Memorial Day weekend is quickly approaching and that can only mean one thing: The Coastal 200 is just around the corner! On top of hosting their normal weekly divisions, Wiscasset Speedway has been hard at work preparing for their first marquee event of the season. 

The Coastal 200 is widely known as one of the biggest Late Model races in all of New England. Although the race has always been larger than life, the track has found even more ways to make the event bigger and better in 2024. This starts with track upgrades, as the brand-new infield pit row is slated to debut on Coastal 200 Sunday. 

Track owners Richard and Vanessa Jordan, along with track promoter Ken Minott, began planning this weekend’s festivities before the conclusion of last race season. Together, they decided to give the fans a little bit more to be excited about and extended this year’s Coastal 200 weekend to three days. It all kicks off on Friday, May 24 with an on-track dance party sponsored by Moody’s Collision Centers. The all-ages event will include a concert by the Motor Booty Affair, food trucks, classic cars and more! The fun starts at 6 p.m. and tickets can be purchased for $25 on the day of the show.

Saturday will bring the annual “Coastal Cruise-In” Fun Day to benefit the Special Olympics. The event, presented by Bozzutto’s Inc. and Wicked Cornhole Events, will feature a car show, charity cornhole tournament, food trucks and there will be even more music to enjoy as the Crooked Cabin Band takes the stage. The festivities kick off at 10 a.m. and admission is just $5.

The big show is slated for Sunday at 2 p.m. and the Coastal 200 payout is also bigger than ever before with the race winner set to take home a hearty $15,000 check. None of this would be possible without the presenting race sponsors: Colbrook Trailers, GT Overhead Doors and CLH & Sons. Race fans, local businesses and more have also pitched in to sweeten the overall race purse, sponsoring laps for $50 a piece. Lap sponsors are also eligible to win various contingency prizes, with the biggest being a $1,000 payout. Some laps are still available for purchase but the track is working overtime to sell out all laps come race day. 

Defending race winner Mike Hopkins will be back in the lineup and looking to reclaim his throne. Ben Ashline, a 3-time Coastal 200 winner, is sure to give him a run for his money. Heavy hitters in the field will also include 2-time race winner Josh St. Clair, who thrives in nearly every division at the speedway.  Other notable figures include multi-time Oxford 250 winner Ben Rowe and Johnny Clark, who picked up his first career Super Late Model win in the Coastal 150 back in 1997.

Dave Farrington, Jr. and TJ Watson are two more veterans that cannot be swept under the rug, but you also have to look out for the division newcomers as well. Jon Emerson just picked up his first Late Model win at the speedway and Tiger Colby, Sylas Ripley, Brett Osmond and Jett Decker have also shown a lot of speed throughout the season.

Regardless of the outcome, it’s sure to be a thrilling weekend at Maine’s biggest and fastest race track: Wiscasset Speedway. Help pack the stands and bring the family out for one of New England’s biggest race events of the season. As always, admission on race day is just $5 for adults and free for kids 6 and under!