This past Saturday, excited fans packed the stands and pit area at Wiscasset Speedway in anticipation for the Group 2 Fan Appreciation Night and the longest distance Late Model race of the year, the Late Model 75.
The program, sponsored by Fisher Plows, kicked off with a driver meet and greet on the frontstretch, followed by kid’s bike races and backpack giveaways throughout the night. L-R: Faith Cleaves, Kyle Hewins & Alec Brown.
The racing portion of the event began with a 25-lap makeup feature for the Creative Cleanouts Sport Modifieds. Rookie Jaxson Moreside pulled ahead with the early advantage while Kyle Hewins powered to second. Multiple cars tangled at the tail end of the field on lap 3, resulting in a caution. Kyle Hewins got a leg up on the restart while Adam Chadbourne and Jaxson Moreside battled it out for second. The two drivers squared up again following a mid-race restart and collided while battling for position, ending Chadbourne’s race prematurely. Kyle Hewins maintained command through multiple late-race restarts, picking up the win and the points lead in the division. Faith Cleaves and Alec Brown followed, completing the top 3. The Fisher Plows crew & Ethan Dinsmore, Ray Dinsmore & Chuck Wagstaff.
Nick Morton and Jonathon Emerson won the qualifying heat races for the Late Model 75, but it was Andrew McLaughlin who pulled to the early lead in the feature. Just as the field was settling down a little bit, Shane Clark took a spin on lap 22, collecting Chase Burgess. Andrew McLaughlin held a slight advantage on the restart, but Jonathon Emerson was right on his tail. Mark Lucas came to a sudden slow on lap 24, bunching up the tail-end of the field. Dave Wiley, Frank Moulton, Jonathon Emerson & Ryan St. Clair.
Jonathon Emerson was on a mission on the restart, taking sole possession of the lead on lap 26. Ryan St. Clair was also on the move after starting deep in the field, breaking the top 3 on lap 33. Jonathon Emerson was in his own zip code as the laps wound down, extending his lead to over 6 seconds with just 15 laps to go. That’s just when the fight for third began to heat up, with Frank Moulton making it a 3-way battle with Andrew McLaughlin and Ryan St. Clair. Moulton powered to the outside with ten laps to go, stealing two spots away in a single lap. Although Moulton was downright fast, he was no match for Jonathon Emerson, who took home his second consecutive victory in the division. Ryan St. Clair followed, rounding out the top 3. Jason Sears, Gavin Gerow & James Grover.
Nelsen Stevens pulled ahead with the early advantage over Hayden Carver in the 25-lap feature for the Dale’s Cash Fuel Roadrunners. Gavin Gerow was also climbing through the field, pulling to Jason Sears’ door on lap 15. Gerow completed the pass for third two laps later and quickly moved onto Hayden Carver, overtaking second with just 5 laps to go. Just as everyone thought Nelsen Stevens had the win in the bag, destruction struck on lap 22 as a lap car spun, leaving the leader with nowhere to go. The two drivers made hard contact in turn 1, resulting in a devastating end to the race for Stevens. Gavin Gerow pulled ahead on the restart and never looked back, securing the victory as Jason Sears and James Grover completed the podium. Dave Wiley, Kyle Hewins, Adam Chadbourne & Alec Brown.
Faith Cleaves took a spin on the initial start of the second 25-lap feature for the Sport Modifieds, resulting in a caution. Adam Chadbourne powered ahead on the restart while Kyle Hewins quickly made his way to second. Alec Brown was also making moves early, pulling to Jaxson Moreside’s door on lap 7 to challenge for third. After battling it out for a couple of laps, Brown used a lap car to propel ahead with the spot on lap 10. Craig Robbins and Jeff Meserve tangled on lap 11, resulting in a mid-race caution. Adam Chadbourne maintained command on the restart, picking up his 85th career win at Wiscasset Speedway while Kyle Hewins and Alec Brown rounded out the top 3. Scott Eck, Tyler Jordan & Zack Emerson.
Tyler Jordan and Mike Delano battled it out for the early lead in the final 25-lap feature for the Strictly Streets. Tyler Jordan broke free on lap 5 while Scott Eck entered the fray, climbing to second. Joe Harriman took a spin at the front of the pack on lap 6, creating a pile-up in turn 1. Tyler Jordan pulled ahead on the restart and held onto the advantage for the remainder of the race, securing his first career win at Wiscasset Speedway. Scott Eck and Zack Emerson followed, completing the podium.
Saturday’s Group 2 racing program at Wiscasset Speedway was loaded with red-hot racing action, tight point battles and more. The excitement continues as the Group 1 divisions hit the track this coming Saturday, August 22nd. It will be a regular program but will also be the second and final “backpack giveaway night” of the season. The green flag flies at 5:00 pm and as always, adult grandstand admission is just $5 while kids 6 and under get in for free.
For the official track schedule, driver points, race results and more, please visit http://www.wiscassetspeedway.com.
WRITTEN BY: AMY WORREY - CHASING THE CHECKERED
Please credit Jasen Dickey for all attached photos, which are all entitled with which driver they are of/which race they are from.
