By Sophie D. Gabrion, Media Rep / Wiscasset SpeedwayWISCASSET – Wiscasset Speedway features the fastest cars in Maine. Sure, they have a popular Kids Club, keeping even the youngest members of a family entertained on race day. And of course, track owners, Richard and Vanessa Jordan, schedule countless celebrations throughout the season. But leaving all of that aside, the track has a reputation for sponsoring events that keep motorheads coming back year after year to the state’s fastest track. Formidable competitors known throughout New England battle for the track championships. With that said, last Saturday night’s regular division races were delayed briefly for a lively, albeit competitive 20-lap Go-Kart race. Think it was simply a feel-good, fluff piece to keep crowds entertained? Think again! At Wiscasset Speedway, even a Go-Kart race becomes Daytona 500, with fans not only filling the grandstands but crews surfacing from prepping cars in the pits to watch these mini speed demons. Winning first was Spencer Wenners in the #53x, with Wyatt Oakes of the #11 in second and Deliah Lamarre of the #13 in third.
First up in Group One’s regular division races was a 35-lap New England 4 Cyl. Pros spotlight race. With cars going 3-wide into the first turn, the drivers of those mighty minis wasted no time thinning out the herd early on. The lead was immediately taken by Jeff Prindall of the #24, followed by RJ Pinkham in the #48 and Ryan Hayes in the #38. As Jamie Wright of the #84 and division points leader, Kamren Knowles in the #98 worked their way into the top three, the first caution of the night brought the field to a crawl when John Shorey of the #55 and Spencer Vaughan of the #7 spun coming out of turn one in the fourth lap.
When the yellow flag was lifted, déjà vu set in as fans watched Prindall take the lead again, followed by some heavy competition from Pinkham who would not back down. Hayes lost his edge on the regroup, which forced him to battle 3-wide with Knowles and Wright throughout lap seven. Just as the threesome broke up, déjà vu struck again from another caution in lap nine involving Shorey and Vaughan. At the halfway point, Prindall was finally able to gain the upper hand by clearing significant distance between himself and any potential competitors.
Knowles finally worked his way into the top three to pass Pinkham and Hayes. Without any cautions to regroup the pack, Prindall’s head start left Knowles to follow from almost a full straightaway behind. During lap twenty-eight, Hayes relinquished his position in the top five to exit down pit road, which shifted the pack forward across the well-spaced field. With such wide margins between each driver in the top five, the spotlight race was checkered on a peaceful, yet far from uneventful note. After a season plagued by bad luck, Prindall shook things up with his second feature victory of the year. Ending his 4-race winning streak, Knowles took home second for the first time this season, followed by Wright in third.
The Prostocks’ 40-lap feature began on a rocky note after Nate Tribbett of the #13 hit difficulties coming out of turn three on the first lap. Coming back after the race’s first caution, Kevin Morse of the ##29 took the lead as Thomas True of the #12 held a close second. Less than a car length behind flew some of the division’s heavy hitters, including Scott Chubbuck of the #15x, Nick Hinckley of the #15 and Mike Moody of the #1. Each kept the others on their toes lap after lap, as everyone looked for an opportunity to advance.
Morse earned himself some breathing room just as True lost his to Scott Chubbuck, who successfully passed Moody in lap fourteen and closed the gap the take second. Clearly intent on taking charge of the field, Chubbuck passed both True and Morse in the outer lane, then rode out the remaining twenty-two laps with a generous lead for his second win of the season. After working his way up from mid-pack, Hinkley was able to break his way into the top three with six laps to go. Although he continued to challenge the #12 until the bitter end, Hinckley settled for third after True, who earned second in a career best finish.
Other division races included the Thunder 4 Minis racing a 20-lap feature, where Curtis Anderson of the #04 achieved a career first, feature win. Second place went to Logan Melcher of the #41 and third to Donald Mooney of the #80. Closing out the night was a 25-lap Super Streets feature that put the ‘grrr’ in aggressive, as drivers remained competitive from start to finish. Earning his second feature win of the season was Cody Buzzell of the #38, followed by Josh Bailey in the #2 and Jason Oakes in the #11.
If you have never been to Wiscasset Speedway, next weekend is the time to start! The track is the place to be September 3rd & 4th during Mainely Motorsports Double Header Weekend, with races throughout Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. Clear your schedule to watch the drivers of Group Two compete as well as three visiting divisions, including the Nelcar Legends, Wicked Good Vintage Racers and Granite State Prostock Series. Each day the individual admission price is $5 – less than the cost of a movie ticket! Bring the whole family – grandstand fees waived for kids under 6. For more information, visit www.wiscassetspeedway.com.
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Contact: Sophie D. Gabrion, Race Media Rep / Wiscasset Speedway
Phone: (207) 624-2518 / Email: wiscassetspeedwaymedia@gmail.
Official Photography: Pete & Mary Taylor / Website: www.petespicks.smugmug.com
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Official Finish Results: Saturday, August 27, 2016
Go Karts
1. #53x, Spencer Wenners – Edgecomb
2. #11, Wyatt Oakes – Boothbay
3. #13, Deliah Lamarre – Edgecomb
4. #14, Jasmine Bailey – Wiscasset
5. #30, Kalee Creamer – Woolwich
6. #23k, Kali Achorn – Warren
7. #18, Adric Canada – Boothbay
8. #1, Madison Moody – Topsham
New England 4 Cyl. Pros
1. #24, Jeff Prindall – Lisbon
2. #98, Kamren Knowles – West Gardiner
3. #84, Jamie Wright – Woolwich
4. #48, RJ Pinkham – Hallowell
5. #55, John Shorey – Alna
6. #7, Spencer Vaughan – Canton
7. #70, Taylor Lane – Phillips
8. #4, Connor Wenners – Edgecomb
9. #9x, Brooke Knowles – West Gardiner
10. #38, Ryan Hayes – Jefferson
ServPro of Biddeford/Saco Prostocks
1. #15X, Scott Chubbuck – Bowdoin
2. #12, Thomas True – Woolwich
3. #15, Nick Hinckley – Wiscasset
4. #29, Kevin Morse – Woolwich
5. #13, Nate Tribbet – Richmond
6. #99, Ajay Picard – Palmyra
7. #05, James Osmond – Wiscasset
8. #1, Mike Moody – Topsham
9. #23, Brandon Sprague – Edgecomb
10. #01, Andy Saunders – Ellsworth
11. #35, Bobby Nedeau – Buxton
Thunder 4 Minis
1. #04, Curtis Anderson – Richmond
2. #41, Logan Melcher – Fayette
3. #80, Donald Mooney – New Gloucester
4. #84, Spencer Sweatt – Albion
5. #4J, Joe Katula – Lisbon
6. #48, Michael Harrison – Durham
7. #1, Jeff Davis – Woolwich
8. #31, Leandre Martin – Richmond
9. #20, Devan Robinson – Warren
10. #26, Michael Golding – Pownal
11. #21, Shawn Berry – Livermore Falls
12. #25jr, Brian Burr – Lisbon
13. #58, David Greenlead – Brunswick
14. #03, Trystin Shea – Richmond
15. #007, Destiny McKenzie – n/a
Super Streets
1. #38, Cody Buzzell – Madison
2. #2, Josh Bailey – Wiscasset
3. #11, Jason Oakes – Boothbay
4. #02, Jason Curtis – Hollis
5. #18, Ray Dinsmore – Waterboro
6. #48, Dan Nessmith – Wiscasset
7. #06, Zac Poland – Wiscasset
8. #20, Jay Bailey – Wiscasset
9. #27, Barry Poulin – Benton
10. #5, Mark Lucas – Harpswell
