Sun shines on Spud Speedway
after wet and dreary spring
By Jon Gulliver
Special to the Star-Herald
CARIBOU — 77 degrees, winds out of the south-southwest at about 10 miles per hour and mostly blue skies with high, wispy clouds. This isn’t a weather report, but weather has played a big role in racing at Spud Speedway this spring and summer. Up until July 2 wet weather interrupted or delayed four out of five Saturday races.
Staff photo/Jon Gulliver
RACE PREP — Dillon MacDougal of Fort Fairfield inspects his helmet before going racing.
“It’s nice. Finally to see the sunshine on a race day – it’s the first time all year,” said track owner Troy Haney.
This has been a difficult start to the racing season in northern Maine. The weather has been less than ideal but also the economy is less than robust. The MacDougal family of Fort Fairfield are big racing enthusiasts. Last year father and son each fielded racecars at Spud, this year, due to the high cost of fuel and overall expenses, only teenager Dillon is racing. Dillon’s dad Tharren says when it came down to choosing who would run this year the choice was clear. “It’s what parents do for their kids,” he said. So far that decision is looking pretty good, Dillon is currently leading the points race in his division. It’s still a family affair though with both Tharren and his father David keeping the racecar in race shape.
Haney has owned the track for the past two years. He admits the economy has taken a toll on auto racing. “Right now economic times are hard and it is hard to get people to build cars, but even in these economic times we have enough racers and I see it when the economy straightens out it will really come around nicely,” he said.
The crowd at this night’s event is good news for Haney. The stands are more than half full by the time the first preliminary heat takes place and more will file in before fireworks are set off at the end of the night. Haney says Fourth of July weekend is always good for them and last year people couldn’t believe how good the fireworks were.
Haney has his eye on more than racing for Spud Speedway. The facility has hosted concerts, demolition derbies and monster trucks. Later this summer a charity event with some big name country music acts, like Big&Rich and Gretchen Wilson, will be held at the track with the proceeds going to benefit the Feed the County initiative.
Staff photo/Jon Gulliver
BURNING RUBBER — Derek Finnemore gives the fans a treat as he burns rubber after winning a preliminary heat.
But first and foremost Spud Speedway is a racetrack. Without it, racers and race fans would have to go down to Speedway 95 in Bangor. That’s a long haul with gas prices close to four dollars per gallon, not to mention what you burn on the track.
It’s about halfway through the racing season at Spud. Officials are hoping for more good weather and exciting action, but for now Haney and the rest of the crew will be happy one sunny Saturday after another.
Staff photo/Jon Gulliver
DRIVERS MEETING —
Track owner Troy Haney addresses the drivers prior to racing.
Staff photo/Jon Gulliver
BIG CROWD —
A good size crowd watches the action at Spud Speedway on July 2.
