WISCASSET SPEEDWAY WELCOMES SOME NEW FACES TO VICTORY LANE

Jul 20, 2015 | Maine Race Tracks, Wiscasset Speedway

Mary and Peter Taylor petespicks.smugmug.com

Mary and Peter Taylor petespicks.smugmug.com

By Lisa Maguire

There were some new faces in Victory Lane this Saturday at Wiscasset Speedway.  Fans gathered, despite the cool weather, and were treated to some exciting racing action, with appearances on the podium from several racers who had not been there in quite some time.  On the agenda were the Group Two division of racing, including Late Model Sportsman, Outlaw Mini, Modified, and Strictly Street.  The flex race of the week was a one-hundred lap Enduro feature.

Starting off the night was the spotlighted Late Model Sportsman class in a forty-five lap event.  On the pole was the #33 of Josh St Clair.  To his right was Bryan Robbins of the #5X.  In third was Steve Minott in the #28. 

Josh St Clair had a strong start, and leapt to a car length lead, setting the pace for a race filled with action.  Bryan Robbins dropped back and Minott advanced to second, and the #34 of Tyler Robbins moved to third.

A caution during lap ten provided a break in the action, and grouped the drivers together once again.  During lap fourteen, TJ Watson of the #4ME passed Tyler Robbins for third.  Nick Hinkley, driving the #15 passed Watson on the inside of the front stretch during lap seventeen.

The #14 of Dave St Clair was advancing up the track from his twelfth place start.  With Josh St Clair in the lead by several car lengths, and Minott racing furiously to catch up, Dave St Clair and Hinkley began a battle for third place.

During lap twenty-four Dave St Clair got under Hinkley and began a pass.  The duo raced around the track, door to door for twelve laps.  Dave St Clair would take third place, then Hinkley would advance to third.  Fans were on the edge of their seats in anticipation of who would ultimately clinch a pass for third.

Then everything changed during lap thirty-eight.  Dave St Clair pushed Hinkley up the track a bit, and Will Collins of the #25 slipped inside and completed a pass, stealing third away from the dueling pair.  Hinkley moved to forth, and Dave St Clair moved to fifth.  Despite Hinkley’s efforts, he was not able to pass Collins, and race leaders remained constant until race conclusion.

Josh St Clair claimed his first win since winning the Coastal 200 on Memorial Day weekend of 2014.  He was the seventh different winner of the Late Model Sportsman class this season.  Coming into Saturday’s race, Collins was current point leader of the class, with 248 points.  Hinkley was a close second, down four points from Collins.  Third in points was Shane Clark, who finished in sixth place this week, and had 224 points.

Post-race, Josh St Clair said, “It was a long overdue win.  It seemed like it has been forever since I was in the top three, and it was needed.  The race went good.  I went a long way under green, and had a good run with nobody up there, so that helped.  I want to thank my grandfather, Dave St Clair, for giving me a chance to drive the car.  I want to thank my mother and father, and all my family and friends who all help me every week: Chris Doolen, Matt Abbott, Casey St Clair, and my Aunt Barbara, as well as Dave’s World, my sponsor.”

A twenty-five lap Outlaw Mini feature was next.  This was a one caution race, and was sped through with a lot of initial action.  Starting at the pole was Nick Bissell of the #53.  In second was the #20 of Shawn Kimball.  Behind was Mike Bolduc of the #84.

When green flag racing began, Kimball took the lead, gained a two car advantage, and despite a caution during lap four, never relinquished the lead.  This season had been plagued with mechanical issues for Kimball and his crew, and was his first appearance in Victory Lane since August of 2014.

The #10 of Jimmy Childs, who was third in points coming into Saturday’s race, passed Bolduc during the opening lap for third.  During lap two, Cody Tribbett, current point leader, passed Childs for third.  Tribbet then bumped Bissell, and passed for second.  Childs followed Tribbet and once again claimed third.

During lap six Childs headed to the inside, and after racing side by side with Tribbet for a lap, completed the pass for second.  Race leaders remained constant until the finish.

Kimball went home with first place.  Childs placed second.  Rounding out the top three was Tribbet.

After the race, Kimball said, “I’m pretty happy, it was about time for a win.  The race was pretty good.  The car was a little bit of a handful for me.  It’s not the way we want it, but it was certainly good enough to win.  I couldn’t be happier.  I want to thank Home Grown Health Solutions of Maine, Rotary Garage, Soule’s Auto Supply, and L & S Auto.  I also want to thank Dan and Pete.”

The one race that didn’t have a new face in Victory Lane was the Modified class.  A thirty lap Modified feature saw plenty of action, but six-time winner, Mark Lucas, once again proved himself the man to beat on the track, speeding his way to a seventh victory.  The results of the race are unofficial, however, pending results of an engine inspection which hadn’t been completed by race nights’ end.

Starting at the pole was the #33 of Ron Bryant.  To his right was Kevin Douglas of the #18.  In third was the #8 of Richard Jordan.  The #5 of Lucas passed Jordan during the opening lap for third.  There was then a caution as the #85 of Jairet Harrison and Douglas scraped together on the track.  Harrison headed to the pits, but Douglas was able to stay on the track, although he started at the back after caution end.

The new race order put Steve Reno of the #7 in third place.  Bryant was in the lead.  Lucas was in second.  On the ensuing restart, Lucas shot to the lead.  Reno went down on the track during lap two and passed Bryant for second.

During lap fourteen, Reno spun on the track, bringing out a caution.  Bryant advanced to second.  Douglas had worked his way from the back of the pack, and he moved into third place.

When racing action once again resumed on the track, Douglas passed Bryant for second.  Reno was working his way back up the track.  He passed Bryant for third during lap sixteen.  Reno then headed outside and passed Douglas during lap twenty for second.  Reno sped up the track, but wasn’t able to catch Lucas before race conclusion.  Lucas, who was first in points coming into the race, took the win.  Harrison was second in points with 294.  Jordon, with 266 points was third in points.

Lucas said post-race, “I want to thank Lucas Auto Repair, Dallas Staples Excavation, Fishing vessel Mamiluem, and all my crew and family.”

A Strictly Street twenty-five lap feature was quick and action packed.  On the pole was the #11 of Cody Verrill.  To the right was Kimberly Knight of the #00.  Behind in third was the #85 of Chanler Harrison.  The opening lap was filled with leader changes as Knight advanced to the lead and Verrill moved to second.  The #83 of Dan Brown advanced to third.

Verrill fell off the pace, hanging up Brown for a moment, during lap two.  Bryan Robbins of the #51X advanced to second, and Brown fell to third.  During lap three, Robbins passed Knight for the lead.  Knight then fell to third when Brown completed a pass during lap four.  The #51 of Kyle Hewins passed Knight for third during lap four.

The trio raced for position.  The #55H of Kurt Hewins joined them after he had raced his way from his ninth place start.  Kurt Hewins was able to get under Kyle Hewins during lap twelve.  Kurt Hewins and Kyle Hewins raced door to door until lap fourteen, when Kurt Hewins was able to complete a pass, taking third.

As the race leaders were heading for the checkered, Knight and Verrill tangled on the track.  The race ended under caution with Robbins taking the win.  Brown placed second.  Kurt Hewins took third.

Third place finisher, Kurt Hewins was point leader coming into the race, with 310 points.  Kyle Hewins was only four points below him with 306.  Brown was third in points, twenty points below Kyle Hewins.

This was Robbins first win in over a year, yet another new face in Victory Lane.  Speaking after his podium finish win, Robbins said, “I finally kept it together for a night.  I want to thank a couple of gentlemen who bought me new tires, which helped out a lot.  We finally put everything together. I want to thank Hydraulic Solutions of New England, Carbur Trucking, my brother Jerry, who has helped me out a lot, and my wife, for putting up with me.  It feels good to be back in Victory Lane.”

Wrapping up the nights’ entertainment was a one-hundred lap Enduro.  The Enduro feature had thirty-six cars competing for the win. Lap one leaders included Dylan Lancaster of the #14, the #83 of Michael Duffy, the #8 of Ron Whitcomb, the #42 of Frank Brown, and the #53 of Russell Collins.

Lap ten saw Lancaster in the lead, Whitcomb in second, and the #51 of Mike Mason in third.  By lap twenty, Whitcomb had dropped to fourth.  Mason advanced to second, and in third was the #99 of Craig Landry.  Whitcomb fell out of contention during lap forty-seven, when he lost a right front tire, which bounced down the front stretch, nearly clearing the front stretch wall!

Lap seventy-three saw a jumble coming out of turn one, and the race leaders were caught up in it.  Despite this stumbling block, Lancaster, Mason, and Landry stayed in the top three.

Through lap ninety-nine, Lancaster remained in the lead.  Mason and Landry were in second and third.  Lancaster lost power during those last two laps, and fell off the pace.  Mason took the lead.  Landry took second.  Mason maintained the lead until the finish.  Landry placed second.  Lancaster took third.

Wiscasset Speedway resumes racing action, Saturday, July 25, 2015 with its group one lineup of divisions: Prostock, Napa Super Street, Thunder 4’s, and New England Four Cylinder Prostock.  Next Saturday Wiscasset Speedway celebrates its 46th birthday.  The program is being presented by the Maine State Bureau of Highway Safety.  It will be Champion Night, with racers from both the past and present on hand to visit with fans.  The Maine Vintage Racing Association Mobile Museum will be on hand.  There will be cupcakes for all, and a celebration with fireworks after the races are completed.

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 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.  The Wiscasset Speedway website is packed with information, including schedule of events, division rosters and rules, race results, and driver profiles.  Head on over to take a look.

 

 

WISCASSET SPEEDWAY OFFICIAL FINISH (JULY 18, 2015)

LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN (45 LAPS)

  1. #33 Josh St Clair, Liberty
  2. #28 Steve Minott, Windham
  3. #25 Will Collins, Waldoboro
  4. #15 Nick Hinkley, Wiscasset
  5. #87 Chuck Colby, Wiscasset
  6. #21 Shane Clark, Winterport
  7. #26 Andrew McLaughlin, Harrington
  8. #30 Ryan St Clair, Liberty
  9. #14 Dave St Clair, Liberty
  10. #4ME TJ Watson, Cundy’s Harbor
  11. #04 Allen Moeller, Dresden
  12. #3 Richard Jordan, Kingsfield
  13. #34C Craig Robbins, Palermo
  14. #27 Brenton Parritt, Steuben
  15. #34 Tyler Robbins, Montville
  16. #17 Chris Thorne, Sidney
  17. #4 Ben Erskine, Farmington
  18. #00 Alex Waltz, Walpole
  19. #5X Bryan Robbins, Montville
  20. #13 Nate Tribbet, Richmond
  21. #7 Jay Bailey, Wiscasset

DNS #88X Wes Turner, Freedom

OUTLAW MINI (25 LAPS)

  1. #20 Shawn Kimball, Augusta
  2. #10 Jimmy Childs, Leeds
  3. #13 Cody Tribbet, Richmond
  4. #26 Brent  Roy, Vassalboro
  5. #84 Mike Bolduc, Palermo
  6. #41 Shane Smith, Augusta
  7. #81 Bryan Lancaster, Skowhegan
  8. #53 Nick Bissell, Palermo

DNS #19 Shane Kaherl, Jay

MODIFIEDS (30 LAPS) UNOFFICIAL RESULTS PENDING ENGINE INSPECTION

  1. #5 Mark Lucas, Harpswell
  2. #7 Steve Reno, West Bath
  3. #18 Kevin Douglas, Sidney
  4. #33 Ron Bryant, Livermore
  5. #8 Richard Jordan, Kingfield
  6. #3 Mike Orr, Wiscasset
  7. #96 Todd Ladd, Farmington
  8. #85 Jairet Harrison, Freeport

STRICTLY STREET (25 LAPS)

  1. #51X Bryan Robbins, Montville
  2. #83 Dan Brown, Peru
  3. #55H Kurt Hewins, Leeds
  4. #51 Kyle Hewins, Leeds
  5. #84 Skip Trip, Turner
  6. #40 Mac Hannon, Union
  7. #85 Chanler Harrison, Freeport
  8. #00 Kimberly Knight, Chesterville
  9. #11 Cody Verrill, Wiscasset
  10. #03 Maurice Young, Chelsea

DNS Paul Hopkins, Camden

ENDURO (100 LAPS)

  1. #51 Mike Mason
  2. #99 Craig Landry
  3. #14 Dylan Lancaster
  4. #98 Kamren Knowles
  5. #22 Scott Eck
  6. #20 Andrew Glynn
  7. #00 Shane Knight
  8. #55X Nike Snyder
  9. #01X David Hamel
  10. #44 Logan Leach
  11. #15 Grady Lane
  12. #69 Dustin Gordon
  13. #83 Michael Duffy
  14. #03X Jake Allen
  15. #55 Mike Marshall
  16. #77 Vern Hodgkins Jr
  17. #53 Russell Collins
  18. #55ME Brad Clement
  19. #25 Tim Johnson
  20. #68 Jeff Minchin Jr
  21. #42 Travis Knight
  22. #42 Frank Brown
  23. #69 Merrill Chapman
  24. #01 Ira Hatch
  25. #17 Stanley Lawrence
  26. #8 Ron Whitcomb
  27. #12 Shelby Brannon
  28. #6 Brianna Bodman
  29. #77 Griffin Laney
  30. #66 Rick Goddard
  31. #3 Matt Shockley
  32. #2X Jeremiah Knight
  33. #18 Joey Doyon
  34. #0 Kimberly Knight
  35. #68X Roy Glidden
  36. #03 Jason Stanley