Wiscasset Speedway opened the gates for the first show of the season last Saturday.  The stands were packed by show time, and fans enjoyed the spring weather while watching the action on Maine’s fastest oval track. On the schedule were the division one group of racers, which include: Super Streets, Thunder 4 Mini’s, ServPro of Biddeford Saco Prostock, and New England Four Cylinder Prostock's. Additionally, it was season opener for the Amsoil Nelcar Legends at Wiscasset, who made their first of nine appearances. 

Starting off the racing action was a 35-lap Spotlight Race featuring the New England Four Cylinder Prostock’s. Starting on the pole was heat winner, Connor Wenners of the #4.  Racing off the start was Wenners and the #98 of Kamren Knowles, 2015 season NEFCP champion. The #24 of Jeff Prindall quickly moved to third. In the mix was Ryan Hayes of the #38. 

Wenners, Knowles, Hayes, and Prindall set the pace for the race, leading the pack through lap nineteen. There was a caution during lap nineteen when Wenners was taken out of contention after being tagged by the #6 of Fred Ashmore on turn two. Dave Patten of the #12 moved up to fourth. 

Knowles, demonstrating why he was last season’s champion in NEFCP, made his move after another caution during lap twenty-six. Knowles sped to the head of the pack and stayed there.  Hayes, Prindall, and Dave Patten battled it out for top finishes.  Hayes and Dave Patten went head to head for second during the last two laps. Patten swept over the finish .03 seconds ahead of Hayes for second.  Knowles took the win.

The sound of the Super Streets roaring onto the tracks was like music to the fans packed on the grandstands. Smiles flitted across their faces as they clapped for their favorite drivers. Starting at the pole was the #02 of Jason Curtis, and to his right was Adam Chadbourne of the #1. When Ron Whitcomb, Wiscasset’s new flag man, waved the green over the track, the powerful cars sped down the straightaway into their 25-lap feature.

The #34 of David Vaughn was in third at the start. Vaughn was a new driver to Wiscasset, but he has had plenty of experience from other Maine tracks. Vaughn quickly challenged Curtis and Chadbourne. The trio roared ahead, providing a show for the fans who were riveted on the action on the track. It was unclear who would take the win until the final laps.  Vaughn gained a slight advantage, and took the lead. Chadbourne and Curtis fought to the finish, but Curtis edged ahead in the last lap. Chadbourne finished in third. Curtis claimed second. Taking the top honor was Vaughn in first.

The Amsoil Nelcar Legends were a crowd pleaser. These lightweight coupes and sedans reach speeds that exceed 75 miles per hour. Sounding like a swarm of powerful bees, the cars hit the track for a 25-lap feature. Starting on the pole was the #88X of Nicholas Naugle. Naugle’s car liked the fresh air, and Naugle stayed in the lead throughout the entire race. The #29 of Austin Teras was an early contender, but he got loose and struck the back wall. Teras then was hit by the #17 of Terry Kirk, which brought out a caution. On the restart, Matt Grant of the #84 moved to second, and the #129 of Trevor Sanborn went to third. 

The #19 of Kevin Girad Jr. quickly moved up through the pack. Girard was 2015 Amsoil Nelcar Legends Champ. During lap eight, Girard passed Sanborn in the inside of turn two and moved to second as Grant fell back. Another contender moving up from the back was previous Nelcar champion, Matt Bourgoine of the #54X. Bourgoine moved to fifth during lap eighteen. By lap twenty-one, Bourgoine had passed Sanborn for third. Bourgoine did not have enough time to catch the race leaders, and had to settle for third. Girard placed second.  Naugle, who had traveled from Nova Scotia to be here, took the win.

Wiscasset’s entry level class, the Thunder 4 Mini’s, put on a show in a 20-lap feature race. Starting on the pole was the # 2 of Shawn Hinkley. Beside him was the #19 of Travis Poulliot. Behind in third was Michael Harrison of the #48. During lap eight Poulliot spun Harrison, sending both to the back of the pack. The restart saw the #04 of Curtis Anderson move to second and Jeff Minchin of the #3 went to third.  

Starting in twelfth was the #4J of Joe Katula. Katula skillfully made his way through the pack, and passed Minchin for third on the inside during lap eleven. By lap fifteen, Katula was passing Anderson for second.  Anderson attempted to take back the position and moved to the outside. The #31 of Leandra Martin, the 2015 Thunder Four Mini champion, saw her chance and slid under Anderson, and took third. Katula tailed Hinkley, but Hinkley held him off for the remainder of the race. Hinkley took his first win at Wiscasset Speedway. Katula placed second. Rounding out the top three was Martin.

Capping of a great day of racing were the Prostock's. A 40-lap feature race was excitement from the start, with fourteen cars roaring to life as the green went down. The #01 of Andy Saunders led the pack off the start line. Saunders was 2015 Prostock champion. Sliding in behind Saunders in second was the #05 of James Osmond. In third was Mike Moody of the #1M. 

There was a caution during lap six. On the resulting restart, the #15 of Nick Hinkley got a good start, and passed Moody for third. Restarts were good for Hinkley, there was another caution during lap eleven, and Hinkley got under Osmond and completed a pass. The #19 of John Rideout followed Hinkley down the track, and passed Osmond for third.

Rideout fell to fourth during lap twenty-six when the #13 of Nate Tribbett bumped him out of the way and traveled up the inside lane for third place. Rideout was taken out of contention totally during lap thirty-three, when Moody bumped him coming out of turn one. Rideout spun and gathered up the #23 of Brandon Sprague, Wyatt Alexander of the #96, Osmond, Ajay Picard of the #99, and the #91 of Mike Orr.

When racing action resumed on the track, Hinkley raced head to head with Saunders, briefly taking the lead. Saunders was able to accelerate ahead and hold Hinkley off for the remainder of the race. Saunders took the win. Hinkley came in second. Finishing in third was Tribbett.

Wiscasset Speedway resumes racing action on April 30 with its group two line up of divisions: The Spotlighted Napa Modifieds, Late Model Sportsman, Strictly Streets, and Kennebec Equipment Rental Outlaw Mini’s. The Amsoil Nelcar Legends will be making a second appearance at Wiscasset Speedway in a 25-lap feature race. If you missed the racing action, or simply want to see it again, track videographer, Brandon Simmons, posts race footage on YouTube. It can be found by searching “Wiscasset Speedway.”

Pit gates open at 9 a.m., grandstand gates open at noon, and racing begins at 2 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and children aged 7 and older. Kids 6 and under are free. Pit admission is $20. Wiscasset Speedway is located on West Alna Road in Wiscasset. For more information, head to the Wiscasset Speedway website at www.wiscassetspeedway.com. The Wiscasset Speedway website is packed with information, including schedule of events, division rosters and rules, race results, and driver profiles.  Head on over to take a look.

Official results 

New England Four Cylinder Prostock (35 LAPS)

1.      #98 Kamren Knowles, West Gardiner

2.      #12 Dave Patten, Westbrook

3.      #38 Ryan Hayes, Jefferson

4.      #24 Jeff Prindall, Lisbon Falls

5.      #6 Fred Ashmore, Hancock

6.      #14 Bob Patten, Westbrook

7.      #55 John Shorey, Alna

8.      #54 Cam Corbine, Farmingdale

9.      #42 Mike Kibbin, South China

10.  #4 Conner Wenners, Edgecomb

11.  #5 Barry Morris, Livermore Falls

12.  #7 Spencer Vaughan, Canton

13.  #4L Lexi Roach, Brewer

14.  #9X Brooke Knowles, West Gardiner

15.  #70 Taylor Lane, Phillips

16.  #04 Riley Corbridge, Lovell

Super Street (25 LAPS)

1.      #34 David Vaughn, Naples

2.      #02 Jason Curtis, Hollis

3.      #1 Adam Chadbourne, Woolwich

4.      #5 Mark Lucas, Harpswell

5.      #32 Tasha Dyer, Arrowsic

6.      #13 David Doherty, Palmyra

7.      #06 Zac Poland, Woolwich

8.      #09 Ryan Ripley, Warren

9.      #2 Josh Bailey, Wiscasset

10.  #3 Bernie Dinsmore, South Hope

11.  #38 Cody Buzzell, Madison

12.  #27 Barry Poulin, Pittston

Nelcar Legends (25 LAPS)

1.      #88X Nicolas Naugle, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

2.      #19 Kevin Girard Jr., Old Orchard Beach

3.      #52X Matt Bourgoine, Newport

4.      #84 Matt Grant, Windham

5.      #129 Trevor Sanborn, Parsonsfield

6.      #92 Colby Meserve, Buxton

7.      #25 Brad Bellows, China

8.      #33 Alan Smith, Lincoln

9.      #47 Chris Burgess, Buckfield

10.  #8 Matt Chagnot, Derry, NH

11.  #10 Ed Getty, Gray

12.  #80 Dylan Varney, Windham

13.  #4NH Thomas Everson, Gilmanton, NH

14.  #18 Parker Varney, Windham

15.  #95J Jack Walker, Bow, NH

16.  #7 Jonathan King, Buxton

17.  #29 Austin Teras, Windham

18.  #17 Terry Kirk, Durham

Thunder Four Mini's

1.      #2 Shaun Hinkley, Oxford

2.      #4J Joe Katula, Lisbon

3.      #31 Leandra Martin, Richmond

4.      #04 Curtis Anderson, Richmond

5.      #3 Jeff Minchin Jr., Pittston

6.      #19 Travis Poulliot, Skowhegan

7.      #1 Jeff Davis, Woolwich

8.      #14 Randy Pimpare, Acton

9.      #66 James Grover, Wiscasset

10.  #11 Kyle Dorey, Bowdoinham

11.  #58 David Greenleaf, Brunswick

12.  #78 Shawn Berry, Livermore Falls

13.  #30 Keith Rankin, NA

14.  #48 Michael Harrison, Durham

15.  #26 Michael Golding, Pownal

Servpro Of Biddeford Saco Prostocks

1.      #01 Andy Saunders, Ellsworth

2.      #15 Nick Hinkley, Wiscasset

3.      #13 Nate Tribbett, Richmond

4.      #1M Mike Moody, Topsham

5.      #12 Thomas True, Wiscasset

6.      #29 Kevin Morse, Woolwich

7.      #05 James Osmond, Wiscasset

8.      #23 Brandon Sprague, Edgecomb

9.      #91 Mike Orr, Wiscasset

10.  #99 Ajay Picard, Palmyra

11.  #96 Wyatt Alexander, Ellsworth

12.  #28 Ken Beaslee, Richmond

13.  #72 Charlie Colby, Newcastle

14.  #19 John Rideout, Washington