UNITY – Over the winter months and throughout this spring, Maine race fans have been talking about the highly-anticipated first annual DNK Select 250 at Unity Raceway. For over 30 years, the prestigious Banknorth 250 at Oxford stood as the lone “big show” in local short track racing. It now has company on the list of top-notch regional stock car races.

A new tradition was created Sunday afternoon as Johnny Clark bested a field loaded with the finest Pro Stock racers in the northeastern U.S. and eastern Canada, collecting $25,000 for his efforts. The race was slowed by 21 cautions and took just over three hours to complete. Everybody was battling for the lion’s share of a rich $160,000 payout, as 69 teams were on hand to attempt to qualify for the 34 available starting positions.

Clark expressed his emotions in Victory Lane.

“When I got into that wreck with 18 to go, I thought I was done,” he explained. “The crew made the right adjustment in the pits, and I was able to come back through the field. I need to thank DNK for putting on this race, and Tom Mayberry for his efforts with the P.A.S.S. tour. This is just great, I’m at a loss for words and just thrilled with this victory.”

Action in each of the six 20-lap qualifying heats was intense, as only three would transfer to the main event.

A beautiful Waldo county sunset provided an ideal backdrop for the 34-car field as preparations began for driver introductions. Gary Drew held the coveted pole position by virtue of his win in qualifying Heat No. 1. At 7:25 p.m., Miss Maine gave the command to fire engines and the real excitement began.

Drew jumped out to the early lead with Christopher and Clark in tow. Lonnie Somerville brought out the first caution on lap two when he took a ride off the top of turn two. Christopher spun in the ensuing melee and had to restart at the rear of the field. When the green came back out, Drew set sail with Clark and Rowe in close pursuit. Jeff Taylor slid out onto the dirt embankment off of turn one to bring out the second caution on lap seven. Not to be outdone, Andy Santerre ended up hungup on the dirt bank next to the start-finish line on lap eight, giving the flagman a headache as he waved the yellow yet again.

Clark took over the lead on lap nine, hoping for a segment of green-flag racing to get settled in. It wasn’t meant to be, as Dana Strout suffered mechanical failure on lap 18 and came to rest on the frontstretch to bring out the fourth caution of the evening. On the ensuing restart, Clark headed off into the sunset with Drew and Rowe on his back bumper. Patrick Laperle and Richie Dearborn battled side-by-side for the fifth spot, with Dearborn eventually gaining the advantage.

The field finally got sorted out and reeled off 22 green flag laps, interupted on Lap 47 when Laperle spun in turn four to bring out the sixth caution. They say bad things come in threes, so just one lap after the restart Drew spun out in Turn 3 and collected a struggling Santerre to bring out the seventh caution of the event. Once they went back under green, Clark and Rowe staged a battle royale for the lead, with Rowe getting the upper hand.

On Lap 50, the flagman once again waved his favorite flag (yellow) for a multi-car melee in turn four. With so much money on the line, drivers were a little extra-aggressive throughout the entire race. Despite this fact, their was plenty of competitive racing in the early going. When the field got back under way on Lap 54, Rowe and Clark set sail, only to lift off the gas on Lap 56 when several cars came together on the frontstretch.

When the green came back out, Rowe and Clark waged another epic battle while Ben’s father Mike started creeping into contention. By Lap 65, he had moved into the fifth position and started closing in on the leaders. Scott Chubbuck made his presence known on lap 68, taking over the second spot from Clark. On Lap 81, he drove out around the outside of Rowe to take over the lead and proceeded to check out on the field.

Caution waved yet again on lap 89 when Jeff Burgess slid off the top of turn three. On the restart, Chubbuck, Clark and Rowe took off in hopes of making it to the halfway break with no more carnage. It was too much to expect, however, as Rick Martin and Santerre got together in turn one to slow the field once again.

At the start of the second half, 22 cars will still running with 19 shown on the lead lap. Chubbuck took off with Kheil to his outside and Clark on his back bumper. Kheil stunned the crowd when he took over the lead from Chubbuck on Lap 128.

Clark got around Chubbuck for second on lap 160 and set his sights on Kheil. The top five remained unchanged for several laps, as everybody finally settled into a smooth rythym.

The caution waved for the 18th time on lap 178 for Patrick Laperle’s spin in turn four. Chubbuck made a surprise stop in the pits during the caution, handing the third position to Ben Rowe. Shortly after, he pulled his ride into the infield with mechanical trouble and was done for the night.

On Lap 214 the caution waved for the 19th time when Drew and Martin spun out in turn two. Khiel set sail with vision of earning big bucks. Mike Rowe had other plans, however, taking over the lead from Khiel on lap 215. He quickly surrendered it to his son.

The flagman got to wave that much-overworked yellow flag again on lap 232 when Gordon and Khiel got together in turn three while battling for the third position.

On the final restart, Rowe took off with his father in tow, while Smith and Gordon battled for the third position. Mike went high coming off turn four on lap 235, giving Clark a chance to jump into the second spot. In a thrilling pass with 10 laps to go, Clark got by Rowe for the point and headed for the homestretch. He held on for the biggest win of his career, with Ben Rowe and Mike Rowe taking second and third respectively. Smith and Gordon completed the top five.