Thousands of fans rolled into Wiscasset Speedway on Sunday for the biggest Late Model race of the year, the Coastal 200. The $10,000 to win race, presented by Coldbrook Trailers and GT Overhead Doors, is one of the marquee events of the race season and always draws some of the biggest names in the Northeast. This year was no different as Eddie MacDonald, Mike Hopkins and 3-time Coastal 200 winner Ben Ashline were among those in the field.
The day also featured a partial Group 2 racing program, which kicked off with a 30-lap feature for the Portland Glass Strictly Streets. Ashton Reynolds took off with the early lead but trouble was brewing behind the leaders on lap 5 as Kurt Hewins went around in turn 4, collecting a handful of others. Reynolds maintained his advantage after multiple cautions halted the racing action but his cousin Josh St. Clair was on the move after starting at the tailend of the field, breaking the top 3 on lap 15. He made his way around Scott Eck for second two laps later and then set his sights on Reynolds, promptly taking over the top spot on lap 22. St. Clair took off from there, scoring the feature victory as Ashton Reynolds and Scott Eck rounded out the top 3.
NEMA Thrills large crowd at Wiscassetby Ken Minott
What do you get when you put the world’s fastest asphalt sprint cars on Maine’s fastest track? You get a jaw-dropping display of speed and skill and a constant assault on track records. After missing their visit during the shortened 2020 season, the stars and cars of the North Eastern Midget Association (NEMA) returned to Wiscasset Speedway and one of their favorite stops on their tour for “Ames True Value NEMA Night”. The threat of inclement weather didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the large contingent of fans packing the coastal Maine track. Brief bouts of light sprinkles throughout the evening kept race officials on edge, but thanks to the great work of the race teams and track staff, the show went on uninterrupted. A trio of Group 2 divisions added to the show, with Late Model Sportsman, Strictly Streets, and Modifieds also in action.
HARRISONS SHARE WISCASSET’S VICTORY LANE ON FATHER’S DAY WEEKEND
Fathers and sons are perhaps the tightest of bonds in the racing world. It’s a time-honored tradition for dads to pass along their knowledge of racing to their sons and someday “pass the torch”. It’s an extra special occasion when fathers and sons get to race together on the track head to head for a win. That opportunity came on Saturday night on Father’s Day weekend at Wiscasset Speedway when Michael and Kenny Harrison lined up side by side on the front row for a mid-race restart in the Maxwell’s Market Super Street feature. In the end, it was the student who beat the teacher as Michael took the checkered flag in the 30 lap feature and left his dad Kenny to claim third. It was the first time in Michael’s 8-year racing career that he shared victory lane with his dad – a veteran of nearly 30 years in the sport. Bobby Mesimer of Woolwich turned in his best performance of the season finishing in second, The Harrison family reunion wrapped up the Saturday night program that also saw action in the Pro Stocks, 4-Cylinder Pros, and Thunder 4 Minis, plus the first appearance of the year for the Nelcar Legends.
JOSH ST CLAIR CONTINUES HOT STREAK, WINS 2021 COASTAL 200 AT WISCASSETby Ken Minott
It’s a great time to be Josh St Clair. That could be the understatement of the year when it comes to the start of the 2021 season at Wiscasset Speedway. He only opened the season by winning four feature races over three different classes, leading the points in the track’s two “premier” divisions, and earned honors as the track’s May Driver of the Month. So, how could he possibly top that? By winning Wiscasset Speedway’s most prestigious race in exciting fashion no less. The Coastal 200 is a race that every Memorial Day weekend showcases the region’s top Late Model Sportsman drivers and their quest for the $5000 winner’s take of a (near) $30,000 purse. The race which was rained out from its original date was made up on Saturday evening in front of a large crowd of over 2,200 fans, including many veterans and active-duty military personnel who were welcomed to the event free of charge. Shortly after the sunset behind the backstretch of the 3/8 mile speedway, Josh St Clair was celebrating his second victory in the crown-jewel race with his family and friends. Many fans left saying it was one of the most exciting Coastal 200 ever. Other winners on the evening included Zach Audet in the Outlaw Minis, Adam Chadbourne in the Modifieds, and Bernie Dinsmore in the Strictly Streets. The Senior Tour Auto Racers were the flex division of the weekend with Kurt Snow of West Warren, Ma and Mike Rucci of Warren, Ma taking the checkered flag in their Modified and Sportsman division features.
Mother nature wins Sunday at Wiscasset – Coastal 200 postponedby Ken Minott
In the world of auto racing, the old adage still applies “You win some – You lose some”. Unfortunately, Sunday afternoon Mother Nature won out over a hopeful contingent of racers and fans who had gathered for the annual Coastal 200 at Wiscasset Speedway. With the threat of oncoming rain, track officials made the decision to bump up the start time of the afternoon’s action by an hour to 1:00 pm and run Late Model heats and then features only in the support divisions, in an effort to beat the oncoming weather. Things looked good to start with successful runs in three 12-lap heat races for the Wood Pellet Warehouse Late Models, to set the field for the big race. In heat one, a pair of third-generation drivers battled for the pole position, with Tiger Colby of Wiscasset jumping up from his number two starting position to grab the lead and then hold off a late charge from point leader Josh St Clair of Liberty to take the checkered flag. Matt Bourgoine of Stetson finished in 3rd. In heat number two it was Shane Clark of Winterport who turned in an easy win, leading from start to finish over Clinton’s Frank Moulton and Harpswell’s Mark Lucas. Heat number three was dominated by 2-time defending Coastal 200 champ Ben Ashline. He grabbed the lead on lap one and held the top spot all the way to the checkers. Former 200 champ Andrew McLaughlin of Harrington chased him across the line in second followed by Scott Hall of Jay. 26 of 27 cars on hand are now qualified for the Coastal 200.
Group 1 returned to action Saturday evening at Wiscasset Speedway for their second race of the season. The Norms Used Cars Pro Stocks had center stage with a 50 lap spotlight feature, along with racing in the Super Streets, Thunder 4 Minis, and 4-cylinder Pros. The special guest for the evening was the Wicked Good Vintage Racers Hobby class. 2-time reigning Pro Stock champ Nick Hinkley took advantage of a rare front-row starting spot and rebounded from a wrecked opening day ride to capture a dominant victory in the main event. Other winners on the night included Sean Johnson, Ryan Hayes, David Cook, and Addison Bowie.
