Spud Speedway in Caribou has been named Maine and New England Veteran Owned Small Business of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. PHOTO / COURTESY OF SPUD SPEEDWAY
In the SBA’s Small Business Awards for Maine, Spud Speedway in Caribou has been named Maine and New England “Veteran Owned Small Business of the Year.”
Situated in the heart of Aroostook County, Spud Speedway motorsport and entertainment venue in Caribou is being honored for going the extra mile by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The track, built in 1964 as a dirt track that was paved a year later, is jointly owned by Troy Haney and Jim and Michelle Gamage. Haney, a U.S. Air Force veteran, said he bought the business in 2009 and sold half of it to the Gamages in 2023.
In the SBA’s Small Business Awards for Maine, Spud Speedway has been named Maine and New England "Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year."
Haney told Mainebiz he sees the accolade as a team win for the business, which is staffed by its three full-time owners and between 10 and 20 part-time employees. The venue hosts events from the start of the year through late October.
“This wouldn’t even be running at the size and scale it is with the hard work and effort of my new partners, the entire staff that gives up their weekends to help us make events happen, and the support of our families and friends,” Haney told Mainebiz. “This award is geared towards a veteran status, but the true attention should be on the entire team.”
Award winners for Maine were announced by the SBA this week. They include Maureen, Stephen and Nathaniel Hassett, owners of Bath-based Custom Composite Technologies Inc. They were named this year’s "Small Business Persons of the Year" for Maine.
Other Maine winners
Maine Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Erik Francis, Francis Fisherie, Perry
Maine Home Based Business of the Year: Casco Bay Ambulance Service, Portland
Maine Woman Owned Small Business of the Year: Fundamental Foot Care, Hampden
Maine Micro-Enterprise of the Year: Rick’s Redemption LLC, Presque Isle
Maine and New England Small Business Manufacturer of the Year: Compotech Inc., Brewer
Maine Financial Services Champion of the Year: Ghent Holdsworth II, Aroostook County Savings & Loan Association
Diane Sturgeon FILE PHOTO
Main Street innovators
All honorees will be celebrated at a ceremony on May 28 at Maple Hill Farm Inn and Conference Center in Hallowell.
"These winners are innovators building new industries here in Maine, and Main Street businesses providing vital services in their communities, said Diane Sturgeon, the SBA’s district director for Maine. “We are proud of their accomplishments, and can’t wait to hear directly from them about their experiences.”
