Maine news, sports, weather from Waterville Morning Sentinel

AUTO RACING NOTEBOOK

March 10

Burgess to race full time at Unity again

By Bill Stewart bstewart@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

Jeff Burgess is going back to where he started.

After a tough season racing at Wiscasset, the East Madison native will race full time at Unity Raceway, where he launched his racing career in 1994.

Burgess, who finished second in points in the Pro Stock division at Wiscasset Raceway last season, will drop down to the Late Model division at Unity.

"We'll still race some of the big PASS races around," Burgess said. "We'll do a couple of them, the local ones. PASS racing is expensive. I guess we'll be busy."

The Pro All Stars Series North circuit opens with the NAPA 150 on April 19 at Speedway 95 in Hermon.

"We're a little over a month away but it certainly comes quick," Burgess said. "We're looking forward to hanging out at Unity a little bit. I've raced there on and off for half my career."

* * *

Some changes are coming to Unity Raceway this season.

For starters, Saturday night racing is returning.

"We'll go Fridays when Wiscasset and Bangor go on Saturdays," said George Fernald Jr., who leases the track from owner Ralph Nason. "But we'll have three or four races Saturday at the beginning and three or four at the end. Next year, we want to go Saturdays full time."

Unity will also add a Memorial 300 event on May 29. The first of what Fernald says will be an annual race, the Memorial 300 will include a 200-lap Late Model race and a 100-lap Wildcat race.

"We have 35 Late Model cars signed up right now," Fernald said. "Last year, on a normal week, we would have 10 to 12. This year, if we can get 20 or 25 a week we'll be OK."

* * *

The first PASS North points race is still a month away, but already Johnny Clark is busy behind the wheel.

The two-time defending PASS North champion drive from Farmingdale is gearing up for the second of five National Championship races.

The circuit pits PASS South and North drivers against each other.

Clark finished second in the opener Jan. 31 at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway. The second race is the Eastern Bunny 150 on April 11 in Hickory, S.C.

"This is the fourth year in which we're going year-round," said Clark, who has won four PASS North championships. "Our season has already started, we're just traveling to get to everything."

This is the third season of the National Championship series. Former Farmington driver Cassius Clark won the inaugural title in 2008. Ben Rowe of Turner won it last year.

"We're hoping to keep it in the North," Clark said.

Clark is also gearing up for the PASS North opener April 18 at Speedway 95 in Hermon.

"We have our stuff together," he said. "I think we'll be competitive. I think we'll be pretty good. We're ready to go."

* * *

Despite winning the PASS South and National Championship last season, Rowe had to find a new owner this season after Richard Moody dropped him.

"He said he wanted a change," said Rowe, a four-time PASS champion. "He called me in December and told me to find somebody else."

Rowe did, and he'll drive for Scott Mulkern of Falmouth this season.

"We're putting a new car together," said Rowe, who was second to Clark in the PASS North standings as well.

Rowe added he likely won't try to defend his PASS South points title this season.

"We'll do them all in the North," he said. "We're going to try and chase Johnny in the North. That's our priority right now."

* * *

Scott Chubbuck of Dresden said he plans to run about 10 PASS North races this season.

"We'd like to win one," he said. "Last year we ran competitive. But we don't have a win yet. We need one."

Chubbuck, who is putting a "fresh body" on his car, was 17th in points last season. He had three top-five finishes in seven starts.

"We won an open race at Wiscasset, but not a PASS one," he said.

Bill Stewart -- 623-3811, ext. 515

bstewart@centralmaine.com