Following an unfortunate Group 2 rainout last weekend, the skies cleared in Coastal Maine on Saturday, making for a beautiful day for Wiscasset Speedway to host their annual “Birthday Night”, honoring all track champions and Hall of Fame members. In addition to a special presentation at intermission, the program also included the $1500-to-win Darling’s Brunswick Ford Super Street 100 with fireworks to boot at the end of the night. L-R: Shane Webber, Clara Garnett, Ricky Austin & Derek Cook.
The racing action kicked off with a 25-lap feature for the Maine Army National Guard Thunder 4 Minis. Shane Webber took off with the early lead, but Ricky Austin was hard charging through the field, going from the rear to third by lap 5. Ricky Austin was all over Derek Cook in the opening half of the race, overtaking second on lap 10. The top 3 were neck & neck in the final 10 laps of the race and Ricky Austin dove to the inside groove on lap 19, claiming the top spot. He sailed into his third victory of the season while Shane Webber and Derek Cook followed, completing the podium. L-R: Shane Webber, Clara Garnett, Ricky Austin & Derek Cook.
Defending champion Noah Haggett and past champion Bubba Pelton won the qualifying heats for the Super Street 100, but it was Pelton who pulled ahead with the early advantage in the feature. David Greenleaf held the upper hand following an early-race restart, claiming the top spot. Chase Burgess came to a slow on lap 26, resulting in a caution. Bubba Pelton saw the opportunity to strike on the restart and took full advantage, pulling ahead with the lead once again. L-R: Andre Lester/family, David Greenleaf, Bubba Pelton, Noah Haggett & Clara Garnett.
Pelton maintained command throughout numerous mid-race cautions, extending his lead to a full straightaway in the closing 30 laps of the race as David Greenleaf and Noah Haggett battled it out for third. The field was brought back together once again on lap 83 following a 2-car collision and although David Greenleaf gave Bubba Pelton a run for his money, Pelton continued to hold steady at the front of the pack. A pile-up in turn 1 ensued with just 4 laps to go, collecting track announcer Nick Huff, Dylan Thyng, Alex Cromwell and others. The leaders jumped the start, causing the front two rows to be swapped, only for it to happen once again with the new front row. This put Bubba Pelton back on the point and he ran away with it, scoring the victory and a padded paycheck to boot. David Greenleaf and Noah Haggett followed, rounding out the top 3. L-R: Darren Miranda, Jay Plummer, Clara Garnett & Sam Fogg.
Jay Plummer kicked off his race day with a qualifying win in the County Truss 4-Cylinder Pros and followed it up by taking off with the early lead in the 25-lap feature. The race went caution-free from green to checkered, with Plummer extending his lead to a half straightaway as the laps ticked down. Second place back was anyone’s game in the closing 5 laps of the race and while Plummer secured his first career victory at Wiscasset Speedway, Darren Miranda (first podium finish) came home second while Sam Fogg beat multi-time winner Chassidy Shorty to the line by just .027 seconds, finishing third. L-R: Nick Hinkley, Ethan Guptill, Clara Garnett & Travis Buzzell.
Wiscasset Speedway Hall of Famer Allan Moeller, Sr. scored the heat win in the Davis Erector Group 207 Crate Modifieds and dueled it out with another champion, Kevin Sherman, for the early lead in the 30-lap feature. Brad Babb’s day came to a startling halt on lap 9 as he suffered a mechanical failure, resulting in a caution. Ethan Guptill broke through on the restart, powering to the lead as Nick Hinkley pulled to second. The leaders were in their own zip code during the closing half of the race and Guptill was able to hold off Hinkley for his second victory of the season. Travis Buzzell followed, scoring his first podium finish in the 207 Crate Modifieds.
The night concluded with a 40-lap feature for the T&L Automotive Modifieds. Although a nasty wreck in the qualifying heat resulted in damage to the cars of Nick Hinkley, Kelly Moore and Logan Melcher, all 3 drivers managed to start the race – Melcher in a borrowed car that he only used to “start & park” to salvage as many points as he possibly could. Steve Chicoine & team join Jr. Official Clara Garnett in Victory Lane.
In addition to honoring all of the Wiscasset Speedway Hall of Fame members and past champions on Saturday, fans were able to see a lot of fresh faces and first-time winners in Victory Lane who are now paving their own way at Maine’s biggest & fastest. The fun continues as the track hosts all Group 2 divisions plus the Carver’s Driving Academy Crown Vics on Saturday, August 1st. The green flag flies at 5:00 pm and as always, adult admission is just $5 while kids 6 & under get in for free.
