

Nason Jr. said “90 percent of the work has been done” and he is hoping to bring in some dirt bike/quad racers within the next week to test out the course and offer him suggestions on how to improve it.

He said the course itself is approximately a half-mile long and will have in the vicinity of 17 obstacles on it including various jumps.

Nason Jr. has been to three supercross/motocross tracks in New England to gather ideas for his track.

He said racers range in age from 5 to 60 and there are numerous classes.

He said some races last 7-10 laps and others have a time limit.

The track itself will be challenging but not dangerous, according to Nason Jr.

“I want it to be technical enough so that some of the top-level racers will be challenged by it but we don’t want the average Joe to get killed on it,” he said. “I want to make it so that there’s enough aerial flight time and jumps so the racers are getting big air. That’s what they seem to like.”

He said motocross racing is evolving into a popular spectator sport like auto racing has become over the past 30 years.

“And we’re in the entertainment industry,” said Nason Jr.

Nason Jr. said unlike some other motocross facilities that have very limited seating and portable toilets, his facility already had a stadium/grandstand with regular rest rooms.

He said the dirt track and the auto racetrack won’t interfere with each other and he is looking to have two weekends of supercross/quad racing after the auto racing season concludes on the weekend of Oct. 12-13.

That would pave the way for a full schedule of supercross/quad racing next year on Saturdays and Sundays.

“I feel 10-12 weekends in a six-month period [would be good],” said Nason Jr., who expects to continue to have his stock-car cards on Friday nights next year.

He said anyone can run in the supercross/quad races as long as they have the necessary racing equipment including chest protector, helmets and gloves.

Those seeking more information can do so online at unityraceway.net.

Unity, Wiscasset list special races

Unity Raceway and Wiscasset Raceway have special races on tap this weekend to go with their regular race cards.

The Gary Mitchell Memorial Race, a 75-lapper for Super Street cars, will be held at Unity on Friday night. Racing will begin at 7:30 p.m. The winner will pocket $800.

On Saturday afternoon at Wiscasset, the NAPA Auto Parts and Central Maine Motors Auto Group will sponsor a 100-lap Pro Stock race with the victor taking home $3,000. Racing begins at 2.

There will also be a benefit walk at Wiscasset with a $10 donation enabling anyone to walk with their favorite driver or staff member. The donation will benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation for children with life-threatening illnesses.