JIM BRAGDON WINS STRICTLY STREET SERIES EVENT AT SPEEDWAY 95
Jim Bragdon of Corinth made it two in a row in the Strictly Street division at Speedway 95 Saturday night after a race long battle with division points leader Alex Berry of Harrington, who finished a close second. Bragdon started on the outside pole of the Pine Tree Waste 35 lap series event, with Berry in the pole starting position after winning the evening’s qualifier. Bragdon took the early lead with Berry glued to his bumper. Following a lap 16 caution, Berry assumed the point, but the caution flew again on lap 18. On that restart, Berry and Bragdon raced side by side until Berry took the lead on lap 27. The caution flew again on lap 28 and again on lap 29 for solo spins by last year’s champion, Shelby Kimball of Cornville, who retired to the pit following the lap 29 caution. On the restart, Berry took the lead, but Bragdon stayed close on the outside and retook the lead on lap 33, holding Berry off until the checkered flag flew on lap 35. Berry finished in second with Jordan Pearson of Glenburn, recovering from a qualifying race wreck, finishing in third. Matt Kimball of Cornville finished fourth with Jeff Alley of Machias finishing in fifth.
Results of the 40 lap Dysart’s Late Model feature event are still unofficial, as the engine from winner Brenton Parritt’s car was removed for testing following his fourth win of the season. Parritt took the lead from Harrington’s Andrew McLaughlin on a lap 35 restart and held off a late race challenge from Hermon’s John Curtis Jr. who finished second. Third at the finish was Deane Smart of Bradley, with McLaughlin fading to a fourth place finish after leading the first 35 laps of the race. Orrington’s John Kalel II finished fifth after starting from the rear of the field following a lap one spin in turn three. Kalel and McLaughlin won the evening’s qualifiers. Official results of the race will be released once the testing of Parritt’s engine is completed.
Skowhegan’s Zach Audet made it five in a row in the Coca-Cola Sport-Fours, but was aided in victory by the caution flag. 2013 division champion Ted Ryder of Carmel led the first 13 laps of the 25 lap event, but was passed by Audet on the restart and was unable to mount a challenge from that point on. Winterport’s Jason Trundy also got by Ryder on the restart and chased Audet to the checkers, finishing second. Ryder finished third followed by Milford’s Garett Hayman. 12 year old Dylan Street started on the pole after winning a qualifier over Audet, but finished the feature in fifth. Hayman won the division’s second qualifier, but had to start further back in the field following a top three finish in last week’s feature.
Kris Matchett of Skowhegan was back in the winner’s circle in the Darling’s Ford Sportsman division after taking the lead from Glenburn’s Emma Libby on lap 20 of the 25 lap feature race. Libby finished second after leading laps 14 through 19. D.C. Alexander of Glenburn finished third, followed by Oakland’s Sean Johnson in fourth, after the duo had battled for the lead for the first 11 laps. Franklin’s Mike Overlock finished fifth. Johnson won the division’s only heat race.
Racing continues at Speedway 95 on Wednesday, July 2 at 7:00 with the first Wacky Wednesday of the season following last Wednesday’s rain out of the season opener. On the schedule are the 100% Stock Enduro, Modified Enduro, Stars of Tomorrow and the full size pick-up trucks.
On Saturday, July 5, the Dysart’s Late Models, Darling’s Ford Sportsman, Pepsi Beverage Company Strictly Streets and the Coca-Cola Sport-Fours will be in action, with the Sport-Fours having an extended length series event. Racing starts at 7:00.
The Saturday night races than take a two week break, with no racing on July 12 or July 19. Monster Truck Mayhem invades the speedway on Friday July 18 and Saturday, July 19, with shows at 7:00 p.m. on Friday and 2:00 and 7:00 on Saturday. Wednesday night racing will continue each Wednesday night throughout the month of July.