Another legendary event for the 2014 season of the North East Mini Stock Tour was held Saturday August 23 for the only Maine event of the Pine Tree State based series. With help from Tire King and Belly Busters Concessions the NEMST was able to increase the purse for the top 5 finishers of the event and offer a $750 to win payday!Under cloudy skies twenty-seven tour style mini stocks entered the pit area to begin pre-inspection and registration for the nights 50 lap Main Event. The cars were split into 3 heats races and set off for their qualifying races shortly after 6:00 PM. Shawn Kimball, Justin Trombley, and Toby Wells all took home their respective heat race wins. By fortune of winning the first heat race Justin Trombley got to draw the invert for the starting lineup. Justin selected the chip marked for a 7 row invert.
The Baxter brothers from Pascoag, RI would start on the front row after the invert with 2014 feature winners Justin Larsen, Toby Wells, and Emerson Cayer starting in the 11th 12th and 13th positions by NEMST rules. On lap 2 Zach Audet blasted his Acura to the lead with George Fortin following in his tracks. On lap 6 Fortin experienced trouble out of turn 4 and hit the tire wall bringing out the second caution of the event.
Over the next 10 circuits 3 single car spins brought out cautions for vehicles unable to refire sitting on the infield. During the short green flag runs Toby Wells made slow forward progress picking off single positions at a time lurking into the top 5. Cayer and Larsen visited the pits during cautions to fix handling and mechanical issues.
The field would settle down and run to the 30 lap mark before slowing again for the car of Mike Mason that had spun off turn 3 after contact and hit the trees with the passenger side. Mike was ok however the car was unable to continue. The final 20 laps would go green with Wells stalking Audet. Audet had begun to lose the handle on his car and Wells made a move to the inside off of turn 2 and completed the pass entering turn 3 on lap 42. Audet would fall to fourth behind Trombley and Tim Collins on lap 46. The 2nd and 3rd place cars began to chase down Wells and close the gap to just 2 car lengths in the final laps.
Wells crossed the line first just .49 seconds ahead of second place Justin Trombley. Tim Collins, Zach Audet, and Shawn Kimball would round out the top 5. Audet cause for losing the handle was a left rear tire that began to go flat around the halfway point of the event.
The next event for the NEMST will be at Devils Bowl Speedway in West Haven, VT. The Devils Bowl event will crown the champion for the Northern Triple Crown series led by 2 time NEMST Champion Emerson Cayer. For additional event information please visit www.northeastministocktour.com or Like Us on Facebook!
Bob Guptill
NEMST Founder/Promoter
207-577-2681
158 South Ave
Lewiston, ME 04240
www.northeastministocktour.com
NEMST Founder/Promoter
207-577-2681
158 South Ave
Lewiston, ME 04240
www.northeastministocktour.com