This past Sunday, I had the honor of attending the sixteenth annual Maine Motorsports Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Augusta, which is hosted by the Maine Vintage Race Car Association. Each year, six individuals from different backgrounds in the Maine racing industry are carefully chosen to enter the Maine Motorsports Hall of Fame, which the biggest achievement that any driver in the state can achieve. Current Hall of Fame members include Ralph Cusack, Gardiner Leavitt, Ken Farrington, Stan Meserve, Bobby Turner, Bruce Elder, Mike Rowe, Dick Berggren and many deserving others.
This year, the six inductees came from vastly different backgrounds in racing, whether that be having years experience behind the wheel, building engines, fielding teams of cars, rippin’ it up on the drag strips of New England or achieving success at NASCAR’s highest ranks.
Before these individuals were given their moment to shine and be recognized, John Peters, a Super Late Model driver from Westbrook, Maine, introduced the five finalists for the 2018 “Maine Driver of the Year” award. Past honorees include Mike Rowe, Dan McKeage, Austin Theriault, Reid Lanpher and others.
Travis Benjamin was the Touring Series candidate, with 2 wins, 15 top 10 finishes and a second place points finish in the Pro All Star Series in 2018. Young gun, Gabe Brown, the 2018 Oxford Plains Speedway Super Late Model champion, turned heads in 2018 with 13 top 10 finishes and a championship season at just 15 years old. Will McCullough, Speedway 95‘s Street Stock champion, impressed with 5 wins and 12 top ten finishes in 2018.
Andrew McLaughlin from Wiscasset Speedway dominated the Late Model Sportsman division with 3 wins, 11 top ten finishes and a championship run in 2018. Joe Pastore made his emotional return to Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in 2018, making his return to the track after the passing of his father. Pastore collected 3 wins, 11 top ten finishes and the Sport Series championship in 2018.
Andrew McLaughlin was awarded with the honor, thanking his racing “family”, the Jordan family at Wiscasset, friends and the other nominees for challenging him to be the best driver that he can be, week-in and week-out. “To be the one winning the award, it’s crazy. I’m just honored to be the nominee”, he said in his acceptance speech.
The “Special Recognition Award” recipient was the late Plum Potter, who spent his years in racing owning and sponsoring several different race cars throughout the 1980’s and beyond. Plum’s wife, Jo, accepted the award on his behalf and displayed one of Plum’s old-school racing helmets on the podium during her speech.
The Maine Vintage Race Car Association president, Andy Austin, then introduced the recipient of the “President’s Award”, an honor presented to a member of the Maine Vintage Race Car Association that works tirelessly to help preserve Maine’s rich racing history. Stephanie Burgess, who is on the Board of Directors for the association, was thrown off-guard when she received the award. In an emotional speech, she thanked the association and her family for the honor.
Bob Bailey was the first of 6 inductees to be introduced to the crowd. He was introduced by his friend and former driver, Chuck Lachance. Bob Bailey, an engine builder and owner of Hi-Torque Racing Engines, has built engines for many notable drivers including fellow inductee Ricky Craven, Mike Rowe, Tim Brackett and others. He’s been involved in in racing for nearly 50 years and even used to drive himself, driving a Street Stock at Wiscasset in the 1970’s and go-karts during the 1980’s. Outside of building high-performance engines, he enjoys refurbishing classic cars and displaying them for people to enjoy.
“He is a man with integrity and work ethic second-to-none”, Lachance stated in his introduction. When accepting the honor, Bailey was a man of few words, but thanked the race tracks, drivers, officials and track owners throughout the state for showing their support over the course of his long-lasting career in the Maine racing industry.
Dale Chadbourne was the next driver to be inducted and he was introduced by the Wiscasset Speedway track announcer and MVRCA member, Ken Minott. “There are people that love to race and people that live to race. This guy lives to race,” Minott stated during the introduction. It all began over 50 years ago for Chadbourne, who used to sneak into the pits at Beech Ridge as a child to help teams and drivers. He began racing behind the family farm as a kid and began turning laps at Wiscasset back in 1968, when the track was still dirt and not even (officially) open for business yet. He won 3 championships at Wiscasset as a driver and picked up 68 career wins before hanging up his racing helmet in 2003. He’s also won multiple championships as a crew chief for various drivers, which includes his son Adam, who is also a successful driver at Wiscasset.
Dale had everyone laughing as he shared his racing stories from his early days, losing trailers on the way to the track, hitching them back up and becoming determined to make it to the oval, come Hell or high water. He told the story of Stan Meserve and Jimmy Burns pulling up to his house as a kid with the race car on the trailer, inviting him to help with set-up and ultimately getting him hooked on racing for the rest of his life. He ended his speech on an emotional note, getting choked up as he thanked Richard and Vanessa for “saving” his track and his home, Wiscasset Speedway.
Cassius Clark, a future legend in his own right when it comes to Maine racing, had the honor of introducing his father, Billy Clark. Billy Clark was known for racing anything that he could get his hands on, whether that be ski racing, canoe racing, snowmobile racing or stock car racing. He won his first race in 1984 and earned the nickname of the “Farmington Flyer”. He scored 20 wins in the late 80’s and was the inaugural Busch North winner at Oxford Plains Speedway. He finally hung up his racing helmet in the late 90’s to focus on family and help Cassius grow in his own racing career. “If anyone knows my Dad, they know that he’s willing to help anyone,” Cassius shared in his speech. He also noted that his Dad was his hero and introducing him was something he’ll “never forget” and will remember for years to come.
Billy was a man of very few words during his acceptance speech and joked, “Cassius is my hero, but Benji Rowe is my second hero”. He thanked his family and friends before exiting the stage.
Ricky Craven spent the evening soaking it all in, catching up with friends, family and partners that he hasn’t seen in years and mingling with the up-and-coming drivers that were in attendance. He stole the show with his presence and ability to live “in the moment” throughout the night of celebration. He was introduced by 2007 Maine Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee, Stan Meserve. It all started for Ricky when he jumped behind the wheel of a race car at Unity Raceway in 1982 at just 16 years old. He quickly climbed through the ranks and turned heads wherever he raced. He scored the “Rookie of the Year” award AND the track championship at Wiscasset in 1984. “He met every challenge and setback…in Ricky fashion”, Meserve shared.
After his local success, Ricky went on to score wins in all 3 of NASCAR’s top touring divisions, a feat that only a select few drivers have ever achieved in the history of the sport. In 2003, he captured a victory over Kurt Busch that set him in the record books, with the closest margin of victory, ever, in NASCAR history. On top of being a Maine racing legend, Craven continues to give back, donating over $1 million dollars to date to various charities throughout the state.
During his acceptance speech, Craven noted Stan as one of his mentors and praised his former competitors, namely Mike Rowe. He thanked Rowe for “setting the bar” and challenging him to become a better driver. He also thanked his Mom for being his biggest fan and cheerleader, even when he made mistakes on the track. No matter what he did on the track as a kid or as an adult, his Mom always had his back 110% and saw him as being in the “right” every single time. He recalled his early days as a kid, growing up on the farm, hating it and always having the dream to race, just race.
Craven even wore his ring from his first career Winston Cup win at Martinsville, saying that it helps him reflect and see how far he’s gone throughout the course of his career. On a closing note, Craven discussed the future of the sport and said that the young drivers and fans have the prime opportunity to change and preserve racing history. “These young drivers are inspiring and they give me a reason to watch,” he shared, talking about his optimistic views on the future of the sport. You can watch Craven’s full interview and introduction here, provided by Charlie Sanborn.
Dick Fowler was introduced by fellow Hall of Fame member, Bruce Elder. You may see Dick now in tech. at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, but he is the most prolific and successful car owner at Beech Ridge with 10 championships and over 100 wins. It all started at age 10 at Beech Ridge, where Dick used to sell programs for Bob Tetrault at the track. Fowler finally got behind the wheel of a Limited Sportsman at Beech Ridge in 1976, but this was his first (and only) race behind the wheel. As a car owner, he’s won races and championships with Mike Johnson, Mike Rowe and Mike Maietta, Sr., in addition to helping his two sons, Mike and the late Jason, reach new heights behind the wheel of both go-karts and full-bodied cars. “He’s (Dick) a keen observer of what works and he’s fused that into his operation”, Elder shared during Fowler’s introduction.
Dick walked onto the stage with his wife Wendy, who stayed by his side throughout his emotional speech. He recalled his early days in racing, building cars with Dave Gutter and Danny Wolfe. He also joked that his one (short) stint behind the wheel helped him realize immediately that he wasn’t cut out to be a driver. Fowler also thanked his late brother Ricky for inspiring him and being by his side, as well as recalling the memories made with his sons and the emotional championship run he had with Mike Rowe in 2013, the season after losing his son Jason in a tragic car accident. Through the triumphs and the tragedies, Dick continues to contribute to his track and local racing, soaking it in every step of the way.
Lomer Pelletier was the final driver inducted into the Hall of Fame and was introduced by Stephanie Burgess. On top of driving, Lomer has spent his years in racing building street rods, drag cars and stock cars. He started his career at the age of 17 and has always wanted to go fast and win races. Lomer began racing on the oval at Unity Raceway before trying his hand on the drag strip at Sanford Dragway in 1962. He has since had success at Norridgewock Dragway and Winterport Dragway.
Pelletier has won at every drag track in New England and makes it worthwhile for the kids in the stands. He has given nearly all his trophies away to kids at the track and even has a 2nd seat installed so he can give children rides down the strip. Lomer is 82 now, still winning races at Winterport Dragway and continues to be a sponsor, builder and mentor for other drivers.
“I started racing on the street when I was young and I was hooked,” Lomer shared in his short acceptance speech. He also stated that all 7 of his children have raced his cars and family is what keeps him going. Lomer is a man with many years of experience and accomplishments under his belt, but he’s not going to slow down any time soon.
It was a honor to be in the crowd for this event for the second year in a row and it’s been completely amazing, getting to learn more about these drivers’ stories and what contributed to their accomplishments. The Maine Vintage Race Car Association executed the event wonderfully and I cannot wait to attend this event for years to come!
If you are interested in learning more about the Maine Vintage Race Car Association, visit their Facebook page today!
Thank you to my website sponsors, Texas Roadhouse Scarborough, Four Season Synthetic and Drown Excavation. I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without any of you!
