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UNITY — The green flag is ready to drop at Unity Raceway.

After running on a part-time basis last season, a full schedule of racing is set to get underway beginning with Sunday’s slate of races, including the 2nd Annual Super Stock Enduro Twin 50’s.

“It’s looking awesome. I’m pretty happy with the interest I’ve been getting with all my classes,” track general manager and race director Nick Huff said. “If you can go by everybody’s word we should have good car counts for everything.”

Racing is set to begin at 2:30 p.m. with various heat races up first, followed by the first of two Super Stock races. A number of other classes — including the first points races for the Late Model, Flyin’ 4’s and Outlaw Minis divisions — will follow before the second Super Stock race. Huff — who plans on competing in the featured race — said he expects to get around 25 cars for the Super Stock, which will pay out $500 to the winner of each race.

As for the track itself, Huff said it is in good shape despite the rough winter. He added that most of the work he and his crew have had to do to get ready for Sunday have had little to do with the track itself.

“The worst part was the fence. We replaced a lot of fence around the property line. Everything else was pretty decent though,” he said. “We’ve been working hard on cosmetic stuff and making the place look nicer, updating in general.”

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Much like Unity, Oxford Plains Dragway has had its share of issues over the past few years but the beleaguered track intends to go full bore this season beginning Friday, May 29.

“The drag strip itself, the racing facility is 100 percent ready to go,” Dragway operator Jeff Shock said. “With having new people, we’re training new people on registration, on lane control, on water box control and just starting controls and also running the tower.

“What we are working on is just sprucing the facility up. Trimming some grass, putting some paint in and then getting the food shack up.”

Shock is making his return to the Dragway after serving in a similar position in the 1990s. Since then he has held a number of jobs and is currently works as a contractor.

“I’ve been self-employed for over 20 years. I also did some time with Ricky Craven in NASCAR. I was Ricky Craven’s tire guy for a while,” Shock said. “I’m a racer at heart. I’ve always been a racer, and racing is racing even if it’s drag racing or oval track racing. This opportunity was put in front of me by (Oxford Plains Speedway and Dragway owner) Tom Mayberry. Him and I worked through the bumps and everything else and here I am.”

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According to Shock, he has received a good deal of interest from drivers looking to compete in the opening races. He is just hoping that fans pay similar attention.

“They want to race, they want to be here and that’s the exciting part,” Shock said. “Now, because the dragstrip was closed down last year I’ve got to build that fan base back up. I need my bleachers full, I need people here watching the races and coming in here on a nightly basis.”

Shock said when he first began planning opening night he was hoping to have around 75 cars competing, but now it is looking more in the range of 100. The Dragway plans to hold Top Eliminator, Modified and Nostalgia classes, among others, but one of the bigger draws could be the Predator of the Plains Top 10.

The class is set up similar to that of the Discovery Channel show “Street Outlaws” where competitors race in hopes of making their way into — and ultimately to the top of — a top-10 ranking of the fastest cars.

“You can drive in off the street and try to work your way up to try to be our No. 1 here at Oxford Plains Dragway by starting at No. 10 and going to No. 9 and working your way up against the Predators of the Plains,” Shock said.

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Johnny Clark had some of his better races north of the border last season, and the Farmingdale resident is hoping that continues Saturday when the Pro All Star Series North shifts to Canada for the Frameco 150 in Vallee-Jonction, Quebec.

“We’re pretty pumped to be heading up there,” Clark said. “We always seem to have a pretty strong showing out of the country, so we’re looking forward to our first Canadian race.”

In five Canadian races last season Clark had three finishes in the top three, including a win Saturday, June 7 at Speedway 660 in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Clark enters Saturday’s race coming off back-to-back, fifth-place finishes and is fifth in the points standings.

He, like everyone else competing for the PASS North title, is looking up in the standings at Mike Rowe. After three races, the 64-year-old Rowe has won twice and added a fourth place result to open up an early advantage.

“Mike Rowe is pretty strong right now,” Clark said. “We’ll worry about us and try to find a little speed. You’ve got to run strong to be able to win one of these things.

“We’re strong, we’re running good (but) we’re just not running great. We’ve got to pick it up here a little bit.”

Evan Crawley — 621-5640

[email protected]

Twitter: @Evan_Crawley

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