UNITY -- A little more than a month after saving the track from a dark season, George Fernald Jr. is ready to host his first day of racing at Unity Raceway.

Fernald agreed to lease the track on April 22 from owner Ralph Nason Sr. The month since has been beyond hectic for Fernald of Benton, a former racer at the track.

"He used to have hair up there," Fernald's wife Sherri joke.

The Fernalds -- George, Sherri and their three sons -- will run their first day of racing at 1 p.m. Sunday. They will run their regular Friday night classes, but the card will be highlighted by the Coca-Cola 108, a Sportsman class 108-lap $1,000-to win feature.

Less than two months ago, it looked like opening day at Unity Raceway would never happen. Track owner Ralph Nason confirmed on April 8 that his family would not open the track for the 2008 season, its 60th of operation.

Shortly after Nason's announcement, Fernald's phone started ringing. A longtime racer at the track, Fernald started the Teen Division at Unity and those were the people who called the most.

"Every time one of those kids called it just broke my heart," Fernald said. "They looked forward to this all year.

"That's when I said, 'If I can swing this, I'll do it.' It happened in like 24 hours. It was that fast."

With an interest in running a track (he investigated buying Spud Speedway last year), Fernald quickly started investigating leasing Unity from Nason.

A friend who Fernald refused to name stepped in with a loan to help Fernald pay the lease, which called for him to pay Nason $10,000 up front.

With that, the Fernalds were in the racing business in a much different way then they had ever been.

"It was much easier to get my car and my boy's car ready for racing than it is to get a whole place ready," Fernald said.

Getting sponsors was probably the most difficult aspect of preparing for the season, the Fernalds said, but they are ready to kick off Unity's 60th season of racing.

The Sportsman class will be the featured class Sunday, but starting June 8 the Limited Division will become the featured class. Fernald is also introducing an Enduro Class, where drivers will race street cars, modified only for safety. In that class, there will also be a track car, with a driver picked out of the stands.

"It's a cheap way for a person to go racing," Fernald said.

Unity will run a regular Friday night card featuring Enduro, Wildcat, Sport 4, Monsta Mini and Limited divisions. The first Friday date on the schedule is June 20. The Thursday Thriller schedule will kick off June 19 and will feature the Enduro, Ladies, Teen and Men's Peanut divisions.

In an effort to drum up excitement at the track, the Fernalds have a number of extra things planned. There will be chain races, where two cars are chained together. In those races fans will get the chance to go against the drivers.

Also, Fernald Frenzy will take place on Sept. 27, with a full-fledge demolition derby highlighting the festivities.

Plus, a wedding will take place at the track. Track scorer Penny Picard and pace car driver Dan Sampson will tie the knot before the scheduled races on Aug. 1.

"We want to make it fun and have a lot of entertainment," Sherri Fernald said. "We want people to talk about Unity."

Unity will also host its traditional end of season race, the Long John 100, on Oct. 11.

Scott Martin -- 621-5618

smartin@centralmaine.com