Oxford Plains Speedway: Chris Coolidge
Oxford Championship Series Race Preview
THE STORY
NORWAY, Maine – Chris Coolidge of Norway, Maine, heads back to Oxford Championship Series competition when the Pro Late Model division returns following an off-weekend for a 40-lap feature at Oxford Plains Speedway in Oxford, Maine, on Friday, May 31. Coolidge climbed to 10th in the point standings after a strong performance last time out in which he lead 35 laps before being collected by a lapped car heading to the checkered flag on the final lap. The No. 72 Bill’s Automotive/Lloyd’s Land Chevrolet made some significant gains with the car’s handling just prior to that most recent event on May 17, and Coolidge believes the car will perform more consistently this weekend.
THE FACTS
WHO: Chris Coolidge, Norway, Maine
TEAM: Coolidge Motorsports No. 72 Bill’s Automotive/Lloyd’s Land Chevrolet
CREW CHIEF: Bill Coolidge, West Paris, Maine
BEST CAREER OXFORD PLAINS SPEEDWAY FINISH: 1st (September 2012)
LAST RACE AT OXFORD PLAINS SPEEDWAY: 11th (May 2013)
WHAT: Oxford Championship Series Pro Late Model 40
WHERE: Oxford Plains Speedway, Oxford, Maine (.375-mile oval)
WHEN: Friday, May 31 – 5 p.m., practice; 7:15 p.m., qualifying; 9 p.m., race
Oxford Plains Speedway
LAST RACE: May 17, Oxford Championship Series, Oxford Plains Speedway, Oxford, Maine (11th)
NEXT RACE: June 7, Oxford Championship Series, Oxford Plains Speedway, Oxford, Maine (.375-mile banked oval)
CURRENT POINTS POSITION: 10th
DID YOU KNOW?
Chris Coolidge won the final regular season event of the 2012 season, making him the final feature winner in the Late Model division in Oxford Plains Speedway history. The track abandoned the Late Model division in favor of the hybrid Pro Late Model division for 2013.
Chris Coolidge was the 2011 Rookie of the Year in the Late Model division at Oxford Plains Speedway.
Chris Coolidge qualified for his first TD Bank Oxford 250 last July.
Chris Coolidge got his start racing at Oxford Plains Speedway in Wednesday night entry-level divisions and later in the Oxford Championship Series Strictly Stock division.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
CHRIS COOLIDGE, Driver of the Coolidge Motorsports No. 72 Bill’s Automotive/Lloyd’s Land Chevrolet, On whether he expects to be just as competitive this weekend as he was last time out: “I think so. I’ve had a couple weeks to think back and all that – I think hopefully this week we’re going to be just as good as we were that night, if not better. You can’t really tell until you get there, but we’ve tried a couple different things and think we’ll be pretty good.
“I think we’ll be in a lot better shape.”
On how hard it was to move past the disappointment of his last race: “I was pretty bummed the next day, but it is what it is. You can’t dwell on it. You have to move on. You have to think about what happened, process the whole thing, learn from it and move on.
“It was the best the car went all year long. You look at the positives, and just look at that and go forward. The next day, sure, I was bummed out, but I’m over it. That’s just racing.”
On if he feels the team is up to speed now with its Pro Late Model program: “Don’t get me wrong, we still have a lot to learn. I don’t care how long you’ve been doing it – you always have stuff to learn. We’re starting to make some progress. As far as the whether the car’s doing this or that, we feel like we can compensate for things or having a pretty good idea of what (changes) are going to do what. It’s a constant learning game.
“In the car itself, I’m definitely more comfortable.”
UP NEXT
Oxford Plains Speedway returns to Oxford Championship Series action on Friday, June 7… Chris Coolidge will join the field as it continues to call Friday night home for the 2013 season.