Unity, Maine — Saturday night racing returns to Unity Raceway for the first time in several years, effective immediately, promoter George Fernald, Jr. has announced. The track had previously published a 2010 schedule consisting primarily of Friday night race cards with a post time of 6:30 p.m. These events have now been rescheduled for Saturdays, with the first race scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
The events scheduled for this Saturday (May 22) and Saturday, May 29 will start as 4:00 p.m. as previously announced. The Friday night preliminary racing card for May 29’s Memorial 300 racing program will take place as scheduled, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Fernald, in his third year operating the 1/3-mile Waldo County oval, stayed with the Friday night schedule introduced by track owners Ralph and Nancy Nason just prior to taking over management of the facility for 2008 racing season.
Since the beginning, Fernald has frequently been approached by competitors and fans requesting a shift to a Saturday night racing schedule. He was hesitant initially, since the two paved racetracks closest to Unity Raceway were both operating on Saturday nights, and a handful of competitors from both of those tracks also competed on Friday nights at Unity.
The Saturday night lobbying campaign intensified when Wiscasset Raceway announced it would abandon its’ Saturday night race dates in favor of Sunday afternoon competition in 2010. In an informal poll at this year’s first Unity Raceway drivers’ meeting, competitors overwhelmingly expressed a preference for Saturday night racing.
Fernald was still a bit hesitant in large part due to his friendship with Speedway 95 co-owner Del Merritt, but says after a conversation with him that even Merritt concedes it’s a move he needs to make. Fernald also says the Nasons, who have owned the facility for more than a quarter-century, also endorse the move.
The earlier start enables Unity Raceway to end the weekly racing program at an earlier hour and eliminate curfew issues that arose, forcing the Friday night program to start at 6:30 p.m., too early for many fans and competitors on a work day.
A few other changes may need to be made with various guest divisions and touring series, which will be announced at a date in the near future.
For more information please visit www.unityraceway.info or call 207-453-2021.