photo by Peter Taylor
By Lisa Maguire
It was a beautiful day last Saturday at the Wiscasset Speedway. The sun was shining, and fans gathered to watch the group two division of races including Thunder 4’s, Strictly Street, Mini Trucks, and Late Model Sportsman. The flex race of the week was a New England Pro 4 Tour feature. The tour visited the track last year, and Bryan Lancaster from Skowhegan was last year’s winner
First on the track was the spotlighted race of the week, a 35 lap Strictly Street feature. Starting on the pole was the #36 of Richard Spaulding. The # 32 of Tasha Dyer, and Gerry Freve of the #39 were behind him.
Freve passed Dyer during lap two on turn one for second. Freve and Dyer battled for second. Dyer was able to claim second back after a caution during lap seven caused a restart. Dyer passed Freve on the inside of turn one when racing action resumed. Back in the pack was Corey Morgan of the #26. Morgan was weaving through lap traffic, and had moved to fourth position from his thirteenth place start by lap six. Morgan also used the caution to his advantage and passed Freve for third on the inside of the backstretch.
There was another caution during lap eight and Morgan and Dyer fought for third. Morgan passed Dyer on the inside of the backstretch, taking second. Morgan looked for his chance to pass Spaulding. He could not find an opening on the bottom, so Morgan headed to the outside and passed Spaulding on the outside of turn three for the lead.
Morgan’s car liked the fresh air and soon had a commanding lead. Morgan spent the remainder of the race looking out his rear view mirror watching Spaulding and Dyer try to catch up to him. Race leaders remained constant until race conclusion. Morgan placed first. Spaulding took second. Dyer rounded out the top three in third. Morgan started the race as point leader with 222 points. Zach Emerson was a close second with 204 points. Tasha Dyer was in third with 192 points.
Post-race Morgan said, “It was a real good race, especially after wrecking in the heat race. A thank you to Jairet Harrison for lending me a spindle so I could repair the car. I also had problems with the cam shaft and motor last week. It was all resolved this week. I want to thank my cousin Shawn, also Joe and Calvin, and my sponsor, The Sign Store.”
An exciting Thunder 4 race was next on the agenda. The #3 of Cody Robbins started at the pole. Behind him were the # 04 of Curtis Anderson and the #7 of Bill Grover. When green flag racing began, there was a small jam up on the track behind Anderson. Grover passed Anderson off the start, and behind Grover, the #14 of Robert McDonald followed suit. Anderson slipped back in the pack. Then on the backstretch during lap one, the #1 of Jeff Davis passed McDonald for third. However Davis and McDonald made contact while racing for position the following lap. A caution was called. Robbins kept the lead. Grover moved to second and Anderson moved into third when Davis and McDonald went to the back.
Starting in the tenth position was point leader, Ryan Chadwick of the #5. Chadwick had powered his way from the back to fourth place by lap two. When green flag racing resumed after the caution, Chadwick passed Anderson for third on the inside of turn three. Chadwick moved up the track and challenged Grover for second. Grover moved up the track giving Chadwick an opening at the bottom. Chadwick moved to the bottom and passed Grover on the inside of the back stretch for second during lap three.
A battle was brewing for third place between Grover and the #91 of Jamie Heath. Heath passed Grover on the inside of turn one during lap four for third. Ahead of them, Chadwick continued his advance up the track, passing Robbins for the lead on the outside of turn three during lap six.
Chadwick and Robbins fought until the end of the race for the lead. There were two cautions called during lap twelve and lap thirteen. On both restarts, Robbins got a good jump off the start and took the lead. However, Chadwick caught him both times, and maintained the lead until the finish. Chadwick took first place. This is Chadwick’s fifth top five win. Robbins placed second. Heath placed third. Coming into Saturday’s race, Chadwick was Point leader with 230 points. Grover was second in points with 176.
The flex race of the week was a twenty-five lap New England Pro 4 Tour. Starting at the pole was the #06 of Ryan Glover. Behind him were the #12 of Darrel Moore and the #8 of Calvin Rose. Starting at the very back of the pack were the #1 of Dylan Lancaster and the #81 of Bryan Lancaster. Dylan Lancaster piloted his car from the back to third place, passing Rose for third on the outside of turn three during lap two. Dylan Lancaster then proceeded to pass Moore on the outside of turn two for second during lap three. Dylan Lancaster’s brother, Bryan Lancaster passed Moore for third on the front stretch during lap three.
Dylan Lancaster powered up the track behind Glover. Dylan Lancaster passed Glover on the outside of turn four during lap three. Bryan Lancaster passed Glover for second on the outside of turn three for second.
The Lancaster brothers gained a significant lead, and the battle for the win was between the Lancaster brothers. Both cars seemed equally matched; however, Bryan Lancaster passed Dylan Lancaster on the inside of turn three during lap seventeen for the lead when Dylan Lancaster slowed somewhat. The brothers raced furiously, gaining speed as continued around the track. By lap twenty, both Lancaster brothers lapped the third place car of Glover. Race leaders remained constant through the finish. Bryan Lancaster claimed the win for the second year in a row. Dylan Lancaster placed second. Glover took third.
Post-race Bryan Lancaster said, “Wish we had seen more cars from the tour, but I thought the race went really well. Raced against my brother- he had motor troubles- so it was easier to get by him. I had a lot of fun. I love the track at Wiscasset Speedway and it was good to be back. I would like to thank my family, David Kinney, Phillip Wyman, Wiscasset Speedway, and my girlfriend, Heather Mea. A big thank you to my sponsors: Randy Wyman Trucking, Marshall’s Automotive Machine, and Tire King.”
A quick, straight-forward fifteen lap Mini Truck feature was next. Starting at the pole was the #22 of Jeff Schmidt. Matt Weil of the #17 and the #55 of Larry Marshall were behind him. Off the start, Weil passed Schmidt for the lead on turn two. The #12 of Jerry McKenna Passed Marshall for third on the outside during lap one. Then McKenna passed Schmidt on the inside of turn two during lap two for second.
There was a caution during lap three, and when action resumed on the track, the #0 of Kris Knox passed Schmidt on the outside for third. Knox continued up the track, headed to the bottom, and passed McKenna or second. Weil and Knox vied for the lead, but Weil held Knox off through the finish. Weil placed first. This was Weil’s first career win. Last season was Weil’s rookie year. Knox took second. McKenna placed third. McKenna was point leader coming into Saturday’s race with 226 points. In second was Schmidt was in second with 186 points. Knox had 166 points, in third.
Weil said, “I am so excited I can’t believe it, it was awesome. I would like to thank my dad most of all because it would not have been possible without him. He put a lot of time and money into the truck. I would also like to thank Steve Laite of Camden Exxon for his sponsorship. Herrick’s Garage is also my sponsor and want to thank them also. The truck was running very good. We have come a long way from last year. It was pretty exciting being up front and holding off Knox. I hope to get to the podium more this season.”
A seven caution Late Model Sportsman feature was next. Seventeen racecars competed in the thirty-five lap feature. Starting on the pole was the #5 of Bill Pinkham. Behind him were the #25 of Will Collins and the #04 of Allen Moeller. There were several cautions at the beginning of the race; however, there were no leader changes until lap thirteen. The #33 of Josh St Clair made contact with the back of Moeller’s car sending Moeller sideways, causing a caution. Moeller went to the back, and Josh St Clair moved to third.
Nick Hinkley of the #15 had traveled from his fourteenth starting position, up into the top five by lap twenty. During lap twenty-seven Hinkley made his move and passed Josh St Clair on the outside of turn three for third. In a flurry of action, Collins passed Pinkham on the inside of turn two during lap twenty-eight for the lead. Hinkley challenged Pinkham for second and passed Pinkham on the inside of turn three during lap twenty-nine. Hinkley fought for first, But Collins was a force on the track and held off a determined Hinkley for the remainder of the race.
Collins placed first. This is Collin’s fourth top five finish, and his first win of the season at Wiscasset. Hinkley took second. Pinkham who was last in points coming into the race, with only 22 points, placed third. Hinkley was point leader coming into Saturday’s race with 166 points. Chris Thorne was second in points with 150.
Collins said, “I am really happy to finally get a win in this car. It took five tries, but we did it. We made a lot of changes these past two weeks, and I think we are getting it. I want to thank my Mother, my father, and my crew: my father, MG, and Guy.”
Wiscasset Speedway resumes racing action on June 28, 2014 with its group one line up of divisions: Napa Super Street, Prostock, Outlaw Mini, and New England 4 Cylinder Prostocks. The flex event of the week is a modified exhibition. Also on the agenda are the Woodside One Wheelers. Unicycles will perform, and race on the track. 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. Pit admission is $20.00. 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 UNOFFICIAL FINISH JUNE 21, 2014*
STRICTLY STREET (35 LAPS)
1. #26 Corey Morgan, Lewiston
2. #36 Richard Spaulding, Lisbon
3. #32 Tasha Dyer, Freedom
4. #23 Zack Emerson. Sabattus
5. #24 Jonathan Emerson, Sabattus
6. #83 Dan Brown, Peru
7. #55 Mike Marshall, Randolph
8. #66 Phil Main Sr, Boothbay
9. #19 Foster Meserve, Wales
10. #22 Thomas Smith, Edgecomb
11. #00 Kimberly Knight, Chesterville
12. #29 Dave White, Topsham
13. #39 Gerard Freve, Turner
14. #14 Dave Brannon, Lisbon
15. #6 Mike Brown, Union
16. #85 Jairet Harrison, Freeport
17. #21 Shawn Rines, Wiscasset
THUNDER 4”S (20 LAPS)
1. #5 Ryan Chadwick, Wiscasset
2. #3 Cody Robbins, Winslow
3. #91 Jamie Heath, Waterford
4. #7 Bill Grover, Waterford
5. #13 Cody Tribbet, Richmond
6. #33 Trey Brown, Winterport
7. #1 Jeff Davis, Woolwich
8. #4X Travis Poulliot, Madison
9. #14 Robert McDonald, Smithfield
10. #113 Nate Tribbet, Richmond
11. #04 Curtis Anderson, Richmond
12. #70 Roy Sevigny, Windsor
13. #74 Aaron Sevigny, Windsor
NEW ENGLAND PRO 4 TOUR (25 LAPS)
1. #81 Bryan Lancaster, Skowhegan
2. #1 Dylan Lancaster, Skowhegan
3. #06 Ryan Glover, Mexico
4. #12 Darrell Moore, Mechanic Falls
5. #8 Calvin Rose, Turner
6. #98 Nic Skillings, Warner
MINI TRUCKS (15 LAPS)
1. #17 Matt Weil, Biddeford
2. #0 Kris Knox, Sanford
3. #12 Jerry McKenna, Milton
4. #1 Matt Curtis, Freeport
5. #22 Jeff Schmidt, Mechanic Falls
6. #55 Larry Marshall, Dresden
7. #68 Roger Allard, Harpswell
LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN (35 LAPS)
1. #25 Will Collins, Waldoboro
2. #15 Nick Hinkley, Wiscasset
3. #5 Billy Pinkham, Wiscasset
4. #30 Ryan St Clair, Liberty
5. #14 Dave St Clair, Liberty
6. #33 Josh St Clair, Liberty
7. #04 Allan Moeller Sr, Dresden
8. #28 Steve Minott, Windham
9. #17 Chris Thorne, Sidney
10. #00 Alex Waltz, Walpole
11. #32 Mike Orr, Wiscasset
12. #3 Richard Jordan, Kingfield
13. #34X DJ Moody, Prospect
14. #6 Chris Bowie, New Glouster
15. #34 Tyler Robbins, Montville
16. #12 Dave Patten, Westbrook
17. #20 Corey Walker, New Vineyard
*For official finish visit www.wiscassetspeedway.com