Jeff Burgess of Fairfield nailed down his second feature race victory this season in the 35-lap Late Model main event at Unity Raceway Saturday night.
Burgess, who held a narrow, one-point win in his defense of the Unity Raceway track championship over Burnham’s Brian Whitney entering the night’s action, stalked Whitney throughout the race, finally making his move to the point with only three laps remaining.
Whitney, already a two-time winner in early-season action, had to settle for second after setting the pace for 30 laps. Three-time track champion Frank Moulton of Burnham crossed the finish line in third position, followed by Ajay Picard of Palmyra. Mark Dodge of Unity, who led the first two circuits, rounded out the top five. Whitney won the heat race.
Brent “Poochie” Chase of Burnham extended his points lead in Wildcat division competition, posting his third victory of the season. This one wasn’t as easy as the first two for Chase, who was challenged throughout the event by 2010 division champion Chris King of Burnham, making his first start of the season. King claimed runner-up honors in the 20-lapper, in front of Skowhegan’s Ed Gilblair. George Fernald III of Benton and Liberty’s Joe Harriman rounded out the top five. King won the heat race.
Multi-time Late Model Pro Four champion Steve Rackliff of Starks climbed back atop the points standings with a victory in his 20-lap main event. Rackliff inherited the lead with two laps to go following a spin by point leader Alex Fernald of Benton, who was seeking a career-first main event triumph in the class. Tim Robinson of Clinton earned a second-place finish, with Fernald making a late charge into third place at the checkered flag. Dylan Lancaster of Skowhegan crossed the finish line in fourth position, followed by rookie Scott Horne of Benton. Bill Ellis of Parkman won the heat race.
Defending Monster Mini Stock kingpin Zach Audet of Skowhegan raced to victory in his 20-lap main event, turning back a stiff challenge by Tim Collins of Farmingdale en route to victory lane. Multi-time division champion Mike Wilson of Chelsea led a few laps before settling for a third-place run. Rookie Cole Robinson of Clinton ended up in fourth spot, followed by Vassalboro’s Brent Roy, who also led part of the race. Audet also claimed victory in the heat race.
Nate Tribbett of Richmond led all the way in the Flyin’ 4 20-lap main event, claiming his first-ever main event win at Unity Raceway. Tribbett built a healthy lead early in the race, but a fast-closing Ed Archer made things interesting at the end. Archer, of Skowhegan, made his first start in the class an impressive one, with a runner-up finish. Kayla Allen of Penobscot rounded out the podium positions, followed by Paul Shorette of Waterville and Richmoind’s Mike Dulaney. Tribbett won the heat race.
Challenger division teammates Ken Lord of Waterville and Robert MacDonald of Oakland continued to dominate that entry-level class, with Lord prevailing in yet another 1-2 finish for the duo. Christie foster of Skowhegan was the best of the rest in third position, followed by Robert Corson of Benton and Troy Rusconi of Clinton. Lord won the heat race.
Racing action continues Saturday at 6:00 p.m., with a special 1:00 p.m. Sunday card set for May 27 (Memorial Day Weekend) highlighted by the Butch Burgess Memorial Race, with 34-lappers for Late Models and Wildcats topping that card. For more information visit unityraceway.info or call (207) 453-2021.
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Feature race Results (Finishing position, car number, driver, hometown)
Late Model: 1. X Jeff Burgess, Fairfield; 2. 18 Brian Whitney, Burnham; 3. 15 Frank Moulton, Burnham; 4. 99 Ajay Picard, Palmyra; 5. 73 Mark Dodge, Unity; 6. 25 Will Collins, Waldoboro; 7. 3 Poncho Darveau, Chelsea.
Wildcat: 1. 31 Brent Chase, Burnham; 2. 29 Chris King, Burnham; 3. 24 Ed Gilblair, Skowhegan; 4. 91 George Fernald III, Benton; 5. 20 Joe Harriman, Liberty.
Late Model Pro Four: 1. 94 Steve Rackliff, Starks; 2. 38 Tim Robinson, Clinton; 3. 91 Alex Fernald, Benton; 4. 1 Dylan Lancaster, Skowhegan; 5. 3 Scott Horne, Benton; 6. 26 Norm Cummings, Jr., Augusta; 7. 5 Bill Ellis, Parkman; DNS 81 Bryan Lancaster, Skowhegan.
Monster Mini: 1. 19 Zach Audet, Skowhegan; 2. 18 Tim Collins, farmingdale; 3. 92 Mike Wilson, Chelsea; 4. 61 Cole Robinson, Clinton; 5. 26 Brent Roy, Vassalboro; 6. 88 Wes Turner, Montville; DNS: 09 Matt Shaw, Burnham; 62 Kyle Robinson, Clinton; 84 Michael Bolduc, Windsor.
Flyin’ 4: 1. 04 Nate Tribbett, Richmond; 2. 81 Ed Archer, Jr., Skowhegan; 3. 20 Kayla Allen, Penobscot; 4. 0x Paul Shorette, Waterville; 5. 10 Mike Dulaney, Richmond; 6. 8 Mike Mathieu, Oakland; 7.
Challenger: 1. 28 Ken Lord, Waterville; 2. 84 Robert MacDonald, Oakland; 3. 19 Christie Foster, Skowhegan; 4. 88 Robert Corson, Benton; 5. 7 Troy Rusconi, Clinton.
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