Wiscasset Speedway

Despite a shortened show, racers provide plenty of action

Tue, 08/08/2017 - 8:15am

There was little doubt that the rain was coming last Saturday evening. The question was if Wiscasset Speedway's race program would go on as planned or if it would happen at all. The answer ended up somewhere in the middle as track management called an audible and shortened the show to fit in the anticipated window of opportunity. Starting racing action a half hour early and running features only for the 5 Group 2 divisions proved to be the right call as the rain began to fall just 20 minutes after the final checkered flag flew. Despite the shortened show, fans were treated to some of the best action of the season.

Wyatt Oakes of Boothbay took the lead halfway through the GoKart exhibition race and cruised to the win to start the show. Two-time winner Spencer Wenners held the early lead, but slipped to 2nd and then spun out on the final lap, giving the spot over to Madison Moody. Moody took home the 2nd place trophy while Wenners recovered to finish 3rd.

The 35-lap spotlight feature for the Norms Used Cars Strictly Street was slowed by just one caution. Sophomore driver Brett Osmond of Wiscasset held the lead through the first 18 laps until the caution flew for a minor spin. From there Montville's Bryan Robbins took advantage on the restart and grabbed the lead on his way to his 2nd win of 2017. Tiger Colby of Wiscasset turned in another strong performance, starting deep in the field to finish 2nd. Jonathan Emerson of Sabattus picked up his third trophy of the season with his 3rd place finish. Osmond faded late to finish 6th.

The Midcoast Region Napa Modifieds rolled out next for their 30 lap feature. The group went green to checkers without a caution. Point leader Allan Moeller Sr. of Dresden grabbed the lead from Adam Chadbourne on lap 10 and drove on to the win, his first victory of the season, and first Mod win since his 2003 championship season. Chadbourne held off defending champ Mark Lucas over the final laps to claim 2nd. Lucas settled for 3rd. Behind the lead trio was a great race long battle between Tom Young and previous race winner Nick Reno. Young finished 4th and Reno 5th.

The Kennebec Equipment Rental Outlaw Minis 25-lap feature turned out a somewhat unexpected winner and the closest finish of the night. Point leader Brent Roy had his day start with his motor seizing up just 6 laps into practice. Rather than throw in the towel, he decided to rush home to Vassalboro and change the engine. He rolled back through the gates at the track just in time to unload his car and go to line up with no practice. He lined up on the front row for the 25 lap feature and held the lead on his way to his 2nd win of the season. The win didn't come without a frantic challenge from former champ Jimmy Childs. He pressured Roy over the final laps making 2 attempts to pass him on the outside. The two were separated by just .033 seconds at the line, with Childs claiming the runner-up trophy. 4-time champ Rob Greenleaf of West Bath followed them across the stripe for 3rd Tim Collins of Farmingdale and Jake Hendsbee of Whitefield completed the top 5.

As the sky darkened the final race of the evening brought 20 cars out for the Wood Pellet Warehouse Late Model Sportsman 35-lap feature. Four cautions slowed the action, but Fairfield's Ben Erskine was up to the challenge, withstanding each restart and racing his way to his first checkered flag in over two years. The final two laps were some of the most exciting racing of the day as brothers Josh and Ryan St. Clair of Liberty joined defending champ Chris Thorne of Sidney in a battle for the final two spots in victory lane. Josh actually had the lead on the outside of Erskine with just 3 laps to go but faded back to finish 3rd while his younger brother Ryan notched his best finish of the season in 2nd. Thorne finished 4th while Wiscasset' Brandon Bailey rounded out the top 5. The top 4 cars were separated by just a half second.

Wiscasset Speedway returns to action on Saturday, Aug. 12 at 6 p.m. with action in Group 1 divisions, with a 35-lap spotlight feature for the 4-cylinder Pros, plus an appearance from the Amsoil Nelcar Legends. For more information go to the track website www.wiscassetspeedway.com or call (207) 491-3720.

Official results for Aug. 5 races

NORMS USED CARS STRICTLY STREETS (35 laps)

* Robbins - 2nd win of 2017
 
Pos No. Name Home Town Laps Diff
1 51x Bryan Robbins Montville 35  
2 78 Tiger  Colby Newcastle 35 0.264
3 24 Jonathon Emerson Sabattus 35 2.327
4 67 Michael Haynes Livermore Falls 35 3.066
5 05R Glenn Reynolds Turner 35 3.93
6 05 Brett Osmond Wiscasset 35 4.671
7 23 Zachary Emerson Sabattus 35 5.157
8 45 Cole Watson Naples 35 5.425
9 00 Kimberly Knight Chesterville 35 8.295
10 13 Shawn Emery Limington 22 13 Laps
11 66x James Grover Jr Newcastle 16 19 Laps
 
MIDCOAST REGION NAPA MODIFIEDS (30 laps)
* Moeller - point leader - first modified win since champ season in 2003
 
Pos No. Name Home Town Laps Diff
1 04 Allan Moeller Dresden 30  
2 1 Adam Chadbourne Wiscasset 30 1.964
3 5 Mark Lucas Harpswell 30 2.334
4 21 Tom Young Freeport 30 6.545
5 7 Nick Reno West Bath 30 6.901
6 33 Ron Bryant Livermore 29 1 Lap
7 27 Dan Brown Peru 29 1 Lap
8 8 Richard Jordan Kingfield 29 1 Lap
9 4C Nik Coates Turner 6 24 Laps
 
KENNEBEC EQUIPMENT RENTAL OUTLAW MINIS (25 laps)
* Roy - point leader - 2nd win of 2017
 
Pos No. Name Home Town Laps Diff
1 26 Brent Roy Vassalboro 25  
2 10 Jimmy Childs Leeds 25 0.033
3 2x Rob Greenleaf Bath 25 1.427
4 18 Tim Collins Farmingdale 25 1.66
5 27 Jake Hendsbee Whitefield 25 2.505
6 8 Scott Trask Richmond 25 13.76
7 72 Mike Delano Brunswick 24 1 Lap
8 36 Megan  Frost Montville 24 1 Lap
9 20 Shawn Kimball Augusta 16 9 Laps
10 41 Shane Smith Augusta 8 17 Laps
 
WOOD PELLET WAREHOUSE LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN (35 laps)
* Erskine - first win since May 2015
 
Pos No. Name Home Town Laps Diff
1 29 Ben Erskine Farmington 35  
2 30 Ryan St. Clair Liberty 35 0.232
3 33 Josh St.Clair Liberty 35 0.381
4 17 Chris Thorne Sidney 35 0.554
5 47 Brandon Bailey Woolwich 35 1.4
6 15 Nick Hinkley Wiscasset 35 1.793
7 21 Shane Clark Winterport 35 1.8
8 00 Alex Waltz Walpole 35 2.134
9 25 Will Collins Waldoboro 35 3.577
10 22 Brandon Fowler Rome 35 4.893
11 19 Shane Kaherl Jay 35 4.968
12 7 Tyler Bailey Wiscasset 34 1 Lap
13 30S Dylan Street Old Town 33 2 Laps
14 55 Steve Barker Turner 33 2 Laps
15 36 Tyler Robbins Montville 29 6 Laps
16 26 Andrew McLaughlin Harrington 29 6 Laps
17 11 Cody Verrill Richmond 28 7 Laps
18 8 Luke Romanoski Freeman 27 8 Laps
19 28 Steve Minott Windham 17 18 Laps
20 88x Wes Turner Freedom 2 33 Lap