By Sophie D. Gabrion, Media Rep / Wiscasset Speedway
WISCASSET – Last Saturday’s race was all about suspense and surprises, and not just because the Enduros were in town. First, all four regular division races were won by drivers earning their first win of the season. Second, all four division champions secured their titles with a top three victory lane finish. Even with the 2016 season winding down, it’s not shocking that the grand stands at Wiscasset Speedway remain full week after week: like a box of chocolates, you never know what you might get.
Zac Poland of the #06 wasted no time driving the Super Streets 35-Lap Spotlight Race into high gear, as he took the lead before the first lap was over. Sean Johnson of the #9 moved up to take the lead in lap four, while behind a side-by-side battle waged for the third and sixth positions. Cody Buzzell of the #38 freed himself from the back half of the pack in lap seven, while the current division points leader, Mark Lucas of the #5, moved with signature stealth into fourth. As he lost the green-flag-momentum, Poland fell behind Lucas and was sandwiched momentarily between the two division leaders – Lucas at his front bumper and Josh Bailey of the #2 at his rear bumper. Bailey was focused on Lucas, who stood between him and the division championship, and had acknowledged during practice that Lucas is “a hard man to beat!”
The halfway mark came and with it, an impression lead by Johnson, who maintained comfortable margins between himself and the rest of the top five. In an unexpected twist, Bailey spun into the infield during lap 25, which set off a chain reaction shuffle to the top three. Oakes overtook Johnson in lap 32 and ultimately held the lead through the checkered flag for the win and a career best finish. Also to earn their first trip to victory lane was Johnson in second, with third place going to the unofficial division champion, Lucas.
The New England 4-Cyl Pros fan out 3-wide to start their 25-lap feature race. Jamie Wright of the #84 snatched an early lead, as he worked to earn his first win before the season’s end. Despite Wright’s full-straightaway-lead, current points leader and unofficial division champion, Kamran Knowles of the #98, had twenty-five laps to close the ever-shrinking gap from his seat in second. Jeff Prindall of the #24 held third at the halfway point without much competition from behind, as the top three drivers spaced widely throughout the front of the field.
David Greenleaf of the #58 and Devan Robinson of the #20 tangoed through traffic at the start of the Thunder 4 Minis’ 20-lap feature race, which left Robinson upside down at the top of turn two. Several laps later, Tristan Shea of the #03 sat in the lead, while Spencer Sweatt of the #84 worked to dominate from behind. Sweatt took a short-lived lead in lap eight, only to have it taken back by Shea mere moments later. Michael Harrison, the unofficial division champion, held solid in third position until the two course leaders spun at the top of turn three. When the dust settled, Logan Melcher of the #41 stood in first, with Harrison in second and Curtis Anderson of the #04 in third. Shea was third to cross the finish line in what would have been a career best finish but, in his excitement, made the rookie mistake of forgetting to immediately go to post-race inspection. This error is common and unfortunately, resulted in Shea’s disqualification.
The 40-lap ServPro of Biddeford/Saco Prostocks got a rough start when the #91jr of Mike Orr and #12 of Thomas True spun coming out of turn four. To the delight of fans, Orr elected to employ the-always-encouraged-but-
Up to race last were the Enduros, but they were definitely not least. Fans had remained steadfast in their seats, ready for the automobile anarchy that is guaranteed when this division takes the field. With suspended procedures for cautions, the feature events raced by these makeshift machines offer continuous action from turn to turn, lap after lap. Saturday night was no exception. To try and keep track of everything that happened during this 40-minute race would result in serious whiplash, with cars continuously 4-wide, flying across infield corners and darting to avoid countless close calls. Afterall, Enduro is not just a name of coincidence. Whether or not in the top three, these flexible competitors achieve a partial victory through simple survival. From an initial line up of over forty, three of these survivors achieved glory in victory lane, including Zac Emerson of the #71 in first place, Caleb Emerson of the #23E in second and Michael Snyder of the #55X in third.
Gear up and head over to Wiscasset Speedway next Saturday, October 1st for the Top Gun Strictly Shootout featuring the Strictly Streets division, starting at 5:00pm, sponsored by McKeage’s Top Gun Contractors. Other drivers from Group 2’s divisions will complete that night include the Wood Pellet Warehouse Late Model Sportsmen, Kennebec Equipment Rental Outlaw Minis and NAPA Modifieds. Kids 6 and under enter for free and admission for everyone else is only $5 – less than the cost of a sandwich! For more information, visit www.wiscassetspeedway.
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Official Finish Results: MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2016
Super Streets: 35-Lap Spotlight Race
1. #11, Jason Oakes – Boothbay
2. #9, Sean Johnson – Oakland
3. #5, Mark Lucas – Harpswell
4. #06, Zac Poland – Wiscasset
5. #27, Barry Poulin – Benton
6. #38, Cody Buzzell – Madison
7. #20, Jay Bailey – Wiscasset
8. #68, Chad Munro – North Waterboro
9. #2, Josh Bailey – Wiscasset
New England 4 Cyl Pros: 25-Lap Feature
1. #84, Jamie Wright – Woolwich
2. #98, Kamren Knowles – West Gardiner
3. #24, Jeff Prindall – Lisbon
4. #55, John Shorey – Alna
5. #4, Connor Wenners – Edgecomb
6. #9x, Brooke Knowles – West Gardiner
7. #42, Mike Kibbin – Lisbon
8. #7, Spencer Vaughn – Canton
9. #70, Taylor Lane – Philips
Thunder 4 Minis: 20-Lap Feature Race
1. #41, Logan Melcher – Fayette
2. #48, Michael Harrison – Durham
3. #04, Curtis Anderson – Richmond
4. #26, Michael Golding – Pownal
5. #27, Jonathan Golding – Pownal
6. #44, David Cook – Jay
7. #1, Jeff Davis – Woolwich
8. #11, Kyle Dorey – Bowdoinham
9. #21, Shawn Berry – Livermore Falls
10. #84, Spencer Sweatt – Albion
11. #31, Leandre Martin – Richmond
12. #58, David Greenleaf, Jr – Brunswick
13. #20, Devan Robinson – Warren
14. #30, Keith Rankin – Pittston
DQ. #03, Tristan Shea – Richmond
ServPro of Biddeford/Saco Prostocks: 40-Lap Feature
1. #23X, David Farrington – Jay
2. #72, Charlie Colby – Newcastle
3. #01, Andy Saunders – Ellsworth
4. #35, Bobby Nadeau – Hollis
5. #15, Nick Hinckley – Wiscasset
6. #1, Mike Moody – Topsham
7. #23, Brandon Sprague – Edgecomb
8. #12, Thomas True – Wiscasset
9. #99, Ajay Picard – Palmyra
10. #13, Nate Tribbett – Richmond
11. #01x, Joe Decker – Chesterville
12. #05, James Osmond – Wiscasset
Enduro: 100-Lap Feature
1. #71, Zac Emerson
2. #23E, Caleb Emerson
3. #55X, Michael Snyder
4. #69, Randy Edgecomb
5. #547, Dan Delano
6. #45, John Rines
7. #11, Kyle Enman
8. #23, Brandon Sprague
9. #17M, Nick Morton
10. #99, Jeffrey Moore
11. #69, Randy Edgecomb
12. #28, Josh Allen
13. #30, Keith Rankin
14. #77, Vernon Hodgkin
15. #50, Jonathan Spear
16. #1, Jeff Davis
17. #23, Joey Daigle
18. #24x Roy Glidden
19. #8, Ron Whitcome
20. #10, Stillman Joyce
21. #03x, Jake Allen
22. #81, Dilan Withers
23. #2, Jacob Smart
24. #87, Jeff Read
25. #98, Ron Poore
26. #77x Wesley Witham
27. #21, Cody Redding
28. #04, Russell Collins
29. #288, Douglas Ham
30. #115, Alex Hinkley
31. #39, Randy Henderson
32. #27, Ron Gonyon
33. #9, Wayne Ripley
34. #007, Destiny McKenzie
35. #24, Andrew Glynn
36. #5, Raymond Brawn
37. #21, Justin Spear
38. #69ME, Sawyer Alby
39. #451, John Byrd
40. #42x, Frank Brown
41. #42, Ernest Morton
42. #99x, Ryan Medina
43. #71ME, Griffen Laney