DURRELL TAKES LITTLE ENDURO FEATURE
Newburgh’s Darren Durrel took up pretty much where he left off last season as he once again dominated the Little Enduro feature at the Wacky Wednesday season opener at Speedway 95 Wednesday night. Durrell started the event in the fourth spot, but was in the lead for good by lap 3. Andrew Crosby of Hermon challenged Durrell for the top spot, but ended up third after he was assessed a one spot penalty at the finish for jumping the green flag on the race’s only reastart. Ted Ryder of Carmel finished in second after leading early. Chris Carroll of Greenbush finished the race in fourth, while Michael Blais of Hampden came in fifth out of the 17 starters.
Big Enduro series race #1 went to Ed Cobb Jr. of LaGrange as he easily finished ahead of Shaun MacNevin of Hudson and Shawn Racilla of Dover-Foxcroft. No yellow flags interrupted the action in the race that was reduced to 15 laps due to the low car count.
In the Ladies feature event, Chelseaa Young of Winterport led the entire distance to post he first win of the season. Amy Houde of Howland didn’t let her run away with the win, as she stayed within striking distance, waiting for Young to make a mistake. That didn’t happen, though so Houde settled for the runner up spot. Third went to Maria Miranda of Corinna with Kayla Allen from Bucksport finishing in fourth.
Jim Carr Jr. of Clifton was the easy winner in the trucks after Peter Drake of Corinth left the track with mechanical troubles before the half way point. Jeff Overlock Jr. finished the race in second with Drake receiving the third place trophy by default. The truck feature ran only 10 laps.
The Stars of Tomorrow put on a good show as Emma Libby of Hudson led her career first laps from the start to lap 4 when Matt Kimball of Cornville passed her to put his Honda into the lead. Kimball finished the event in the lead, picking up the opening night win. Ricky Pease of Detroit picked up the second place trophy, as he, too passed Libby for the position. Libby finished in third, followed by D.C. Alexander of Kenduskeag, who started on the pole, but faded to fourth by the finish.
Before the racing action began, the traditional “Pretty Vehicle” contest was held with Travis Beale of Hampden winning in the Little Enduros, Adam Gardner of Corinna in the Big Enduros, Peter Drake of Corinth in the Trucks, Emma Libby in the Stars of Tomorrow and Amy Houde in the Ladies.
The opening night crowd may have been a bit disappointed by the low car counts and reduced laps raced, but track officials made a nice gesture when they gave each person leaving the track at the end of the night’s activities a free pass for another Wednesday night show this season.