WISCASSET SPEEDWAY PRESS RELEASE AUGUST 9, 2014
RIPLEY PROVES HE IS STILL THE “BOSS” AT WISCASSET SPEEDWAY
By Lisa Maguire
In the history of Wiscasset Speedway, few drivers can present the big race resume that Darren Ripley can. Despite running his first race of 2014, Ripley proved he still knows his way around Maine’s fastest track. It was a packed house on Saturday. Fans thronged the grandstands to watch some great racing action which included Outlaw Mini’s, Napa Super Street, New England Four Cylinder Prostocks, and the main draw of the night, a 100 lap Boss Hogg 100 sponsored by Forest Peaslee and LLP Trucking. Peaslee said, “I sponsor races and race car drivers. My whole family used to race. I love the sport.”
The Boss Hogg had over a $7,000 pay out total for the drivers, plus an additional $25 was given out for lap leaders. The first place winner walked away with a $3,000 purse, plus the extra for laps led during the race. All drivers received some payout for the race. The race drew visitors from across the state and beyond.
The Boss Hogg 100 ran three heat races to determine position, and starting at the pole was the #19 of John Rideout. The #15X of Scott Chubbuck and the #72 of Charlie Colby were behind him. The first lap of the race saw a caution. The #32 of Mike Orr, the #9 of Dylan Turner, and the #7 of Nick Reno jumbled together and scraped down pit row. Orr’s car received damage and was unable to return to the track. Reno limped along after returning to the track, but by lap 15, he headed to the pits and was unable to continue racing.
When racing got smoothly underway, Chubbuck was able to pass Rideout on the back stretch. However, Rideout fought back and reclaimed the lead before the first lap was complete. Chubbuck slid in behind Rideout and waited for an opportunity pass. His chance came during lap five, when Rideout got loose on the track and fell back several positions. Chubbuck surged to the lead. The #01 of Andy Saunders moved to second, passing both Rideout and Colby. Colby moved to third.
Lap seven saw the second caution of a seven caution race. The #45 of Al Byron was racing with the #07 of Billy Penfold, when Byron rear ended Penfold, sending him into the front stretch wall. Both cars received heavy damage and were towed to the pits, their race night over.
The #09 of Darren Ripley was advancing up the track. Ripley had started in ninth place, but by lap eight Ripley was passing Colby for third on the inside of turn three.
A caution during lap twenty-six occurred when the #15 of Nick Hinkley spun on the track. The #77 of Maggie Ferland swerved to avoid him and ended up in the infield. Ferland’s car received damage, and was pushed off the track to the pits. Ferland was unable to return to the track.
Chubbuck had a solid lead, but the battle for second was fierce. Ripley challenged Saunders for his position, and during lap twenty-eight he passed on the inside of turn four for second.
Everything changed during lap sixty-nine. The #09D of Justin Drake spun on the track. When the caution was called Rideout slowed on the track, and five time Wiscasset Prostock champion Chubbuck came up from behind and rear ended him. Chubbuck’s car received front end damage and he headed to the pits for a quick repair. Chubbuck was able to make it back to the track before the caution had ended, but he started from the back. Ripley moved to first. Saunders moved to second. The #73 of Adam Polvinen moved to third.
On the ensuing restart, Ripley spun his tires on the start and Saunders leapt to the lead. Ripley played a game of catch up, and reclaimed the lead before the lap was complete. The #21 of Kevin Douglass passed Polvinen on turn three for third during lap seventy.
Saunders started getting loose coming into the corners. He lost his second place spot during lap seventy-seven when Douglass passed him on the inside of turn four. Saunders dropped back another position during lap eighty, when Polvinen passed on the inside of turn three for third.
Chubbuck, who had gone to the back of the pack, was making his way up the racetrack to the race leaders. By lap eighty-eight Chubbuck was back in the top five and looking to advance. He was able to claim fourth, but he did not have enough time before the end of the race to gain any additional positions.
Ripley took the checkered. The margin of victory was just a half second over Douglass, who placed second. Polvinen placed third. Race winner Ripley said, “I want to thank my crew. I want to thank my crew chief, Ryan Leadbetter, Travis Benjamin (2014 Oxford 250 winner), Dickie Ripley, Dana Ripley, Wayne Ripley, Mitchell, Pendleton, Benny Pratt, Dougie Wilshire, and Ryan Ripley. If not for them, I would not be doing this. As far as the race, I was just at the right time in the right place. The restarts where I started on the inside really helped. Scott Chubbuck was fast, I didn’t have anything for him. As I was racing, I could see the cars in my rear view window, they were competition, but I was able to keep them behind me. It is nice when your car is fast. It was a fun race.”
A quick and exciting twenty-five lap Outlaw Mini feature started the evenings’ races. Starting at the pole was the #06 of Ryan Glover. The #13 of Nate Tribbet and the #14 of Matt Moore were behind him. Starting in fifth was the #20 of Shawn Kimball. Kimball blew an engine last week racing at Louden, and he installed a new motor for this week’s racing. Kimball said, “During practice my engine came apart: the cam shaft, the cylinder head, and the timing belt. We had to change all of it before the race.”
Despite all of Kimball’s car problems, he marched up the track from his starting position. By lap five, Kimball had passed all the race leaders and was running in first place. Glover was in second, and in third was the #62 of Tim Robinson.
Lap fifteen saw the one and only caution of the race when Glover and Robinson made contact on the track and both went into the turn two wall. When the track was cleared, and action resumed on the track, Kimball was still race leader. Moving to second was the #34 of Justin Trombley. The #8 of Calvin Rose Jr moved to third. Race leaders remained constant until race conclusion.
Three time Mini Outlaw winner Kimball said, “It was a good run and everyone helped out- it was a team effort to win this race. I need to thank my whole crew: Dan, Pete, my dad, and Rob. Considering how my car fell apart during practice, the race went phenomenally well. The car was going fast and I didn’t expect it. I really can’t believe I won. After I got the engine back together I was thinking I would be happy with fifth! I want to thank my sponsors Soule’s Auto Supply, Brad Clements Construction, and Kasie-Jo Roofing.”
Going into Saturday’s race, Jimmy Childs was point leader with 408 points. In second was Shawn Kimball with 372. Third in points was Nate Tribbet with 360 points.
A twenty-five lap Napa Super Street feature was the next crowd pleaser. Starting on the pole was the #8 of Kevin Morse. The #1 of Adam Chadbourne and the #88 of Jamie Norton were behind him. There was a slow start to the race, with two cautions before the first lap was completed. Norton spun out causing the second caution, and he went to the back. The #06 of Zach Poland moved to third.
When racing action resumed, Chadbourne got a good jump off the start and passed Morse for the lead. Morse dropped back, and Poland moved to second and the #61 of Shawn Austin moved to third. During lap two Shawn Austin headed to the inside and passed Poland for second on the front stretch. Poland dropped back another position and the # 51 of RJ Austin moved to third.
Lap seven saw RJ Austin pass Shawn Austin for second on the inside of turn three, the #05 of James Osmond followed RJ Austin and slid into third position. Osmond was unable to hold onto third. During lap nineteen the #2 of Josh Bailey passed Osmond on the outside of the front stretch, claiming the spot. Bailey continued his advance up the track and passed RJ Austin on the back stretch for second. Lap nineteen also saw the forth caution of the race when Travis Dunbar of the #6 and RJ Austin made contact on the track. Osmond moved to third.
Chadbourne drove his Peavey’s General Store racecar under the checkered in first. Bailey placed second but failed post-race inspection. Osmond advanced to second place. Finishing in third was the #53 of Richard Jackson.
Four time 2014 Napa Super Street winner Chadbourne said, “I want to thank my dad and my crew. Without them there would be no race car. They work on it every day. This has been my hardest season ever- as far as breakdowns- and these guys have been with me every step of the way. We have already replaced three motors this year, and tonight we raced with a cracked head and the rear end of the car was growling. Despite this we still won! We really needed a win, and we lucked out. I also want to thank my sponsor Norm’s Used Cars.”
Chadbourne was second in points heading into Saturday’s race with 422 points. First in points was James Osmond with 424. In third place was the #48 of Dan Nessmith with 378 points.
A seven caution New England Four Cylinder Prostock feature was next on the schedule. The twenty-five lap race was shortened to twenty by race control after an excess of cautions. The #14 of Bob Patten started at the pole. Behind him were the #24 of Jeff Prindall and the #27 of Jacob Hendsbee. There were four cautions before the first lap was completed. In one of the cautions, Hendsbee spun and went to the back of the pack. The #12 of Dave Patten moved to third place.
When action resumed on the track, Prindall got a good jump off the start and passed Bob Patten for the lead. Dave Patten also passed Bob Patten and moved to second. The #7 of Chuck Harris passed both Dave and Bob Patten when the pair slowed on the track. Harris took second and the #98 of Kamren Knowles, who started in ninth place, slid into third.
Lap eight saw Knowles pass Harris and take second on the inside of turn two. Harris and Knowles battled for position for four laps. Harris was able to overtake Knowles and reclaim second.
The fifth caution of the race came during lap twelve when race leaders Prindall and Harris made contact, causing Prindall to spin on the track. The pair were sent to the back of the pack. Knowles moved to first. The #8 of Craig Dunn advanced to second. Moving to third was the #38 of Ryan Hayes. During lap fifteen, Hayes passed Dunn on the outside of turn three, claiming second.
During the final lap, there was a jumble on the track when cars went three to four wide coming out of turn three into turn four. Hendsbee went off the track at a great rate of speed. Race leaders Hayes and Dunn got caught in the melee. Kamren Knowles sped across the finish in first. Harris placed second. Rounding out the top three was Dave Patten. A caution was called and the red flag came out as the leaders flew under the checkered. Hendsbee needed medical attention, but was able to walk away from the crash, with no serious injury.
This was Knowles second victory of the year. Knowles is also current point leader with 412 points. Second in points going into Saturday’s race was Prindall, with 402. Dunn was third in points with 370.
Knowles said, “There was a lot of competition on the track tonight. I was loose and I had to fight the whole time. I want to thank my mom, dad, and my whole crew. I also want to thank my sponsor AC Towing.”
Wiscasset Speedway resumes racing action, August 16, 2014 with its group two lineup of divisions: Late Model Sportsman, Strictly Street, Thunder 4’s and Mini Trucks. The flex race of the week is an Enduro race. Details for the Enduro can be found at 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. Race fans and drivers can also now purchase their favorite pictures from not only this season, but from season’s past, at Peter Taylor’s (the track photographer) website: www.petespicks.smugmug.com. Wiscasset Speedway is located on West Alna Road in Wiscasset. For more information, head to the Wiscasset Speedway website at www.wiscassetspeedway.com.
WISCASSET SPEEDWAY UNOFFICIAL FINISH AUGUST 9, 2014*
PROSTOCK BOSS HOGG 100
1. #09 Darren Ripley, Appleton
2. #21 Kevin Douglass, Sidney
3. #73 Adam Polvinen, Hebron
4. #15X Scott Chubbuck, Bowdoin
5. #01 Andy Saunders, Ellsworth
6. #19 John Rideout, Washington
7. #09D Justin Drake, Burnham
8. #72 Charlie Colby, Edgecomb
9. #39 James Osmond, Woolwich
10. #88 Kyle DeSouza, Buckfield
11. #1 Jeff Burgess, Fairfield
12. #15 Nick Hinkley, Wiscasset
13. #77 Maggie Ferland, Auburn
14. #25 Will Collins, Waldoboro
15. #7 Nick Reno, West Bath
16. #55 Jesse Smith, Hermon
17. #07 Bill Penfold, Oxford
18. #11 Ed Trask, Chelsea
19. #9 Dylan Turner, Freedom
20. #45 Al Byron, Barrington
21. #32 Mike Orr, Wiscasset
22. #5 Bill Pinkham, Wiscasset
OUTLAW MINI (25 LAPS)
1. #20 Shawn Kimball, Augusta
2. #34 Justin Trombley, Winter Harbor
3. #8 Calvin Rose Jr, Turner
4. #14 Matt Moore, Mechanic Falls
5. #62 Tim Robinson, Clinton
6. #13 Nate Tribbet, Richmond
7. #12 Darrell Moore, Oxford
8. #19 Zach Audet, Skowhegan
9. #53 Nick Bissell, Lewiston
10. #06 Ryan Glover, Mexico
11. #10 Jimmy Childs, Leeds
NAPA SUPER STREET (25 LAPS)
1. #1 Adam Chadbourne, Woolwich
2. #05 James Osmond, Wiscasset
3. #53 Richard Jackson, Palmyra
4. #38 Chris Buzzell, Madison
5. #61 Shawn Austin, Norridgewock
6. #51 RJ Austin, Smithfield
7. #8 Kevin Morse, Woolwich
8. #88 Jamie Norton, Farmingdale
9. #6 Travis Dunbar, Auburn
10. #06 Zac Poland, Woolwich
11. #02 Paul Hopkins, Camden
12. #48 Dan Nessmith, Wiscasset
DQ #2 Josh Bailey, Wiscasset
NEW ENGLAND FOUR CYLINDER PROSTOCK (20 LAPS)
1. #98 Kamren Knowles, West Gardiner
2. #7 Chuck Harris, Bristol
3. #12 Dave Patten, Westbrook
4. #14 Bob Patten, Westbrook
5. #8 Craig Dunn, Strong
6. #24 Jeff Prindall, Lisbon Falls
7. #3 Barry Morris, Livermore Falls
8. #38 Ryan Hayes, Jefferson
9. #27 Jacob Hendsbee, Whitefield
10. #99 Cameron Folsom, Augusta
11. #35 Nate McWilliams, Lewiston
12. #9X Brooke Knowles, West Gardiner
13. #2 Jay Bailey, Alna