by Ken Minott

Wiscasset photo

Picture perfect skies welcomed the Northeastern Midget Association to Wiscasset Speedway Saturday night for Ames True Value NEMA Night. A packed house was on hand as well, with eager fans filling every spot in the parking lot to greet the fastest winged midgets in the world and their quest for a track record at Maine’s fastest track. When the double checkered flags flew at the end of the evening, the most talked about story in the pits was Paul Scally’s first NEMA win, breaking a long overdue streak for the family-owned team, taking down the win in the Lites class. In the NEMA Midget feature, John Zych proved he was the class of the field all day, coming from mid-pack for a dominant victory. Wiscasset Speedway’s Group 1 divisions finally got their season opener in, after 2 straight rainouts to start the year. Winners included Scott Chubbuck in the ServPro of Biddeford-Saco Prostocks; Logan Melcher in the Thunder 4 Minis; Kamren Knowles in the 4-Cylinder Pros; and Jason Oakes in the Super Streets.

The 25 lap NEMA Midget feature was the spotlight race of the night, beginning with an on-track driver meet & greet with the Wiscasset fans. Jim Santa Maria and Paul Scally brought the field to the green flag. Santa Maria jumped out to the lead like he was shot out of a cannon. By lap five, Santa Maria and Scally had nearly a straightaway on the field, and John Zych had broken free from his sixth spot, into third. Over the next laps, Scally began closing on Santa Maria, and as the cross flags appeared for halfway, Zych was within six car lengths of the leaders, and Scally had closed on Santa Maria. Heartbreak occurred for Scally on lap thirteen as he came to a stop on the backstretch. A broken ignition wire was the culprit. On the restart, Santa Maria and Zych streaked down the front straightaway, with Zych taking the lead. He would set sail and never be seriously challenged. Todd Bertrand came through the field to finish third, followed by Alan Chambers, Seth Carlson, Jim Chambers, Randy Cabral, Avery Stoehr, Paul Scally and Bethany Stoehr. “The win was a great bounce back after week 1. That was just a tough situation. We were lucky we were quick right from the first practice. Didn’t really change a thing all day. The front row got out to a good start there, but I was patient and kept them in sight. The caution helped us,” Zych said. “We love Wiscasset!”.

     In the 25 lap NEMA Lites division, Scally, of Raynham, Mass jumped out to an early lead. Fast right from the start of the day, he paced the field, setting some of the quickest laps of the feature event. Behind Scally, youngsters Ryan Locke and Ben Mikitarian were putting on a show for the second spot, and further back, Danny Cugini was slicing his way through the pack from deep in the field. In the closing laps, Cugini would slip past Mikitarian for third, and Locke began to close the gap on Scally in the front of the pack. Scally held his line and hit his marks, and Locke was unable to muster up enough to challenge. Scally would go on to take down the victory, a Cinderella story of sorts for the family-owned team, who has been in NEMA since 1993. Mikitarian was fourth, followed by PJ Stergios. “The win is long overdue. We have had so many heartbreakers that we started believing we would never get there. We had two really good cars all night. After the big car broke while running very strong. It kind of made me feel like it’s now or never. I guess I just accepted the challenge. I stayed calm and didn’t try to overdrive it and it paid off,” said Scally. A family operation through and through, Scally can often be seen with his two trusted counterparts, his Dad, and girlfriend, Rachel. “My Dad is the guy who started all of the racing back in 1989, he liked the mini sprints and got me into racing. Rachel is the oil the keeps the teams’ engine running she never quits and she has a passion for the competitiveness that sometimes more than mine,” he said.
     In the 25 lap 4-Cylinder Pro feature, 3-time defending champ Kamren Knowles of West Gardiner started at the pole position and withstood a handful of restarts to cruise, relatively unchallenged, to the feature win. Spencer Vaughn of Canton spent the entire race in the top three fending off several challengers for a spot in victory lane. He held second for much of the race until rookie Max Rowe of Turner got by him with two laps to go. The grandson of Maine racing Hall of Famer Mike Rowe took home the runner-up trophy in his 4-cyl Pro debut. Vaughn settled for 3rd. They were followed by strong finishes from #10 Kate Re and #70 Taylor Layne, each with career-best finishes in 4th & 5th respectively.
     The ServPro of Biddeford Saco Prostocks got off to a rough start in their 40 lap feature with three cautions in the first two laps of the race. Things would settle down and so did the battle for the lead between veterans Scott Chubbuck, Jeff Burgess and Charlie Colby. Just one more caution on lap 19 would group up the field, but Chubbuck was up to the task and drove on to the feature win in his #15 Bartlett’s Auto Sales sponsored ride. Burgess faded back to 3rd halfway through the race but patiently waited for his shot as Colby’s car started to get loose in the closing laps. He moved in to grab the 2nd place finish in the Ed Trask Drywall / Pro Knee sponsored #34. Another veteran racer and fan favorite, Tracy Gordon, was in town to race as well, and after a practice crash and some early troubles in the feature, came to life late in the race and grabbed the final spot in victory lane from Colby with two laps to go. Wyatt Alexander of Ellsworth took 4th and Colby settled for 5th,
     The Thunder 4 Minis rolled out the largest field of cars on the night with 19 cars taking the green flag for their 25 lap feature. When the dust settled, second generation racer Logan Melcher of Jay drove his #41 to the win and an energetic celebration in victory lane. Travis Poulliot of South China ran a good race and took advantage of other top contenders mechanical issues, moving up from his 4th starting position to finish 2nd. Michael Golding of Pownal crossed the finish line 3rd but failed post-race inspection, so the 3rd place finish would go to Devan Robinson of Warren. As of press time, the remainder of the Thunder 4 results is unofficial pending review.

     The Super Streets had the final race of the night with a 25 lap tilt. Former 2-time champ Jason Oakes took advantage of his front row starting spot to go wire to wire for the win. Josh Bailey & Mark Lucas (champs from the past two seasons) were locked in a heated battle right behind Oakes, with both taking their respective shot at the lead as well. For much of the race it was perhaps the best battle of the night, but as the drivers came out of turn 4 to the white flag Bailey lost control spinning up to the top of turn one, nearly collecting Lucas in the process. Lucas held on for 2nd and Jason Curtis of Hollis, who was a straightaway behind the lead trio took advantage of Bailey’s spin to claim 3rd. Mike Hodgkins of Jefferson took 4th followed by Bailey in 5th.
     Wiscasset Speedway returns to action Sunday, May 28th with Group 2 and the running of the annual Coastal 200 presented by Jordan Lumber & Jordan Excavation of Kinglfield. Many of the top Late Model Sportsman drivers in the northeast will converge on Maine’s fastest track for their shot at the $18,000 purse plus lap money. Strictly Streets, Modifieds and Outlaw Minis will also be in action. Pit gates will open at 9:00am, with practice from 10:00am to 1:00pm. Grandtstand gates will open at 12:00noon and the show starts at 2:00pm. Grandstand admission is just $5 (kids 6&under free), PLUS Veterans & active duty miltary members get in FREE as our special guests. Pit admission is $20 for all. For more information & full details, go to the Wiscasset Speedway website at www.wiscassetspeedway.com
WISCASSET SPEEDWAY RESULTS 5/20/17
NEMA MIDGETS (25 LAPS) 
Pos No. Name Home Town Laps Diff
1 9 John Zych Mendon, MA 25
2 99 Jim Santa Maria Burlington, CT 25 4.994
3 48 Todd Bertrand Suffield, CT 25 5.518
4 7 Alan Chambers Atkinson, NH 25 7.152
5 71 Seth Carlson Brimfield, MA 25 7.531
6 21 Jim Chambers Atkinson, NH 25 8.301
7 74 Randy Cabral Plymouth, MA 25 8.809
8 39 Avery Stoehr Lakeville, MA 25 10.423
9 30 Paul Scally Raynham, MA 12 13 Laps
10 5b Bethany Stoehr Bridgewater, MA 9 16 Laps
DNS 26p Frank Swan Plymouth, MA 0 dns
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NEMA LITES (25 LAPS)
Pos No. Name Home Town Laps Diff
1 30 Paul Scally Raynham, MA 25
2 38 Ryan Locke Raymond, NH 25 0.243
3 51 Danny Cugini Marshfield, MA 25 4.66
4 9 Ben Mikitarian Northborough, MA 25 4.82
5 57 PJ Stergios Newmarket, NH 25 6.168
6 27 Kevin Ianarelli Shirley, MA 25 6.471
7 12 Jim Chambers Atkinson, NH 25 10.701
8 2 Jim Cataldo Sterling, MA 24 1 Lap
9 3 Chris Vose Groversville, NY 23 2 Laps
10 19 Richie Coy Haskell, NJ 12 13 Laps
DNS 35 Randy Cabrall Plymouth, MA 0 dns
DNS 88 Jeff Locke Raymond, NH 0 dns
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4-CYLINDER PROS (25 LAPS)
Pos No. Name Home Town Laps Diff
1 98 Kamren Knowles West Gardiner 25
2 12 Max Rowe Turner 25 0.683
3 7 Spencer Vaughan Canton 25 0.794
4 10 Kate Re Lovell 25 1.175
5 70 Taylor Lane Phillips 25 1.234
6 4 Connor Wenners Edgecomb 25 1.891
7 3 Hayden Norris Gardner 25 3.207
8 9x Brooke Knowles West Gardiner 25 3.955
9 42 Nate McWilliams Sabattus 25 4.825
10 55 John Shorey Alna 25 5.679
11 24 Jeff Prindall Lisbon 9 16 Laps
DNS 72 Nick Moulton Windham dns dns
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SERVPRO OF BIDDEFORD SACO PROSTOCKS (40 LAPS)
Pos No. Name Home Town Laps Diff
1 15x Scott Chubbuck Bowdoin 40
2 34 Jeff Burgess E.Madison 40 0.951
3 14 Tracy Gordon Strong 40 1.468
4 96 Wyatt Alexander Ellsworth 40 2.118
5 72 Charlie Colby Newcastle 40 4.677
6 18 Bobby Segar Jr Frankfort 40 7.441
7 01x Joe Decker Chesterville 40 8.05
8 29 Kevin Morse Woolwich 40 8.383
9 23 Brandon Sprague Edgecomb 40 8.814
10 84 Jamie Wright Woolwich 39 1 Lap
11 32 Mike  Orr Wiscasset 22 18 Laps
12 9 Daren Ripley Thomaston 1 39 Laps
13 5 James Osmond Wiscasset 0 40 Laps
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SUPER STREETS (25 LAPS)
Pos No. Name Home Town Laps Diff
1 11 Jason Oakes Boothbay 25
2 5 Mark  Lucas Harpswell 25 1.379
3 2 Jason Curtis Hollis 25 6.004
4 23 Mike Hodgkins Jefferson 25 9.207
5 2 Josh Bailey Wiscasset 25 19.464
6 8 Bouncer Knight Jay 23 2 Laps
7 85 Michael Harrison Durham 17 8 Laps
8 9 Sean Johnson Oakland 0 25 Laps
DNS 6 Zac Poland Woolwich dns dns
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THUNDER 4 MINIS (25 LAPS) – UNOFFICIAL PENDING REVIEW
Pos No. Name Home Town Laps Diff
1 41 Logan Melcher Jay 25
2 19 Travis Poulliot South China 25 1.62
3 20 Devan Robinson Warren 25 6.163
4 54 Noah Haggett Wiscasset 25 9.623
5 1 Jeff Davis Woolwich 25 11.788
6 84 Spencer Sweatt Albion 24 1 Lap
7 11 Kyle Dorey Bowdoinham 24 1 Lap
8 8 Jeff Merrill Canton 24 1 Lap
9 0 Nick Morton Newcastle 24 1 Lap
10 3 Tristan Shea Richmond 16 9 Laps
11 11x Cam Childs Leeds 15 10 Laps
12 44 David Cook Jay 15 10 Laps
13 5 Randy Dipietro Oakland 14 11 Laps
14 80 Donald Mooney New Gloucester 12 13 Laps
15 94 Brian Sweatt Albion 12 13 Laps
16 4J Joe Katula Lisbon 8 17 Laps
17 25jr Brian Burr Lisbon 6 19 Laps
18 58 David Greenleaf Brunswick 1 24 laps
DQ 26 Michael Golding Pownal 25 DQ