Saturday, June 27 was an absolutely beautiful day for some racing on Maine’s coast and Wiscasset Speedway knocked it out of the park, hosting their first “Fan Appreciation Night” of the season. The night began with driver autographs and kids bike races on the frontstretch, followed by 7 divisions of action-packed racing.

The Davis Erector Group 207 Crate Modifieds kicked off the program with their 40-lap Pepsi spotlight feature. The race got off to a slow start as Doug Phillips and point leader John Ricci both encountered mechanical problems, forcing both drivers to retire from the race before it even started. Ethan Guptill took off with the early advantage, but Jim Storace was quick to his inside, overtaking the lead while Ryan Phillips and Nick Hinkley followed in succession.

Nick Hinkley jumped out of line on lap 11, making his way to Ryan Phillips’ outside door. Phillips pulled ahead on lap 20 but Ethan Guptill was back on the charge, overtaking second as Phillips got bent out of shape, falling back to fifth. Two late race cautions brought the field back together and the second start was called off by race control, resulting in the top 2 rows being swapped for the final restart. This sent Ethan Guptill and Ryan Phillips back to the front row. Guptill pulled ahead at the drop of the green flag and never looked back, securing his first career victory at Wiscasset Speedway while Ryan Phillips and Jim Storace rounded out the podium.

Jay Plummer pulled to the early lead in the 25-lap feature for the County Truss 4-Cylinder Pros. Dylan Anderson took a spin on lap 7, resulting in a caution. Jay Plummer maintained command on the restart while multi-time winner Chassidy Shorty pulled to second. A mid-race caution brought the leaders side-by-side and they remained deadlocked on the restart, but Chassidy Shorty eventually pulled ahead with the advantage. Max Parlin was also on the move as the laps wound down, overtaking second. Chassidy Shorty was able to hold off the competition, picking up her fourth win of the season as Max Parlin and Jay Plummer completed the top 3.

The Senior Tour Auto Racers joined in on the fun on both Saturday and Sunday, where the track hosted the “Heritage & Horsepower” event, presented by Kennebec Equipment Rental and benefiting the Maine Vintage Race Car Association. John Mulcahy took the checkered in the STAR Sportsman feature on Saturday and it was a dogfight behind him between Charlie “Grumpy” Lima and Michael Kugle for second. Lima was able to edge him out at the line, capturing the spot. Paul Jacques and Mark Parmentier were the lead pair for the better half of the STAR Modified feature until Dwight Pickard stole the spotlight in the closing laps, sealing the victory as Paul Jacques and heat race winner Henry Stampfle rounded out the top 3.

After a chaotic initial start to the race, James Osmond pulled to the early lead in the 40-lap feature for the T&L Automotive Pro Stocks. Following another restart, James Osmond and JT Thurlow went door-to-door for the top spot. Kelly Moore joined the fray shortly after, making his way to James Osmond’s outside door on lap 10 before overtaking the lead just two laps later. Kelly Moore maintained command through multiple mid-race restarts, holding off the competition to score the feature victory and the all-too important points lead. Tiger Colby and Nick Hinkley followed, completing the podium.

Shane Webber held the early advantage in the 25-lap feature for the Maine Army National Guard Thunder 4 Minis. In the opening laps of the race, there was a 2-car breakaway at the front of the field in both Shane Webber and Gregg Norton. After a short battle for the lead, Gregg Norton overtook the top spot on lap 10. There was a heated battle for third between Ricky Austin and Derek Cook in the laps that followed, with Austin taking over as Derek Cook got bent out of shape. Ricky Austin carried his momentum into the closing laps of the race, clearing Shane Webber for second with just two laps to go. While Gregg Norton sailed into his long-awaited first career victory, Ricky Austin and Shane Webber rounded out the podium.

The night concluded with a 30-lap feature for the Darling’s Brunswick Ford Super Streets. Unfortunately, there was a pile-up on the initial lap of the race that sent Kevin Douglass hard into the turn 3 wall. The incident resulted in an immediate red flag and although Douglass was able to walk away, his car was left heavily battered. Josh Hall powered ahead on the restart but trouble was brewing as Calab Emerson-Mains came to a slow on the track, resulting in another early-race caution. Josh Hall squared up with former champion Bubba Pelton on the restart and Pelton pulled ahead with the lead while Noah Haggett snagged the runner-up spot. Bubba Pelton held onto the advantage, scoring the feature victory in just his second start of the season. Meanwhile, Chuck Colby and Noah Haggett rounded out the top 3 following a tight-knit battle that came down to the wire with just .129 seconds separating the two drivers.

Saturday was surely a great night of racing on the track, but it was also a night of many shake-ups in the point standings as the leader changed in 3 different divisions: the Pro Stocks (Logan Melcher - Kelly Moore), Crate Modifieds (John Ricci - Nick Hinkley) and the Super Streets (David Greenleaf - Noah Haggett).

With intense point battles across the board, the racing action is sure to heat up as the season rolls on.

The Group 2 divisions will have their chance to “light up the night” this Saturday, July 4 as part of the track’s Independence Day event. The green flag flies at 5 p.m. and as an added bonus, the Carver’s Driving Academy Crown Vics and the visiting Pro Trucks will also be joining the program!

As always, adult grandstand admission is just $5 while kids 6 and under get in for free.

For the official track schedule, race results and more, please visit http://www.wiscassetspeedway.com.