RIPLEY DOUBLES DOWN ON COOL NIGHT AT WISCASSET
by Ken Minott
The North East Midget Association (NEMA) made its second appearance of the season at Wiscasset Speedway on Saturday night. Ames True Value NEMA Night always brings fans out to thrill at the amazing speed and quickness of the winged asphalt sprint cars. Once again, fans got what they came to see. The NEMA Lites had center stage this time with a 50 lap main event; twice the distance that they normally run. Ryan Locke of Chester, NH took an early lead an never looked back, turning in a dominant victory. He crossed the finish line nearly 2-1/2 seconds ahead of Richie Coy of Haskell, NJ and Danny Cugini of Marshfield, Ma. The Ford Focus powered cars wound around the 3/8 mile track in just over14 seconds. The high powered NEMA Midgets, the fastest asphalt sprint cars in the world, showed their stuff in a 25 lap support feature, with the track record on the line on a cool evening. Avery Stoehr of Lakeville, Ma was the class of the field, grabbing the lead on lap 2 and running away to a convincing win. He hustled his #39 Bertrand Motorsports machine around the track in near record time, turning in a 13.038-second lap for an average speed of 102 mph. He missed the track record, held by John Zych, by just 0.034 seconds. Stoehr was joined in victory lane by defending champ Randy Cabral of Kingston, Ma and record hold John Zych of Mendon, Ma.
In support action on the card, the Serv Pro of Biddeford Saco Pro Stocks ran double duty with a pair of 40 lap features. The first race was a makeup race carried over from an August rainout. Just 7 of the 13 eligible cars answered the call. Reigning champ Daren Ripley of Thomaston took the lead just prior to the midpoint of the caution free feature. From there he ran away to his first win of 2018. He was joined in victory lane by Dave Farrington Jr of Jay and point leader Nick Hinkley of Wiscasset. In the regularly scheduled 40 lap nightcap, Ripley repeated the feat, besting a field of 10 cars for his 2nd win of the night. Former champ Andy Saunders of Ellsworth, and Farrington took home the 2nd and 3rd place trophies. In the 25 lap feature for the Maxwell’s Market Super Streets, it looked like reigning 2-time champ Josh Bailey was going to run away with a convincing win until his motor went up in smoke with 10 laps to go. The top two drivers in the class picked up from there and put on a great race to the checkers with point leader Mike Hodgkins grabbing his 3rd win of the season. Michael Harrison of Durham was close behind in 2nd followed by former champ Jason Oakes of Boothbay in 3rd. Hodgkins & Harrison will head into the season points finale separated by just 2 points. Other winners on the night included Hayden Norris of Gardiner in the Cahill Tire 4-cylinder Pros and Michael Golding of Pownal in the Thunder 4 Minis.
Wiscasset Speedway returns to action Saturday, September 15th with Group 2 in action. The Wood Pellet Warehouse Late Model Sportsman will have a 50 lap spotlight feature, plus action in the K&A Property Services Modified, the Norms Used Cars Strictly Streets and Kennebec Equipment Rental Outlaw Minis. Joining them will be the Northeast Classic Lites who will be making their first ever appearance at Maine’s fastest track, plus the Star Troopers Kids Class from Star Speedway. Pit gates will open at 1:00 pm, grandstand gate at 3:00 pm and racing action will start at 5:00 pm. Grandstand admission is just $5 with kids 6&under free. Pit admission is $20 for all. For more information and complete race day schedule, go to www.wiscassetspeedway.com.
WISCASSET SPEEDWAY OFFICIAL FINISH 9/8/18
NEMA LITES (50 laps)
Pos No. Name Home Town State Laps Best Tm Diff
1 38 Ryan Locke Chester NH 50 14.088
2 19 Richie Coy Haskell NJ 50 14.288 2.435
3 51 Dan Cugini Marshfield MA 50 14.435 4.294
4 9 Ben Mikitarain Northborough MA 50 14.500 5.271
5 35 Randy Cabral Kingston MA 50 14.628 7.140
6 8 Jake Trainor Medway MA 50 14.582 7.419
7 17 Kyle Valeri Monument Beach MA 50 14.595 9.116
8 52 Kevin Park Plainville MA 50 14.506 9.411
9 7 Jim Cataldo Sterling MA 50 14.617 9.890
10 30 Paul Scally Raynham MA 49 14.684 1 Lap
11 12 Avery Stoehr Lakeville MA 49 14.682 1 Lap
12 69 Matthew Merry Plaistow NH 39 14.684 11 Laps
13 3 Christopher Vose Gloversville NY 13 14.429 37 Laps
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NEMA MIDGETS (25 laps)
Pos No. Name Home Town State Laps Best Tm Diff
1 39 Avery Stoehr Lakeville MA 25 13.038
2 74 Randy Cabral Kingston MA 25 13.153 3.594
3 9 John Zych Mendon MA 25 13.276 4.683
4 21 Jim Chambers Atkinson NH 25 13.487 7.104
5 48 Todd Bertrand Danielson CT 25 13.290 8.898
6 7 Alan Chambers Atkinson NH 25 13.608 12.343
7 87 Doug Cleveland Sudbury MA 24 14.035 1 Lap
8 30 Paul Scally Raynham MA 24 14.033 1 Lap
9 47 Joey Payne Fairlawn NJ 24 14.030 1 Lap
10 A1 Mike Horn n/a n/a 24 13.919 1 Lap
11 18 Andy Lunt n/a n/a 23 14.362 2 Laps
12 51 Dan Cugini Marshfield MA 10 14.141 15 Laps
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SERVPRO OF BIDDEFORD SACO PRO STOCK (40 laps makeup feature)
Pos No. Name Home Town State Laps Best Tm Diff
1 09 Daren Ripley Thomaston ME 40 15.062
2 23 David Farrington Jay ME 40 15.314 1.752
3 15 Nick Hinkley Wiscasset ME 40 15.169 4.05
4 29 Kevin Morse Woolwich ME 40 15.474 7.388
5 18 Kevin Douglass Sidney ME 40 15.395 10.221
6 71 Joey Peaslee Jefferson ME 22 15.616 18 Laps
7 13T Cody Tribbett Richmond ME 18 15.523 22 Laps
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THUNDER 4 MINI (25 laps)
Pos No. Name Home Town State Laps Best Tm Diff
1 26 Michael Golding Pownal ME 25 18.150
2 54 Noah Haggett Wiscasset ME 25 18.203 0.303
3 58 David Greenleaf Brunswick ME 25 18.515 1.403
4 84 Spencer Sweatt Albion ME 25 18.240 2.009
5 23 Jacoby Perry Pittston ME 25 18.870 4.309
6 1 Derek McKeen Windham ME 25 18.758 4.672
7 4x Cameron Campbell New Gloucester ME 25 18.761 5.004
8 7 Howard Roberts Jay ME 25 18.925 7.994
9 13 Ryan Soule Union ME 25 19.101 8.243
10 113 Greg Gibbs Richmond ME 25 19.130 14.287
11 04 Curtis Anderson Richmond ME 23 18.168 2 Laps
12 66 James Grover Jr Newcastle ME 18 18.950 7 Laps
13 25 Brian Burr Brunswick ME 12 18.957 13 Laps
14 6 Brian Dolloff Jay ME 12 19.107 13 Laps
15 51c Cody Robbins Palermo ME 11 18.741 14 Laps
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CAHILL TIRE 4-CYLINDER PRO (25 laps)
Pos No. Name Home Town State Laps Best Tm Diff
1 03 Hayden Norris W. Gardiner ME 25 17.329
2 5 Dominic Curit Saco ME 25 17.558 0.690
3 12 Max Rowe Turner ME 25 17.408 1.131
4 24 Jeff Prindall Lisbon ME 25 17.490 1.760
5 41 Larry Melcher Jay ME 25 17.743 7.505
6 70 Taylor Lane Phillips ME 25 17.623 7.941
7 00 PJ Merrill Canton ME 25 17.739 8.789
8 01 Jet Decker Chesterville ME 25 17.818 12.114
9 4 Connor Wenners Edgecomb ME 25 17.977 12.484
10 14 Nicole Benincasa Buxon ME 25 17.816 12.489
11 42 Mike Kibben Lisbon ME 25 17.862 13.119
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MAXWELLS MARKET SUPER STREETS (25 laps)
Pos No. Name Home Town State Laps Best Tm Diff
1 23x Mike Hodgkins Jefferson ME 25 16.927
2 85 Michael Harrison Durham ME 25 16.994 0.635
3 11 Jason Oakes Boothbay ME 25 16.974 1.702
4 38 Cody Buzzell Madison ME 25 16.927 2.171
5 48 Dan Nessmith Wiscasset ME 25 17.147 2.746
6 24 David Thompson Jefferson ME 25 17.350 3.999
7 54 Neil Evans Jr. Randolph ME 25 17.615 9.109
8 2 Josh Bailey Wiscasset ME 18 16.743 7 Laps
9 1 Jeff Davis Woolwich ME 7 17.859 18 Laps
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SERVPRO OF BIDDEFORD SACO PRO STOCK (40 laps regular feature)
Pos No. Name Home Town State Laps Best Tm Diff
1 09 Daren Ripley Thomaston ME 40 14.968
2 01x Andy Saunders Ellsworth ME 40 15.088 0.931
3 23 David Farrington Jay ME 40 15.156 1.649
4 15 Nick Hinkley Wiscasset ME 40 15.115 1.662
5 13T Cody Tribbett Richmond ME 40 15.317 3.326
6 29 Kevin Morse Woolwich ME 40 15.508 4.504
7 18 Kevin Douglass Sidney ME 40 15.502 6.796
8 02 Shane Lane North Anson ME 40 15.659 14.943
9 71 Joey Peaslee Jefferson ME 39 15.437 1 Lap
10 9 Travis Poulliot China ME 38 16.235 2 Laps
