Unity, Maine – Will Collins of Appleton earned his first trip to victory lane in the Late Model division at Unity Raceway, overcoming a mid-race penalty to best all rivals in a wild main event.
Collins was running in second position behind Ben Erskine of Solon when racing officials penalized both frontrunners for unapproved restart antics, handing the lead to Louis Picard. Collins dug deep, survived a bit of mayhem surrounding him and reclaimed the race lead.
The previous week’s winner, Poncho Darveau of Chelsea, battled Collins over the final half of the event, getting by the eventual winner, but Collins prevailed as a tight, five-car pack took the checkered flag, still jostling for position. Darveau claimed runner-up honors, with Fairfield’s Jeff Burgess crossing the finish line in third position. Ryan Deane of Winterport was the fourth-place finisher, followed by Frank Moulton of Burnham.
Moulton’s fifth-place finish all but wrapped up a third straight Unity raceway track championship. The 21-year-old racer needs only to start the final points-counting race on September 25 to clinch the crown. Late Model heat race wins went to Ed Drake of Vassalboro, Seth Raven of Waldo and Moulton.
The visiting North East Mini Stock Tour joined the action and Roger Ducharme of Foster, Rhode Island won the 50-lap race in his first visit to the track. Several Unity Raceway regulars from the Monster Energy Drink Monsta Mini class competed against the touring series invaders. Steve Wilson, filling in for his brother – reigning Unity Monsta Mini champ Mike Wilson of Chelsea, claimed runner-up honors in the caution-filled affair. Turner’s Calvin Rose, Jr. picked up the final trophy position, with Steve Heath of Milo and Derrick Terrill of Plymouth rounding out the top five. Oakland’s Reggie Bickford was contending for the win until his engine detonated while running second, ending his night and that of several contenders, including Joe Turner, Thomas True Tim Boyle and Bob Grady.
Nick Huff of Orrington led wire-to-wire in the Racin’ Paper Super Street main event. Huff’s win was not an easy one, as point leader Nate Weston of Madison made a late charge that made the race a close one at the checkered flag. Huff celebrated victory by sprinting around his racecar carrying the checkered flag in a salute to the late John Phippen, who passed away last week shortly after racing at Hermon’s Speedway 95. Ricky Burgess, Jr. of Waterville claimed the final podium finishing position, followed by Dresden’s Allan Moeller and Kris Watson of Hermon. Burgess was the heat race victor.
Chris King of Burnham extended his slim point lead in the Keystone Automotive Wildcat division with a 20-lap feature race victory. Multi-time Wildcat champion Carl McAlpine of Burnham was a distant second as the checkered flag waved. Maurice Young of Chelsea was third followed by the previous week’s winner, Andy Turbovsky of Winslow, the only driver with a chance to beat King for the division title. Ed Sleeper of Vassalboro was the fifth-place finisher. King won the heat race.
Ben Clark prevailed in a caution flag-filled feature event for the Uncle Henry’s Late Model Pro Four division. Skowhegan’s Bryan Lancaster crossed the line in second position, but ran afoul of the technical inspectors following the event and was disqualified. Lancaster’s foul moved point leader Corey Walker of Augusta into the runner-up position, with Norm Cummings, Jr. of Augusta taking the third-place trophy home. Steve Rackliff of Starks and Skowhegan’s Mike Mason rounded out the top five.
Justin Moore of Madison wrapped up the 2010 championship in the Aable Auto Parts Flyin’4 division in style, outrunning Cornville teenager Brad Bosworth to the checkered flag in a 20-lap main event. Burnham’s Matt Shaw finished third, followed by Zach Audet in a car borrowed from Robinson Racing. Audet’s teammate for the night, Cole Robinson of Clinton, rounded out the top five. Moore also won the heat race.
Chelsea’s Mika Wilson dominated her rivals in Waterville Oaks Ladies division competition, wrapping up the 2010 Unity Raceway championship in her division. Wilson’s chief rival for the title, Chelsea Young of Winterport, ended up in second position, with Christie Foster of Norridgewock leading the early stages of the race before settling for a third-place finish. Amanda Batchelder of Fairfield was fourth, with Clinton’s Alica Goodwin fifth. Wilson won the heat race.
Jayson Bosworth of Cornville continued his late-season streak of good fortune with another victory in the Geo & Sons Teen Thunder class. Ricky Pease of Detroit finished in second position, with Clinton’s Kyle Robinson third. Austin Clemons of Norridgewock and 2010 division champion Wes Turner of Montville rounded out the top five. Bosworth was also the heat race victor.
Donny Silva of Hudson bumped and banged his way to victory in the Enduro race. Division point leader Alex Fernald of Benton, celebrating his 16th birthday, ended up in second position, with Clinton motocross star Zach Gagne third on four wheels. Michael Brann of Readfield and Daymon Dodge of Troy rounded out the top five.
Greg Veinote’s trip to victory lane following the Wicked Good Vintage Racing Association’s Outlaw division feature was also highlighted by a salute to fallen fellow competitor Phippen. Kenny Robinson of East Machias and Kris Watson of Hermon filled out the podium in victory lane. Watson won the heat race.
Rosie Gerry of Lincolnville was first across the line in the Wicked Good Vintage Racing Association’s combined Late Model/Modified division feature. Keith Smalley of Warren was the overall runner-up, while Neil Martin of Freeport crossed the line in third, best among the Modified division sub-class. Martin also won the heat race.
Saturday, September 25 is the final points race for the Late Model, Super Street, Wildcat, Late Model Pro Four and Monsta Mini divisions at Unity Raceway. Special races for all other divisions are also scheduled. Post time is 5:50 p.m. For more information visit unityraceway.info or call (207) 453-2021 for more information.
Late Model (35 laps): 1. 25 Will Collins, Appleton; 2. 03 Poncho Darveau, Chelsea; 3. X Jeff Burgess, Fairfield; 4. 54 Ryan Deane, Winterport; 5. 15 Frank Moulton, Burnham; 6. 12 Seth Raven, Waldo; 7. 22 Ajay Picard, Palmyra; 8. 29 Ben Erskine, Solon; 9. 18 Rowland Robinson, Jr., Steuben; 10. 10 Markus Lowe, Jackson; 11. 15x Nick Hinckley, Wiscasset; 12. 09 Ed Drake, Vassalboro; 13. 6 Dylan Turner, Freedom; 14. 99 Louis Picard, Palmyra; 15. 70 John Rideout, Washington; 16. 87 Chuck Colby, Newcastle; 17. 23 Dave Farrington, Jr., Jay; 18. 94 Steve Rackliff, Starks; 19. 23x Mike Hodgkins, Jefferson; 20. 9 Kyle Turner, Freedom; DNS Jim Goodman, Bangor.
North East Mini Stock Tour/Monster Energy Drink Monsta Mini (50 laps): 1. 34 Roger Ducharme, Foster, R.I.; 2. 92 Steve Wilson, Chelsea; 3. 81 Calvin Rose, Turner; 4. 0 Steve Heath, Milo; 5. 07 Derrick Terrill, Plymouth; 6. 1 Dylan Lancaster, Skowhegan; 7. 09x Keith Ogden, Dedham; 8. 18 Tim Collins, Farmingdale; 9. 2 Greg Cummings, Augusta; 10. 99 Brad Norris, Ellsworth; 11. 88 Emerson Cayer, Contoocook, N.H.; 12. 10 Reggie Bickford, Oakland; 13. 09 Joe Turner, Norway; 14. 12 Thomas True, Wiscasset; 15. 90 Tim Boyle, Barrington, N.H.; 16. 84 Bob Grady, Augusta; 17. 46 John Fortin, Vassalboro; 18. 19 Zach Audet, New Sharon; 19. 20 Pete McCollett, Readfield; 20. 84X Jeff Minchin, Pittston; 21. 59 Shadow Folsom, Skowhegan; DNS 6 Kevin Douglass, Sidney.
Racin’ Paper Super Street: 1. 21 Nick Huff, Orrington; 2. 47 Nate Weston, Madison; 3. 34 Ricky Burgess, Jr., Waterville; 4. 4 Allan Moeller, Dresden; 5. 35 Kris Watson, Hermon; 6. 03 Brian Fortin, China; 7. 1 Adam Chadbourne, Woolwich; 8. 47x Artie Maguire, Bucksport; 9. 3 Mike Overlock, Franklin; 10. 94 Steve Rackliff, Starks.
Keystone Automotive Industries Wildcat: 1. 29 Chris King, Burnham; 2. 18 Carl McAlpine, Burnham; 3. 03 Maurice Young, Chelsea; 4. 14 Andy Turbovsky, Winslow; 5. 22 Ed Sleeper, Vassalboro; 6. 66 Shawn Hamel, Bangor; 7. 33 Ed Gilblair, Sr., Skowhegan; 8. 24 Eddie Gilblair, Jr., Skowhegan, 9. Ryan Robinson, Waterville.
Uncle Henry’s Late Model Pro Four: 1. 21 Ben Clark, Clinton; 2. 20 Corey Walker, Augusta; 3. 26 Norm Cummings, Jr., Augusta; 4. 08 Steve Rackliff, Starks; 5. 51 Mike Mason, Skowhegan; 6. 1 Bill Dow, South China; DQ 81 Bryan Lancaster, Skowhegan; DNS 94 Billy Childs, Jr., Leeds; DNS 34 Justin Trombley, Winter Harbor.
Aable Auto Parts Flyin’4: 1. 5 Justin Moore, Madison; 2. 15 Brad Bosworth, Cornville; 3. 09 Matt Shaw, Burnham; 4. 62 Zach Audet, New Sharon; 5. 61 Cole Robinson, Clinton; 6. 06 Ryan Glaser, Mexico; 7. 56 Derek Cook, Wilton; 8. 1 Rick Sirois, Norridgwock; 9. 77 Rodney Williams, Oakland; 10. 60 Matt Glover, Mexico; 11. 11 David Folsom II, Skowhegan.
Waterville Oaks Ladies: 1. 92 Mika Wilson, Chelsea; 2. 18 Chelsea Young, Winterport; 3. 25 Christie Foster, Norridgwock; 4. 23 Amanda Batchelder, Fairfield; 5. 00 Alica Goodwin, Clinton; 6. 97 Becky Elston, Carmel.
Geo & Sons Teen Thunder: 1. 51 Jayson Bosworth, Cornville; 2. 20 Ricky Pease, Detroit; 3. 62 Kyle Robinson, Clinton; 4. 21 Austin Clemons, Norridgwock; 5. 88 Wes Turner, Montville; 6. 15 Colby Robbins, Montville.
Enduro (top five of 16): 1. 71 Donny Silva, Hudson; 2. 15 Alex Fernald, Benton; 3. 95 Zach Gagne, Clinton; 4. 81 Michael Brann, Readfield; 5. 16x Daymon Dodge, Troy.
Wicked Good Vintage Racing Association Outlaws: 1. 77 Greg Veinote, Newburgh; 2. 83 Kenny Robinson, East Machias; 3. 06 Kris Watson, Hermon; 4. 13 Tim Reynolds, Bradley; 5. 27 Duane Dunifer, Hermon; 6. 55 Brian Janik, Russell, Mass., 7. 15 Mike Millett, Bradley; 8. 86 John Rice, Bristol; 9. 31 George Cantwell, Hermon; 10. X Mark Golding, Unk., 11. 88 Lyle Turtelotte, Lagrange.
Wicked Good Vintage Racing Association Modified/Late Model: 1. 151 Rosie Gerry, Lincolnville; 2. 420 Keith Smalley, Warren; 3. 111 Neil Martin, Freeport; 4. 8 Norris Willette, Winslow; 5. 34 Danny Thibodeau, Benton; 6. 61 Maynard Tibbetts, Newport; 7. 18 Caleb Willette, Winslow; 8. 97 Brian Hughes, West Paris; 9. 96 Steve Kaler, Warren; 10. Red Giroux, Fairfield.