Josh St. Clair stands in victory lane after winning a recent race at Wiscasset Speedway. Peter Taylor photo
It wouldn’t be far from the truth to say that Josh St. Clair was born to drive a race car.
“I grew up at the track,” the Liberty, Maine-born driver said. “My grandparents owned the Wiscasset Speedway from the time I was born right up until, I think, 2004. I was an infant at the races.”
Since 2004, St. Clair has been in the driver’s seat, other than cutting down on his racing schedule one year while he was building a house. He also had to resolve personal challenges that were hindering him. That process includes, he told the Kennebec Journal last year, sobriety.
He’s put it all behind him and started winning races again. He said that being surrounded by of group of guys who have been supportive has also made a big difference.
St. Clair is hoping his success will carry over when he gets behind the wheel for Sunday’s Oxford 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway.
“I don’t think about the dangerous side,” St. Clair said. “I know I like the thrill, the rush. I have done well at it over the years, so that helps. It is really easy to enjoy (racing) when you are competitive on the road.”
St. Clair, who also is an avid hunter, is not only doing well, he is burning up the track at Wiscasset, which was owned by his grandfather, Dave St. Clair, in the 1990s and part of the 2000s.
He already has collected 13 victories this season across multiple divisions — topping his nine-victory effort in 2021.
“I did pretty well last year, too,” he said. “I won nine times last year, but I got three championships, and this year I am leading two of the point championships and winning races.”
ON TO OXFORD
St. Clair has raced at Oxford Plains Speedway and understands the layout of the 3/8-mile oval track — which will be jammed-packed with over 40 cars for Sunday night’s feature race.
But he is hoping his momentum at Wiscasset will steer him to a first-place finish.
“I’d like to say yes and hope so,” he said. “The place is very much different than Wiscasset, though. So there is definitely a big hill to climb to get to the top there. Obviously, coming off (my) success helps to keep the ball rolling.”
St. Clair said Oxford Plains’ track is a challenge, but the lure of the Oxford 250 grand event draws him and other drivers to the startling line.
“For me, it is,” he said. “Everybody likes a big challenge, obviously. You never know who is going to be there and who is going to be fast. Friday, there will be somebody on top of the (practice) charts. Saturday, it will be someone probably different and it’ll repeat on Sunday.”
But St. Clair is confident about his chances at the 250, which he considers a wide-open race.
“The place has so many talented drivers that it could be anybody,” he said. “There is 20 or 30 cars that could be the one. I am glad I got to get over there to get a 100-lapper (race) underneath the belt and get a good baseline. I feel like I am going to have some speed. I did that day.”
On July 31, St. Clair placed seventh in the second Port City Triple Crown race.
LUCK OF THE DRAW
In a race like the 250, he points out, the qualifying-heat draw makes a big difference.
“It all comes down to the draw in the end, for the most part,” St. Clair said. “As long as you are close, a good draw really makes a big difference. The place is tough to pass this year. I’ve been watching races and racing there. Every division it seems really difficult to make a pass.
“It is a kind of a single-lane track at the moment. In the past, it has been two, three, four lanes wide, and this year, I don’t know what is going on, but it is just single file — bump and run … and it can be really rough.”
St. Clair isn’t the only one who has noticed the increased difficulty at Oxford Plains. Several drivers have noted that it’s hard to pass on the outside lane this season.
That makes the Sunday’s heat draws even more important. St. Clair, who placed 27th at the 2007 race, received a bad draw last year and missed the Oxford 250 feature.
No matter what type of race it will be, St. Clair is ready to strap himself in for a difficult ride ahead.
“I hope for a good draw to give me a fightin’ chance,” he said. “Last year, I drew a (ninth starting spot) in my heat and it was an uphill battle, and a stacked heat at that. I want to do good. I know my grandfather has been in multiple ones and never really had a great run, (but) he has won a bunch of races. It is just one of those boxes I’d like to check.”
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