Exciting Motorsports Week Ahead

Episode #13

July 6, 2014

This week and the next will feature this summer’s busiest motorsports calendar of July. More to be said about that as we go along.

Austin Theriault of Fort Kent places second behind Joey Doiron of Berwick at the Southern Maine Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep Dealers 150 at Beech Ridge Speedway. Saturday evening.

Austin Theriault of Fort Kent places second behind Joey Doiron of Berwick at the Southern Maine Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep Dealers 150 at Beech Ridge Speedway. Saturday evening.

Austin Places Second

Fort Kent’s Austin Theriault utilizing his family-owned #57 Super Late Model placed second in the Southern Maine Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep Dealers 150 at Beech Ridge Speedway in Scarbourgh Saturday evening. Berwick’s Joey Doiron had the car to beat all evening as he held off several challenges from a variety of racers throughout the night. A lap 127 restart where he pulled away to a short lead over Theriault secured Doiron’s Pro All Star Series (PASS) first victory of the season.
Theriault begins the transition to the Nationwide Series as he prepares for Saturday’s Sta-Green 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon. This marks the second of three races in the JR Motorsports #5 Chevy Camaro for the Mainer.
The pressure is on as this is considered the “home” track of Theriault where he has raced a few times before. He will be wheeling the #5 Camaro which is fresh off a win at Daytona in the Subway Firecracker 250 on Friday evening with Kasey Kahne driving. The team has also won at Richmond in April and Kentucky in late June.
Theriault in his first start for JR Motorsports finished 15th at Iowa Speedway on May 18th after starting 17th and running in the top 10 most of the race. Theriault also made his debut in the American Racing Club of America (ARCA) Series on June 13 at the fast Michigan International Speedway. He became the first debut driver since 2011 to win an ARCA race. He drove for Venturini Motorsports.

Spud Speedway hosts the first Motorsports Fair at the Caribou racetrack this week.

Spud Speedway hosts the first Motorsports Fair at the Caribou racetrack this week.

Spud Speedway Motorsports Fair

Spud Speedway owner Troy Haney wanted to do something special and unique to help celebrate the track’s 50th Anniversary. Why not combine an old fashioned Fair featuring Smokey’s Greatest Show with rides for all ages, food vendors, G-Force Lazer tag under a 40 X 100 tent, arm wrestling, and more with racing. Starting Thursday July 10th enthusiasts will be able to enjoy the fair and a $1000 to win Pink and Blue Bomber car race to raise money and awareness for the Pink Aroostook Breast Cancer Support group and the Aroostook Autism group.
Friday will again have the rides and lazer tag in addition to a monster truck show featuring six trucks. Racing karts, Tuff trucks, and Wicked Good Vintage Tour races will be part of the evening’s events in addition to the Monster Trucks.
A 100 lap Outlaw Sportsman race will cap the day of events on Saturday which will feature Old Time Carnival Day, full card of racing, Wicked Good Vintage Racing Tour.
A classic car show honoring 50 years of Mustang production will be held on the track in addition to a Battle of The Bands and a lazer tag tournament.
Check out the Spud Speedway website for details on schedule, pricing and more at spud-speedway.com.

All Out Speed Coming Once Again to Loring

The former Loring Air Force Base located in Limestone, Maine will once again be the site of the fastest vehicles on wheels as land speed racers from all over the United States and Canada converge on the 2.5 mile runway July 18-21. The Maine Event will play host to a wide variety of cars, motorcycles, lakesters, and maybe even alternative powered vehicles at the four day speed-fest. Weekend passes go for only $15 as organizers encourage spectators to get up close to vehicles in the pits and meet the people who have a need for all out speed. Further details can be found at the Loring Timing Association’s website loringtiming.com

New England Forest Rally July 18 & 19, 2014

Maybe rally enthusiasts did not get enough action at the “Climb to the Clouds” race up Mt. Washington just a couple weeks ago and are looking for more rally racing nearby. They are in luck as Rally America hosts the New England Forest Rally at Sunday River Resort July 18 &19 in Newry, Maine.
Over 50 entries are currently signed up the two day event which will feature world class competitors such as Mt. Washington record holder David Higgins in his 2014 Subaru prepared by Vermont Sports Cars. Close competition from his fellow Vermont Sports Car team-mate Travis Pastrana is all but guaranteed after Pastrana was beaten by less than three seconds at Mt. Washington by Higgins.
Bangor’s John Cassidy and his Last Ditch Racing team will be contesting both the regional and national rally. For more information go to newenglandforestrally.com

Oxford 250

One of the best known short track races in the United States and Canada is the Oxford 250. The race will be held at Oxford Plains Speedway this July 20th. The 41st edition of the 250 will play host to a number of short track stars including two from the County Austin Theriault and Frenchville native Shawn Martin. NASCAR racer Steve Park has entered as well as 48 other competitors.
Wyatt Alexander, grandson of Maine Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee Bobby Alexander, will join his other New England Legends CAR (NELCAR) racers in a 50 lap feature. The PASS Modifieds, Oxford Street Stocks and Outlaw Series will also be racing that day. Visit the website oxfordplains.com for more details.

#43 Wins!

As many of you know I grew up a Richard Petty #43 fan. It was great to see the #43 driven by Aric Almirola of Tampa, Florida in Victory Circle once again in the rain-shortened Sprint Cup Race at Daytona International Speedway’s Coke Zero 400. This marks the first visit to Victory Lane for the #43 car since John Andretti won at Martinsville April 19, 1999. It is also Almirola’s first Sprint Cup Victory almost certainly propelling him to a spot in the Race for the Sprint Cup later this year.
Almirola is the 43rd driver of the #43 car. This weekend marked the 30th year since Richard Petty drove to his 200th victory at the same Daytona International Speedway.

Last but not least; Austin Theriault was not the only person to finish second this weekend. Yours truly placed second once again (three out of three races) in Senior Sportsman kart racing at Spud Speedway behind 16 year old Tyler Raymond of Caribou. This marks Raymond’s first victory of the 2014 season. The Caribou FFA President and Maine FFA Association Officer has had scheduling conflicts with leadership training events. He barely arrived back to the track in time to race his #77 United Insurance Ultra Maxx kart.

Wow a lot going on so see you at the races!

Tom Hale
Soli Deo Gloria

Tom Hale

About Tom Hale

Tom wrote 14 years as freelancer for the Bangor Daily Sports covering motorsports in Maine. Now blogging and concentrating on human interest stories about people and places in racing. He races Champ Karts and owns HTF Motorsports in remote Westmanland, Maine