Ralph Nason had a vision.
In 1973, he began driving a Plymouth Duster race car with a black and yellow paint scheme and his No. 10 on it. It occupies a special place in his heart.
“I won 23 straight features with it,” recalled Nason.
Nason has always wanted to replicate that car and he got the opportunity this past winter.
Dan Dempsey, a former technical inspector at Unity Raceway, had a car Nason was interested in.
He told Dempsey about his vision and they began putting the car together.
“It’s a Heinz 57,” quipped Nason. “It has a Chevy motor, a Ford hood and roof, a Chevy rear quarter panel and a Chrysler front fender on it.
“It’s nice,” said Nason.
This also means Nason is going to step back in a race car on a regular basis after racing just twice in the previous two seasons.
One of those races occurred a few weeks ago in the Late Model class at Unity Raceway, the track he owns. But that was in a blue No. 41 Chevy.
Nason is 70 years old and next month’s TD Bank Oxford 250 will mark the 10-year anniversary of his memorable stretch of three consecutive 250 triumphs. The last came in 2000.
He is the only driver to win three consecutive Oxford 250s.
The man known as Racin’ Ralph Nason, a controversial figure for his aggressive driving style, decided to step out of a race car two years ago because “it wasn’t fun any more.”
But this new car has re-energized him.
“I’ve had a lot of ideas over the years that I never got to incorporate in a race car. But this is my original design. This will put the fun back into racing for me. Hopefully, it will go fast enough to keep up or I’ll be embarrassed,” chuckled Nason.
Then he admitted, “I think the engine will be plenty fast.”
He called it an “experimental type of deal.”
He is hoping to test the car today and then “shake it down” in preparation for Saturday night’s feature.
For those who think Nason is going to take a more casual approach to racing, think again.
“If there’s a hole [for me to pass], watch out, here I come,” said Nason. “I may not go as quickly as I did 25 years ago but I know how to race.
“Sometimes you have to take [what is available] to get the respect you’re looking for, depending upon who you’re racing with,” added Nason.
He said he doesn’t foresee losing the instincts and driving style that made him one of the state’s premier Pro Stock racers.
Nason won’t be racing the Pro Stock drivers like Ben and Mike Rowe and Johnny Clark, but he said that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of competent drivers in the Late Model class at Unity.
“The Pro Stock guys have a lot more experience and spend quite a bit more money. They are in a higher echelon. But there are some wicked good drivers in the Late Model class here. I’ve got to feel them out. I’m sure there is going to be a learning curve, for them and for me,” said Nason.
He plans on running regularly at Unity but he isn’t going to focus on winning a points championship because he doesn’t want to get tied down.
He doesn’t have any plans to run any longer races and said he won’t run the Oxford 250 again this year.
Nason said he was fortunate to have a lot of people help him out with his car, particularly Chad Dow and Tim Ferreira, who is his son-in-law.
Nason has more time on his hands these days.
He sold his racetrack in Quebec, Autodrome Montmagny, last month.
He wouldn’t discuss the terms of the deal but pointed out that “when I bought it, the American dollar was worth $1.60 in Canada. Now they’re worth just about the same.”
That was Ralph’s way of saying he’s making some serious money off the transaction.
Alan Craven dead at 72
Alan Craven, the father of former NASCAR driver Ricky Craven, died Wednesday in Bangor at age 72.
Alan Craven grew up and attended Hampden Academy. He was a livestock dealer for more than 45 years and was the former owner of Wiscasset Motor Speedway.
Craven also is survived by his daughter, Lauri Matheson, sisters Sharon Boltron and Martha Smith, and a brother, Frank Craven.
A graveside service was held Friday, at Chapman Cemetery, Chapman Road, Newburgh. Memorial contributions in Alan’s honor may be made to CancerCare of Maine, care of Healthcare Charities, P.O. Box 931, Bangor, ME 04402-0931.
Messages of condolence and memories may be shared through www.hampdengilpatrick.com.
PASS North SLM in Canada
The Pro All Stars Series Super Late Model North drivers will make their only appearance in Canada on Saturday night when they venture to Speedway 660 in Fredericton, New Brunswick, for a 200-lap feature.
Racing will begin at 7:05 p.m.
Turner’s Ben Rowe, who is driving for owner Scott Mulkern, has a pair of PASS wins at the one-third-mile Speedway 660 oval.
After two races this season, Rowe’s father, Mike, has 439 points and is leading the points race by two over Trevor Sanborn of East Parsonsfield.
However, Mike Rowe is not on the early entry list for the event.
Ben Rowe is third in points, four behind his father.
Hallowell’s Johnny Clark is fourth with 431 points and rookie Joey Doiron of Berwick is fifth with 420 points.
Two Aroostook County drivers could be very much in the hunt as veteran Kirk Thibeau of Fort Fairfield and 16-year-old rookie Austin Theriault of Fort Kent are entered.