A good and enthusiastic opening day crowd at Speedway 95 watched what started as a runaway for Orrington’s John Kalel II turn into a spirited battle for the win in the Hopkins Landscaping and Paving 50 lap feature for the Dysart’s Late Models. The race went caution free for the first 30 laps, with Kalel opening up a straightaway lead after early challenger Wayne Parritt of Steuben had to give up his second place spot on lap 8 when a loose sway bar forced him to the pits. When the caution fell on lap 30 for a solo spin by Hermon’s Greg Ellis, who was running fourth at the time, the field was bunched up with Kalel maintaining his lead on the restart until the caution fell again on lap 41 for a solo spin in turn 1 by Orrington’s Jim Robichaud. On the restart, Winterport’s Ryan Deane took the point as Kalel fell back as far as third in the shuffle. Harrington’s Andrew McLaughlin showed he would be a force to be reckoned with this season as he wrestled the lead away from Deane and led for 2 laps until the caution fell again on lap 44 when rookie Bradley Smart of Bradley went off course in turn four. When the green fell again, it was Deane and Kalel battling for position that brought out the race’s final caution, when Deane spun off turn one. Kalel then outraced McLaughlin for the final 5 laps to post the win. McLaughlin finished second with Steuben’s Brenton Parritt coming from a 12th place start to finish third. Winterport’s Shane Clark, who ran in the top five all race finished fourth with Hermon’s John Curtis Jr. of Hermon finishing a strong fifth in the 15 car field. Parritt and Kalel each won a qualifier earlier in the evening.
Nineteen cars started the first Sport Four feature of the season with Zach Audet of Skowhegan leading all 25 laps in his #19 to take the win. With Audet firmly in control of the top spot, outside pole sitter Garett Hayman of Milford and Brad Bosworth of Cornville raced for the second spot until the two bumped in turn 1 on lap 10, bringing out the race’s only caution. Hayman was able to continue, but Bosworth was forced to the pit following his encounter with the turn 1 dirt berm. On the restart, 2013 division champion Ted Ryder of Carmel got by Hayman to take second, with Hayman left to do battle with Jayson Bosworth of Cornville for the third spot. Bosworth finally won that battle on lap 17, placing Hayman in fourth and setting his sights on Ryder. Bosworth caught Ryder and challenged him for the second spot for the final five laps, but Ryder was able to fend off the challenge and nip Bosworth at the finish by inches. Bosworth finished third with Hayman a close fourth. J.R. Gray of Orrington finished in fifth, where he ran most of the race. Audet and Hayman started on the front row after each winning their respective qualifiers.
Skowhegan’s Kris Matchett led all 25 laps of the Darling’s Ford Sportsman feature, after also winning the 10 lap qualifier, which placed him on the pole for the main event. D.C. Alexander of Glenburn worked his way through the field to finish second with Bradley’s Deane Smart placing third. Fourth went to Cherryfield’s Ryan Beal with Dean Clement of Brooks finishing fifth, one lap down to the leaders.
The Keystone Automotive Strictly Street feature started out as a barn burner with pole sitter Bob Seger Jr. of Frankfort and Harrington’s Alex Berry fighting a side by side battle for the lead until Seger suddenly slowed and left for the pit area on lap 9. Berry remained in the lead to the finish while Glenburn’s Jordan Pearson worked his way through the field to place second. Cornville’s Matt Kimball and Jim Bragdon of Corinth waged a close battle for the third spot with Kimball taking it by less than a car length at the checkers. Bragdon finished fourth with Ellsworth’s Bradley Norris finishing fifth. Seger won the division’s qualifier.
On Saturday May 10th, NAPA Auto Parts sponsors the night’s activities which will feature race one of the three race Pepsi Beverage Company series for the Keystone Automotive Strictly Streets. Also on the schedule will be the first race for the newly formed Outlaw Super Series of Maine that will be racing throughout the state this season. They’ll race for 75 laps on the 1/3 mile Hermon oval along with the Speedway 95 Darling’s Ford Sportsman division. The NELCAR Legends tour will be making their first appearance of the season at the speedway, with qualifiers and a 25 lap feature scheduled. The Dysart’s Late Models will be racing a 40 lap feature and the Coca-Cola Sport 4’s will be racing their regular 25 lap event. Racing action starts at 7:00 p.m.