Unity, ME – Dale Swoboda of Hermon returned and conquered the top weekly class at Unity Raceway Friday night, charging from the rear of the starting lineup to win the Late Model main event.
Kris Watson of Hermon, Steve Rackliff of Starks, Dustin Hubbard of Unity, Kyle Gallant of Veazie, Zach Audet of New Sharon, Ryan Ripley of Waldoboro, Chelsea Young of Winterport and Kayla Allen of Bucksport all posted feature race victories on a busy racing card, while Cornville’s Shelby Kimball wrapped up the Ladies division’s Triple Crown Series title.
Behind Dale Swoboda’s back-to-front performance in the Late Model main event, a near race-long battle for runner-up honors was displayed by Winterport racers Joey Doyon and Fred ‘Pee Wee’ Brown, with Doyon prevailing as the checkered flag was unfurled. Freedom’s Dylan Turner finished in fourth position, followed by Wiscasset racer Nick Hinckley.
Super Street winner Kris Watson dominated his main event, adding to his lead in the division’s championship standings. Holden’s Steve Moulton raced to a runner-up finish, remaining one of the hottest drivers in the class, while John Kalel II of Orrington claimed third-place honors. Steve Rackliff of Starks and ‘Hurricane’ Hal Stratton of Belgrade moved into top-five finishing positions after another frontrunner, Donnie York, suffered mechanical woes late in the event.
Steve Rackliff led wire-to-wire to claim top honors in the Late Model Pro Four main event. Clinton’s Ben Clark drove from the rear of the field twice to earn runner-up honors. Jim Dennis recovered from a first-lap spin to pick up the third-place trophy. Greg Cummings of China finished fourth, followed by Jamie Foster of Benton.
Reigning Wildcat division champion Dustin Hubbard took over the lead and pulled away from the pack to earn his trip to victory lane. Winslow’s Andy Turbovsky quickly got to second position, but couldn’t catch Hubbard. Point leader Carl McAlpine of Burnham prevailed in a thrilling, racelong battle with fellow Burham racer Brent ‘Poochie’ Chase for the final podium finishing position. Another Burnham racer, Chris King, crossed the finish line in fifth position.
Kyle Gallant and Zach Audet were both feature winners in Monsta Mini division competition, with one main event held over from a wet night several weekends ago. Gallant bested Audet at the front of the make-up race in the official order of finish, after apparent winner Mike Mason of Skowhegan didn’t get through post-race technical inspection. Dylan Lancaster of Skowhegan ended up with the third-place trophy after Mason was joined at the whipping post by Augusta’s Paul Jackson. Rick Grant and Lewis Batchelder rounded out the official top five.
Audet and Gallant finished 1-2 in the regularly-scheduled Monsta Mini feature, with Mason third under the checkered flag. Reigning Monsta Mini champion and current point leader Mike Wilson of Chelsea crossed the line in fourth position, followed by Oakland’s Chris Williams.
Ryan Ripley swapped the lead with Wiscasset’s Thomas True as the two youngsters from the coast outran point leader Mike Mason of Skowhegan in the Flyin’ 4 race. Chelsea’s Mike Wilson battled with the three frontrunners for most of the race, settling for fourth position under the checkered flag. Oakland’s Chris Williams rounded out the top five..
Chelsea Young won the final race in the Ladies Triple Crown Series, while a runner-up finish in the race helped Cornville’s Shelby Kimball wrap up the three-race title. Mika Wilson of Chelsea grabbed the final trophy in the race, with the top five filled out by Alica Goodwin of Clinton and Bucksport’s Kayla Allen.
Kayla Allen wrapped up the night’s action with a win in the Enduro trophy dash. Young Matt Kimball of Cornville was second across the line, with Dan Quilla of Winterport following.
Friday night (September 25) is the final, scheduled night race of the season, with the 2009 championship standings finalized in all weekly divisions, other than the Teen Thunder class, which has already crowned Pittsfield’s Brooke Getchell as Queen of the class. A special ‘Fernald Frenzy’ racing program is scheduled for Sunday, October 4 with the annual Longjohn weekend set for October 10-11. Unity Raceway is located on Route 139 in Unity, Maine. For more information visit unityraceway.info or call (207) 453-2021.
Late Model: 1. 0 Dale Swoboda, Hermon; 2. 51 Joey Doyon, Winterport; 3. 48 Fred Brown, Winterport; 4. 9 Dylan Turner, Freedom; 5. 15X Nick Hinckley, Wiscasset; 6. 24 Deane Smart, Bradley; 7. 15 Frank Moulto, Burnham; 8. 22 AJ Picard, Palmyra; 9. 28 Rowland Robinson, Steuben; 10. 16 Chris Doucette, Casco.
Super Street: 1. 35 Kris Watson, Hermon; 2. 80 Steve Moulton, Holden; 3. 5 John Kalel II, Orrington; 4. 94 Steve Rackliff, Starks; 5. 49 Hal Stratton, Belgrade; 6. 54 Donnie York, Thorndike; 7. 11 Mike Fortier, Winslow; 8. 62 Sonny Robinson, Clinton.
Late Model Pro Four: 1. 94 Steve Rackliff, Starks; 2. 21 Ben Clark, Clinton; 3. 38 Jim Dennis, Benton; 4. 2 Greg Cummings, China; 5. 22 Jamie Foster, Benton; 6. 82 Shane Smith, Augusta; 7. 81 Bryan Lancaster, Skowhegan; 8. 6 Jonathan Smith, Sidney; 9. 26 Norm Cummings, Jr., Augusta; 10.. 22X Craig Dunn; 11. 20 Corey Walker, Augusta 12. 41 Dixon Smith, Sidney.
Wildcat: 1. 21 Dustin Hubbard, Unity; 2. 14 Andy Turbovsky, Winslow; 3. 18 Carl McAlpine, Burnham; 4. 31 Brent Chase, Burnham; 5. 29 Chris King, Burnham; 6. 8 Brad Norris, Ellsworth; 7. 22 Ed Sleeper, Vassalboro; 8. 15 Bo Ivey, Winslow; 9. 16 Mike Shaw, Troy; 10. 80 Roger Smith, Jr.
Monsta Mini (make-up): 1. 9 Kyle Gallant, Veazie; 2. 19 Zach Audet, New Sharon; 3. 1 Dylan Lacaster, Skowhegan; 4. 41 Rick Grant, LaGrange; 5. 23 Lewis Batchelder, Dixmont; 6. 92 Mike Wilson, Chelsea; 7. 00 Alica Goodwin, Clinton; 8. 82 Chris Williams, Oakland; 9. 77 Dominic Bailey, Benton; 10. 26 (name unknown); DQ 51 Mike Mason, Skowhegan; 56 Paul Jackson, Augusta.
Monsta Mini: 1. 19 Zach Audet, New Sharon; 2. 9 Kyle Gallant, Veazie; 3. 51 Mike Mason, Skowhegan; 4. 92 Mike Wilson, Chelsea; 5. 82 Chris Williams, Oakland; 6. 41 Rick Grant, LaGrange; 7. 44 Travis Dunbar, Lisbon; 8. 26 (name unknown); 9. 1 Dylan Lancaster, Skowhegan; 10. 00 Alica Goodwin, Clinton; DQ 56 Paul Jackson, Augusta.
Flyin' 4: 1. 09 Ryan Ripley, Waldoboro; 2. 12 Thomas True, Wiscasset; 3. 51 Mike Mason, Skowhegan; 4. 82 Chris Williams, Oakland; 5. 02 Jason Trundy, Old Town; 6. 18X Chelsea Young, Winterport; 7. 19 Zach Audet, New Sharon; 8. 2 Jordan Hawes, Skowhegan; 9. 32 Tasha Dyer, Arrowsic; 10. 12 Darrin Durell, Newburgh; 11. 4 Nick Lizotte, Sidney; 12. 83 Mike Odgen 12. 09X Keith Odgen, Dedham; 12. 21 Matt Shaw, Troy; 13. 18 Russell Blenkhorn, Ellsworth; 14. 40 Chris Burbelo, Frankfort; 15. 16X Daymon Dodge, Troy; 16. 35 Ken Odgen, Seal Cove; 17. 26 (name unknown); 18. 97 Merv Green, Clinton.
Ladies: 1. 18X Chelsea Young, Winterport; 2. 08 Shelby Kimball, Cornville; 3. 11 Mika Wilson, Chelsea; 4. 00 Alica Goodwin, Clinton; 5. 91 Kayla Allen, Bucksport; 6. 97X Becky Elston, Carmel; 7. 97 Sandy Green, Clinton.
Enduro: 1. 91 Kayla Allen, Bucksport; 2. 09 Matt Kimball, Cornville; 3. 1 Dan Quilla, Winterport; 4. 57 Freddie Landry; 5. 99 Chad Michaud, Fairfield; 6. 72 William Bedard, Burnham; 7. 10X James Corson, Benton; 8. 01 Nicholas Landry, Anson.