Jul 5, 2017 | Maine Race Tracks, Wiscasset Speedway
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.
(more…)
Jul 5, 2017 | Maine Race Tracks, Oxford Plains Speedway
Oxford, Maine – Andy Saunders of Ellsworth got out in front of the field early, and then cruised to an impressive victory in the 40-lap Budweiser Championship Series Super Late Model main event on Monday night at Oxford Plains Speedway.
An early restarted aided Saunders’ effort to get from his fifth starting position into the race lead. He then built a seven-second lead over a torrid battle for second between veteran racers Alan Wilson of Hebron and Buckfield’s Timmy Brackett.
(more…)
Jul 3, 2017 | Maine Race Tracks, Oxford Plains Speedway, PASS, SLM, Touring Series News
Oxford, Maine — Reigning Pro All Stars Series North Champion DJ Shaw of Center Conway, New Hampshire claimed victory, and a preferred starting position in the upcoming Oxford 250 National Championship event, in the 100-lap ‘Open’ Super Late Model main event Sunday night at Oxford Plains Speedway.
The Open, a non-points race awarding provisional starting spots to the rich annual Oxford 250 classic to five drivers in a final chance to conditionally lock into the field before the eve of the Super Late Model classic, and the boys were racing hard throughout the short, 100-lap sprint to the checkered flag.
(more…)
Jun 27, 2017 | Maine Race Tracks, NE Racing News, Wiscasset Speedway
by Ken Minott
Maine’s fastest track, Wiscasset Speedway, wrapped up racing for the month of June on Saturday night with Group 2 in action, plus the return of the Amsoil Nelcar Legends. The Norms Used Cars Strictly Streets had the spotlight race for the program supported by the Late Model Sportsman, Outlaw Minis, and Modifieds. Cole Watson of Naples had the hot hand on the night, running to his first points win at Wiscasset over Montville’s Bryan Robbins and Jonathan Emerson of Sabattus. Other winners included Corey Hall, Mark Lucas, and Zach Audet. As of press time, the Late Model Sportsman victor remains listed as unofficial pending a mandatory engine inspection.
In the 35 lap spotlight feature for the Strictly Streets, #45 of Cole Watson lined up at the pole position with Chesterville’s Kim Knight in her #00 alongside. Knight would grab the lead through the early laps while Watson followed closely in 2nd. Watson retook the lead on a lap 13 restart and never looked back, rolling into victory lane to grab his first points win at Wiscasset. He was a previous winner of the Top Gun Strictly Shootout. Bryan Robbins was the big mover in the race, picking his way up from 12th to finish 2nd. He made the move of the race with 8 laps to go as he jumped from 4th up to 2nd exiting turn 4 in a spirited battle with Jonathan Emerson and Knight. Emerson, the 3rd generation racer from Sabattus stayed in the top 3 the entire race and rolled his #24 car in to claim the 3rd place trophy. His father Zach Emerson and point leader Michael Haynes filled out the top 5.
(more…)
Jun 25, 2017 | Maine Race Tracks, Oxford Plains Speedway
Oxford, Maine – Glen Luce of Turner had the Super Late Model field covered Saturday night, winning the 50-lap main event topping the Budweiser Championship Series racing card at Oxford Plains Speedway.
After going from last to first in his 12-lap heat race, Luce, the 2015 Oxford 250 champion, dominated the main event; turning back challenges from 2016 Oxford 250 champion Wayne Helliwell, Jr. of Dover, New Hampshire and current OPS Super Late Model championship points leader Alan Tardiff of Lyman.
(more…)
Jun 19, 2017 | Maine Race Tracks, Wiscasset Speedway
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.
(more…)
