Mike Hopkins of Hermon kept his streak of opening day wins in tact Saturday night at Speedway 95 when he won the season opener for the third year in a row. Starting third in the 16 car Dysart’s Late Model field, Hopkins was in the lead by the backstretch of the first lap, and kept that lead for the entire 35 lap distance. Andy Saunders of Ellsworth caught Hopkins following a lap 7 yellow, but was unable to pass for the lead, although he ran close behind at the end of the event. A caution flag on lap 30 gave Saunders one more chance at the lead, but Hopkins was simply too fast on the outside for Saunders to match. The race turned bad for several drivers on the final lap when, after Hopkins and Saunders took the white flag, third and fourth place runners Phil Richardson of Hermon and John Kalel II of Orrington came together just past the flag stand, scattering the field when Kalel came to a rest in the middle of the track. Hopkins and Saunders continued around to take the checkers in first and second respectively, but the rest of the field was so scattered that Dale Swoboda, who was running eighth under the white flag managed to cross the finish line third. Fourth went to Duane Seekins of Stockton Springs with Richardson salvaging a fifth place finish. The remainder of the finishing order was not immediately available. Phil Richardson of Hermon and George Dunn of Eastbrook won the qualifiers and started the feature from the front row. (more…)
Defending Unity Raceway Late Model champion Jeff Burgess of Fairfield kicked off the 2012 points-earning season the way he ended the 2011 campaign at Maine’s Toughest racing Oval – in victory lane.
Burgess chased down early race leader (and opening day winner) Brian Whitney in the 35-lapper, then held off a stiff challenge from Burnham’s Justin Drake to earn his first trip to the top step of the podium this season.
Ajay Picard of Palmyra bounced back from an early spin to post a third-place finish. Oakland’s Mike Landry rebounded from a visit to the pit and a trip to the rear of the restart lineup to claim fourth position. Whitney, won won the heat race, crossed the line in fifth position. (more…)
TWO FOR THE SHOW: Mulkern Racing Gears Up
Two-Car PASS Super Late Model Effort Ready To Take Next Step
After a pair of wins last season and a runner-up finish in the PASS North Series championship standings, Mulkern Racing heads into 2012 eager to build on the success it forged in the second half of 2011.
New Brunswick driver Lonnie Sommerville is back with crew chief Gary Crooks to run the full PASS North schedule, while team owner Scott Mulkern will run a partial schedule with Seth Holbrook calling his shots atop the pit box. Sommerville won at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in July and finished second in the final standings as a PASS rookie – garnering co-Rookie of the Year honors for his efforts, while Mulkern won the season finale in October at Oxford Plains Speedway. (more…)
NAPLES ME (4/25) The Pro All Stars Series (PASS) will kick off it’s twelfth northeast racing season on Saturday May 5 at Scarborough Maine’s Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, and its an event that racers and race fans alike have looked forward to since the final checker of 2011. Southern Maine Motors.com has returned as presenting sponsors for all three PASS appearances at the Cusack’s immaculate speed plant
PASS North’s three touring series are slated for competition, and all three series defending champions will be back to try and duplicate their 2011 titles. (more…)
This week we talk with special guest Shawn Moody. As some of you may or may not know, Shawn owns Moody’s Collision Centers in southern Maine.
Shawn talks about how he got involved with motor sports as well as how some key people played an important roll in it. He tells us about his experience of running for governor and his thoughts and
feelings on his family. Very enlightening and informative, a must see for those who know Shawn and those who don’t.
We also talk with Chuck Hall from Speedway 95 about the new and improved facilities there and coverage of the Bangor Mall race show.
We bring you coverage from opening day at Unity Raceway with interviews with the winners.
Brian Whitney of Burnham added another extra-distance main event first-place trophy to his collection, outgunning reigning track champion Jeff Burgess of Fairfield in the 52-lap Late Model division main event on Opening Day at Unity Raceway on Saturday.
Whitney and Burgess swapped the race lead, and a little bit of paint, a couple of times during the closing laps in a competitive feature race highlighting the first stock car racing card in Maine this season. Whitney, who has been most successful in extra-distance event in recent seasons at Unity Raceway, led the vast majority of the race, first battling Palmyra racer Ajay Picard for supremacy. (more…)
Mike Hopkins of Hermon kept his streak of opening day wins in tact Saturday night at Speedway 95 when he won the season opener for the third year in a row. Starting third in the 16 car Dysart’s Late Model field, Hopkins was in the lead by the backstretch of the first lap, and kept that lead for the entire 35 lap distance. Andy Saunders of Ellsworth caught Hopkins following a lap 7 yellow, but was unable to pass for the lead, although he ran close behind at the end of the event. A caution flag on lap 30 gave Saunders one more chance at the lead, but Hopkins was simply too fast on the outside for Saunders to match. The race turned bad for several drivers on the final lap when, after Hopkins and Saunders took the white flag, third and fourth place runners Phil Richardson of Hermon and John Kalel II of Orrington came together just past the flag stand, scattering the field when Kalel came to a rest in the middle of the track. Hopkins and Saunders continued around to take the checkers in first and second respectively, but the rest of the field was so scattered that Dale Swoboda, who was running eighth under the white flag managed to cross the finish line third. Fourth went to Duane Seekins of Stockton Springs with Richardson salvaging a fifth place finish. The remainder of the finishing order was not immediately available. Phil Richardson of Hermon and George Dunn of Eastbrook won the qualifiers and started the feature from the front row.
After a pair of wins last season and a runner-up finish in the PASS North Series championship standings, Mulkern Racing heads into 2012 eager to build on the success it forged in the second half of 2011.