A former three-time Late Model points champion is returning after a year hiatus, a new race director is in place and the purse for winning the Late Model feature each week increased.
Changes are coming to Unity Raceway this season.
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“We’re trying to do everything we can to make it all work,” said George Fernald Jr., who leases the track from owner Ralph Nason.
Unity opens April 21 at 1 p.m. with a full slate of racing. A 52-lap Late Model race will highlight the afternoon.
Late Model drivers this season will earn $700 — up from $500 last season — for every points race victory.
Fernald, who is also taking over as race director to help offset expenses, said the purse increase is attracting several drivers to the class.
That list includes Frank Moulton, a former three-time Late Model points champ at Unity who attempted to race at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway last season.
Moulton, 22, of Burnham, said he decided to return to Unity because Beech Ridge changed its tire rules this season.
Drivers at Beech Ridge can now buy two tires a week, with each costing about $170.
Late Model drivers at Unity are allowed only one new tire purchase a week at about $120.
“I’m excited to come back,” said Moulton, who won the Late Model title at Unity from 2008-10. “The car is all ready. We got it back to where it was. We refreshened the motor, got new shocks and got new springs. We just have to put the rims on and we’ll be ready. We shouldn’t be too far off.”
Jeff Burgess will return to Unity to defend his Late Model points title.
Here’s a few other changes spectators can expect at Unity this season:
* Fans will be logged into a data base upon entering the track at each race. If someone brings in two people who aren’t in the data base, you will get in for free.
Fernald said fans will be entered in one of two laptops at the front gate.
“We’re trying to figure out ways to get people in there,” he said. “We’re pulling out all the stops, doing everything I can think of to make things work.”
There are no limits to the promotion, meaning spectators can keep gaining free admission for every two new faces they bring in.
* Fernald decided to lease out the concessions this season instead of running them on his own.
“It helps clear up my time,” he said.
There will be two concession stands, including the Sizzle Shack.
* * *
Farmington native Cassius Clark will race for Hight Motorsports again this season.
Clark, who operates Nichols Trailers in Farmington, is in Hickory, N.C. and competed in the Eastern Bunny 150 on Saturday, a Pro All Stars Series South race.
“We started out last year, toward the end of the year,” Corey Hight said. “I was looking for a driver and he was looking for a ride. It just fell into place.”
Hight wasn’t at the race but said he expects a productive season racing primarily PASS North.
“We hope to be competitive,” he said. “We want to win just as much as anyone else. We’ll see.”
The PASS North season gets under way May 5 at Beech Ridge.
Bill Stewart — 621-5640
bstewart@centralmaine.com
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