2010-01-28

Salute to Hall of Famer Homer Drew highlights Racin' Preview 2010 at Portland Expo February 19-20

Portland, ME – Legendary Maine racer Homer Drew will be the focus of an extensive Maine Vintage Race Car Association display at Northern New England’s biggest and best wintertime stock car racing showcase, Racin’ Preview 2010, set for Friday and Saturday, February 19-20 at the Portland Exposition Building on Park Street (U.S. Route 1).

 

Drew, a Raymond native who passed away shortly after his two Hall of Fame inductions, is considered to be Maine’s greatest stock car racer ever by most observers fortunate enough to witness his incredible talent behind the wheel of an oval track machine – no matter what kind of car, or what racing surface was under it. Drew was one of twelve inaugural inductees into the Maine Racing Hall of Fame. He had previously been inducted into the prestigious New England Auto Racers (NEAR) Hall of Fame.

 

At least four restored racecars instrumental in the long legacy left behind by Drew will be on display at the Portland oval track showcase. The legendary P-38 cutdown Drew campaigned for fellow Maine Racing Hall of Famer Bob Bushley of Windham – the car legend says he steered to victory lane on the dirt at Beech Ridge Speedway in Scarborough with vice grips guiding him after the steering wheel broke – will be among the cars displayed, as will one of the most revered cars in the history of Maine racing on asphalt tracks, the J-2 Camaro then-owned by another Maine Hall of Famer, Jerry Seavey of Windham, which Drew dominated the 1973 Getty Open series at Bob Bahre’s Oxford Plains Speedway against unmatched fields of talented racers in that era, or perhaps any since. Portland firefighter and Maine vintage race car guru Steve Pellerin of Gorham quarterbacked efforts to restore the Drew bookend racecars.

 

The salute to legendary Maine racing Hall of Famer Homer Drew joins displays from most of the premiere racetracks and touring series competing throughout New England at the region’s only off-season show dedicated to oval track racing. The vast majority of racetracks and touring series operating throughout Maine and New Hampshire will be represented at the annual celebration, with hundreds of door prizes including dozens of free race event tickets to be handed out to lucky show ticketholders.

 

The extensive historical display by the MVRCA will be joined by dozens of current racecars in competition throughout Northern New England, including NASCVAR Whelen All-American Series tracks like Scarborough’s Beech Ridge Motor Speedway and New Hampshire’s Lee USA Speedway along with many independent tracks from throughout the tri-state area.

 

Doors at the Portland Expo open at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, February 19, with several autograph opportunities and other activities ongoing through 10:00 p.m. Saturday show hours are 9:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. A limited amount of commercial display space remains available.

 

For further information please call (603) 447-4251 or email racinpaper@racinpaper.com

 

Current associate sponsors of Racin' Preview 2010 include Racin' Paper, Pave Tek of Kennebunk, Redneck Raceway of Acton, Saco Pathfinders, R & D Racing and Fabrication of Limerick, and Wayne Elston's Speed Shop of Carmel.

 

 

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