Photos by Peter & Mary Taylor

by Ken Minott

     Wiscasset Speedway was back in action Saturday night with Group 2 on the track plus the final appearance of the season for the Nelcar Legends. With just one more week of racing for the group in two weeks, the championship points chases came more into focus by the end of the night, while one division – the Strictly Streets – was locked up.
     The Wood Pellet Warehouse Late Model Sportsman was the spotlight division for the night with a 45 lap feature. Brandon Fowler #22 of Rome led the 15 car field to the green flag.But as usual, the heavy hitters were lurking deep in the field and with the extra 10 laps in their race, there was little doubt they would rise to the front. Heat 2 winner Will Collins #25 was the first to get there from his 7th starting position, grabbing the lead with relative ease from Fowler and pulling out to a comfortable advantage. #17 Chris Thorne and #33 Josh St Clair were next to arrive on the scene. While the pair were able to get to the lead pack, they were not able to mount much of a challenge to Collins. For Collins it was his first win of the season, making him the 8th different winner in the division’s 11 races. St Clair, the division runner-up, tightened up the points chase with another strong 2nd place finish. Thorne settled for 3rd. The top 5 was filled by Rookie Brandon Bailey or Wiscasset and Cody Verrill of Richmond, The race went caution-free for the full 45 laps.

    While all other Group 2 divisions have one more points race on September 30th to determine their champion, the Norms Used Cars Strictly Streets held their points finale on Saturday night. The title hopes came down to a pair of veteran racers looking for their first career title. #23 Zach Emerson of Sabattus came into the 25 lap feature with a manageable 16 point lead over #67 Mike Haynes of Livermore. Emerson knew that all he had to do was keep Haynes within reach to maintain his position atop the class. His strategy paid off as he drove to a 4th place finish, good enough to claim the 2017 Strictly crown. Meanwhile, in the race, #05r of Glenn Reynolds held the lead much of the race over #24 Jonathan Emerson and #78 Tiger Colby of Wiscasset. However, Reynolds win didn’t hold up long as he failed post-race inspection, The win would go to Jonathan Emerson; his 2nd victory of the season. Colby took home the 2nd place trophy and Zach Emerson was bumped up to 3rd. Kimberly Knight #00 of Chesterville took 4th. Haynes finished 5th. The Strictly Streets next race will be the 5th annual “Amsoil Dominator Strictly Shootout” on Saturday, Sept 30th – a special non-point 40 lap race attracting many of the top Strictly / Wildcat drivers from the region.
     In other action on the night, Adam Chadbourne #1 of Woolwich led the 30 lap Midcoast Region Napa Modifieds wire to wire for his 3rd win of the season. He was joined in victory lane by point leader Allan Moeller #04 of Dresden and #7 Nick Reno of West Bath. The 25 lap Kennebec Equipment Rental Outlaw Mini feature went to #2 Rob Greenleaf of West Bath. It was the first win of the season for the 4-time champ. #27 Jake Hendsbee of Whitefield took over the point lead with one race to go thanks to his 2nd place finish. Matt Glidden #20 of Chelsea finished 3rd. The 25 lap Amsoil Nelcar Legends feature went to #29 Austin Teras of Windham. His win wrapped up the 2017 Nelcar title for the talented young driver. He was joined in victory lane by #18 Parker Varney of Windham and #19 Kevin Gerard Jr of Old Orchard Beach.
     Wiscasset Speedway returns to action Saturday, September 23rd with Ames True Value NEMA Night. Besides season point finale for the Group 1 divisions, it will feature a special 65 lap race for the lightning-quick NEMA Lite asphalt sprint cars. Plus there will be a special 12-lap exhibition race for the Star Troopers, an entry-level kids division that runs regularly at Star Speedway in Epping, NH. Pit gates will open at 1pm; grandstand gates at 3pm and racing action begins promptly at 5pm. As always, grandstand admission is just $5, with kids 6&under free. Pit admission is $20 for all. For more information, go to the track website at www.wiscassetspeedway.com or call (207) 491-3720.
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WISCASSET SPEEDWAY RESULTS 9/16/17
GROUP 2 PLUS NELCAR LEGENDS
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WOOD PELLET WAREHOUSE LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN (45 laps – spotlight)
* Collins – started 7th
* 8th different winner in division this year
Pos No. Name Home Town Laps Diff
1 25 Will Collins Waldoboro 45
2 33 Josh St.Clair Liberty 45 1.166
3 17 Chris Thorne Sidney 45 4.848
4 47 Brandon Bailey Woolwich 45 5.849
5 11 Cody Verrill Richmond 45 7.494
6 30 Ryan St. Clair Liberty 45 7.923
7 15 Nick Hinkley Wiscasset 45 8.5
8 22 Brandon Fowler Rome 45 10.151
9 19 Shane Kaherl Jay 44 1 Lap
10 29 Ben Erskine Fairfield 44 1 Lap
11 55 Steve Barker Jay 44 1 Lap
12 3 Richard Jordan Kingfield 44 1 Lap
13 1 Mike Moody Turner 44 1 Lap
14 00 Alex Waltz Walpole 33 12 Laps
15 66 Alan Moeller Dresden 1 44 Laps
dns 7 Tyler Bailey Wiscasset dns
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NORMS USED CARS STRICTLY STREETS (25 laps)
* Jonathan Emerson 2nd win of 2017
* Glenn Reynolds won race but failed post-race inspection – springs
* Zach Emerson clinched 2017 division championship
Pos No. Name Home Town Laps Diff
1 24 Jonathon Emerson Sabattus 25
2 78 Tiger  Colby Wiscasset 25 1.023
3 23 Zachary Emerson Sabattus 25 3.553
4 00 Kimberly Knight Chesterville 25 4.361
5 67 Michael Haynes Livermore Falls 25 4.801
6 05 Brett Osmond Wiscasset 25 4.89
7 45 Cole Watson Naples 25 5.488
8 5 Mike Ramsey Dayton 25 8.625
9 13 Shawn Emery Limington 25 10.092
10 24x Ray Letellier Buxton 25 11.876
11 42 Dylan Varney Windham 13 12 Laps
12 2 Mike Short Auburn 9 16 Laps
13 66 James Grover Jr Newcastle 7 18 Laps
DQ 05r Glenn Reynolds Turner 25 DQ

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MIDCOAST REGION NAPA MODIFIEDS (30 laps)
* Chadbourne – 3rd win of 2017
Pos No. Name Home Town Laps Diff
1 1 Adam Chadbourne Woolwich 30
2 04 Allan Moeller Dresden 30 0.632
3 7 Nick Reno West Bath 30 1.734
4 21 Tom Young Freeport 29 1 Lap
5 27 Dan Brown Peru 29 1 Lap
6 8 Richard Jordan Kingfield 29 1 Lap
7 5 Mark Lucas Harpswell 0 30 laps
dns 33 Ron Bryant Livemore dns

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KENNEBEC EQUIPMENT RENTAL OUTLAW MINIS (25 laps)
* Greenleaf  – first win of 2017 (4-time champion)
* Jake Hendsbee – took over point lead from Brent Roy (one race left)
Pos No. Name Home Town Laps Diff
1 2 Rob Greenleaf Bath 25
2 27 Jake Hendsbee Whitefield 25 0.195
3 20 Matt Glidden Chelsea 25 0.887
4 41 Shane Smith Augusta 25 2.615
5 8 Scott Trask Richmond 25 3.965
6 10 Jimmy Childs Leeds 24 1 Lap
7 40 Leo Hatch Augusta 24 1 Lap
8 26 Brent Roy Vassalboro 22 3 Laps
9 41m Brain Dolloff Jay 3 22 Laps
dns 72 Mike Delano Woolwich dns
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AMSOIL NELCAR LEGENDS (25 laps)
* Teras clinches Nelcar Championship with win
Pos No. Name Home Town Laps Diff
1 29 Austin Teras Windham 25
2 18 Parker Varney Windham 25 0.577
3 19 Kevin Girard, Jr. Old Orchard Beach 25 0.698
4 47 Chris  Burgess Buckfield 25 1.002
5 4NH Thomas Everson Gilmanton 25 1.217
6 10 Ed Getty Gray 25 2.094
7 17 Terry Kirk Durham 25 3.173
8 52 Colby Benjamin Belmont 25 3.567
9 67 Zachary Godbout Mt Vernon 24 1 Lap
10 399 Bobby Weymouth Topsham 23 2 Laps
11 76 Russ Godbout Mt Vernon 21 4 Laps
12 31 Trent Goodrow Carver 14 11 Laps
13 6 Bryan Lancaster Skowhegan 25 Laps