WINDHAM – The little boy in Brad Babb keeps bringing him back to Beech Ridge Motor Speedway on Saturday nights during the summer months.

“I feel like I’m still that 8-year-old kid sitting over in those grandstands,” said Babb, of Windham, now in his 20s and a full-time competitor at the speedway in Scarborough. “I look around here and I see the guys that my dad used to race against, the guys I used to root for, and sometimes I still can’t believe that I’m racing with them now.”

When Beech Ridge opened its 64th season of stock car racing recently, Babb was racing against one driver he’s never competed against before: His father, Bobby Babb, also of Windham, is a five-time track champion.

“We’re really looking forward to it,” Brad said before the race, during an open practice session at the track. “I mean, I don’t even really care which one of us wins – if it’s one of us, then we both win.”

So far, so good for the younger Babb, who leads the Pro Series with 95 points after winning the opening race on May 26. Bobby Babb finished 19th, gaining 54 points.

Beech Ridge Motor Speedway is home to four divisions of NASCAR-sanctioned racing. The Pro Series headlines the weekly events, joined on the card by the Sport Series, the Wildcats and the Road Runners. Qualifying begins at 6:30 p.m. each week with feature racing at 7:30 p.m.

Pro Series drivers, like the Babbs and reigning track champion Bill Rodgers of Old Orchard Beach, are eligible for the Nascar Whelen All-American Series national championship each season by accumulating points for their finishes each week.

But for the Babbs, virtual racing against drivers from all over the country pales in comparison to racing against family. At Beech Ridge, Brad Babb said, it’s like one big family.

“I’ve been here every Saturday night as long as I can remember,” he said. “When I was tour racing before, even if we didn’t get a chance to bring the car, anytime I had a chance I was here. I just love being here.

“It’s pretty much home, other than being at home.”

Bobby Babb started racing at Beech Ridge in the late 1970s. Minus a few years in the mid-1980s spent racing away from “The Ridge,” his cars have always circled the one-third-mile short-track. He even had the chance to race against his father, Robert Babb Sr., in the early 1980s.

Is it different racing against a family member?

“Yeah. Yeah, it really is,” said Bobby Babb, who returned after taking the last three years off from racing. “And it’s going to be different running against Brad, no doubt. I’ve told everybody, there’s only one car that gets a break out there this year and that’s (Brad’s No. 4). Everybody else, I’ll lay rubber right to the side of them, it doesn’t matter. But I’m going to watch out for him, you know what I mean?”

But will Brad afford his father the same reprieve on the racetrack?

“He probably won’t,” Bobby said, a wide, knowing grin growing across his face. “But I pay the bills on his car.”

Beech Ridge Motor Speedway is a .333-mile asphalt oval on Holmes Road in Scarborough, Maine, which operates under NASCAR sanctioning. For a complete schedule of events, including starting times and ticket prices, visit http://www.beechridge.com or ‘Like’ them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/beechridge.

Brad Babb of Windham works on his car. Babb and his father Bobby will take the track at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough each week. (Courtesy photo)

WINDHAM – The little boy in Brad Babb keeps bringing him back to Beech Ridge Motor Speedway on Saturday nights during the summer months.

“I feel like I’m still that 8-year-old kid sitting over in those grandstands,” said Babb, of Windham, now in his 20s and a full-time competitor at the speedway in Scarborough. “I look around here and I see the guys that my dad used to race against, the guys I used to root for, and sometimes I still can’t believe that I’m racing with them now.”

When Beech Ridge opened its 64th season of stock car racing recently, Babb was racing against one driver he’s never competed against before: His father, Bobby Babb, also of Windham, is a five-time track champion.

“We’re really looking forward to it,” Brad said before the race, during an open practice session at the track. “I mean, I don’t even really care which one of us wins – if it’s one of us, then we both win.”

So far, so good for the younger Babb, who leads the Pro Series with 95 points after winning the opening race on May 26. Bobby Babb finished 19th, gaining 54 points.

Beech Ridge Motor Speedway is home to four divisions of NASCAR-sanctioned racing. The Pro Series headlines the weekly events, joined on the card by the Sport Series, the Wildcats and the Road Runners. Qualifying begins at 6:30 p.m. each week with feature racing at 7:30 p.m.

Pro Series drivers, like the Babbs and reigning track champion Bill Rodgers of Old Orchard Beach, are eligible for the Nascar Whelen All-American Series national championship each season by accumulating points for their finishes each week.

But for the Babbs, virtual racing against drivers from all over the country pales in comparison to racing against family. At Beech Ridge, Brad Babb said, it’s like one big family.

“I’ve been here every Saturday night as long as I can remember,” he said. “When I was tour racing before, even if we didn’t get a chance to bring the car, anytime I had a chance I was here. I just love being here.

“It’s pretty much home, other than being at home.”

Bobby Babb started racing at Beech Ridge in the late 1970s. Minus a few years in the mid-1980s spent racing away from “The Ridge,” his cars have always circled the one-third-mile short-track. He even had the chance to race against his father, Robert Babb Sr., in the early 1980s.

Is it different racing against a family member?

“Yeah. Yeah, it really is,” said Bobby Babb, who returned after taking the last three years off from racing. “And it’s going to be different running against Brad, no doubt. I’ve told everybody, there’s only one car that gets a break out there this year and that’s (Brad’s No. 4). Everybody else, I’ll lay rubber right to the side of them, it doesn’t matter. But I’m going to watch out for him, you know what I mean?”

But will Brad afford his father the same reprieve on the racetrack?

“He probably won’t,” Bobby said, a wide, knowing grin growing across his face. “But I pay the bills on his car.”

Beech Ridge Motor Speedway is a .333-mile asphalt oval on Holmes Road in Scarborough, Maine, which operates under NASCAR sanctioning. For a complete schedule of events, including starting times and ticket prices, visit http://www.beechridge.com or ‘Like’ them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/beechridge.

Brad Babb of Windham works on his car. Babb and his father Bobby will take the track at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough each week. (Courtesy photo)