Coastal 200 a casualty of pared back 2009 Wiscasset Raceway schedule

There will not be a Coastal 200 at Wiscasset Raceway in 2009.

On Tuesday night, Wiscasset owner Doug White confirmed that he plans to hold only two major events at the track next season – the Toyota Tundra 250 and the season-ending "Fall Brawl," with its two national street stock championship races.

White also said that while no decisions were set in stone, his schedule will be significantly pared back.

The 2009 Wiscasset season will begin on May 23 and run only through the first weekend of September, with a heavy emphasis on the weekly program. After the final points race of the season, Wiscasset will close for several weeks before opening for the "Fall Brawl."

White also plans to keep the track dark during Oxford 250 weekend and during the summer Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

There are currently no plans for PASS North Series racing at Wiscasset next season.

Comments

[GREG T]

there are a number of tracks that
are successful (t-road, o.p.s, ridge) using this concept. you dont have to fight the weather in the early spring and h.s sports, fryeburg fair etc in the fall.
the no P.a.s.s race part is a little interesting to say the least. is there more to this story?

[Eric]

"There are currently no plans for PASS North Series racing at Wiscasset next season."

Man oh man, do I know a guy from western Maine that is going to love hearing that!!!!

Now if only he could talk Doug into making the TT250 a Late Model race!!!!

For some reason the PASS program seems to have a way of not getting along with track owners in Maine. Must be all the track owners that are the problem, right?

[Scott]

I think you guys are overreacting a little, I think that it says there is no plans yet because PASS hasn't set their schedule yet.

[Norm]

JMO here... I think Doug has done a good job with Wiscasset to this point in time....But I'm sure he has to adjust his program a bit to be solvent in this tough economic climate....

IMO It's probably a good idea to shorten the racing season as outlined above...that dosen't necessarily mean that Wiscasset will be entirely "dark" during that period...An "open show" or perhaps PASS renting the facility would be an option if those dates were left open...

I think he's making a necessary adjustment....and it's probably a sound one....
Norm

[Mike Lange]

Let's fact it: Attendance has been an issue all year at Wiscasset Raceway, compounded by seven rainouts.

In fact, I'd be willing to bet a modest amount that all Maine tracks are down at the front and back gates this year. It's not an indictment of the quality of racing, but the general economy.

So I can understand why Doug would want to be more conservative next year. I doubt if he's taking home truckloads of money home with him every weekend.

Greg T almost makes a valid point about extended seasons. Years ago, Labor Day weekend was the season finale because of high school sports, fairs, etc. Lately, however, tracks seem to keep rolling right through October. That works in good economic times, but not necessarily today.