John McKennedy looked unbeatable from the pole position, leading the field by over a half straightaway as they approached the midpoint of the race. However as the laps ticked away Les Hinkley gradually closed the gap and soon hounded McKennedy through the second half of the race. The strategy paid off and Hinkley finally got under the leader and took command of the race on lap 94 and then held him off to secure the win. Just two midrace cautions for minor single car spins would slow the frantic pace of the 100 lap main event. It was the series first ever appearance at Wiscasset Raceway. In other action, it was a family affair as veteran Daren Ripley and nephew Ryan Ripley each took home wins in weekly racing series action sponsored by Sam Snow Construction of Pittston. In the 30 lap feature for the Smith Construction Late Model Sportsman Appleton's Daren Ripley used every bit of leniency that track officials would allow in holding off point leader and defending champ Chris Thorne for the win. It was Ripley's first victory in seven starts this year, making him the division's 8th different winner. Steve Reno of West Bath held the lead until Ripley drove around him to complete lap 15. The race would take a major turn just a lap later with the race's 2nd caution. While the caution was for what seemed like a minor spin, what happened next would shake things up considerably . As they attempted to get the race back underway, Ripley would jump the restart and as the field came onto the front stretch Reno broke loose spinning in front of the rest of the pack. Several cars would bunch up in the middle of the track with rookie Tyler Robbins rolling his car over under the flagstand. Robbins fortunately walked away unhurt. With the shakeup behind the leaders, Chris Thorne moved into the picture from his 8th starting spot to take the restart beside Ripley. Two more failed attempts at restarts began to raise the tension on the track and in the stands. With the race finalley back underway Ripley and Thorne raced door to door for the lead for the next ten laps until the two made contact at the end of the front stretch sending Thorne up to the top of turn one. Thorne gave it one more try but would chase Ripley across the stripe for 2nd place. In victory lane the two front runners had differing views of the final laps of the race. "I had to do whatever I could to hold him off" said Ripley. "That Thorne kid is fast". Thorne had a different impression of the race when asked "Yeah, I'm really disappointed. I should have brought home a win tonight, but I just ran out of real estate. I think that's pretty obvious". Former champ Mike Orr turned in his best run of the season in 3rd. Recent winner Jason Witts moved up from 10th to finish 4th and top rookie Adam Chadbourne rebounded from a flat tire under the lap 16 caution and picked his way back through traffic to finish 5th.
RIPLEY'S & MODS HIGHLIGHT SATURDAY NIGHT AT WISCASSET
Wiscasset Raceway has been billed as "Maine's fastest track" ever since Wilford Cronk first opened the gates in 1969. The large crowd that packed into the grandstands Saturday night, and waited out a near two hour rain delay, got to see a whole new level of speed as the True Value Modified Series invaded the coastal speed plant for the the Wiscasset Ford 100. The 600 horsepower ground shaking open-wheel cars put down lap times nearly a full second faster than the tracks fastest weekly division, circling the 3/8 mile highbank oval in just a tick over fourteen and a half seconds.
Daren Ripley was not the only member of the family to visit victory lane. 13 year old nephew Ryan Ripley made easy work of the 20 lap Aable Auto Parts Mini Stocks feature, starting 4th in the 19 car field and easily droving to his second straight win. Just one midrace caution bunched up the field, but the young 3rd generation driver withstood the challenge of the division's three top drivers. Ryan's grandfather Doug Ripley, a 3-time track champ himself finished 7th and pulled into victory lane to celebrate with his grandson. Division runner-up Pete McCollat took home the 2nd place trophy and point leader Dylan Lancaster took 3rd. In the 20 lap feature for the Keystone Automotive Strictly Streets, defending champ Maurice Young took the lead on lap 8 and held off former champ Dave Brannon to pick up his track high 7th win of the year. It was also the 55th career win for the 6-time track champ. Brannon turned around a recent string of mechanical problems to pick up the 2nd place trophy. Brannon's teammate Ed Peirpont joined them in victory lane for 3rd. Madison's Nate Weston withstood a late race restart to pick up his 2nd win of the season in the 25 lap Unicel Super Street feature. Weston took the lead on lap four and pulled away for the easy win. Behind him was a great battle between Allan Moeller, RJ Austin, Jason Gaboury and Mike Landry. Moeller was able to make it into the open to secure second, but was not able to chase down Weston. That heated battle for 3rd produced the race's only caution on lap 19 as Gaboury went spinning through turn two. Austin held off Landry at the line for the 3rd place trophy. Bob Weymouth of Topsham grabbed his first win in two years in the 20 lap NELCAR Legend feature. Weymouth's primary car broke prior to the start of his heat race, but his backup car was up to the task in taking the win. A red flag on the final lap set up a one lap dash to the checkers. Weymouth took the lead from Ed Getty on the restart to grab the win. Charlie Buxton of Windham jumped into second and Getty, although he was denied his first Wiscasset win would hold on for 3rd.
Wiscasset Raceway returns to action with it's biggest weekend of the 2008 schedule Saurday and Sunday August 16th & 17th. Saturday's show sponsored by Smith Construction will highlight the Late Model Sportsman division with a 50 lap main event. All other weekly division's will be in action as well, including practice for Sunday's Toyota Tundra 250. The Saturday evening show starts at 5:00pm and will also be Racing For Maine's Miracles Family Day at the track. Fans are encouraged to bring gift cards, gas cards, toys and other items to benefit children and their families who are being treated at the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital in Portland. Some patients ansd their families will be special VIP guests at the track. A fireworks show will top off the Saturday night show. Sunday will mark the return of the Pro All Stars Series to Wiscasset with the running of the Toyota Tundra 250 presented by the New England Toyota dealers. Several other races will fill the card including a pair of PASS Sportsman Series races, a PASS Modified race, and a 50 lap nationals qualifier for Wiscasset's Keystone Automotive Strictly Streets. Finally, a field of some 36 cars will take the green in the main event with a shot at the $30,000 winners check and a piece of the purse approaching $120,000. For more information, contact the Wiscasset Raceway office at (207) 882-4271 or check the track's website at www.wiscassetraceway.info.
OFFICIAL FINISH 8/9/08
SMITH CONSTRUCTION LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN (30 LAPS)
1. Darren Ripley – Appleton; 2. Chris Thorne – Sidney; 3. Mike Orr – Wiscasset; 4. Jason Witts – Dixmont; 5. Adam Chadbourne – Woolwich; 6. Richard Jordan – Kingfield; 7. Duane Love – West Gardiner; 8. Nick Hinkley – Wiscasset; 9. Bill Pinkham – Wiscasset; 10. Scott Pooler – Vassalboro; 11. TJ Watson – Harpswell; 12. Steve Reno – West Bath; 13. Will Collins – Appleton; 14. Seth Raven – Waldo; 15. Tyler Robbins – Montville; 16. Danny Smart – Buxton; 17. Ryan Gero – West Gardiner; 18. Nick Reno – West Bath; DNS. Steve Reny – Boothbay; DNS. Peter Oakes – Boothbay
UNICEL SUPER STREETS (25 LAPS)
1. Nate Weston – Madison; 2. Allan Moeller Sr – Dresden; 3. RJ Austin – Smithfield; 4. Mike Landry – Oakland; 5. James Osmond – Wiscasset; 6. Brian Fortin – South China; 7. Kevin Douglass – Sidney; 8. Jeremy Glasier – Appleton; 9. Frank Brown – Pittston; 10. Ryan Chadwick – Wiscasset; 11. Shawn Austin – Norridgewock; 12. Jason Gaboury – Readfield; 13. Josh Bailey – Wiscasset
KEYSTONE AUTOMOTIVE STRICTLY STREETS (20 LAPS)
1. Maurice Young – Windsor; 2. Dave Brannon – Lisbon; 3. Ed Peirpont – Jefferson; 4. Bobby Messimer – Wiscasset; 5. Ian Bresnahan – Bath; 6. Wally Henderson – Litchfield; 7. Mike St Germain – Auburn; 8. Jamie Henderson – Litchfield; 9. Matt Stuart – Pittston; 10. Chris Doucette – Sebego; 11. Chuck Colby – Wiscasset; 12. Steve Peirpont – Cushing
AABLE AUTOPARTS MINI STOCKS (20 LAPS)
1. Ryan Ripley – Thomaston; 2. Pete McCollat – Readfield; 3. Dylan Lancaster – Skowhegan; 4. Mike Dulaney – Richmond; 5. Shawn Kimball – Pittston; 6. Natasha Dyer – Arrowsic; 7. Doug Ripley – Thomaston; 8. Scott Theriault – South China; 9. Ryan Hayes – Jefferson; 10. Ken Edgecomb – Readfield; 11. Greg Cummings – Augusta; 12. Chelsea Young – Winterport; 13. Alex Cromwell – Woolwich; 14. James Howland – Rye, NH; 15. Mac Hannan Jr – Union; 16. Rob Greeneleaf – West Bath; 17. Ed Sleeper – Vassalboro; 18. Steve Howard – Thomaston; 19. Tom True – Wiscasset
NELCAR LEGENDS (20 LAPS)
1. Bob Weymouth – Topsham; 2. Charlie Buxton – Windham; 3. Ed Getty – Gray; 4. Terry Kirk – Durham; 5. Tyler Jordan – Scarborough; 6. Kevin Hutchens – E. Waterboro; 7. Patrick Stewart – Beverly, MA; 8. Alan Smith – Lincoln; 9. Max Zachem – Preston, CT; 10. Evan Beaulieu – Durham