Beech Ridge racers look forward to Racin’ Preview 2011 at the Portland Expo
Portland, Maine – Beech Ridge Motor Speedway will be represented by your typical selection of oval track racers at Racin’ Preview 2011, set for Friday and Saturday, February 25-26 at the Portland Expo.
Scarborough’s Beech Ridge Motor Speedway is in its’ seventh decade of providing outstanding family entertainment, these days both with the traditional Saturday night racing program – dubbed NASCAR Nites – and their groundbreaking Thursday Thunder program, successfully imitated by many other Northeastern tracks after being pioneered by track operator Andy Cusack well over a decade ago.
Not only is Beech Ridge Motor Speedway the lone NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racetrack in Maine, it’s also the Pine Tree State’s only oval hosting weekly competition at the Super Late Model division level. Gorham, Maine’s Dan McKeage is the reigning champion of that top-tier division, the NASCAR Pro Series.
McKeage will be on hand at Racin’ Preview, along with many members of the popular ‘Naughty 40’ race team that includes several cars scheduled to compete in at least three classes of NASCAR competition. Parked alongside the Naughty 40 NASCAR Pro Series car at Racin’ Preview will be the team’s Sport Series division entry, driven by the track champion’s wife, Laura.
The Beech Ridge oval track wars are not new to Laura McKeage, returning to Wildcat division competition last season after a few years off for early motherhood responsibilities. The former Laura Webster was a frontrunner and frequent race winner in Thursday Thunder Ladies League competition before her wedding day. She’ll be renewing an old rivalry from the Thursday Thunder days as her chief competition back then was Sally Gherardi, now a Sport Series competitor who is also on the Beech Ridge roster for Racin’ Preview 2011.
Pro Series rookie Mike Landry, a former Sport Series champion at Beech Ridge, plans to unveil his new top-class car, while Roadrunner division king Matt Dow will unveil his new Sport Series racecar. Several other cars from the historic Scarborough, Maine speedplant fill out the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series track’s display, including reigning Wildcat division champion David Vaughn.
A dozen or more other racetracks and touring series will join Beech Ridge Motor Speedway at Racin’ Preview 2011, including the touring Pro All Stars Series Super Late Models and the open-wheel Modified Racing Series, which will both be in action at Beech Ridge during the 2011 season.
Unity Raceway, Oxford Plains Speedway, Wiscasset Raceway, Speedway 95, Lee USA Speedway, Star Speedway, Big Daddy’s Speedbowl, Twin State Speedway and Bear Ridge Speedway displays showcase both dirt and asphalt weekly racing competitors and their racecars, scheduled to test the local tracks just a couple of months following Racin’ Preview 2011.
If stock cars from the oval track wars aren’t enough, Racin’ Preview 2011 will also feature a fewkarting stars and cars from and a racing lawnmower..
Along with today’s racers and their machines, an excellent display of Maine’s racing past will be presented by the Maine Vintage Race Car Association, with a salute to NEAR and MVRCA Hall of Famers Phil and Bob Libby featured.
Doors at the Portland Expo open at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, February 25, with several autograph opportunities and other activities ongoing through 10:00 p.m. Saturday show hours are 9:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. A limited amount of commercial display space remains available.
For further information please call (603) 447-4251 or email racinpaper@racinpaper.com
Current associate sponsors of Racin’ Preview 2011 include Racin’ Paper, R & D Racing and Fabrication of Limerick, and Wayne Elston’s Speed Shop of Carmel.
Sources: Racin Preview