Point leader Folsom outlasts Late Model rivals at Unity Raceway
Unity, Maine – Points leader David Folsom I of Skowhegan prevailed in a close finish, highlighting a thrilling 35-lap Late Model feature topping the stock car racing card last Saturday night at Unity Raceway.
Starting fourth, Folsom worked his way past his two closest championship rivals – Jeff Burgess of East Madison and Dylan Turner of Freedom, to take the race lead midway through the event. Battling a deflating right front tire, Folsom managed to hold off the hard-charging Will Collins of Waldoboro in the closing laps, denying Collins a second straight triumph by inches at the checkered flag.
Folsom and Collins were followed across the line by Burgess, Justin Drake of Burnham and Turner. Folsom and Brunham’s Brian Whitney posted heat race victories.
Multi-time Keystone Automotive Wildcat division champion Carl McAlpine of Burnham ended a brief drought with a 20-lap feature event victory. McAlpine quickly made his way to the front of the pack, taking the lead from Kris Matchett of Skowhegan.
Matchett, in his best performance of the season, then prevailed in an exciting three-way battle for runner-up honors, besting current points leader Maurice Young of Chelsea and reigning division champion Chris King of Burnham.
Wayne Ripley of Waldoboro rounded out the official top-five after apparent fifth-place finisher Ed Sleeper of Vassalboro failed a post-race technical inspection. Young and Ed Gilblair of Skowhegan won the Wildcat heat races.
Steve Rackliff of Starks returned to competition in the Late Model Pro Four division just a couple of weeks ago, and the multi-time division champion found his way to victory lane quickly after Tim Robinson’s bid for consecutive victories fell victim to mechanical demons while he was leading the 20-lap main event.
Sean Johnson of Sidney claimed runner-up honors, and took over the points lead after carburetor woes hampered Benton’s Lance Chapman throughout the evening. Bill Ellis of Parkman grabbed the third-place trophy, in front of Jamie Foster of Bentoon and Augusta’s Norm Cummings, Jr. Johnson won the heat race.
Point leader Zach Audet of New Sharon padded hs advantage at the top of the championship standings with heat and feature event victories in the Monster Mini Stock class. John Fortin of Vassalboro was the best of the rest, campaigning in a car borrowed from Tim Robinson. Hudson’s Richard Jackson survived a couple of altercations to finish in third position. Reigning division champion Mike Wilson of Chelsea was fourth, followed by Augusta’s Greg Cummings.
Ryan Ripley of Waldoboro raced to victory lane in Flyin’ 4 division competition, outrunning third-generation Clinton racer Cole Robinson to the checkered flag. Richmond’s Mike Dulaney battled hard to earn third-place honors, with the top-five filled out by Matt Shaw of Burnham and Rumford’s Ryan Glover. Dulaney prevailed in the heat race.
Austin Clemons of Norridgewock prevailed in a wild Teen Thunder feature event, which was halted at one point in hopes of calming the competitors a bit. After the unscheduled break things went a bit more smoothly, with Detroit’s Ricky Pease getting by Burnham’s Emily McAlpine on the final lap for second-place honors after McAlpine’s car slowed noticeably in sight of the checkered flag with mechanical difficulties. Montville’s Colby Robbins and Derek Pariseau of Brooks completed the top five. Pease won the heat race.
It looked like Chad Folsom’s winning streak might be brought to an end in the six-cylinder Challenger division, but a late-race restart allowed the division’s dominator to start alongside a rapidly-improving Eric Peavey of Clinton, who led much of the race by a healthy margin. Folsom outgunned Peavey on that restart and they went on to finish 1-2 in front of Norridgewock’s Rick Sirois. Winslow’s Ken Lord was the fourth-place finisher, in front of Houlton’s Roy Crawford. Folsom also won the heat race.
Shadow Folsom of Skowhegan dominated the four-cylinder enduro race, crossing the finish line well ahead of Oakland’s Mike Mathieu and Josh Spencer.
The Wicked Good Vintage Racing Association made a guest appearance on the Champion’s Night card with Mike Millette of Brewer, Mike Willette of Winslow and Shawn Racilla of Dover-Foxcroft postine feature race victories.
Millette outran Kenny Robinson of East Machias and Donnie McHaren in the Outlaw division. Willette topped Mark Thurlow of Lincolnville and Scott Tucker of Winthrop in the Late Model class. Racilla outgunned Hermon’s Duane Dunifer and John Rice of Bristol in the Sportsman ranks.
Stock car racing action resumes at Unity Raceway this Saturday night at 6:00 p.m. For more information call (207) 453-2021 or visit unityraceway.info
Late Model (35 laps): 1. 15 David Folsom I, Skowhegan; 2. 25 Will Collins, Waldoboro; 3. X Jeff Burgess, East Madison; 4. 09 Justin Drake, Burnham; 5. 9 Dylan Turner, Freedom; 6. 75 David ‘Deuce’ Folsom II, Skowhegan; 7. 04x Dean Fuller, Albion; 8. 7 Brian Gullifer, Farmington; 9. 51 Craig Robbins, Montville; 10. 34 Tyler Robbins, Montville; 11. 12 Seth Raven, Waldo; 12. 18 Brian Whitney, Burnham; DNS 20 Corey Walker, Strong; DNS Brad Bellows, China Village.
Late Model Pro Four (20 laps): 1. 94 Steve Rackliff, Starks; 2. 9 Sean Johnson, Sidney; 3. 5 Bill Ellis, Parkman; 4. 22 Jamie Foster, Benton; 5. 26 Norm Cummings, Jr., Augusta; 6. 23 Lance Chapman, Benton; 7. 81 Bryan Lancaster, Skowhegan; 8. 38 Tim Robinson, Clinton.
Keystone Automotive Wildcat (20 laps): 1. 18 Carl McAlpine, Burnham; 2. 17 Kris Matchett, Skowhegan; 3. 03 Maurice Young, Chelsea; 4. 29 Chris King, Burnham; 5. 9 Wayne Ripley, Waldoboro; 6. 24 Ed Gilblair, Skowhegan; 7. 82 Mike Moore, Smithfield; 8. 51 Ben Gilbert, Pittsfield; 9. 15 Michael Anderson, Barrington, NH; 10. 5x Bill Bowley II, Canaan; 11. 14 Mac Hannan, Union; 12. 20 Joe Harriman, Pittston.
DQ 22 Ed Sleeper, Vassalboro.
Flyin’ 4 (20 laps): 1. 09x Ryan Ripley, Waldoboro; 2. 61 Cole Robinson, Clinton; 3. 10 Mike Dulaney, Richmond; 4. 09 Matt Shaw, Burnham; 5. 60 Ryan Glover, Rumford; 6. 62 Kyle Robinson, Clinton; 7. 11 Bruce Nickerson, Norridgewock; 8. 71 Donny Silva, Hudson; 9. 22 Bob Gerard, Augusta; 10. Tyler Gerow, Fairfield; 11. 54 Donald Giggey, Athens; 12. 94 Mika Wilson, Chelsea.
Monster Mini (20 laps): 1. 19 Zach Audet, New Sharon; 2. 23 John Fortin, Vassalboro; 3. 53 Richard Jackson, Hudson; 4. 92 Mike Wilson, Chelsea; 5. 2 Greg Cummings, Augusta; 6. 26 Brent Roy, Vassalboro; 7. 00 Wayne Fox, Caribou; 8. 20 Pete McCollett, Readfield.
Teen Thunder (15 laps): 1. 21 Austin Clemons, Norridgewock; 2. 20 Ricky Pease, Detroit; 3. 18 Emily McAlpine, Burnham; 4. 15 Colby Robbins, Montville; 5. 34 Derek Pariseau, Brooks; 6. 88 Wesley Turner, Montville; 7. 11 April McAlpine, Burnham; 8. 45 Stowe, Waterville.
Challenger (20 laps): 1. 15 Chad Folsom, Skowhegan; 2. 44 Eric Peavey, Clinton; 3. 86 Rick Sirois, Norridgewock; 4. 84 Ken Lord, Waterville; 5. 18 Roy Crawford, Houlton; 6. 96 Samantha Farnham, Benton; 7. 24 Jason Stowe, Shawmut; 8. 7 Troy Rusconi, Clinton; 9. 4 Josh Spencer; 10. ? Louie Stillman, Clinton; 11. 17 Driver’s name unavailable; 12. 88 Henry Boudreau, Bristol; 13. 45 Mike Stowe, Waterville, 14. 4 Brad Frank, Caribou; 15. 45x Ben Clark, Clinton.
Four-cylinder enduro (10 laps): 1. z24 Shadow Folsom, Skowhegan; 2. 88 Mike Mathieu, Oakland; 3. Josh Spencer; further results unavailable.
Wicked Good Vintage Racing Association Late Model (20 laps): 1. 8 Mike Willette, Winslow; 2. M16 Mark Thurlow, Lincolnville; 3. 64 Scott Tucker, Winslow; 4. 82 Bob Simmonds, Casco; 5. 420 Keith Smalley, Warren; 6. 49 Roger Raymond, Palmyra; 7. 22 Hal Clark, Bridgton; 8. 2 Kevin Waterhouse, West Paris; 9. 151 Rosie Gerry, Lincolnville; 10. 155 Wally Henderson, Litchfield; 11. 96 Steve Kahler, Warren.
Wicked Good Vintage Racing Association Outlaw (20 laps) 1. 15 Mike Millette, Brewer; 2. 83 Kenny Robinson, East Machias; 3. 76 Donnie McHaren, N/A; 4. 13 Tim Reynolds, Bradley; 5. 06 Kris Watson, Hermon; 6. 88 Lyle Turtleotte, Lagrange.
Wicked Good Vintage Racing Association Sportsman (20 laps): 1. 3 Shawn Racilla, Dover-Foxcroft; 2. 27 Duane Dunifer, Hermon; 3. 11 John Rice, Bristol; 4. 31 George Cantwell, Machias.
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