Apr 23, 2012 | Maine Race Tracks, Maine Racing News, NE Racing News, Speedway 95
SPEEDWAY 95 READY FOR 2012 SEASON OPENER
Following the biggest facelift the track has seen in years, Speedway 95 track owner Del Merritt is ready to open the gates for the 2012 racing season on Saturday April 28. After two practice Saturdays that saw over 50 cars test on the 1/3 mile asphalt oval, a very successful mall show with over 30 cars, drivers and crews participating, and major renovations to the track that have pleased everyone, the excitement and anticipation for the 2012 season is high.
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Mar 29, 2012 | Maine Race Tracks, Maine Racing News, Speedway 95
Speedway 95 held it’s annual Spring pre-season car show at the Bangor Mall March 23, 24, and 25, with over 30 cars, drivers and crews displaying their 2012 racing machines. During the three day show, contests were held for the People’s Choice Award in each racing division represented, voted on by shoppers at the mall, as well as a contest for the Best Dressed Crew and a Best of Show award that took into consideration the overall appearance of the car, both interior and exterior, the appearance of the crew representing the car, and the display area the car was set up in. Independent judges from the local media, the mall staff and track personnel made up the panel for the awards. Trophies and cash prizes were handed out by track owner Del Merritt on Sunday afternoon to the winning teams. The winners were:
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Sep 11, 2011 | Maine Racing News, Speedway 95
MIKE HOPKINS TAKES POINTS TITLE BY ONE POINT
Wayne Parritt of Steuben took the lead in the Dysart’s Late Model feature from Winterport’s Ryan Deane on lap 27 at Speedway 95 Saturday night and went on to win the 35 lap feature, posting his second win in four weeks. Deane Smart of Bradley was close behind, challenging Parritt for the position, but unable to complete a pass and settling for second in the season finale. Meanwhile, Ellsworth’s Andy Saunders was working his way up from the 12th starting position to finish third, and also became a factor in the divisions’ point’s race. Ryan Deane and Mike Hopkins of Hermon started the night only one point apart in the standings. Deane had finished second in the first qualifier, putting him seven points ahead. Then Hopkins won his qualifier, gaining 10 points, retaking the lead by a 3 point margin. In the feature, Deane led the first 27 laps of the event, but Hopkins was mired in fifth, with a right front tire that was slowly losing air. Unable to make any progress, Hopkins was helpless to do anything but ride, letting lady luck determine his fate. That luck came in the form of Saunders who crossed the finish line in third by a nose over Deane, relegating Deane to a fourth place finish. With 2 points difference in each position, when Hopkins finished in fifth, his points lead for the season and the championship was down to one. Fortunately for Hopkins, the top five had separated themselves from the remainder of the field by enough of a margin so no one else could pass Hopkins, who continued to slow as his tire leaked. After crossing the finish line, Hopkins went to the pit showering sparks as his suspension scraped the track due to the now flat tire. A quick tire change by his crew brought Hopkins back out to do the now popular “burnout” to celebrate his championship. The remainder of the night’s finishing order in the Dysart’s Late Models was 6. Don Alexander Jr., Carmel, 7. Duane Seekins, Stockton Springs, 8. John Kalel II, Orrington, 9. Donny Blanchard, Sangerville, 10. George Dunn, Eastbrook, 11. Alex Waltz, Damariscotta, 12. Bob Seger Jr. Framkfort, 13. Lloyd Nickerson, Corinth. 14. Dale Swoboda, Hermon, 15. Shane Clark, Winterport. (more…)
Sep 4, 2011 | Maine Racing News, Speedway 95
SWOBODA TAKES CRASH MARRED 95 LATE MODEL FEATURE
Hermon’s Dale Swoboda started on the front row of the 35 lap Dysart’s Late Model Feature at Speedway 95 Saturday night, but what happened in between made it far from an easy run for him. Swoboda and Ryan Deane of Winterport battled side by side in the early laps, swapping the lead several times before Deane took the point. A caution on lap 4 bunched the field back up when George Dunn of Eastbrook side-slapped Winterport’s Shane Clark, sending him to the infield. Clark recovered, but restarted at the rear of the 15 car field. Another yellow fell on lap 9, when John Kalel II stopped the race for a flat tire. On the restart, it was Swoboda and Deane again until lap 19, when points leader Mike Hopkins brought out the caution as he slowed due to a flat right front tire. A quick trip to the pit and Hopkins was back out, but at the back of the field. Four more yellows for minor incidents kept the field close, but Wayne Parritt of Steuben had worked his way up past Swoboda and was battling Deane for the lead on lap 32. Hopkins had also returned to the front of the field, riding in fourth when Parritt and Deane started bumping and spinning each other as they raced for the lead with 3 to go. Swoboda somehow got by, but Hopkins ended up on his roof on the back stretch after hitting the back stretch retaining wall trying to avoid what Parritt and Deane were doing in front of him . Hopkins climbed out of his wrecked car, and was out for the night. The red flag that stopped the field on lap 32 for that incident set up a 3 lap dash for the checkers with Swoboda at the head of the field. Swoboda led the pack under the green, with Duane Seekins beside him. As the cars got back up to speed, Seekins tucked in behind Swoboda, and Shane Clark made a mad dash for the front on the outside, passing Seekins on the final lap, finishing in second just behind Swoboda when he drove under the checkers for his third win of the season. Seekins finished third, with Deane Smart of Bradley in fourth. Donny Blanchard of Bangor posted a fifth place finish. Hopkins and Deane won the evening’s Late Model qualifiers. (more…)
Aug 31, 2011 | Maine Racing News, Speedway 95
TRAVIS BEALE TAKES LITTLE ENDURO FINALE AT 95
Travis Beale of Hampden followed Darren Durrell of Newburgh for 19 and ¾ laps of the 20 lap Little Enduro feature Wednesday night at Speedway 95, but took the lead coming out of turn four on the last lap to post his 4th feature win of the season. Durrell finished in second, but won the season championship in the division after 8 years of trying. Durrell admitted to slowing down just a bit on the last lap to be sure he finished the race to clinch the points title. Ted Ryder of Carmel placed a close third after starting 16th in the 20 car field. Garrett Hayman of Milford drove another steady race, finishing fourth, with Jeremy Scott of Carmel finishing in fifth. Ryder and Durrell were the night’s heat race winners.
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Aug 28, 2011 | Maine Racing News, Speedway 95
SAUNDERS AND WESTON TAKE CLOSE WINS IN 95 ACTION
Corrected
Andy Saunders of Ellsworth and Nate Weston of Norridgewock both posted closely contested wins in racing action at Speedway 95 Saturday night. The margin of victory was about a half car length in both features, as sticky track conditions made the racing action tight all night.
In the Late Models, Saunders and eight time winner Mike Hopkins of Hermon started on the front row, and they were the show throughout the 35 lap feature event. At the start, the pair raced side by side, swapping the lead for the first 6 laps until Hopkins got the advantage and slowly pulled away from Saunders and the rest of the field. A caution on lap 26, caused by Wayne Parritt of Steuben losing the steering on his car and tapping Hermon’s Dale Swoboda, causing Swoboda to spin. On the restart, Saunders and Hopkins again lined up side by side and again began swapping the lead until the caution flew on lap 31 for a solo spin by Brenton Parritt. Again, Saunders and Hopkins were on the front row for the restart, and ran the final 4 laps side by side, with Saunders ahead by a nose when the checkered flag flew. Duane Seekins of Stockton Springs used the inside groove to work his way past Winterport’s Ryan Deane to take third, with Deane finishing fourth. Deane Smart of Bradley finished fifth. Smart and Hopkins won the evening’s qualifiers.
Nate Weston of Norridgewock won his first 95 feature of the season in only his second appearance at the track. A former Unity Super Street, Weston came to 95 last week after his division there was disbanded. In his first appearance here he posted a third place finish, and this week he won a hard fought battle with 5 time winner Jeremy Glasier of Appleton to post the win. Weston and Glasier started on the front row and ran side by side or nose to tail for the entire distance, with Weston crossing the finish line first with Glasier’s bumper at his door. Deane Smart of Bradley finished right behind the leaders in third, after Steve Moulton of Holden headed to the pits at the three quarter mark with overheating problems. D.J. Moody of Prospect was fourth with Mike Overlock of Franklin rounding out the top five. Steve Moulton won the heat race earlier in the evening.
In Sport four action, Steve Heath on Milo won his fourth feature of the season, fighting off a challenge from Matt Shaw of Burnham who was later disqualified in post race inspection for having a track with of 3 inches more than allowed in the rules. Keith Ogden of Dedham took the second place trophy home, followed by points leader Bradley Norris of Ellsworth who survived two accidents in the 20 lap event in third. Early on, Norris and Gerry Phllips of Hermon slid off the front stretch and had to be towed back onto the asphalt. In a later mishap, James Johnson II of Bucksport spun in turn four, hitting Norris and Becky Elston, forcing both to the pit for repair. Norris was able to return to the race, but Elston was sidelined for the night. Mike Heath of Brownville finished fourth, followed by Roy Crawford of Houlton in his first appearance of the season at the track.
Bob Seger Jr. of Frankfort was disqualified during post race inspection following the Strictly Street feature for several violations of the motor rules, moving points leader Andrew McLaughlin of Harrington to the top spot in the finishing order. Shelby Kimball of Cornville moved to second, followed by Cody Brassbridge of Frankfort in third. Jim Carr Jr. of Clifton ffinished fourth and Shawn Hamel II of Bangor was fifth. Communications issues between the tech garage and officials in the tower resulted in the incorrect report of the disqualification in the initial press release. Kimball won the qualifier for the Strictly Streets.
Emma Libby continued her “hot streak” in racing at Speedway 95 as she posted her third straight win in a week. The 13 year old from Glenburn won the Bomber feature last week, the Stars of Tomorrow feature in Wacky Wednesday action and continued her streak with a Bomber Division win Saturday night. Libby took the lead early in the event and held off Scott Bonney of Bangor who finished second and the Hermon Hotfoot, Andrew Crosby, who finished in third. Bradley Dolan of Winterport finished fourth followed by Cody Brassbridge of Frankfort in fifth. Libby also won the Bomber qualifier.
Saturday night racing in September will include a regular show on September 3, and the season finale on September 10. The first green flag will fly on both days at 7:00 p.m.
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