PASS Sportsman Series: Dan McKeage
Oxford Plains Speedway Race Preview
THE STORY
GORHAM, Maine – Dan McKeage of Gorham, Maine, returns to the PASS Sportsman Series for the PASS Sportsman 75 at Oxford Plains Speedway in Oxford, Maine, on Friday, July 19. McKeage has one win this season in Sportsman competition with the Naughty 40 Racing No. 40 Top Gun Construction Chevrolet – in the season opener at his home track of Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough, Maine – and sits second in the series standings through the first three races of the season. He finished third in the most recent race held at Oxford Plains in May, and he believes the key to winning the series championship hinges on being able to perform on the flat, .375-mile oval.
THE FACTS
WHO: Dan McKeage, Gorham, Maine
CREW CHIEF: Dan Bubar, Windham, Maine
TEAM: Naughty 40 Racing No. 40 Top Gun Construction Chevrolet
BEST CAREER OXFORD PLAINS SPEEDWAY FINISH: 3rd (May 2013)
LAST RACE AT OXFORD PLAINS SPEEDWAY: 3rd (May 2013)
WHAT: PASS Sportsman Series 75
WHERE: Oxford Plains Speedway, Oxford, Maine (.375-mile oval)
WHEN: Friday, July 19, 7 p.m.
PASS Sportsman Series
LAST RACE: May 31, PASS Sportsman Series 75, Oxford Plains Speedway, Oxford, Maine (3rd)
NEXT RACE: August 4, White Mountain Motorsports Park, N. Woodstock, N.H. (.25-mile banked oval)
CURRENT POINTS POSITION: 2nd
DID YOU KNOW?
Dan McKeage won the 2010 PASS Sportsman Series championship.
Dan McKeage has a pair of Top-5 finishes in two races this season at Oxford Plains Speedway.
Dan McKeage won the 2010 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series track championship at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough, Maine.
Dan McKeage is currently leading the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series standings in the Pro Series at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway at the midpoint of the 2013 season.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
DAN McKEAGE, Driver of the Naughty 40 Racing No. 40 Top Gun Construction Chevrolet, On racing at Oxford Plains Speedway: “You almost have to race to win every week, especially racing against Carey (Martin) and having as many races at Oxford as we have. He’s definitely the one to beat in these cars when we go there. He’s probably got 20-plus years experience at that place. If they’d have had five of our races at (Beech Ridge) this season, he might have been as worried about me as I am worried about him with five races at Oxford.”
On the mentality of running longer races with the PASS Sportsman Series versus racing weekly at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway: “I think it suits my driving style. I like the longer races. It seems like you get a little bit more time to have a game plan than the Saturday night stuff, which is more driving by the seat of your pants.
“We usually set up for the longer races, and we always try to have that plan going into each race.”
On what he needs to be successful this weekend: “We really need to get a little bit more drive off the corners. That’s sort of what’s hurt us there in the past. We’ve had plenty of time to work on the car between races, so hopefully we’ll be good this weekend.”
UP NEXT
The PASS Sportsman Series returns to action at White Mountain Motorsports Park in North Woodstock, N.H., on Sunday, August 4… Dan McKeage finished second in a 75-lap event at the track last summer.