by Ken Minott

     It was a chilly night Saturday at Wiscasset Speedway. Fans huddled into the coastal Maine race track to cheer on Group 2 racers along with an appearance from the Wicked Good Vintage Racers. Despite the cool temps, the action in the Late Model Sportsman class was as hot as ever. The last two winners of the prestigious Coastal 200 each made a statement to rest of their competitors in the 40 lap feature, starting deep in the 23 car field and grabbing the top 2 spots in victory lane. Harrington’s Andrew McLaughlin, the defending Coastal 200 champ methodically picked his way through the pack from his 12th starting position to grab the lead at the halfway marker and run to the feature win; his first since the 2017 Coastal. “If you’re gonna win one race a year (as a Late Model driver), that’s the one. I still get chills thinking about that race last year”, said McLaughlin. “I want to be the first one to win it back to back”. One driver that may have a say in whether that happens is 2016 Coastal 200 champ Chris Thorne of Sidney.

The 4-time LMS champ had perhaps the strongest car in Saturday night’s 40 lap tuneup race but never got the opportunity to challenge McLaughlin for the win. The race was slowed by just one early caution. Thorne started 15th and turned in a strong 2nd place finish, still closing in on the leader in the closing laps. In victory lane, Thorne gave a sly grin when saying “If this car goes this well in 2 weeks, everyone may be in trouble, but we’ll see”. J.R. Robinson of Steuben made up the most ground in Saturday’s race, starting 18th and reaching 2nd with 10 laps to go. He would give that spot up to Thorne, but still land a solid 3rd place finish in his season debut. The top 5 was rounded out by rookie’s Brandon Fowler and Logan Melcher.

by Ken Minott

     With the arrival of May and warming weather, Wiscasset Speedway moved its weekly race program to Saturday evening. With the backdrop of one of the track’s signature sunsets, Group 1 divisions gathered for their second week of competition. The ServPro of Biddeford-Saco Prostocks had center stage with a 50 lap spotlight feature. Wiscasset’s Nick Hinkley started mid-pack and took advantage of a handful of early cautions, all for minor spins, and picked his way into the lead of the 13 car field by lap 6. From there he settled into a comfortable half straightaway advantage to secure his first Prostock win since 2016. Hinkley is the reigning Late Model champion. Defending Prostock champ Deren Ripley of Thomaston turned in a runner-up finish in his season debut. Ajay Picard of Palmyra picked up his second straight 3rd place finish. Other winners on the evening included Wiscasset’s Josh Bailey grabbing his 2nd straight 25 lap feature win in the Maxwell’s Market Super Streets. He was joined in victory lane by fellow 2-time champ Jason Oakes of Boothbay and Neil Evans of Randolph. Hayden Norris of West Gardiner equaled Bailey’s feet by grabbing his second straight win in the Cahill Tire 4-cylinder Pros 25 lap contest. A shake-up in post-race inspection resulted in Connor Wenners of Edgecomb taking 2nd and Taylor Lane of Phillips taking home 3rd. Spencer Sweatt of Albion was a runaway winner in the Thunder 4 Minis 25 lap feature. David Greenleaf of Brunswick made a last lap pass to claim a career-best 2nd place finish. Noah Hagget of Woolwich was 3rd.