by Ken Minott

     Wiscasset Speedway was all set to kick off the Independence Day holiday weekend Saturday night with a full race program featuring Group 1 and fireworks. Everything was going smoothly until Mother Nature crashed the party sending fans home early with a handful of features still to be run. Heats were completed in all divisions as the eyes of race officials were also on the radar and an approaching front causing crazy weather to the northwest. Just as the spotlight feature for the 4-Cylinder Pro’s was about to roll onto the track the first few raindrops began to fall, bringing the safety trucks out to keep the track dry. The delay only lasted 20 minutes and the show was on once again. In order to try and beat the approaching weather, the 4-Cylinder Pro feature was reduced from 35 laps down to their normal 25 lap length. #8 Craig Dunn and #55 would lead the field of 12 to the green flag. Dunn held the lead through the early stages while some of the heavy hitters were charging up from the back of the pack. One of those was 3-time defending champ #98 Kamren Knowles who was forced into a backup car after crashing in practice. It took just 10 laps for Knowles to race from his 10th starting position into the lead. Just a pair of cautions slowed the action along with a brief 5-minute threat of rain. It didn’t hold up Knowles on his way to his 2nd win of the season. He had also won back on opening day. Behind him was a great battle between a pair of rising stars in the class. Previous race winner #29 Austin Teras and point leader #12 Max Rowe traded the remaining two podium spots back and forth over the final six laps, with Teras grabbing 2nd and Rowe 3rd.

by Ken Minott

     You probably won’t find many drivers that are having more fun on a race track these days than Thunder 4 Mini racer Logan Melcher. Who could blame the second generation racer from Jay? He is, after all, undefeated to start 2017 season. His most recent win though was a bit more challenging than the first two. The Thunder 4 Minis had the 35 lap spotlight feature Saturday night at Wiscasset Speedway as Group 1 was in action on Maine’s fastest track. Melcher navigated his way through the pack only to roll into victory lane to claim the 2nd place trophy. But a disqualification in post-race inspection for the initial winner, followed by required engine inspection finally produced his 3rd win of the season. Other winners on the night included Spencer Wenners in the GoKarts; Mark Lucas in the Super Streets; Austin Teras in the 4-cylinder Pros; and Daren Ripley in the ServPro of Biddeford-Saco Prostocks.

by Ken Minott

     Maine’s fastest oval, Wiscasset Speedway, showcased Group 2 Saturday night in front of another big crowd. Three different drivers picked up their first wins of the 2017 campaign, while another took early control of the tracks most competitive division with his 2nd victory of the year. Midcoast Region Napa Mods were the spotlight division with a 40 lap main event. Joe Williams of Woolwich withstood a late race restart and pulled away from defending champ Mark Lucas for a convincing win; his first of the year. The race of the day was the one a straightaway behind him for second between Tom Young & Nick Reno. The two racing wheel to wheel for the final ten laps with Reno grabbing the runner-up trophy on the outside by less than a foot. Young settled for 3rd. Other winners on the night included Nick Hinkley on the Late Model Sportsman, Shawn Kimball in the Outlaw Minis, and Joe Hutter in the Strictly Streets. The flex race was a 100 lap Enduro, won by Zach Emerson.

by Ken Minott

     Wiscasset Speedway’s Prostocks turned out a race Saturday night that had all the makings of a movie on the big screen; edge of the seat action, suspense, hero’s, villains, plot twists, and a surprise outcome that few would have expected – except of course the eventual winner. There was more than the usual accolades and prize money on the line. The 50 lap spotlight feature also offered the winner a guaranteed provisional for the $10,000 to win Prostock / Super Late Model National event at Seekonk Speedway in July. Sixteen drivers lined up to accept the challenge and when the dust cleared and the checkers flew it was Phil Richardson Jr of Hermon lifting the first place trophy, while many of the early favorites loaded up with banged up rides and dashed hopes of the big win. Richmond’s Nate Tribbett and Newcastle’s Charlie Colby joined Richardson in victory lane. Other winners on the night included Mark Lucas of Harpswell in the Super Streets, Logan Melcher of Jay in the Thunder 4 Minis, and Spencer Vaughn of Canton in the N.E.4-cyl Pros. The show was presented by Bozzutos and their family of IGA Food Stores for the benefit of the Dream Ride for Special Olympics.

by Ken Minott

     Harrington, Maine’s Andrew McLaughlin has come close, very close, to winning the state’s biggest Late Model Sportsman race; The Coastal 200, on more than one occasion. Finally, on a near perfect sunny Sunday afternoon at Wiscasset Speedway, McLaughlin finally sealed the deal and took home the biggest win of his career in dominant fashion. Over 2600 fans packed the house for the Memorial Day weekend tradition, including a large contingent of veterans & active duty military who were admitted free of charge as the track’s special guests. Starting from the pole position in front of the 26 car field, McLaughlin led 181 of the 200 laps but was still tested on several occasions by a handful of drivers waiting for him to make a mistake. That mistake never happened as he was the best car all day, nailing down the win by a comfortable 3 seconds over Fairfield’s Ben Ashline and local favorite Nick Hinkley of Wiscasset. For his efforts, Mclaughlin raked in $5100 in winnings and lap leader money, including $500 for leading halfway. The race was once again presented by Jordan Lumber and Jordan Excavation of Kingfield. Other winners on the program included Jonathan Emerson of Sabbatus in the Norm’s Used Cars Strictly Streets; Mark Lucas of Harpswell in the Midcoast Region Napa Modifieds; and Zac Audet of Skowhegan in the Kennebec Equipment Rental Outlaw Minis.