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WISCASSET SPEEDWAY PRESS RELEASE AUGUST 16, 2014
CHRIS BOWIE DOUBLES DOWN AT WISCASSET SPEEDWAY
By Lisa Maguire

The Late Model Sportsman class ran at Wiscasset Speedway last Saturday. The division saw a second two-time winner. Chris Bowie drove his Electricity Maine Chevy Impala under the checkered making him the second driver in the division to nab two wins in Late Models. Chris Thorne of the #17 was the first driver in the division to win twice. The Wiscasset Speedway had a great day for racing. Besides Late Model Sportsman, other group two divisions gathered at the track including Mini Trucks, Strictly Street, and Thunder 4’s. The flex race of the week was a one hundred lap Enduro. There were over thirty Enduro cars participating in the race.

The spotlighted race of the week was a twenty lap Mini Truck feature. The race was quick and exciting. Starting at the pole was the #14 of Herb Farrar. Behind him were the #55 of Larry Marshall and the #12 of Jerry McKenna. Off the start, McKenna pulled ahead and passed Marshall for second. The #1 of Matt Curtis moved from the very back of the pack, and followed McKenna’s line to pass Marshall for third.

There was a caution during lap three when Curtis went into the back of McKenna. Farrar and Marshall got caught in the melee, but the majority of the damage was on Curtis’ truck and he needed to be towed to the pits. McKenna briefly visited the pits but was back on the track before the caution ended.

When racing action resumed the #17 of Matt Weil was in first. Marshall was in second place. In third place was Farrar. Marshall fell back as the green waved over the track. McKenna sped his truck around turn one and passed Marshall, taking second. Then, during lap twelve, McKenna passed Weil on turn one for the lead.

McKenna was able to hold off Weil for the remainder of the race, and clinched his third win of the season. McKenna is current point leader in the division with 444 points. Weil is second in points with 362. Third place is held by Matt Curtis with 316 points.
McKenna said, “The race went ok and we all had a little fun. I want to thank my sponsors and crew: Brian Farrar, Rick Farrar, Herb Farrar, and Ryan Hoyt.”

A twenty-five lap Strictly Street feature was exciting to the finish. It was a well-packed field of cars, and the race was caution free. Starting at the pole was the #26 of Corey Morgan. Jairet Harrison of the #85 and Tasha Dyer of the #32 were behind him. When green flag racing began, the #83 of Dan Brown passed Dyer for third.

Morgan and Harrison battled through the entire race for the lead. During the final lap, Harrison powered his car to the outside to pass Morgan. Morgan was able to hold him off. Harrison finished only .39 seconds behind him. It was a close and exciting finish and fans cheered the drivers on from the grandstands.

Morgan said, “Jairet Harrison was really fast and I thought he was going to get by me. It was a great run, and a caution free race! I want to thank my sponsors: The Sign Store, Washburn Excavation, and Altered Image Tattoo. I also want to thank Missy and Joe.”
Morgan was current point leader with 392 points going into Saturday’s race. Dan Brown is only ten points behind with 382. Dyer is in third place with 374, only eighteen points behind the leader.

An action packed twenty lap Thunder 4 feature was the next crowd pleaser. Starting on the pole was the #04 of Curtis Anderson. The # 85 of Chandler Harrison and the #33 of Trey Brown were behind him. During the opening lap, Brown passed Harrison on the inside for second. Harrison dropped back and the #113 of Nate Tribbet moved to third. Harrison fought back and during lap five, Harrison was able to reclaim third position.

Starting in thirteenth place was point leader Ryan Chadwick of the #5. Chadwick was in the top five midway through the race. During lap eleven, Chadwick advanced to third when he passed Harrison. Harrison battled back and during lap twelve passed Chadwick on the outside of the back stretch for third. Chadwick looked for his opportunity to pass. His chance came during lap fifteen, and he passed Harrison once again for third.

Chadwick continued his advance up the track and passed Brown during lap sixteen on the outside of the backstretch for second. Chadwick wanted the win. With only two laps remaining, Chadwick passed Anderson in his Skip Cahill racecar for the lead. Chadwick sped under the checkered in first, making this his eighth win of the season.

Chadwick was dominating the point race with 462 points going into Saturday’s race. His closest competitor, Cody Tribbet, was ninety-eight points behind him with 364. In third place was Trey Brown with 338 points.

A caution-free thirty-five lap Late Model Sportsman feature kept fans on the edge of their seats. Starting on the pole was the #04 of Allen Moeller. Behind him were the #33 of Josh St Clair and the #6 of Chris Bowie.

It was a gripping start with Moeller on the inside, and St Clair on the outside. For eight laps the pair battled for the lead. Fans cheered as the duo raced neck and neck before St Clair edged ahead and clinched the lead.

Behind the pair was Bowie. Bowie crept closer and closer to Moeller, and during lap twenty-two he passed Moeller coming out of turn four for second. Bowie advanced up the track, slowly gaining ground on St Clair. Bowie caught him during lap twenty-eight, and he powered his car past St Clair on the back stretch, taking the lead.

Moeller moved up to challenge St Clair for second. Then, during lap thirty-three, Moeller was able to complete the pass coming out of turn three for second place. Bowie sped across the finish 1.4 seconds ahead of Moeller. Rounding out the top three was Josh St Clair. This was Bowie’s second win of the season in the Late Model Division.

Nick Hinkley was point leader coming into Saturday’s race, with 374 points. Chris Thorne was second in points with 342. Third in points was Josh St Clair with 334.

Post-race Bowie said, “We had to work hard for this one. We didn’t start on the pole, and we were struggling in the pits before race time. We had started to call ourselves “The Bad News Bears” down in the pits, because while we were making adjustments on the car, the spring popped out of the car! It felt like we were rushing before the race. However, I didn’t over drive the car, and I just relaxed.”

Bowie also said, “We always have to work hard against what I call “The fast cars”. The St Clair’s, Nick Hinkley, Will Collins, and Chris Thorne. Some of those cars weren’t here tonight-but they are fast cars! I really love this place and I want to promote racing. It is family friendly. I love seeing the kids in the pits and on the grandstand. It is a great place to race!”

A one hundred lap Enduro race was the flex race of the week. Over thirty Enduro’s packed the track in competition. The #98 of Kamren Knowles emerged as an early race leader, leading the race from lap eight through lap ninety-three. During lap ninety-three, the #55 of Brad Clement took the lead. Knowles battled back and reclaimed the lead during lap ninety-six, and won the Enduro.

Wiscasset Speedway resumes racing action on August 23, 2014 with its group one line up of divisions: Napa Super Street, Prostock, Outlaw Mini, and New England 4 Cylinder Prostocks. The flex race of the week is a Northeast Mini Stock Tour. This is the only appearance the tour is making in Maine. For more information about the Tour, please visit the Wiscasset Speedway website. Pit gates open at 2:00 PM. Grandstand gates open at 4:00 PM. Racing begins at 6:00 PM. Admission is $5.00 for adults and children aged seven and older. Kids six and under are free. Pit admission is $20.00. Wiscasset Speedway is located on West Alna Road in Wiscasset. For more information, head to the Wiscasset Speedway website at: http:www.wiscassetspeedway.com.

More Photos – https://plus.google.com/photos/112256981499278136025/albums/6048694467330914881

Photos by Peter Taylor