More than 30 karts kick off 2006 campaign with busy practice session
A-1 AUTO SALES GO KART SERIES
OXFORD, Maine – More than 30 drivers, no fewer than a dozen of them first-time competitors, launched the fourth season of the A-1 Auto Sales Go Kart Series at Oxford Plains Speedway with a 2 1/2-hour, open practice session.
In addition to the new title sponsor, another change to the program is the addition of an Unrestricted class for drivers ages 15-and-up. That brings the total to seven divisions that will see the green flag when the season begins in earnest next Friday, May 13, at 6:30 p.m.
Two of the drivers to watch in the Unrestricted ranks are Nick Brown of Bath and D.J. Shaw of Center Conway, N.H.
Brown is a three-time champion of the Gold Plate division, where he won 24 of the 36 feature races that have been contested in the short history of the series. Shaw's name already is familiar to regional racing fans, as his father, Dale, is a former NASCAR Busch North (now East) Series champion and remains one of the top touring drivers in New England.
Mike Ricker aims to defend his championship in the Star Champ class, which is also comprised of teenagers and adults. His primary challenger is Chelsey Durgin, a high school basketball player from Gray and a three-time feature winner in the division.
Western Maine Modified is the other "grown-up" division. Mason Olmstead is the defending champion, with Tim Poland and Gregg Inman among the leading contenders to try to take away the crown in 2006.
The division seeing the most exponential growth over the winter is the entry level Box Stock group, with last year's three weekly contenders graduating to higher divisions and six newcomers ready to roll. Evan Armington, Brandon Varney, Dylan Haskell, Brendan Adams and Allison Morse hope to find a short learning curve on their journey to OPS victory lane.
Troy Davis and Alyssa Wade bring a year of experience to the Purple Plate division. They'll be challenged by reigning Box Stock champ Michael Haley, Spencer Thompson and Zachary Rich, among others.
Blue Plate holdovers Spencer Morse and Tate Hodgdon will try to ward off hungry youngsters Kyle Metivier, Josh Brown, Tyler Boothby and Brady Smith. That division's 2005 champ, Dan Pelletier Jr., is up to Gold Plate, where he will attempt to fill the void left by Nick Brown's departure.
The A-1 Auto Sales Go Kart Series enjoys the spotlight at OPS each Friday night through the end of August except for June 23 and July 28. Racers must be 8 years old, but spectators of all ages are welcome. For Go Kart information or specific rules for each division, go to www.oxfordplains.com or call Technical Director Don Adams at (207) 597-2214.
Sources: Oxford Plains Speedway PR