Craven plans to complete “extensive” renovations to the facility, updating the track and other amenities.
HERMON, Maine — A new era is revving up at Speedway 95 in Hermon. Newburgh native and former NASCAR driver Ricky Craven has purchased the facility.
Delano Merritt, who has been the sole owner of Speedway 95 for the past 15 years, will oversee the track’s operations for the rest of the 2025 racing season, according to a press release.
“Today is a monumental day for me and my family,” Craven said in a statement. “I have been friends with Del for decades and admired the dedication he has given for his track, team, and all associated with Speedway 95. I am dedicating the rest of my life to a track that has been part of my DNA for many years. Both my Mom and Dad won races at Speedway 95 in the 70’s.”
Craven plans to complete “extensive” renovations to the facility, updating the track and other amenities, the release said. The details will be revealed at a later date, he said.
“We will in the near future share with all the people with equity in this track our intentions to do some aggressive vision of how this facility will continue to evolve. It includes several phases that I can not wait to get started,” Craven wrote.
Craven’s racing pedigree runs deep. Best known for his dramatic win at Darlington Raceway in 2003, Craven is the only Mainer to claim victory at NASCAR’s highest level.
He started racing at the Unity Raceway at 15 years old before eventually making his NASCAR debut at the Oxford Plains Speedway in 1986.
After his racing days, he became a stock car racing analyst and business owner.