Facing an uncertain future, Unity Raceway will reopen to host the annual Long John this weekend.

“This is a make or break day for the track,” said Fairfield native and 2011 Unity Late Model points champ Jeff Burgess. “This is a big day to see what people think about the track. I hope it goes well. I hope it isn’t a flop.”

Unity Raceway shut down about two months ago when George Fernald Jr., who leased the track from owner Ralph Nason, canceled racing due to financial difficulties. Fernald previously said he was losing thousands of dollars on a track that struggled with car counts and attendance for much of the spring and summer.

Nason said he is looking for someone to lease the track next season.

The race Sunday, which will pay $1,500 to the Late Model winner, is a showcase of sorts for potential investors.

“I’m excited for the Long John,” Nason said. “It’s a big weekend for us. There was a lot of stuff we had to get in and do. There was a lot of work to do, but we’re ready.”

Racing will start at noon and the New England Auto Parts Late Model 100 will begin about 3 p.m.

“Hopefully, we get a turnout,” said Palmyra native Ajay Picard, who was awarded the Late Model points title when the season was called in early August. “I think there will be quite a few people there. Hopefully, there will be a lot of cars because the more cars, the more fans who come.”

Picard and Burgess have raced sporadically in the last month. They each competed in the Spud 150 at Spud Speedway in Caribou on Sept. 9.

Since then, nothing.

“We tested a car last Friday at Wiscasset,” said Burgess, a three-time Long John winner. “We raced around a bit before then. We went to Bangor, went to Spud. We led 90 laps of the 150 and then broke. We haven’t raced since the Spud 150. We had a month to get the car ready and put a new transmission on it.”

Added Picard, who was ninth at the Spud 150: “I think a lot of these cars haven’t raced in awhile. The track won’t have much rubber on it. We’ll get a practice on Saturday and get some rubber down.”

Nason said 25 Late Models have already registered.

“We should get more than 30 cars, which would be great,” he added.

• • •

The Pro All Stars Series North points championship will be decided Sunday at Oxford Plains Speedway in the final points race of the season.

Morrill native Travis Benjamin leads Cassius Clark by a mere eight points heading into the PASS 150.

Clark, of Farmington, leads the series with three victories. He led the point standings entering the previous race in the series, but Benjamin passed him.

“We have a little bit of catching up to do,” Clark said. “We’ll be fresh for Oxford. This is not a landslide amount we can’t gain.”

Clark would know — he led Benjamin by eight points before the last race in the series.

Drivers can pick up as many as five points in the qualifying heat races as well.

Furthermore, Clark only needs to finish even with Benjamin, because the tiebreaker is victories. Benjamin has just one win this season.

“It’s been a really fun season,” said Clark, who’s never won a PASS North title. “We’ve had some great wins. We’re in position for our first points championship. We really love racing at Oxford, too. It’s like our home track.”

Clark won a PASS North feature at OPS on July 21.

Four-time defending PASS North champ Johnny Clark is a distant third in the standings. He has six top-five finishes, including two victories, in 14 starts.

Bill Stewart — 621-5640

bstewart@centralmaine.com

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