May 1, 2016 | Maine Race Tracks, Maine Racing News, More Maine Racing News, Touring Series News
photo by Peter Taylor
By Lisa and Rich Maguire
It was a beautiful Spring day last Saturday, and fans flocked to Wiscasset Speedway for Group two opening day. On the schedule were the Strictly Streets, Late Model Sportsman, Kennebec Equipment Rental Outlaw Mini’s, Amsoil Nelcar Legends, and the Spotlighted race of the week, Napa Modifieds.
A forty lap Napa Modified feature race started off the action. Starting at the pole was 2015 Modified champion, Mark Lucas. Lucas set a grueling pace for the pack, running speeds in excess of 85 miles per hour. The #1 of Adam Chadbourne dogged Lucas’s heels throughout the beginning of the race, presenting a constant challenge for Lucas. Nick Reno of the #7 ran a close third, looking for his opportunity to pass. Reno’s chance came in lap fifteen. A race caution resulted in a restart. Reno started on the inside, and sped under Chadbourne, taking second. There was another caution during lap twenty-three. Reno tried to get a jump on Lucas at the start, but Lucas was able to power ahead and put a five car length lead between them within five laps. Lucas took the win. Reno placed second. Chadbourne finished in third.
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May 1, 2016 | Beech Ridge, Maine Race Tracks, Maine Racing News, More Maine Racing News, PASS, Touring Series News
photos by Jamie Williams
Scarborough, Maine — DJ Shaw of Center Conway, New Hampshire drove from third position to first on a restart with four laps remaining in Saturday’s Southern Maine Chrysler Jeep Dodge 150 at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway to nail down his first Pro All Stars Series Super Late Model win of the season.
Shaw, the 2014 PASS North Super Late Model champion, watched Doiron blast on by earlier in the race after the Berwick, Maine driver, and eventual runner-up, charged from his 14th starting position into a lead threatened only by hometown racer Garrett Hall – the opening day PASS Super Late Model winner at Connecticut’s Thompson Speedway until the final pair of restarts took place, with six and four laps remaining, respectively.
Shaw had been a healthy distance behind Doiron aboard his Dale Shaw Race Cars / HK Powersports 60, but the once-dominant JBJ Machine 73 didn’t have the handles on cold tires. That opened the door for Shaw, who stepped through and into victory lane.
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Apr 25, 2016 | Maine Race Tracks, More Maine Racing News, Oxford Plains Speedway
Reigning Oxford 250 kingpin wins Budweiser Championship Series opener
Oxford, Maine — Glen Luce of Turner followed up his most successful racing season ever with an opening day victory in the Budweiser Championship Series Super Late Model division season-opener Sunday afternoon at Oxford Plains Speedway.
Luce, who fulfilled the goal of most every Maine stock car racer with a $31,000-plus victory in last year’s Oxford 250, nailed down this 50-lap triumph after an early battle for the lead with Norway’s Chris Coolidge.
Late in the going Luce had to turn back a challenge from Buckfield’s Timmy Brackett, the track’s reigning Super Late Model champion. Brackett finished up .036-seconds behind the winner at the line, with Coolidge coasting home in third position.
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Apr 25, 2016 | American Canadian Tour, Maine Race Tracks, More Maine Racing News
Credit Photos: Mary Taylor petespicks.smugmug.com
By Lisa and Richard Maguire
Wiscasset Speedway opened the gates for the first show of the season last Saturday. The stands were packed by show time, and fans enjoyed the spring weather while watching the action on Maine’s fastest oval track. On the schedule were the division one group of racers, which include: Super Streets, Thunder 4 Mini’s, ServPro of Biddeford Saco Prostock, and New England Four Cylinder Prostock’s. Additionally, it was season opener for the Amsoil Nelcar Legends at Wiscasset, who made their first of nine appearances.
Starting off the racing action was a thirty-five lap Spotlight Race featuring the New England Four Cylinder Prostock’s. Starting on the pole was heat winner, Connor Wenners of the #4. Racing off the start was Wenners and the #98 of Kamren Knowles, 2015 season NEFCP champion. The #24 of Jeff Prindall quickly moved to third. In the mix was Ryan Hayes of the #38.
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Apr 21, 2016 | American Canadian Tour, Maine Race Tracks, More Maine Racing News, Oxford Plains Speedway
Oxford American Racer Three Stars Announced.
(Heather Aube Photo)
Waterbury, VT – The American Racer Three Star program will continue in 2016. The program is designed to recognize three teams in no particular order of performance that had outstanding races at ACT US tour events. There are no specific criteria for deciding who might receive the award of a free American Racer Tire (value $125.00), but a special effort by a team, exceptional race, just plain old hard luck, or other accepted reason to give the award is used to decide the recipients.
The three stars are chosen by officials and they will receive certificates for use of a free American Racer tire at a future Tour race of their choosing during 2016.
The awarding of the stars does not allow for anybody in the top three to receive the recognition. That being said, both eventual winner Bobby Therrien, and second place competitor Roland Robinson, JR certainly deserve credit for their outstanding and sometimes dominant runs at OPS. There efforts at Oxford certainly made for some speculation from the “rail-birds” at what kind of exciting season the 2016 year will be. Big congratulations to both teams for what was first class efforts.
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Apr 19, 2016 | American Canadian Tour, Maine Race Tracks, More Maine Racing News, Oxford Plains Speedway
photo by RPM 360
EAST MONTPELIER, Vt. – Emily Packard piloted her 9x Northstar Fireworks/Packard Fuels car across the finish line in the thirteenth position in the thrilling 2016 American Canadian Tour season opener at Oxford Plains Speedway on Sunday. “I was in seventh place when the last caution came out,” said the 19 year old, “but we were the eighteenth car in line when we took that final restart. Unfortunately, the ACT rules don’t have the lap cars drop back, and there were just a lot of lap cars between me and the leaders. There was really nowhere for me to go, I was stuck in the middle, and we ended up thirteenth. We had a much better car than our finish reflects, and I am confident with how good the car will be for the remaining races.”
When the cars rolled out for the first practice, Packard hit the track taking the time to feel out the car for all the changes that had been made in the off season. During each practice the team, with input from Joe Polewarczyk Sr., would make subtle changes to the car to get it to handle more like Emily wanted. “Today was kind of a learning day,” said Packard, “a lot about learning the new set-up in the car and the partnership and how we would work together. It took a little bit to get the car from a set up that Joey (Pole) would typically run, to something that would suit my driving style and go good for us. The first couple of practices the car was bottoming out pretty bad, but once we got it up off the track it started running really good.” By the final practice, with the car driving to her liking, she cracked the top ten on the speed charts with an eighth fastest time.
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