Folsom claims victory at Unity Raceway
Unity, Maine – Skowhegan’s David Folsom I made his first visit to victory lane this season following an exciting 35-lap main event in the Late Model division, topping Saturday night’s racing card at Unity Raceway.
Folsom held off a late challenge by Jeff Burgess of East Madison, the winner of the first two races in the top class this season, to claim victory. Burgess patiently worked his way into contention after starting in ninth position after watching a healthy share of aggressive racing in front of him during the race’s early laps.
Dylan Turner of Freedom raced with the leaders throughout the event and claimed the third-place trophy on the eve of his high school graduation ceremony. Burnham’s Brian Whitney crossed the line in fourth position, followed by the winner’s son, David Folsom II of Skowhegan, just back from his honeymoon in time to compete.
Late Model heat race victories were earned by Steve Rackliff of Starks, and the younger Folsom.
Kevin ‘K-Man’ Hutchens of East Waterboro prevailed the 25-lap feature race for the visiting NELCAR Legends Cars. Evan Beaulieu, a winner the previous Saturday at Unity Raceway, drove from the back of the pack to claim runner-up honors after providing a stiff challenge to the winner. Newport’s Mathew Burgoine earned the final podium finishing position a week after a runner-up performance.
Veteran Legends Cars racer Bobby Weymouth of Topsham and Canadian invader Darren Sherwood of Berry Mills, New Brunswick rounded out the top five. Hutchens and Burgoine won the heat races.
Orrington’s Nick Huff cruised to his second straight win in the 25-lap feature event for the Racin’ Paper Super Street class. Kevin Douglass of Sidney posted a second-place finish in his first appearance of the season at Unity Raceway, with Dresden’s Allan Moeller, Sr. outrunning son Allan Moeller, Jr. for the final trophy. Holden’s Steve Moulton rounded out the top five in a race that saw Liberty’s Ryan St.Clair flip on the frontstretch. He was uninjured, though quite visibly upset. Huff also won the heat race.
Maurice Young of Chelsea, a multi-time champion at Wiscasset Raceway, claimed his first-ever feature event win at Unity Raceway with a wire-to-wire victory in the 20-lap Keystone Automotive Wildcat division main event. Multi-time Unity raceway Wildcat division kingpin Carl McAlpine of Burnham was the best of the rest, with reigning division champion Chris King of Burnham filling out the podium. Ed Sleeper of Vassalboro was fourth across the line, with Andrew McLaughlin of Harrington rounding out the top five in his first visit to the Raceway this season. Young also won the heat race.
Late Model Pro Four division rookie Lance Chapman of Clinton drove to his second victory this season in the 20-lap main event for the Uncle Henry’s-sponsored class. Sean Johnson of Stockton Springs, the previous week’s winner, provided a late challenge but settled for runner-up honors. Bryan Lancaster battled for the race lead early on, and held on to claim third-place hardware as the checkered flag waved. Augusta’s Norm Cummings, Jr. finished in fourth position on his 40th birthday, with Seth Webber of Anson fifth in his first appearance this year. Chapman also won the heat race.
Waldoboro’s Ryan Ripley won his second race, officially, in the Waterville Oaks Flyin’ 4 class, easily outdistancing the balance of the field aboard a clearly-dominant car in both the 20-lap main event and the heat race. Chelsea’s Mika Wilson, the 2010 champion in the now-disbanded Ladies division, was the best of the rest after surviving a stiff challenge by Richmond’s Mike Dulaney, making his first appearance of the season. Clinton’s teenaged Robinson brothers, Cole and Kyle, finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Scheduled to start from the pole, Cornville’s Jayson Bosworth took up the challenge to start last in the 15-lap main event and still managed to remain perfect on the season in the 15-lap Geo & Sons Teen Thunder feature race. Austin Clemons of Norridgewock made sure Bosworth earned the victory, providing a late challenge after breaking free from traffic. Detroit’s Ricky Pease bounced back from a heat race flip to earn the third-place trophy in front of 2010 class champ Wes Turner of Montville and Kaleb Bernatchez of Vassalboro.
Unity Raceway action continues Saturday, with post time set for 6:00 p.m. For more information visit unityraceway.info or call (207) 453-2021.
Late Model (35 laps) 1. 15 David Folsom I, Skowhegan; 2. X Jeff Burgess, East Madison; 3. 9 Dylan Turner, Freedom; 4. 18 Brian Whitney, Burnham; 5. 75 David Folsom II, Skowhegan; 6. 94 Steve Rackliff, Starks; 7. 14 Bobby Seger, Frankfort; 8. 21 Ben Clark, Clinton; 9. 25 Will Collins, Waldoboro; 10. 09 Justin Drake, Burnham; 11. 34 Tyler Robbins, Montville; 12. 1 Willy Pelotte, Oakland; 13. 33 Josh St.Clair, Liberty; 14. 02 Shane Lane, Kingfield; 15. 20 Tracy Gordon, Strong; 16. 2 Ryan Robinson, Clinton; 17. 24 Deane Smart, Bradley; 18. 7 Brian Gullifer, Farmington.
NELCAR Legends (25 laps) 1. 27 Kevin Hutchens, East Waterboro; 2. 56 Evan Beaulieu, Durham; 3. 38 Mathew Burgoine, Newport; 4. 399 Bobby Weymouth, Topsham; 5. 39 Darren Sherwood, Berry Mills, NB, Canada; 6. 2 Ryan Hammar, Pembroke, NH; 7. 10 Ed Getty, Gray; 8. 3 Gary Dunning, Prince Edward Island, Canada; 9. 17 Terry Kirk, Durham; 10. 4 Peter Craig, Poland; 11. 81 Dan Winters, Windham, NH; 12. 8 Matt Chagnot, Derry, NH; 13. 49 Pete Cannell, South Berwick; 14. 33 Alan Smith, Lincoln.
Racin’ Paper Super Street (25 laps) 1. 21 Nick Huff, Orrington; 2. 16 Kevin Douglass, Sidney; 3. 04 Allan Moeller, Sr., Dresden; 4. Allan Moeller, Jr., Dresden; 5. 80 Steve Moulton, Holden; 6. Ryan St.Clair, Liberty.
Keystone Automotive Wildcat (20 laps) 1. 03 Maurice Young, Chelsea; 2. 18 Carl McAlpine, Burnham; 3. 29 Chris King, Burnham; 4. 22 Ed Sleeper, Vassalboro; 5. 26 Andrew McLaughlin, Harrington; 6. 17 Kris Matchett, Skowhegan; 7. 51 Tyler Ring, Detroit.
Uncle Henry’s Late Model Pro Four (20 laps) 1. 64 Lance Chapman, Clinton; 2. 9 Sean Johnson, Stockton Springs; 3. 81 Bryan Lancaster, Skowhegan; 4. 26 Norm Cummings, Jr., Augusta; 5. 01 Seth Webber, Anson; 6. 56 Paul Jackson, Fairfield; 7. 23 Tim Robinson, Clinton.
Monsta Mini (20 laps) 1. 51 Mike Mason, Skowhegan; 2. 92 Mike Wilson, Chelsea; 3. 19 Zach Audet, New Sharon; 4. 15 Brad Bosworth, Cornville; 5. 20 Pete McCollett, Readfield; 6. 18 Tim Collins, Farmingdale; 7. 2 Greg Cummings, Augusta; 8. 53 Richard Jackson, Hudson; 10. 62 John Fortin, Vassalboro.
Waterville Oaks Flyin’ 4 (20 laps) 1. 09x Ryan Ripley, Waldoboro; 2. 94 Mika Wilson, Chelsea; 3. 10 Mike Dulaney, Richmond; 4. 61 Cole Robinson, Clinton; 5. 62 Kyle Robinson, Clinton; 6. 11 Bruce Nickerson, Norridgewock; 7. 71 Donny Silva, Hudson; 8. 23 Amanda Batchelder, Fairfield; 9. 22 Tyler Gerow, Fairfield.
Geo & Sons Teen Thunder (15 laps) 1. 51 Jayson Bosworth, Cornville; 2. 21 Austin Clemons, Norridgewock; 3. 20 Ricky Pease, Detroit; 4. 88 Wes Turner, Montville; 5. 7 Caleb Bernatchez, Vassalboro; 6. 23 Emma Libby, Glenburn; 7. 11 April McAlpine, Burnham; 8. 70 Robert Dyer, Canaan; 9. X Kyle Jackson, Fairfield; 10. 18 Emily McAlpine, Burnham.