Aaron Ricker has propelled himself into the race for the Pro Stocks championship at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway.
Ricker, of Tamworth, N.H., has been on a tear for the past month.
After finishing second in three consecutive races, Ricker recorded his first win in the Scarborough track’s top racing division last Saturday night.
If Hurricane Irene doesn’t interfere, Ricker hopes to continue his climb tonight in the Pro Stocks points race.
“I really hope we run,” he said. “I need the points bad.”
Ricker is in third place, 12 points behind division leader Trevor Sanborn of East Parsonsfield and a single point behind veteran Bill Rodgers of Old Orchard Beach.
Ricker’s resurgence came after a shaky start. On July 9, he wrecked his car while driving in a Pro All Star Series race at Beech Ridge.
“We destroyed the whole car,” Ricker said. “We struggled for a couple of weeks. Then we tested it and made a couple of changes. Ever since then, the car has been on a rail.”
Ricker said a major reason for his recent success is his new crew chief, Jason Ricker, who is no relation.
“The chemistry has been real good between us,”Aaron Ricker said. “I don’t have to tell him what to do with the car. He just knows from my driving style and what’s the car is doing on the track.”
The new crew chief is the son of Tommy Ricker, a top driver in the Late Model division at Oxford Plains Speedway. Previously, he worked at Hamke Race Cars in Mooresville, N.C.
Ricker began racing go-karts at Beech Ridge when he was 9 years old.
When he turned 15, he moved into Pro Stocks after spending two seasons driving 4-cylinder trucks in a kids’ division at White Mountain Motorsports Park in Woodstock, N.H.
Ricker also races part time on the PASS North circuit, and he would love to cap the season by winning a driving championship at his home track.
“We sort of want to win at home before we go out touring,” he said.
PENDING THE effects of Hurricane Irene, drivers will have two more chances to race for points in the top four divisions at Beech Ridge: tonight and next Saturday night.
A driver can earn 60 points by winning a qualifying heat and a feature, so there is still room for movement in the standings.
In the Sports Series division, Corey Bubar of Windham holds a 22-point lead over Frank Wear of Buxton; in Wildcats, Brian Caswell of Waterboro holds a 31-point over Daniel Bean of Alfred; in Roadrunners, Ryan Phillips of Buxton holds a 21-point lead over Shawn Brackett of Scarborough.
CHAMPIONS WILL be crowned tonight in the six divisions at Oxford Plains Speedway.Jeff White of Winthrop holds a 20-point lead over Don Wentworth of Otisfield in the Late Models, the track’s top division.
BEN ASHLINE of Pittston holds a 10-point lead over Dave Farrington Jr. of Jay in the American Canadian Tour’s Late Model rookie standings, with five races left in the series.
THE PASS NORTH event scheduled for White Mountain Motorsports Park on Sunday has been postponed because of the impending hurricane.
The race has been rescheduled for 2 p.m. Sept. 11.
Staff Writer Paul Betit can be contacted at 791-6424 or at:
pbetit@pressherald.com
Twitter: PaulBetitPPH
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