Speedway 95
1070 Odlin Rd, Hermon, ME 04401
(207) 945-9595
MIKE HOPKINS ROLLS TO SPEEDWAY 95 LATE MODEL WIN
Hermon’s Mike Hopkins made it two for two for 2012 in the Speedway 95 Dysart’s Late Models Saturday night when he went from the outside pole to victory lane in the caution free Sinclair Towing Service 50 lap feature event. Ryan Deane of Winterport started on the pole but was no match for Hopkins, who had the lead coming out of turn two on the first lap. Andy Saunders of Ellsworth wasted no time getting past Deane as he quickly moved into the second spot, but that’s as far as he could go. Saunders, and Deane who finished third, went the entire 50 laps nose to tail, but no change in the running order was ever made. Brenton Parritt of Steuben moved through the pack and finished in the fourth spot with Winterport’s Shane Clark finishing fifth. Duane Seekins of Stockton Springs finished sixth, the last car on the lead lap at the finish. Hermon’s Greg Ellis, Deane Smart of Milford, John Kalel II of Orrington and Dale Swoboda of Hermon, rounded out the top ten. Fifteen Late Models took the green flag for the race, with only Hermon’s Phil Richardson falling out and not completing the entire distance. Hopkins and Deane won the qualifiers, placing them on the front row for the start.
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MIKE HOPKINS TAKES LATE MODEL OPENER AT SPEEDWAY 95
Mike Hopkins of Hermon kept his streak of opening day wins in tact Saturday night at Speedway 95 when he won the season opener for the third year in a row. Starting third in the 16 car Dysart’s Late Model field, Hopkins was in the lead by the backstretch of the first lap, and kept that lead for the entire 35 lap distance. Andy Saunders of Ellsworth caught Hopkins following a lap 7 yellow, but was unable to pass for the lead, although he ran close behind at the end of the event. A caution flag on lap 30 gave Saunders one more chance at the lead, but Hopkins was simply too fast on the outside for Saunders to match. The race turned bad for several drivers on the final lap when, after Hopkins and Saunders took the white flag, third and fourth place runners Phil Richardson of Hermon and John Kalel II of Orrington came together just past the flag stand, scattering the field when Kalel came to a rest in the middle of the track. Hopkins and Saunders continued around to take the checkers in first and second respectively, but the rest of the field was so scattered that Dale Swoboda, who was running eighth under the white flag managed to cross the finish line third. Fourth went to Duane Seekins of Stockton Springs with Richardson salvaging a fifth place finish. The remainder of the finishing order was not immediately available. Phil Richardson of Hermon and George Dunn of Eastbrook won the qualifiers and started the feature from the front row.
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RENOVATIONS IN PLACE SPEEDWAY 95 READY FOR 2012 SEASON OPENER
SPEEDWAY 95 READY FOR 2012 SEASON OPENER
Following the biggest facelift the track has seen in years, Speedway 95 track owner Del Merritt is ready to open the gates for the 2012 racing season on Saturday April 28. After two practice Saturdays that saw over 50 cars test on the 1/3 mile asphalt oval, a very successful mall show with over 30 cars, drivers and crews participating, and major renovations to the track that have pleased everyone, the excitement and anticipation for the 2012 season is high.
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SPEEDWAY 95 LISTS MALL SHOW WINNERS
Speedway 95 held it’s annual Spring pre-season car show at the Bangor Mall March 23, 24, and 25, with over 30 cars, drivers and crews displaying their 2012 racing machines. During the three day show, contests were held for the People’s Choice Award in each racing division represented, voted on by shoppers at the mall, as well as a contest for the Best Dressed Crew and a Best of Show award that took into consideration the overall appearance of the car, both interior and exterior, the appearance of the crew representing the car, and the display area the car was set up in. Independent judges from the local media, the mall staff and track personnel made up the panel for the awards. Trophies and cash prizes were handed out by track owner Del Merritt on Sunday afternoon to the winning teams. The winners were:
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PARRITT WINS SPEEDWAY 95 LATE MODEL FINALE
MIKE HOPKINS TAKES POINTS TITLE BY ONE POINT
Wayne Parritt of Steuben took the lead in the Dysart’s Late Model feature from Winterport’s Ryan Deane on lap 27 at Speedway 95 Saturday night and went on to win the 35 lap feature, posting his second win in four weeks. Deane Smart of Bradley was close behind, challenging Parritt for the position, but unable to complete a pass and settling for second in the season finale. Meanwhile, Ellsworth’s Andy Saunders was working his way up from the 12th starting position to finish third, and also became a factor in the divisions’ point’s race. Ryan Deane and Mike Hopkins of Hermon started the night only one point apart in the standings. Deane had finished second in the first qualifier, putting him seven points ahead. Then Hopkins won his qualifier, gaining 10 points, retaking the lead by a 3 point margin. In the feature, Deane led the first 27 laps of the event, but Hopkins was mired in fifth, with a right front tire that was slowly losing air. Unable to make any progress, Hopkins was helpless to do anything but ride, letting lady luck determine his fate. That luck came in the form of Saunders who crossed the finish line in third by a nose over Deane, relegating Deane to a fourth place finish. With 2 points difference in each position, when Hopkins finished in fifth, his points lead for the season and the championship was down to one. Fortunately for Hopkins, the top five had separated themselves from the remainder of the field by enough of a margin so no one else could pass Hopkins, who continued to slow as his tire leaked. After crossing the finish line, Hopkins went to the pit showering sparks as his suspension scraped the track due to the now flat tire. A quick tire change by his crew brought Hopkins back out to do the now popular “burnout” to celebrate his championship. The remainder of the night’s finishing order in the Dysart’s Late Models was 6. Don Alexander Jr., Carmel, 7. Duane Seekins, Stockton Springs, 8. John Kalel II, Orrington, 9. Donny Blanchard, Sangerville, 10. George Dunn, Eastbrook, 11. Alex Waltz, Damariscotta, 12. Bob Seger Jr. Framkfort, 13. Lloyd Nickerson, Corinth. 14. Dale Swoboda, Hermon, 15. Shane Clark, Winterport. read more…