by Ken Minott
Wiscasset Speedway’s Late Model Sportsman division proved once again why it is the track’s most exciting and competitive division in 2014. Coming into the holiday weekend, the class had turned out 5 different winners in the first 5 races. That streak of different winners would continue after an action packed, and caution free, 35 lap feature. Fans packed into Maine’s fastest track on a beautiful evening for a Independence Day weekend show featuring action in Group 2 divisions, including Late Models, Strictly Streets, Thunder 4 Minis and Mini Truck. The “Flex” race of the weekend was a 100 lap Enduro. Fans also got an opportunity to meet pro fisherman Troy Garrison.
The Thunder 4 Mini’s rolled out the spotlight feature of the night with a 30 lap feature race. Wiscasset’s Ryan Chadwick took little time moving up from his 10th starting position to grab the lead just before the halfway point of the race. From there he held off late race challenges from Nate Tribbet and Cody Robbins to secure the win. For Chadwick, it was his 5th feature win in the division’s six races. He came into the weekend with a sizable lead in the point standings. Tribbet started outside the front row and would roll into victory lane 2nd. They would be joined by Cody Robbins who raced up from 9th to finish 3rd.
The Mini Trucks had a straight forward 15 lap feature race with six drivers shooting for the win. The race was slowed by just one caution as previous week’s winner Matt Weil went spinning off turn 4. While he did return to the race, he was not a factor. Freeport’s Matt Curtis started on the outside of the front row. He quickly disposed of Jeff Schmidt, and then outraced point leader Jerry McKenna for the victory. For Curtis, it was his first Wiscasset victory and also made him the 4th different winner this season. They were joined in victory lane by Sanford’s Kris Knox.
The 35 lap Late Model Sportsman feature saw Sidney’s Chris Thorne lined up at the poll position and surrounded by the St Clair family. He had veteran “Boss Hogg” Dave St Clair line up behind him and brother’s Ryan and Josh St Clair along side. Thorne quickly shook off the challenge and pulled out to a half straightaway advantage by halfway. Thorne was looking to become the division’s first repeat winner of 2014. Through the middle of the race Dave St Clair settled into a good run and slowly started to reel in the race leader. After trying the outside of Thorne with 10 laps to go, St Clair switched things up and pulled to the inside of Thorne in turn three to take the lead. He would go on to take the feature win by about 4 car lengths. For St Clair it was his first win at Wiscasset in nearly 10 years. Thorne held on to finish and they were joined in victory lane by Ryan St Clair, who held off his brother Josh as well as a hard charging Chris Bowie.
The 25 Lap Strictly Street feature was slowed by a handful of cautions, including a back stretch wall hit and rollover by Shawn Rines on the very first lap of the race. Rines was able to walk away from the wreck, but would later be treated for soreness in his chest by track medical personel. Despite the restarts, nobody had a challenge for Peru’s Dan Brown. He withstood challenges from Mike Brown and Zack Emerson and well as Dave Brannon. For Dan Brown is was his 2nd win of the season. Brannon finished 2nd in the race, same as he did to Brown 4 weeks earlier. Zack Emerson started 5th and raced his way to the 3rd place finish just ahead of Richard Spaulding. Spaulding started 16th and finished 4th. Not to be outdone, Mac Hannan Jr raced from 18th up to 5th in his first Wiscasset appearance of the year.
The show wrapped up with a 100 lap enduro. The race had plenty of action and plenty of blown right front tires. In the end, it was a dominant performance by John Rines, winning the race by a 3 lap advantage over Mike St Germain and Roy Glidden.
Wiscasset Speedway returns to action on Saturday July 12th with Mainely Motorsports Fan Appreciation Day. The show will feature action in Group 1 divisions, including Prostocks, Napa Super Streets, Outlaw Mini’s, and 4-cyl Pros. The Flex Race of the week will be a 35 lap feature for the Nelcar Legends. To add to the fun, there will be a pre-race ontrack driver meet & greet, where fans can go down onto the track to meet the group 1 drivers. There will also be kids bike races, and the Maine Vintage Stock Car Association will have its mobile museum on hand at the track for fans to look through. Pit gates will open at 2:00pm. Grandstand gates will open at 4:00pm and the prerace autograph session will start at 5:30pm. Racing will begin at 6:00pm. Grandstand admission is just $5 with kids 6& under free. Pit admission is $20. Details will be available at http://www.wiscassetspeedway.
WISCASSET SPEEDWAY
OFFICIAL FINISH 7/5/14
LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN (35 LAPS)
1. #14 Dave St Clair – Liberty
2. #17 Chris Thorne – Sidney
3. #30 Ryan St Clair – Liberty
4. #33 Josh St Clair – Liberty
5. # 6 Chris Bowie – New Gloucester
6. #15 Nick Hinkley – Wiscasset
7. #28 Steve Minott – Windham
8. #00 Alex Waltz – Walpole
9. #25 Will Collins – Waldoboro
10. #04 Allan Moeller Sr – Dresden
11. #3 Richard Jordan – Kingfield
12. #34 Tyler Robbins – Montville
STRICTLY STREET (25 LAPS)
1. #83 Dan Brown – Peru
2. #14 Dave Brannon – Lisbon
3. #23 Zack Emerson – Sabattus
4. #36 Richard Spaulding – Lisbon
5. #40 Mac Hannan Jr – Union
6. #43 Ben Erskine – Farmington
7. #6 Mike Brown – Union
8. #13 Josh Bailey – Wiscasset
9. #85 Jairet Harrison – Freeport
10. #24 Jonathan Emerson – Sabattus
11. #32 Tasha Dyer – Freedom
12. #30 Charles Beal – Ledyard, CT
13. #26 Corey Morgan – Lewiston
14. #29x Mike Stewart – Durham
15. #05 Glen Reynolds – Greene
16. #22x Paul Lund – n/a
17. #19 Foster Messerve – Wales
18. #66 Phil Main Sr – Trevett
19. #22 Tommy Smith – Edgecomb
20. #55 Mike Marshall – Randolph
21. #5 Guy Childs – Turner
22. #71 Allen Higgins – Brunswick
23. #21 Shawn Rines – Wiscasset
THUNDER 4 MINI (30 LAPS)
1. #5 Ryan Chadwick – Wiscasset
2. #113 Nate Tribbet – Richmond
3. #3 Cody Robbins – Winslow
4. #33 Trey Brown – Winterport
5. #13 Cody Tribbet – Richmond
6. #31 Leandra Martin – Richmond
7. #04 Curtis Anderson – Richmond
8. #4x Travis Pouliot – Madison
9. #14 Robert McDonald – Smithfield
10. #42 Kyia Roussel – Portland
11. #11x Kyle Dorey – Bowdoinham
12. #68 Tyler Bailey – Wiscasset
13. #1 Jeff Davis – Woolwich
MINI TRUCKS (15 LAPS)
1. #1 Matt Curtis – Freeport
2. #12 Jerry McKenna – Milton
3. #0 Kris Knox – Sanford
4. #22 Jeff Schmidt – Mechanic Falls
5. #14 Dave Gammon – Peru
6. #17 Matt Weil – Biddeford
ENDURO (100 LAPS)
1. #45 John Rines
2. #777 Mike St Germain
3. #42 Roy Glidden
4. #3 Kyle Enman
5. #1c Adam Chadbourne
6. #55x Mike Marshall
7. #33 Travis Chaison
8. #66 James Grover
9. #41 Jeff Davis
10. #74 Donald Peavey
11. #40 Matt Williams
12. #63 Mike Miete
13. #4j Joe Katula
14. #77 Zack Emerson
15. #15 Matthew Brown
16. #11 Scott Eck
17. #28 Pete McCollet
18. #8 Ron Whitcomb
19. #77x Vern Hodgkins Jr
20. #11x Jonathan Emerson