Thriving Northern New England dirt track scene in the spotlight at Racin’ Preview 2010
Portland, Maine – While the pavement went down some 25 years ago at nearby Beech Ridge Motor Speedway and the era of serious dirt track racing seemingly ended in Maine, the regional dirt track scene in Northern New England is on the rebound. The regional dirt track scene will have a healthy presence on Friday and Saturday, February 19-20 as the Portland Expo hosts Racin’ Preview 2010.
Sprint Cars of New England (SCoNE) is a touring series for the fastest dirt track racecars competing in New England, and they race at all three of Northern New England’s remaining dirt tracks. The winged warriors are seeing increased interest in the club and expect a banner 2010 season, which they’ll kick off at Racin’ Preview 2010. At least a couple of the powerful, fuel-injected, winged racecars will be on display at Northern New England’s annual stock car racing showcase.
Bear Ridge Speedway in Bradford, Vermont tops the list of current New England dirt tracks in longevity. Track owner and promoter C.V. Elms IV will oversee the 44th consecutive season of dirt track action at the ¼-mile oval. The weekly racing program is headlined by Sportsman Modified cars. Bear Ridge races every Saturday night.
New Hampshire’s Canaan Fair Speedway also features Sportsman Modified racecars atop its’ weekly racing program. Dick Therrien takes the reigns as general manager of the facility this year. The 1/4-mile Canaan Dirt Speedway, adjacent to a 1/3-mile asphalt oval that uses the same pit area, presents stock car competition on Friday evenings.
Newly-renamed Big Daddy’s Speedbowl operated last season as Rattlesnake Motordrome, and has been known as Legion Speedway, Pines Speedway and Nor-Way Pines Speedway in the past. New promoter Mike Rivers has put a lot of time, effort and money into a near-complete rebuild of the racing facility and has moved the traditional Saturday night racing card to Sunday evenings.
All three tracks will host special events both with the SCoNE Sprint Cars and the Granite State Mini Sprint racing club, and all three tracks will be on hand at Racin’ Preview 2010.
Joining the dirt trackers at Racin’ Preview 2010 will be several paved racetracks, including Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, Lee USA Speedway, Unity Raceway, Wiscasset Raceway, along with touring classes with the Pro All Stars Series, Modified Racing Series and other sanctioning bodies.
Current associate sponsors of Racin’ Preview 2010 include Racin’ Paper, Pave Tek Motorsports of Kennebunk, Redneck Raceway of Acton, Saco Pathfinders, R & D Racing and Fabrication of Limerick, Chad Dow’s Innovative Specialties of Unity and Wayne Elston’s Speed Shop of Carmel.
Racin’ Preview 2010 at the Portland Expo is open from 4:00-10:00 p.m. on Friday, February 19. The show will go on between 9:00 a.m and 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 20. For more information call (603) 447-4251.
Sources: Racin’ Paper