The third annual Mainely Motorsports TV 400 is returning to Richmond Karting Speedway this weekend.

The two-day event, which begins with practice sessions Saturday, is one of the bigger go-kart and mini-cup races in the state each year.

Bill Stilphen, who leases the track from Gary Nash, said he hopes the races rekindle some excitement in go-kart racing.

“I had someone manage the track for me but I took it back over about three weeks ago,” he said. “Things weren’t going well. We hope this event will help spark interest.”

Stephen Perry of Mainely Motorsports will pay Stilphen, 59, of Arundel, a little more than $1,000 to lease the track and host the races this weekend.

There will be eight divisions competing. The top two, the Senior Sportsman and Senior Champ, will pay $1,250 to the winner.

“And, if you can win both, there will be a $750 bonus,” Perry said.

The classes are similar, although the go-karts run on slightly different motors. The Senior Champ karts will go slightly faster.

About 100 drivers showed up last season, and Perry expects a similar turnout again.

“It’s the top level of karting,” he said.

Gates will open at 8 a.m. Sunday before the first of several qualifying heats go green about 11 a.m.

The features, Stilphen said, are expected to start about 2 p.m.

* * *

Cassius Clark didn’t drive much last year, save for a handful of races spread out throughout the summer.

He’s made up for lost time — and then some.

Clark, who hooked up with Hight Motorsports this season, leads the Pro All Stars Series North in points.

He has 10 top-10 finishes in 12 starts, including three victories, to hold a nine-point lead over DJ Shaw in his quest for a first PASS North championship.

“It’s tight, obviously, but we’ve had a great year so far,” said Clark of Farmington.

His success this season also extends beyond PASS North.

Clark last weekend won the Auto Value 250 at Speedway 660 in Fredericton, New Brunswick, a race that paid $21,000 to the winner.

Clark, who earlier this season won the $12,000 Atlantic Cat 250 in Canada, drove a car owned by Rollie MacDonald.

“It was our fifth race up there,” Clark said. “We won the Atlantic Cat, which was great, and we had never done the Auto Value 250 before. We’re winning big races. So far, this has been one of my better seasons.

“The season is also unique because we didn’t do much racing last year. We actually cut back for a few years.”

With the Auto Value 250 behind him, Clark will again shift his focus to PASS North, which has just three points races remaining.

The series resumes this weekend at White Mountain Motorsports Park in North Woodstock, N.H. Clark won a 150-lap PASS North feature at that track earlier this summer.

PASS North also has races scheduled at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway and Oxford Plains Speedway this month.

“We’re looking forward to them,” he said.

* * *

Unity Raceway owner Ralph Nason says he will re-open the track for the annual Long John race on Oct. 14.

The New England Auto Parts Late Model 100 feature, which will highlight the weekend, pays $1,500 to the winner.

The last two Unity Late Model points champs — Ajay Picard (2012) and Jeff Burgess (2011) — are expected to enter the field.

Nason closed the track earlier this season because of financial concerns. He hopes a partnership with Speedway 95 will help generate enough interest to keep the track afloat.

Nason said Speedway 95 owner Del Merritt will provide the tires. Nason said Monday about six drivers have registered.

“The track is in pretty good shape,” he said. “We had to move some stuff, cut the grass, the regular stuff. It’s almost a weekly deal.”

The Long John begins Oct. 13 with practice for all divisions from noon to 6 p.m. Qualifying will begin Oct. 14 at noon.

Nason added he’s been contacted by a few people who are interested in leasing the track.

“I hope I get a chance to pick somebody who can do a good job with the track,” he said.

* * *

Left turns: Skowhegan native Mike Landry finished fourth in points in the Pro Series at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway. … Vanna Brackett of Buckfield finished 15th in the Late Model point standings at OPS. Brackett, who drives a car owned by Winthrop natives Gene Hatch and Kevin Burgess, was the top rookie finisher in the division. Defending Late Model points champ Jeff White of Winthrop finished sixth. … Defending American-Canadian Tour points champ Brian Hoar is making a late move. The Williston, Vt., driver climbed into second place and trails Wayne Helliwell, Jr., by eight points with four races left. … Waterville native Jon Weeks is second in points in the Bike & Sled division at Winterport Dragway.

Bill Stewart — 621-5640

bstewart@centralmaine.com

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