Another example of Maine’s rich short track racing talent pool is hitting his stride in 2015. Just south of the Capitol city in Manchester, there’s a young man lighting up the radar and building his own fan base.

When 17-year-old Reid Lanpher won a 50-lap Super Late Model feature at Oxford on May 16, it set a tone and further accelerated what has already been an eventful — and  successful — six year career.

“We were pretty ecstatic over that win, since we really don’t race at Oxford and just went up there on a whim,” Lanpher said. “We were a little late getting there, but I’m sure glad we went. The car was dialed in perfectly and ran great all night. Things couldn’t have gone any better if we’d planned for that race.”

While his well-oiled machine carried him past several veterans of the tricky Oxford oval, Lanpher had to overcome a bit of anxiety after a brief altercation.

“When I wrecked in the feature, I thought we were done,” Lanpher said. “I took the car to pit road so the crew could look it over. Everything seemed decent, but the rear end was a little out of square. I went back out and it was the best car I’ve ever had there. I was able to roll off the corners and go wherever I needed to go. It was awesome to start the year off with a win before our new season at Beech Ridge even began.”

Beech Ridge, Lanpher’s home track, opened on Memorial Day weekend. Lanpher finished eighth in the opening race, just in front of 2014 Pro Series points champion Dave Farrington Jr., of Jay.

Lanpher enjoyed a career-best season at Beech Ridge in 2014, finishing second to Farrington in final points and winning a feature on July 1. In 15 starts, Lanpher finished fifth or better five times, and had only four finishes outside the top 10.

His racing career began on dirt bikes, but he switched to Karts after he broke his back. After his stint in Karts, Lanpher moved to Mini Cup cars and spent some time driving Mini Modifieds.

“After we had some success in the Mods, we got pretty heavy into racing Legends cars,” Lanpher continued. “I think that division was the best thing we could have done; it helped me a lot as a driver. After that, we dabbled in some Late Model races and eventually the Super Late Model class where we are now. I won a race at Wiscasset when I was 13 or 14, and shortly after that I signed the deal with Jr. Motorsports to race down south.”

In 2013, Lanpher’s career took a giant leap forward with that opportunity. Jr. Motorsports is a development program where young drivers can work with seasoned mechanics and learn from professionals, and is owned by NASCAR superstar Dale Earnhardt Jr.

“That was an incredible experience,” Lanpher said. “I learned a lot down there that helps me to this day. It was a fun year, but I came back home after that and started my own team to just have fun racing Super Late Models. Continuing up the ladder down south is all about money, rather than talent, which is unfortunate. But I’m still racing every weekend, and enjoying it more than ever.

“I’m lucky just to be doing what we’re doing up here, so I am thankful for my father and entire team for making it all possible.”

Lanpher’s father, Scott, is best known in central Maine as the proprietor of Scott’s Recreation, but he has his own impressive racing resume. The elder Lanpher was a winning snowmobile racer on ice ovals, highlighted by a victory in the prestigious Grand Prix de Valcourt.

Another Maine native with an extensive backgroud in racing has played an integral role in Lanpher’s success. Four-time NASCAR Busch North series champion Andy Santerre has worked alongside Lanpher as a coach and mentor, and the young driver is quick to praise the multi-time champ.

“Andy is just such a great guy to be around and has taught me so much,” Reid Lanpher said. “I don’t get to work with him every week. He’s pretty busy with his job and family these days, yet he’s still there if we need him for something. He’s helped me a ton in the past; I’m thankful to have such a great relationship with him and learn from his experience.”

Santerre has worked with many young drivers, including rising NASCAR star Austin Dillon. When asked about Lanpher, he doesn’t hesitate.

“I can’t think of a better young man out there as far as talent and the way he carries himself ,” Santerre said. “He has a ton of driving talent. He can race anything, anywhere, and be as fast as the veterans. He just has that natural ability that a lot of kids don’t have. He’s well-spoken, polite, and appreciates what people do for him. I just hope that somebody notices his talent and gives him the chance he deserves.”

Lanpher said he’ll use his early season success as a springboard for the summer. 

“We exceeded our own expectations last year with a victory and runner-up finish in the points at Beech Ridge,” Lanpher said. “This year, we’d really love to secure that championship. There’s just so many cars that can win, it’s the stiffest competition week-to-week you’ll find anywhere. It might be a stretch, but with the momentum and morale boost from our win at Oxford, we feel like we’re up to the challenge.”

pwhipple@sunjournal.com