By Lisa Maguire
The Northeast Mini Stock Tour made its one and only appearance this year in Maine at the Wiscasset Speedway last Saturday night. Under the bright lights, thirty-one cars raced in an action packed fifty lap feature.
Starting the lineup were heat winners Mike Mason in an Acura Integra No. 51, the No. 33 driven by Matt Sonnhalter, and Shawn Swallow driving the No. 04. In what proved to be a close-quarter race, leader changes at the start were swift. Sonnhalter drifted back in the pack. Car No. 53 driven by Glen Thomas wove through traffic and took second place, George Fortin in his No. 9. advanced from sixth place to third.
Five laps into the race, a caution was thrown when Mason slowed on the front stretch, then went off the track on turn one. Swallow became race leader. Thomas and Fortin were close behind, looking for the lead. This track order did not last long as Thomas was unable to keep up, and Fortin passed him in lap six. No. 88 driven by Emerson Cayer was proving to be a force on the field, and advanced to fifth from his eleventh place start.
By lap ten, Swallow’s Honda Prelude had gained a five car length lead. Cayer, now in third, driving a Ford Mustang was hot to catch up. Fortin went to the pits for adjustments. Car No 2 driven by Toby Wells was also making his way up through the pack, and looking to advance on the track.
Lap sixteen was action packed. Cayer, Thomas and Wells stalked Swallow down the track, all looking for opportunities to pass. When Swallow’s No. 04 scraped a lap car, he fell back, losing his lead. In a scuffle, Wells moved to first, the Cayers Dimitri’s Pizza No 88 to second, and Thomas back to third.
There was another caution with only twenty-two laps to go. Once again Skillings had spun on the front stretch. After the restart there was a battle between Wells and Cayer for first. They raced neck and neck around the track with Cayer briefly pulling ahead. Wells regained the lead. Two laps later saw another caution, but once again Wells held off Cayer. Car No. 20 driven by Shawn Kimball took his opportunity during the restart. He had woven his Voltzwagon up the track to forth from his fourteenth place start.
Wells gained a commanding lead over the ensuing laps, but the race for second and third position was fierce. In lap thirty-four Kimball was able to pass Thomas for third. There were no more cautions in the race, and the remaining laps sped by quickly. Track leaders remained the same. Wells took first. Cayer, who holds first place in points standing in the NEMST took second. In Victory Lane, Cayer said, “That (No. 2) right there is what I am going to watch out for the rest of the year, he is pretty quick.” Wells was seventh in points standing going into Saturday’s race, and placed second. Kimball in the No. 20 rounded out the top three.
In the Super Stock 25 lap feature, Car No. 1, Adam Chadbourne, was given a battle by Bobby Mesimer in the No. 3. Mesimer briefly took the lead throughout the race. Chadbourne prevailed however, and secured his third first place finish at Wiscasset Speedway. Mesimer took second, and No. 2 driven by Josh Bailey placed third.
In a fifteen lap show, the Thunder 4’s took the track. No. 91, Jamie Heath took the pole position, and there was a neck and neck battle between him and Ryan Ripley in the No. 09X. Ripley was black flagged due to fuel spilling out of his car. Heath then took a commanding lead and placed first. Securing her third top three finish at Wiscasset was Leandra Martin in second. Kevin Sherman driving the No. 11 took third place.
Two cautions before the first lap was completed of a 30 lap feature marked the beginning of the Prostock race. When racing action resumed, the No. 09 Driven by Justin Drake and Chris Thorne driving the No. 17 were the race leaders. Thorne gained a commanding lead by the conclusion of lap three, and drove his way to a first place finish. This was his third top three finish, but his first first place win at Wiscasset for the season. Drake placed second. Rounding out the top three was car No. 32 driven by Nick Jenkins.
Excitement filled the stands during the 20 lap Strictly Street race. Cheers were heard as Tasha Dyer in the No. 32 led the race Childs from her starting pole position. The lead was not easy to maintain as she was dogged by Guy Childs in the No. 5. Childs made a determined effort to gain the lead, and the pair engaged in a twenty lap scuffle to the finish.
In lap seven, Childs passed Dyer on the back stretch, but coming out of turn three, Dyer tangled with Childs and he went off the track. A caution was called. Both went to the back of the pack. Both Dyer and Childs were eager to win, and furiously raced their way back to the lead. Lap thirteen saw Childs back in first position, but Dyer was staring at his taillights, and coming on strong.
The pair scraped and bumped their way around the track to the finish. The crowd erupting into more cheers and applause with each passing lap. In lap 20, coming out of turn three, Dyer made one last effort to pass, and spun down the front stretch, crossing the finish line sideways. Childs took first, making this his third top three finish. After race time, Childs said, “I have been racing for years. I really enjoy racing at Wiscasset. I enjoy racing with Tasha Dyer, Corey Morgan, and the others too. I want to win just like all of them. She was racing me hard. She wanted to win too.”
Dyer placed second. Dyer said, “The thing about this was that it was the most fun I ever had racing. We both had good cars. We bumped on every lap, and I spun out at the end, but it was fun.” Gerry Freve in the No. 39 was in third.
Four cautions in the N.E. 4-Cylinder Prostocks made for a lot of racing action on the track. However, Kevin Sherman Driving the No. 11, was able to hold onto first from his starting position at the pole. This was his second win of the season at Wiscasset. Placing second was Tim Jeski in the No. 38. Third place went to No. 12 driven by Dave Patten, making this his third top three finish at the Speedway.
The 35 lap Late Model Sportsman race had four cautions. The first caution came in lap six when No. 15 driven by Nick Hinkley spun round, and Steve Minott in the No. 28 went off the track. The worst caution of the night was in lap 11 when rookie Steve Minott hit the wall coming out of turn one. His car saw damage. Lap 16 saw a caution when No. 20 driven by Corey Walker spun out on turn three.
With only Twelve laps to go, another caution was called when there was a scuffle coming out of turn three. Car No. 23 driven by Dave Farrington Jr and Tyler Robbins in the No. 34 tangled from the turn to the home stretch. On the restart, Car No. 04 driven by TJ Waston was in first, Farrington second, and Robbins third. Lap twenty-four saw Watson falter on the front stretch, and Farrington took the lead to win. Watson placed second, making this his third top three finish. Robbins took third, his first top three finish at Wiscasset.
Wiscasset Speedway resumes racing action, May 24, 2013 with its group two lineup of divisions: Strictly Street, Mini Trucks, Outlaw Mini, Late Model Sportsman, and the flex race of the week will be a 100 lap Enduro feature for six and eight cylinder cars. Pit gates open at 2:00 PM. Grandstand gates open at 4:00 PM. Racing begins at 6:00 PM. Admission is $5.00 for adults and children aged seven and older. Kids six and under are free. Wiscasset Speedway is located on West Alna Road in Wiscasset. For more information, head to the Wiscasset Speedway website at: http:www.wiscassetspeedway.com.
WISCASSET SPEEDWAY OFFICIAL FINISH MAY 18, 2013
SUPERSTOCK (25 LAPS)
1. #1 Adam Chadbourne, Woolwich
2. #3 Bobby Mesimer, Wiscasset
3. #2 Josh Bailey, Wiscasset
4. #2R Ryan Robinson, Clinton
5. #05 James Osmond, Wiscasset
6. #48 Dan Nesmith, Wiscasset
7. #27 Nate Yeaton, Woolwich (1)
THUNDER 4’S (15 LAPS)
1. #91 Jamie Heath, Waterford
2. #31 Leandra Martin, Richmond
3. #11 Kevin Sherman, Wiscasset
4. #13 Cody Tribbets, NA
5. #51 Dylan Lancaster, Skowhegan (1)
6. #09X Ryan Ripley, Waldoboro (11)
PROSTOCK (30 LAPS)
1. #17 Chris Thorne, Sidney
2. #09 Justin Drake, Vassalboro
3. #32 Nick Jenkins, Brownville
4. #0 Bill Penfold, Yarmouth
5. #39 John Rideout, Washington
6. #20 Corey Walker, New Vinyard (1)
STRICTLY STREET (20 LAPS)
1. #5 Guy Childs Sr., Turner
2. #32 Tasha Dyer, Arrowsic
3. #39 Jerry Freve, Buckfield
4. #28 Josh Toothaker, Greene
5. #06 Zac Poland, Woolwich
6. #31 Dale Alley, NA
NEW ENGLAND 4-CYLINDER PROSTOCK (20 LAPS)
1. #11 Kevin Sherman, Wiscasset
2. #38 Tim Jeski, Drakut, MA
3. #12 Dave Patten, Westbrook
4. #14 Bob Patten, Westbrook
5. #54 Mike Swett, Farmingdale
LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN (35 LAPS)
1. #23 Dave Farrington Jr., Jay
2. #04 TJ Watson, Cundy’s Harbor
3. #34 Tyler Robbins, Montville
4. #5 Bill Pinkham, Wiscasset
5. #14 Bryan Robbins, Montville
6. #03 Mike Orr, Wiscasset
7. #15 Nick Hinkley, Wiscasset
8. #20 Corey Walker, New Vinyard
9. #3 Shane Lane, Kingsfield
10. #28 Steve Minott, Windham
NORTHEAST MINI STOCK TOUR (50 LAPS)
1. #2NH Toby Wells, Dublin, NH
2. #88NH Emerson Cayer, Contoocook, NH
3. #20 Shawn Kimball, Augusta
4. #53 Glen Thomas, Groton, CT
5. #33 Matt Sonnhalter, East Thetford, VT
6. #18 Danny Field, Deep River, CT
7. #18ME Justin Larsen, Peru
8. #38 Cristofer King, Derry, NH
9. #15B Brad Bosworth, Cornville
10. #13 Nate Tribbet, Richmond
11. #52NH Ricky Labrecque, Antrim, NH
12. #12 Darrell Moore, Oxford (-1)
13. #09X Ryan Ripley, Waldoboro (-1)
14. #81 Ed Archer, Skowhegan (-1)
15. #21 Darren Jacobs, Springfield, MA (-2)
16. #18X Tim Collins, Windsor (-2)
17. #41 Loren Smith, Allenstown, NH (-2)
18. #25 Nic Skillings, Warner, NH (-2)
19. #63 Nick Maniatis, Hooksett, NH (-2)
20. #10CT Mitchell Bombard, Willimantic, CT (-2)
21. #90 Desmond Skillings, Antrim, NH (-3)
22. #5 Jeff Prindall, NA (-4)
23. #04 Shawn Swallow, Stark, NH (-5)
24. #63ME Dan Morris, Auburn (-8)
25. #2 Rob Greenleaf, West Bath (-20)
26. #9 George Fortin, Greene (-20)
27. #48 Justin King, Derry, NH (-24)
28. #47 Jef James, Dracut, MA (-32)
29. #19 Zach Audet, Skowhegan (-33)
30. #69 Louis Maher, North Brookfield, MA (-36)
31. #51 Mike Mason, Skowhegan (-46)