Speedway 95 owner Del Merritt is prepared to make changes if the car counts continue to be low, particularly in the Late Model class.
The Late Models represent the Hermon auto racing track’s top division, and there were just four cars in each of the past two weekends.
Last season, there were usually 10 to 12.
Merritt, who has been affiliated with the track since 1968 and has either owned or co-owned it for over 30 years, said he has never seen such a low car count in the Late Models on back-to-back weekends.
The four classes attracted a total of 34 cars two weekends ago and just 30 last weekend.
There are a number of reasons for the low car counts, according to some longtime drivers.
“The biggest reason I can think of is financial,” said Winterport’s Joey Doyon, who is racing in Derek Mingo’s touring Outlaw Super Series this season.
“The Outlaw series fits my schedule a lot better,” said Doyon. “There are just nine races, and the tires cost about the same as the Late Model tires but they last a lot longer.”
Late Model tires run in the $120 range.
Ellsworth’s Andy Saunders, the 2013 Speedway 95 Late Model points champion, said “money is a little tight” but that has never stopped racers before.
“Most drivers can’t afford to race but do it because they love the sport,” said Saunders, who is running at Wiscasset Speedway but said he would return to Speedway 95 if things don’t go well at Wiscasset.
He said the problems at Speedway 95 have to deal with the rules packages and their enforcement. He said there has been favoritism and inconsistency in the enforcement of the rules.
“The same things have been happening at Speedway 95 for a long time, and people are tired of it,” said Saunders.
Merritt has had several different technical inspectors who check out the cars after the race to make sure they meet the standards set by the track.
He said it is virtually impossible to keep all the drivers happy.
“It doesn’t matter who you have as a tech man, they always get accused of everything,” said Merritt. “It’s a hard job. The drivers are always squabbling among themselves.”
Mingo is his technical inspector this season after Ed Bellows handled it a year ago.
Ryan Deane of Winterport said he has been “baffled” by the low car counts. He is in the process of building a new Late Model car, “but it isn’t quite finished yet.”
Deane said he would like them to keep the rules packages the same for several years so drivers know what to expect.
“They were were supposed to have the same rules package for five years but, every year, they seem to make a little change, and that’s annoying,”’ said Deane. “That deters some from coming back.”
He also suggested they “make it a little more interesting” by having a big extended-lap race for the Late Models.
The races are 40 laps for the Late Models, but they have been reduced to 25 the last two weeks because of the low car counts.
John Kalel II of Orrington was the runner-up in the Late Model points a year ago but said he won’t race at Speedway 95 this season.
Kalel did not offer a reason for his departure.
Merritt said he had a falling out with Kalel’s father, John, and acknowledged that there are some drivers who aren’t happy with the way he runs the track.
Merritt has lost a few drivers to the Outlaw series and to Wiscasset Speedway.
He said he will make changes if the car counts don’t improve the next two weeks.
He has been paying the winners $700 even with just four cars in the Late Model Class. Most tracks, he said, have a payout scale that is based on car counts.
“Most tracks would pay in the $400 range with four cars,” said Merritt.
Merritt is going to review the next two weekends before making a decision.
He has talked to several Late Model drivers and said the expense is the most common answer he receives for the low car counts.
“But we can’t keep having low car counts. I’m concerned,” said Merritt. “We’re going to have to do something if it doesn’t improve. Maybe we’ll bring one of our [Wacky] Wednesday night classes over. Maybe I’ll have to buy some Late Models. I don’t think I’d have problems finding people to drive them.”