by Ken Minott

     Fans and Fun were the name of the game this past weekend at Wiscasset Speedway with Group 2 Fan Appreciation Night. Another large crowd packed into Maine’s fastest track Saturday night for exciting racing action, plus a driver meet & greet session and kid’s bike races. The race program was highlighted by the 3rd annual running of Outlaw Mini Madness for the Kennebec Equipment Rental Outlaw Mini’s. Despite a lower car count that anticipated, there was no shortage of action as two of the division’s best slugged it out to lay claim to the title. In the end, it was former champ Jimmy Childs of Leeds holding the big trophy winning the 75 lap race for the second time. Other winners on the night included Shane Clark of Winterport in the Wood Pellet Warehouse Late Models; Joe Williams of Woolwich in the Midcoast Region Napa Mods; and Bryan Robbins of Montville in the Norms Used Cars Strictly Streets. Before the green flag flew, fans were able to go down onto the track to meet all of the group 2 drivers. Then the kids took over in enthusiastic and energetic bike races in three different age groups, along with an appearance by Santa Claus and Christmas in July fun with the C&D Laundry Kids Club.

by Ken Minott

     Wiscasset Speedway was all set to kick off the Independence Day holiday weekend Saturday night with a full race program featuring Group 1 and fireworks. Everything was going smoothly until Mother Nature crashed the party sending fans home early with a handful of features still to be run. Heats were completed in all divisions as the eyes of race officials were also on the radar and an approaching front causing crazy weather to the northwest. Just as the spotlight feature for the 4-Cylinder Pro’s was about to roll onto the track the first few raindrops began to fall, bringing the safety trucks out to keep the track dry. The delay only lasted 20 minutes and the show was on once again. In order to try and beat the approaching weather, the 4-Cylinder Pro feature was reduced from 35 laps down to their normal 25 lap length. #8 Craig Dunn and #55 would lead the field of 12 to the green flag. Dunn held the lead through the early stages while some of the heavy hitters were charging up from the back of the pack. One of those was 3-time defending champ #98 Kamren Knowles who was forced into a backup car after crashing in practice. It took just 10 laps for Knowles to race from his 10th starting position into the lead. Just a pair of cautions slowed the action along with a brief 5-minute threat of rain. It didn’t hold up Knowles on his way to his 2nd win of the season. He had also won back on opening day. Behind him was a great battle between a pair of rising stars in the class. Previous race winner #29 Austin Teras and point leader #12 Max Rowe traded the remaining two podium spots back and forth over the final six laps, with Teras grabbing 2nd and Rowe 3rd.

by Ken Minott

     Maine’s fastest track, Wiscasset Speedway, wrapped up racing for the month of June on Saturday night with Group 2 in action, plus the return of the Amsoil Nelcar Legends. The Norms Used Cars Strictly Streets had the spotlight race for the program supported by the Late Model Sportsman, Outlaw Minis, and Modifieds. Cole Watson of Naples had the hot hand on the night, running to his first points win at Wiscasset over Montville’s Bryan Robbins and Jonathan Emerson of Sabattus. Other winners included Corey Hall, Mark Lucas, and Zach Audet. As of press time, the Late Model Sportsman victor remains listed as unofficial pending a mandatory engine inspection.

     In the 35 lap spotlight feature for the Strictly Streets, #45 of Cole Watson lined up at the pole position with Chesterville’s Kim Knight in her #00 alongside. Knight would grab the lead through the early laps while Watson followed closely in 2nd. Watson retook the lead on a lap 13 restart and never looked back, rolling into victory lane to grab his first points win at Wiscasset. He was a previous winner of the Top Gun Strictly Shootout. Bryan Robbins was the big mover in the race, picking his way up from 12th to finish 2nd. He made the move of the race with 8 laps to go as he jumped from 4th up to 2nd exiting turn 4 in a spirited battle with Jonathan Emerson and Knight. Emerson, the 3rd generation racer from Sabattus stayed in the top 3 the entire race and rolled his #24 car in to claim the 3rd place trophy. His father Zach Emerson and point leader Michael Haynes filled out the top 5.

by Ken Minott

     You probably won’t find many drivers that are having more fun on a race track these days than Thunder 4 Mini racer Logan Melcher. Who could blame the second generation racer from Jay? He is, after all, undefeated to start 2017 season. His most recent win though was a bit more challenging than the first two. The Thunder 4 Minis had the 35 lap spotlight feature Saturday night at Wiscasset Speedway as Group 1 was in action on Maine’s fastest track. Melcher navigated his way through the pack only to roll into victory lane to claim the 2nd place trophy. But a disqualification in post-race inspection for the initial winner, followed by required engine inspection finally produced his 3rd win of the season. Other winners on the night included Spencer Wenners in the GoKarts; Mark Lucas in the Super Streets; Austin Teras in the 4-cylinder Pros; and Daren Ripley in the ServPro of Biddeford-Saco Prostocks.

by Ken Minott

     Maine’s fastest oval, Wiscasset Speedway, showcased Group 2 Saturday night in front of another big crowd. Three different drivers picked up their first wins of the 2017 campaign, while another took early control of the tracks most competitive division with his 2nd victory of the year. Midcoast Region Napa Mods were the spotlight division with a 40 lap main event. Joe Williams of Woolwich withstood a late race restart and pulled away from defending champ Mark Lucas for a convincing win; his first of the year. The race of the day was the one a straightaway behind him for second between Tom Young & Nick Reno. The two racing wheel to wheel for the final ten laps with Reno grabbing the runner-up trophy on the outside by less than a foot. Young settled for 3rd. Other winners on the night included Nick Hinkley on the Late Model Sportsman, Shawn Kimball in the Outlaw Minis, and Joe Hutter in the Strictly Streets. The flex race was a 100 lap Enduro, won by Zach Emerson.