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BY TRAVIS LAZARCZYK, Staff Writer 07/03/2009

enlarge Staff photo by David Leaming

WINNING FORMULA: Carl McAlpine of Burnham poses with one of the stock cars he races in Maine. Last Saturday, he won an afternoon race at Unity Raceway, then went north to Speedway 95, where he earned his second victory of the day. The same-day wins marked a first for McAlpine in his 13-year career on the track.

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BURNHAM -- The first time Carl McAlpine ever went to the racetrack, he had a good time. The second time, McAlpine was ready to race himself.

"I'd only been to the racetrack once in my life before I showed up with my own car," McAlpine said.

That was in 1997. Now in his 13th year of racing, McAlpine, 35, is in the midst of a solid racing career.

McAlpine sits two points ahead of Dustin Hubbard for the lead in Unity's Wildcat Division, 202-200. In Wiscasset Raceway's Strictly Street division, McAlpine sits seventh in the points standings.

"He's just real patient at the wheel," said Peter Smedberg, who helps McAlpine keep his car in running shape. "He's always on his game."

McAlpine was certainly on his game last Saturday. After picking up a win at Unity Raceway in the afternoon, McAlpine went north to Speedway 95, where he earned his second victory of the day.

"That was a first for me," McAlpine said.

This year, McAlpine is driving a new car. After totaling his previous car at Wiscasset last season -- "I smashed it up pretty bad," he said -- McAlpine set to building his new car, starting with the body of a 1985 Chevy Camaro.

The weak economy has affected McAlpine's racing schedule to a degree, but how much, he wouldn't exactly say. For example, McAlpine wouldn't say how much money has gone into the new car.

"We don't keep track of that," he said, smiling. "We throw the receipts away."

McAlpine juggles his racing while managing his business, a garage he operates in Burnham. His father, Glen, has been instrumental in his racing career, McAlpine said.

"He's a big part of it, too," McAlpine said. "He just likes helping."

Judging from the trophies that line the shelves of McAlpine's garage, 2006 was his best season to date. McAlpine picked up 38 wins that year.

"I was racing two separate cars. All together it was three races a week," McAlpine said.

McAlpine's goal for the rest of this season is to race at least once at each track in Maine.

"I'd like to do Oxford (Plains) or Beech Ridge next," McAlpine said.

Long term goals for McAlpine include moving up into a stronger division. No matter what, he's thankful for the support he receives from his wife, Sabine, and three daughters: Emily, April and Danielle. Thirteen years after starting, McAlpine is a little surprised he's still racing.

"I didn't think my wife would put up with it," McAlpine said. "I wouldn't be able to do much racing or spend that much time in the car if she wasn't a fan of racing."

Travis Lazarczyk -- 861-9242

tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com

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