Fans & racers who had been forced to wait an extra week to get their much-anticipated racing fix were rewarded Saturday afternoon as sunny skies and summer-like temps greeted them at the unveiling of the new and improved Wiscasset Speedway. The new walls, catch fence, and other upgrades were well received by the crowd of nearly 2,000, but it was the new fan-friendly victory lane that was the hit of the day. Kids and grownups alike lined the waist high chain link fence in front of the grandstands to give high fives and handshakes to the drivers as they climbed out of their rides. Group 2 divisions were on the schedule including the Wood Pellet Warehouse Late Model Sportsman, Norm’s Used Cars Strictly Streets, and Kennebec Equipment Rental Outlaw Minis. The weekly Flex division race was the first of three appearances for the Wicked Good Vintage Racers.
The Midcoast Region Napa Modifieds were the spotlight division for the opening day program, rolling out with a 40 lap feature. Nick Reno, Allan Moeller, and Adam Chadbourne picked right up where they left off from last season in their battle for supremacy. Last year they were all chasing eventual champion, Mark Lucas. This time they were looking to stake their early claim as top dog in the class. Reno led the field of eight to the green flag and set a strong pace through the first half of the race. Moeller edged him on the outside for the lead on one early lap but soon settled back into 3rd as Chadbourne joined in and settled in Reno’s tire tracks. The top 3 remained the same through the midpoint of the race. Joe Williams gave chase, but couldn’t get within a few car lengths of them. Things heated up at 25 laps complete as Chadbourne jumped to the outside driving around Reno and into the lead on lap 28. Moeller moved up to second and took one more shot at the lead, but came up short. Chadbourne took the checkers in his #1 Napa sponsored Modified. Moeller chased him across the line to claim the 2nd place trophy. Reno settled for 3rd after a strong start. Williams and Tom Young filled out the top 5. The Midcoast Region Napa Modifieds are sponsored by Bath Auto Parts, Wiscasset Auto Parts, Clark Auto Parts of Damariscotta, and Richmond Napa.
In support action, reigning champ Zach Audet of Skowhegan was untouchable from the pole position in the Kennebec Equipment Rental Outlaw Minis. He led the 25 lap feature wire to wire despite a pair of mid-race cautions. 4-time champ Rob Greenleaf was the only one able to keep the champ in site and followed across the line for the runner-up finish by half a straightaway. Brent Roy of Vassalboro started mid pack and despite spinning on lap 11 to bring out the first caution of the race, recovered to claim the 3rd place trophy.
The Norm’s Used Cars Strictly Streets looked well in control of pole sitter Mac Hannan Jr of Union. He pulled out to a commanding lead in the 25 lap feature and was on his way to his second straight opening day win. However, things took a major turn on lap 19 as Hannon suddenly slowed on the backstretch and then pulled off the track with an electrical failure. Glen Reynolds of Turner, who had started 6th, took over the lead and cruised to his first Wiscasset victory. He was joined in victory lane by #67 Mike Haynes and #00 Kimberly Knight.
A stacked field of 20 took to the track for the Wood Pellet Warehouse Late Model Sportsman. It was a tall order for the rest of the field as defending champ Chris Thorne lined up with a rare pole position starting spot. Thorne paced the field for the full 35 lap feature on his way to his first win of the season. He was a 5-time winner in 2016. There was plenty of action behind him as several contenders moved up to try to get to the champ. #33 Josh St Clair, #21 Shane Clark, #38 Joey Doyon, and #26 Andrew McLaughlin put on the best battle for position until Doyon & Clark tangled out of turn four onto the front stretch to bring out the first caution on lap 23. McLaughlin, who started 8th, had the best shot at Thorne on a lap 28 restart, but came up short and settled for 2nd. St Clair held on for 3rd ahead of Nick Hinkley (#15) and Ryan St Clair (#30)
The winners for the Wicked Good Vintage Racers included #151 Rosey Gerry in the Hobby Stock class; #22 Sid Smith in the Outlaw class; and #8 Norris Willett in the Late Model class.
Wiscasset Speedway returns to action Saturday, May 6th with the first night race of the season. Pit gates open at 2:00 pm, grandstand gate at 4:00 pm and the Racing action begins at 6:00 pm with Group 1 in action. Super Streets will be the spotlight division along with Servpro of Biddeford-Saco Prostocks, Thunder 4 Minis, and 4-cylinder Pros. The Amsoil Nelcar Legends will be the flex race of the week with a special INEX Legends Asphalt Nationals qualifier race, attracting many of the top Legend competitors in the northeast. For more information, go to the Wiscasset Speedway website at www.wiscassetspeedway.com
OFFICIAL FINISH 4/29/17
MIDCOAST REGION NAPA MODIFIEDS (40 LAPS)
1. #1 Adam Chadbourne – Woolwich
2. #04 Allan Moeller – Dresden
3. #7 Nick Reno – West Bath
4. #15 Joe Williams – Woolwich
5. #21 Tom Young – Freeport
6. #33 Ron Bryant – Livermore Falls
7. #4 Nik Coates – Turner
8. #61 Shawn Austin, Norridgewock
KENNEBEC EQUIPMENT RENTAL OUTLAW MINIS (25 LAPS)
1. #19me Zac Audet – Skowhegan
2. #2x Rob Greenleaf – West Bath
3. #26 Brent Roy – Vassalboro
4. #41m Larry Melcher – Jay
5. #41 Shane Smith – Sidney
6. #27 Jacob Hendsbee – Whitefield
7. #10 Jimmy Childs – Leeds
8. #20 Shawn Kimball – Augusta
9. #18 Tim Collins – Farmingdale
DNS #17 Matt Weil – Jefferson
DNS – #7 Steve Howard – Thomaston
NORMS USED CARS STRICTLY STREETS (25 laps)
1. #05r Glenn Reynolds – Turner
2. #67 Mike Haynes – Livermore Falls
3. #00 Kimberly Knight – Chesterville
4. #25 Brad Bellows – China
5. #23 Zach Emerson – Sabattus
6, #24e Jonathan Emerson – Sabattus
7. #66 Mac Hannan Jr – Union
8. #47 Brian Caswell – Buxton
9. #2 Joe Hutter – Leeds
Not Scored – #05 Brett Osmond – Wiscasset
WOOD PELLET WAREHOUSE LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN (35 laps)
1. #17 Chris Thorne – Sidney
2. #26 Andrew McLaughlin – Harrington
3. #33 Josh St Clair – Liberty
4. #15 Nick Hinkley – Wiscasset
5. #30 Ryan St Clair – Liberty
6. #25 Will Collins – Waldoboro
7. #11 Cody Verrill – Richmond
8. #33T Trey Brown – Winterport
9. #21 Shane Clark – Winterport
10. #1 Steven Chicoine – Portland
11. #47 Brandon Bailey – Wiscasset
12. #19 Shane Kaherl – Jay
13. #29 Ben Erskine – Farmington
14. #38x – Joey Doyon – Winterport
15. #55 Steve Barker – Jay
16. #94 Steve Rackliff – Starks
17. #22 Brandon Fowler – Rome
18. #00 Alex Waltz – Walpole
19. #41 Brian Whitney – n/a
20. #28 Steve Minott – Windham
DNS – #9 Henry Mellows Jr – Anson