Staff Writer
Last year Greg Veinote stepped up to a big challenge purchasing Spud Speedway, after the one-third-mile track raceway had been idle for seven years.
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
Spud Speedway owner, Greg Veinote, is gearing up for his second season at the local stock car track. Veinote is proud of lots of improvements accomplished at the track and looks forward to a successful 2008 race season which begins Sunday, May 25 with races starting at 1 p.m.
“Jan. 10, 2007, I was shoveling snow off the building. There was a lot to be done, the grounds were in bad shape, the bleachers need repair along with the concession stand and the judge’s tower had tipped over,” he said.
The Newburgh native, involved in stockcar racing since the age of 15, knew what he wanted to do with the business, “I’m not looking to make a million dollars, I just really want this to become known as a place where parents can bring their kids, enjoy the sights and sounds of stockcar racing for not too much of a cost for a full afternoon’s entertainment,” said Veinote, “I am trying to keep costs to a minimum.”
When he opened last season, his crew consisted of himself, volunteers and his brother-in-law was the pit steward. “Once people realized I was really going through with this project and that I knew exactly how I wanted things to run, the interest grew,” he added.
“Skepticism was an obstacle I had to overcome,” said Veinote, “a lot of area residents seem to think of the speedway as a place that should to be avoided, mainly due to some sort of reputation created in previous years. I ‘m out to prove just the opposite and I think last season was a good start.”
There is absolutely no alcohol sold or allowed on the premises. “Coolers are checked at both gates and I personally make periodic rounds through the grandstands just to spot check, said Veinote. “My drivers know that this rule applies to them also, no exceptions, and if anyone is caught ignoring this mandate, then they must leave — spectators or drivers.”
“Adrenalin and racing fuel is a volatile combination but things must be kept under control or we all lose,” he added. “If the drivers or crew have two confrontations, that’s it, and they are all aware of this fact.”
“Another rule of the track is known that I will not allow any fighting, again between drivers, crew, or in the stands,” the owner stated. “All in all, if spectators are having their afternoon spoiled because of someone seated near them, I encourage them to notify me. Everyone here should have the right to enjoy the races without being bothered by another person’s actions.”
This year the track will also feature motocross events as well as go-cart racing for youth and adult.
“The go-carts are fun for the whole family, it allows the kids to work on their carts with their parents and then it becomes another event where the whole family becomes participants. The track will offer motor-cross on Saturdays beginning at 10 a.m. with the go-cart events following. “The go-carts will be under a gear rule, so we don’t have a youth going 100-miles an hour around the track,” said Veinote.
The track offers four divisions of stockcar events. Young Guns, are for drivers 12-16 years-of age. Last season started with five young guns drivers and ended with 18.
“Racing keeps you focused,” said Veinote,”when kids become involved with racing, they spend their extra time, after school and home work, working on their cars and again, then the parents become involved.”
The young guns do not receive cash awards for winning a race. They are eligible for trophies and T-shirts.”
This is not about where a kid finishes,” stressed Veinote, “it’s all about their energy being channeled onto the racetrack, not somewhere else where they get into bad situations.”
First-year Young Gun drivers run separate heats from the more seasoned Young Gun, operators. I don’t want first time drivers to think they need to go 90 miles an hour before they know the feel of the track and how to handle the cars,” said Veinote.
The other car divisions include Street Stock, Northern Lights ( 4 cylinder vehicles) and the Powder Puff class.
This season will feature 24 shows along with the Sitel Sportsman Series, which will incorporate drivers from all of Maine as well as N.H. and New Brunswick. The vehicles driven in this feature race will be higher performance cars, especially built for racing.
Another special feature race off this racing season will the “Enduro”, sponsored by Cary Medical Center and Hogan Tire. This race will take place on July 4, and involves street cars covering 50 laps. The vehicles will line up and race in one direction then at the half way mark will race in the opposite direction.
Veinote said there will be other special events such as Auto Cross which involves cars running on the motocross track and Race Your Neighbor where anyone can race their private vehicle one-on-one for one trip around the track.
Spud Speedway doesn’t just concentrate on racing and winning. Veinote said that he wants to give back to the surrounding communities. And he has and continues to do just that.
“I approached my drivers at a meeting, suggesting that instead of the money raised from a 50/50 raffle going into the drivers point fund, we designate it to a charity or to families with children undergoing cancer treatments. The drivers didn’t even think twice, so now during the show, the drivers line their cars up on the track and enter the spectator bleachers taking donations in their helmets,” said Venoite.
“Last year the track was able to donate between $1,200-1,600 to help with these hardships.” The Spud’s Speedway drivers’ will continue to generate these funds, during this season,” he said.
The 2008 racing season at Spud Speedway will begin Sunday, May 25. “We’ve been working on a lot of improvements at the track this year including the expanded pit area, the grandstands are nearly completed and we’ve done a lot of grounds work and new fencing,” said Veinote.
“I’m looking at a five-year-plan, I know that, said the business owner, “I want to be proud of this place and I want people to enjoy coming here,” he added. On a southern state radio station, Spud Speedway was called the “fastest growing short track on the East Coast.”
The cost of the Sunday afternoon entertainment is $5 for adults for grandstand seats with children under 10 admitted free.
Race announcer for the afternoon events is Pat Patterson of radio station WEGP.
