SPEEDWAY 95 READY FOR 2012 SEASON OPENER
Following the biggest facelift the track has seen in years, Speedway 95 track owner Del Merritt is ready to open the gates for the 2012 racing season on Saturday April 28. After two practice Saturdays that saw over 50 cars test on the 1/3 mile asphalt oval, a very successful mall show with over 30 cars, drivers and crews participating, and major renovations to the track that have pleased everyone, the excitement and anticipation for the 2012 season is high.
Merritt, who obtained full ownership of the speedway following the close of the 2011 season, has wasted no time this spring upgrading the facility, and expects to continue to make improvements throughout the racing season. Gardner Construction and Hopkins Landscaping of Bangor have been major players in the groundwork improvements, placing a dirt berm around turns one and two, which Merritt says will end the long delays in the program caused by cars leaving the racing surface at a high rate of speed and travelling over the embankment and into old tire barriers and trees. The old, unsightly tire walls on the front stretch, backstretch and turns three and four have also been rebuilt to maintain their safety purpose yet be more pleasing to the eye. Improvements have also been scheduled for the infield area as well as some repaving in the pits.
Over 30 Dysart’s Late Models, the premier division at the speedway, have pre-registered for the season, backed up by the Sportsman Division, Strictly Streets, Sport-Fours and the fledgling Bomber Division. “We’re going to run pretty much the same schedule as last year”, says Merritt. “We’ll have the regular Saturday night shows throughout the summer, with a couple of Thursday night special events in July when other big races in Maine and New Hampshire take the week-end spotlight. This gives our drivers and fans a chance to take in these events without missing anything here at the speedway. The Varney’s GMC- Buick -Mazda Wacky Wednesday shows will start in mid-June, following the Monster Truck event scheduled for June 8, 9, and 10th. We’ve made a few changes there that we hope will bring the “wacky” back into the mid-week show, and create more fan interest as well as bring new drivers to the sport. Following the end of the Wednesday night series, we’ll have a Demo Derby and Stunt Show on Wednesday September 5th, to bring something different in for the fans.“
The first green flag of the 2012 season will fall at 5:00 p.m. on April 28, with the pit gate opening at 2:00 for practice and preparation. The annual pretty car contest will begin at 4:30 on the front stretch. Grandstand admission is only $10.00 for adults, with kids 10 and under admitted free. More information about the speedway and the complete 2012 schedule is available at www.speedway95racing.com.
Visit NERacingForum.Com for latest New England Racing community News and updates.
[adrotate block=”3″]