Motorsports Racing News & Blog Articles
Former NASCAR driver from Maine throws hat in political ring
Episode 391
March 6, 2022
Maine racer announces run for state representative
Fort Kent’s Austin Theriault, center, made it official announcing at the Can-Am Sled Dog Races Saturday March 5, he is a candidate for House District 1 for 2022. Theriault is the only Maine stock car racer to win at Daytona International Speedway and win an ARCA Championship. He raced in all three major divisions in NASCAR; Camping World Truck Series, Xfinity Series and The Cup Series. (Austin Theriault for House District 1 )
Theriault has been featured in UpNorth Motorsports 35 times beginning in 2014 with the debut of the blog. He has also been interviewed by me for features in Bangor Daily News Sports dating back to when he was a wrestler for Fort Kent High School and racing at Caribou’s Spud Speedway.
While in high school, history and current events were his favorite topics as was reading. He mentioned that someday he might be interested in government in some form.
One of the first opportunities I had to talk with Austin was at this wrestling match at the Caribou High School gym. I must admit in all my visits to Spud Speedway to that point I had not interviewed the young man. (Theriault Family photo collection Alison Voisine photo)
Richard Theriault bought Austin his first race car, a Pontiac Grand Am which the 13-year-old raced in the Young Guns class at Spud Speedway. The car was used by its previous owner to race at Lakeview Restaurant’s dirt track during a few years that Spud was not open. (Theriault Family photo collection)
Maine native Austin Theriault emerges from the Ken Schrader OLAA #52 Chevrolet after winning the Lucas Oil 200 at Daytona. Theriault is the only Maine racer to win at Daytona International Speedway. (Judy Green Crazy Horse Racing photo)
Theriault released the following statement on his Facebook page, Austin Theriault For Maine House District1:
“I’ve been thinking about getting involved in public service for years. I’m as frustrated as many of you who believe government isn’t working for the majority of folks.”
“Lots of people I’ve talked to, haven’t voted in years believing their voice doesn’t matter. Others vote, but are frustrated with politicians who appear to put politics over fixing real problems. Let’s try to change that. The work will be difficult, but if we work together, we can bring change to Augusta and hope to our towns.”
Tame the Track Snowmobile Race Tour results from race six of seven
Race Director Jere Humphrey released unofficial results from the sixth race on the Tame The Track Snowmobile Race Tour 2022 from VaJoWa Golfcourse in Island Falls March 5, 2022. The event was hosted by Big Valley Sno Club:
Limestone’s Gage Theriault returned to snowmobile racing after a three-year hiatus driving the Joey Doyon Polaris to a second place in the Juniors Invitational. Theriault plans to race the entire tour in 2023. Doyon is leasing Unity Raceway and will be hosting dirt track races this summer at the iconic track. (Gage Theriault Racing photo)
Coastal Auto Parts Trail Open (15 laps) left to right 2nd Mickey Savage, West Enfield, 1st Casey Savage, Sherman and 3rd Daytona Gould, Dexter. Mickey Savage led 9 of the 15 laps before yielding to his brother who led the final six laps. The class featured 11 entries. (Tame The Track photo)
Interesting start of 2022 season for racers UpNorth Motorsports is following
In 2022 UpNorth Motorsports is following a several racers on the national scene. Two, Kody Swanson, Indianapolis and Sting Ray Robb, Payette, Idaho made their season debut in Florida.
Swanson raced as the defending champion of the Annual Dave Steele Memorial World Non-Wing Sprint Car Championship 125 at Showtime Speedway, Pinellas Park, Florida. The 2021 winner was in the Doran Racing, #44 non-winged sprint car featuring Henry Repeating Arms as a new sponsor. Dan Binks Motorsports supplied the power under the hood.
Winning heat 1 at Showtime Speedway Friday evening putting him on the outside pole for the Saturday night 125 lap feature. (Kody Swanson Racing photo)
Swanson hit the ground running with a heat race win that placed him on the outside pole for the start beside Davey Hamilton. At the start Hamilton and Swanson washed up the track with eventual winner Kyle O’Gara taking the lead. Hamilton recovered and took the lead on lap four until O’Gara took lead on lap 64 until the end.
Swanson and Santos tangled on lap 59 resulting in Santos retiring against the turn 3 wall. Swanson’s night ended on lap 72 when the wheel departed from the car. Accounts of what happened were mixed and since I was not at the race and have not heard from either driver, I reserve judgement.
Top 10 finishers at Showtime Speedway courtesy Linda Mansfield
Sting Ray Robb just misses podium at St. Petersburg
What a difference a year makes. Covid plagued the Juncos Racing Indy Light team in 2021 with driver Sting Ray Robb shut out from any podium finishes. He did finish in the top 10 in 15 of his 20 starts.
Now with Andretti Autosports for 2022, Robb was atop the charts in pre-season practice sessions. For the season opener at St. Petersburg, the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires Series this past weekend, Robb raced Sunday morning prior to the IndyCar race.
Robb qualified 3rd and finished fourth after the 45-lap race. Highlight video courtesy IndyCar, thanks to Kate Davis. Communications Director.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ncbuJ_vMkM&t=182s
Breezy Photography shot from Dover Foxcroft race in February
For some reason I was unable to get this photo into Episode 388. I said that I would post it in next blog since her photos impressed me. (Breezy Photography, Brianna Waltman)
You asked and here it is…my favorite race car
https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=3184799738466449
Let’s go racing,
Tom Hale
Soli Deo Gloria (Matthew 5:16)
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