WISCASSET SPEEDWAY PRESS RELEASE AUGUST 23, 2014
TOBY WELLS REPEATS MINI STOCK MASTERY AT WISCASSET SPEEDWAY
By Lisa Maguire
The Texas Roadhouse North East Mini Stock Tour, which was presented by Twisted Tea, made its one and only appearance in Maine at the Wiscasset Speedway on Saturday. Last year driver Toby Wells brought home the win. Wells was point leader coming into the race. However, there was only a twelve point difference between Wells and two-time champ, Emerson Cayer. Maine native, Justin Larsen, was third in points coming into the race, trailing the leader by 138 points, but still in the chase. Prior to race time Wells said, “It is a pretty tight battle. It ain’t decided yet between the three of us.”
Also at Wiscasset this weekend were the group one division of racing presented by NAPA Auto Parts, including: NAPA Super Street, Outlaw Mini, Prostock, and New England Four Cylinder Prostock. The fans packed the bleachers to see the show, and also were able to visit the NAPA tent, enjoy BBQ, and get information from the “Napa Know-How Man.”
There were three heat races to determine position for the North East Mini Stock Tour. Starting at the pole was the #21 of Chad Baxter. The #24 of Joe Baxter and the #13 of Nate Tribbet were behind him. Off the start, Joe Baxter surged ahead, but he fell off the pace and the #19 of Zach Audet and the #9 of George Fortin marched up the track and took first and second place, Chad Baxter slipping to third. During lap three, the #48 of Justin King passed Baxter for third on turn one.
There was a leader change during lap six, when Fortin experienced a mechanical issue, and hit the front stretch wall coming out of turn four. Fortin was able to walk away and was uninjured. King moved to second and Chad Baxter moved to third.
Moving up from his seventh starting position was the #18X of Tim Collins. Collins passed Baxter on the outside of turn three for third during lap five.
There was a caution during lap six, and the #88 of Emerson Cayer made contact with the #51 of
Mike Mason. Cayer, two time champ, slid back and lost position. Cayer had nothing for the race leaders this race, finishing nineteenth in overall standings.
Lap eight saw Collins pass King on the inside of the backstretch for second. The #34 of Justin Trombley followed the same line and passed King for third.
A battle for third between Trombley and the #2 of Toby Wells emerged on the track. It was not until lap eighteen that Wells was able to complete the pass on the outside of turn three. Wells advanced up the track to challenge Collins. When the race leaders hit some lap traffic, Wells was able to weave through and passed Collins for second during lap twenty-three. Wells advanced up the track looking for the lead, but Audet held him off.
There was a battle for third between Collins and Trombley. Ahead, Wells and Audet were racing for the lead. Wells chased Audet up the track, and during lap thirty-four, Wells passed Audet for first. Audet fell back to second.
Audet continued to slide back on the track, and Trombley passed him on the inside of turn three for second during lap forty-two. Collins followed the inside line and passed Audet on turn four during lap forty-two.
Wells took the checkered for the second year in a row. Trombley placed second, only .42 seconds behind Wells. Collins took third, only .81 seconds behind Wells.
Wells said, “It was quite a different experience from last year. Last year was easy and this year we really had to work for it, the nose was messed up a bit. During one of the restarts the car ahead didn’t get going and I was hit from behind when I slowed up. It came close to taking out the radiator when I hit the car ahead. It was a messy night, and staying out of trouble was the name of the game. We had a great point’s night, and there are two races left in the season. It is not locked up, but if things keep going well it will put me in a good position. I have already won two of the three Triple Crown races in the South, and I am in the running for the North Triple Crown as well. We love coming to Wiscasset. It’s been a good year and I hope we come back to Wiscasset again. I would like to also thank my sponsors: Froling Energy, C&C Trucking, and Motionsick Motorsports.”
A twenty-five lap Napa Super Street feature was action-packed. Starting on the pole was the #8 of Kevin Morse. Behind him were the #06 of Zac Poland and the #6 of Travis Dunbar. Off the start, the #38 of Chris Buzzell passed Dunbar for third. Morse and Poland battled for first, and Poland passed Morse during the opening lap for the lead. Buzzell passed Morse during lap two for second.
Starting in sixth position was the #05 of James Osmond. Osmond moved into third place during lap two, and began his advance up the track. Osmond passed both Buzzell and Poland by lap eight to claim the lead.
The #1 of Adam Chadbourne was making his way up the track. Chadbourne passed Buzzell during lap eight for third, then, during lap ten, passed Poland for second place. Starting in tenth position was the #85 of Kenny Harrison. Harrison had made his way through the pack to the front. Harrison passed Poland for third on the outside of turn three during lap thirteen.
Osmond, Chadbourne, and Harrison raced in a pack. There were twelve remaining laps for the leaders to claim position. Harrison passed Chadbourne during lap fifteen on the inside, but Chadbourne passed Harrison during lap twenty-one to reclaim second. Osmond held both off, proving once again he was a force on the track as he swept across the finish in first. Chadbourne placed second. Harrison rounded out the top three for third. This was Osmond’s third win of the season in the Napa Super Street division.
Osmond said, “The car was the best it’s been all season! It was a fun race with a lot of pressure from Chadbourne and Harrison. I would like to thank my sponsors: Paul Garber Construction, Red’s Eats, and Skip Cahill Tires.”
Osmond was second in points coming into Saturday’s race with 478 points. Chadbourne was in first place, only four points ahead of Osmond, with 482 points. Dan Nessmith was third in points with 412. It is a tight race between Osmond and Chadbourne, and only two point races remain in the season.
A twenty-five lap Outlaw Mini feature was next on the agenda. Staring at the pole was the #8 of Calvin Rose Jr. Behind him was the #10 of Jimmy Childs and the #2 of Rob Greenleaf. When the green flag flew, Rose and Childs raced for the lead. Childs passed Rose coming out of turn four onto the front stretch for first.
There was a caution during lap eighteen, and when racing action resumed on the track, Greenleaf passed Rose for second. Childs’ car liked the clean air and gained a five car length lead after the restart. Childs took the win. Despite being point leader in the division, this was Child’s first win of the season. This was a non-point race for the Outlaw Mini’s. Child’s has 446 points and was point leader coming into the race. In second was Shawn Kimball with 428. Third in points was Nate Tribbet with 410.
Child’s said, “I have struggled all season, so it was good to get a win. If I get up front next week, I hope to back this win up with another. Racing means family to me. My father and I work on my car, and we spend time together and it is good. I am having a lot of fun racing this year.”
A quick straight forward twenty lap New England Four Cylinder Prostock feature was the next crowd pleaser. The #24 of Jeff Prindall started on the pole. Behind him were the #8 of Craig Dunn and the #2 of Jay Bailey.
Prindall and Dunn raced neck and neck from the start. Then, during lap two, Dunn passed Prindall for the lead on the inside of the front stretch. Prindall looked for his chance to retake the lead. His chance came during lap eight when the pair ran into lap traffic on the track. Prindall piloted his car though the traffic and took the lead coming out of turn one. Prindall was able to keep Dunn behind him for the remainder of the race. Kamren Knowles of the #98 battled Bailey for third, but finished in fourth.
Knowles was point leader headed into Saturday’s race with 468 points. Jeff Prindall was second in points with 452 points. In third place was Dunn with 420 points.
Prindall won four consecutive races at the beginning of the season, but has not had a win since May 31, 2014. Prindall said, “It has been a long dry spell without a win. The car is pretty close now to where it had been. A little more fine tuning is needed, but it is driving much better. The race was really good. I am just happy to have won, and want to thank the fans for coming out. I also want to thank my sponsors: Mike Kiddins & Sons Construction, Dubois Snowmobile and Repair, and Bimbo Bakery.”
Wrapping up the evening was an exciting thirty lap Prostock race. Staring on the pole was the #77 of Maggie Ferland. Behind her was the #32 of Mike Orr and the #15X of Scott Chubbuck. When green flag racing began, the #9 of Dylan Turner moved up from behind on the outside and raced side by side with Ferland for the lead. The #72 of Charlie Colby moved from his sixth place start and fought for position in the pack. Turner took the lead. Ferland moved to second. Colby took third.
Ferland began to fall off the pace during lap five, and Colby passed for second. The #15 of Nick Hinkley passed Ferland on the outside of turn two during lap five for third.
Colby headed to the outside during lap eight and passed Turner for the lead on turn three. Turner, Hinkley, and Scott Chubbuck of the #15X battled for second and third positions. Hinkley was on the top of the track and was losing ground quickly. Chubbuck headed to the bottom of the track and passed Turner, taking second place. The #1 of Jeff Burgess followed the inside line and passed Turner, taking third. Colby had run away with the lead. Colby took the checkered. Chubbuck placed second. Burgess took third. Colby was the sixth different winner in the Prostock division this year.
Colby said, “The car was fast from the beginning. I had made some rear spring changes and the car was hooked up and ran fast all night. We started from the back, and everything just worked right for us. It was a good, clean race, and it was fun. I’m really happy that Rich and Vanessa Jordan are running this track. It is a friendly place and I will be racing here next year also. I would also like to thank my sponsors: Fisherman’s Catch, Eastside Westside Scrap Metal, and Colby’s Auto Sales and Service.”
Coming into Saturday’s race Bill Penfold was point leader with 414 points. Penfold did not participate in the feature race last Saturday after an altercation with another driver during the heat. Tied for second place were Nick Hinkley and Mike Orr, each with 410 points.
Wiscasset Speedway resumes racing action, August 30, 2014 with its group two lineup of divisions: Late Model Sportsman, Strictly Street, Thunder 4’s and Mini Trucks. The flex race of the week are the Wicked Good Vintage Racers. This is also Fan Appreciation Night at Wiscasset Speedway. There will be a car show in the parking lot from 4PM-6PM. At 5PM there will be driver autographs on the track. There will be two Children’s bicycle races at 5:30 on the track. The first bike race is for kids aged 5-7. The second bike race is for kids aged 8-12. Pit gates open at 2:00 PM. Grandstand gates open at 4:00 PM. Racing begins at 6:00 PM. Admission is $5.00 for adults and children aged seven and older. Kids six and under are free. Pit admission is $20.00. Race fans and drivers can also now purchase their favorite pictures from not only this season, but from season’s past, at Peter Taylor’s (the track photographer) website: www.petespicks.smugmug.com. Wiscasset Speedway is located on West Alna Road in Wiscasset. For more information, head to the Wiscasset Speedway website at www.wiscassetspeedway.com.
WISCASSET SPEEDWAY OFFICIAL RESULTS AUGUST 23, 2014
NORTH EAST MINI STOCK TOUR (50 LAPS)
1. #2NH Toby Wells, Dublin, NH
2. #34ME Justin Trombley, Winter Harbor
3. #18X Tim Collins, Windsor
4. #19 Zach Audet, Skowhegan
5. #20 Shawn Kimball, Augusta
6. #33 Matt Sonnhalter, E Thetford, VT
7. #12 Darrell Moore, Oxford
8. #85 Mike Viens, Seekonk, MA
9. #48 Justin King, Derry, NH
10. #24 Joe Baxter, Pascoag, RI
11. #90 Desmond Skillings, Antrim, NH
12. #43 Dana Shepard, Putney, VT
13. #7 Eric Pelletier, NA
14. #10CT Michael Bombard, Willimantic, CT
15. #18NH Jake Rheaume, Rochester, NH
16. #41CT Nick Anderson, NA
17. #13 Nate Tribbet, Richmond
18. #51 Mike Mason, Skowhegan
19. #88NH Emerson Cayer, Contoocook, NH
20. #18ME Justin Larsen, Peru
21. #21 Chad Baxter, Pascoag, RI
22. #1 Jimmy Childs, Leeds
23. #9 George Fortin, Greene
24. #4 Nick Coates, Turner
NAPA SUPER STREET (25 LAPS)
1. #05 James Osmond, Wiscasset
2. #1 Adam Chadbourne, Woolwich
3. #85 Kenny Harrison, Pownal
4. #5 Chris Staples, Brunswick
5. #2 Josh Bailey, Wiscasset
6. #48 Dan Nessmith, Wiscasset
7. #8 Kevin Morse, Woolwich
8. #61 Shawn Austin, Norridgewock
9. #38 Chris Buzzell, Madison
10. #6 Travis Dunbar, Auburn
11. #88 Jamie Norton, Farmingdale
12. #06 Zac Poland, Woolwich
OUTLAW MINI (25 LAPS)
1. #10 Jimmy Childs, Leeds
2. #2X Rob Greenleaf, West Bath
3. #8 Calvin Rose Jr, Turner
4. #14 Matt Moore, Mechanic Falls
5. #84 Michael Bolduc, Windsor
6. #4X Travis Pouliot, Madison
7. #55X Craig Pyy II, NA
8. #81 Bryan Lancaster, Skowhegan
9. #53 Nick Bissell, Lewiston
NEW ENGLAND FOUR CYLINDER PROSTOCK (20 LAPS)
1. #24 Jeff Prindall, Lisbon Falls
2. #8 Craig Dunn, Strong
3. #2 Jay Bailey, Alna
4. #98 Kamren Knowles, West Gardiner
5. #27 Jacob Hendsbee, Whitefield
6. #35 Nathan McWilliams, Lewiston
7. #9X Brooke Knowles, West Gardiner
8. #55 John Shorey, Alna
9. #99 Cameron Folsom, Augusta
10. #5 Barry Morris, Livermore Falls
PROSTOCK (30 LAPS)
1. #72 Charlie Colby, Newcastle
2. #15X Scott Chubbuck, Bowdoin
3. #1 Jeff Burgess, Fairfield
4. #15 Nick Hinkley, Wiscasset
5. #9 Dylan Turner, Freedom
6. #32 Mike Orr, Wiscasset
7. #77 Maggie Ferland, Auburn