By Lisa Maguire
The weather was sunny but cool. The stands were packed. The drivers were ready. It was the perfect opening day at Wiscasset Speedway. The fans watched as five featured races kicked off the 2014 racing season. On the agenda was the group one lineup of divisions: Prostock, Napa Super Street, New England 4 Cylinder Prostock, Outlaw Mini’s, and the flex race of the week was a twenty-five lap Amsoil Nelcar Legends feature.
A twenty-five lap Amsoil Nelcar Legends race was action packed. Fourteen Legend cars hit the track in a heated competition. Defending champ Mathew Bourgoine was on hand prior to race time. Bourgoine said, “I don’t know how my season will be. I am hoping for a few wins. I have come in first in overall points for two years in a row. I am hoping for a third. There is a lot of new talent coming up, so we will see how it goes.”
Starting in the pole position was the #10 driven by Ed Getty. Following him were Alan Smith in the #33 and Wyatt Alexander in the #96.
Off the start Alexander in his #96 sped by Smith to take second, and the #70 car driven by Tylar Braunschweig followed the same line and took third. During lap two the #38 of Mathew Bourgoine moved from his eighth place starting position and passed Braunschweig for third. The #59 of Reid Lanphier moved up behind Bourgoine during lap four and passed to take third.
The race leaders were racing in a pack when a caution was thrown during lap five. On the restart, there was a scramble for position. Coming out of turn three there was bumping and scraping. The #10 of Ed Getty spun, a few cars were nicked and the #80 driven by rookie Ryan Varney barrel-rolled of the track. Varney was able to walk away from the crash despite his car being in pieces. Cars involved in the skirmish were sent to the back of the pack, putting Alexander in first, Bourgoine in second, and Alan Smith in third.
Bourgoine looked for his chance to pass, and his opportunity came in lap seven when he was able to move up the inside and pass Alexander for first.
During lap fourteen, the #399 of Bob Weymouth passed Smith on the inside of turn one for third. The pair race neck and neck and Smith was able to pass Weymouth on the inside of turn three and reclaim third.
Lanphier, who had worked his way up the pack after being sent to the back, passed Smith during lap fourteen on the front stretch. Then, during lap twenty, Lanphier passed the #96 of Alexander on the inside of turn one, taking second. Braunschweig then passed Alexander during lap twenty-one, taking third. The top three race leaders sped under the checkered in the same order. Bourgoine placed first, Lanphier in second, and Braunschweig in third.
The spotlighted race of the week was a forty lap Prostock feature. Starting on the pole was the #32 of Mike Orr. The #15 of Nick Hinkley and the #01 of Joe Decker held the second and third spot. When the green flag flew, Orr and Hinkley raced beside each other until Hinkley pulled ahead of Orr on the outside of the back stretch and took first.
The #28 of Bill Penfold passed Decker and battled Orr for second. Penfold was able to overtake Orr and passed on turn two to take second. Penfold moved up the track and challenged Hinkley for the lead. During lap seven Penfold passed Hinkley on the inside of turn one and became race leader. Hinkley developed mechanical problems and dropped back and Decker took third, while Orr was in second.
The #64 of Matt Sanborn passed Orr on the inside of turn two during lap eight and took third place. Then, during lap eleven Decker passed Sanborn for second. Race leaders remained constant until lap 29, when Orr moved to the outside and challenged Sanborn for third. Orr was able to make the pass on the outside of turn three to take third.
Penfold took the win. Decker placed second. Orr took third place. Decker raced at Wiscasset in the past, and has come back to Wiscasset because as he said, “We are here because of the environment. They encourage family and allow my son to be with me in the pits.”
In a quick, straightforward race, nine Napa Super Street cars participated in a twenty-five lap feature. Starting at the pole was the #1 of Adam Chadbourne. Behind him were James Osmond of the #05 and the #2 of Josh Bailey.
Chadbourne took an early lead off the start, and Baily and Osmond fought for second. The duo raced head to head, with each passing the other. Bailey pulled ahead of Osmond during lap two on the outside of the back stretch and maintained his lead.
Race leaders remained constant until lap twenty-four. Chadbourne experienced mechanical issues and his car slowed on the backstretch coming out of turn two. Bailey advanced to first and Osmond to second. The #51 of Bryan Robbins moved up to take third. Chadbourne coasted across the finish line to take fourth.
Bailey placed first. Osmond placed second, and rounding out the top three was Robbins. Prior to race time Bailey said, “My car is pretty fast today, but there is a lot of competition.” He must have been pleased with his first place win.
The next crowd pleaser was a twenty-five lap New England 4 Cylinder Prostock race. Starting at the pole was Jeff Prindall of the #24. The #12 of Dave Patten and Craig Dunn of the #8 were behind him. Prindall took the lead, and never gave it up.
Dunn spun on the track during lap two and Ryan Hayes of the #38 took the number three spot. Patten dropped back during lap four and the #14 of Bob Patten moved up for third, and Hayes to second.
There was a caution during lap five and on the restart Bob Patten moved to the inside and passed Hayes on the backstretch for second. Lap seven saw the #54 of Kamren Knowles pass Hayes for third on the inside of turn one. Dunn advanced up the track and began battling Knowles for third. Dunn moved ahead of Knowles during lap thirteen.
There was another caution during lap fourteen. Upon the restart Dunn’s Sanders Auto #8 zipped past Bob Patten and took second. Then, during lap sixteen Knowles was able to pass Bob Patten and take third. When the cars flew under the checkered, Prindall was in first. Dunn placed second. Knowles took third.
A twenty-five lap Outlaw Mini race was last on the program. On the pole was the #10 of Jimmy Childs. Behind him were the #14 of Matt Moore and the #8 of Calvin Rose Jr. The cars roared off the start, and in lap two, Rose passed Moore for second.
A caution during lap three brought about a restart. Off the start there was jockeying for position. In turn one the #2 of Rob Greenleaf passed Moore for third. Race leaders Childs and Rose raced nose to nose for the lead. Rose saw an opening on the inside of the backstretch and passed Childs for first.
The #19 of Zach Audet moved up to challenge Greenleaf for third. Then, during lap five, Audet was able to pass Greenleaf on the outside of the back stretch. There were two cautions during lap 8, and on the second restart, Audet passed Childs on the inside of turn three for second.
Lap eighteen saw the next leader change with the #51 of Mike Mason passing Childs on the outside of turn four to take third. Then during lap nineteen things were shaken up when Audet spun on the track. Childs and Moore advanced past Audet. At the finish, Rose was in first. Childs took second. Moore placed third.
Wiscasset Speedway resumes racing action, April 26, 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 is a New England 4 Cylinder Prostock feature. Pit gates open at 10:00 AM. Grandstand gates open at 12:00 PM. Racing begins at 2:00 PM. Admission is $5.00 for adults and children aged seven and older. Kids six and under are free. Pit admission is $20.00.
WISCASSET SPEEDWAY OFFICIAL RESULTS APRIL 19, 2014
AMSOIL NELCAR LEGENDS (25 LAPS)
1. #38 Mathew Bourgoine, Newport
2. #59 Reid Lanphier, Manchester
3. #70 Tylar Braunschweig, West Newfield
4. #19 Kevin Girard Jr., NA
5. #399 Bob Weymouth, Topsham
6. #33 Alan Smith, Lincoln
7. #8 Matt Chagnot, Derry, NH
8. #5 Todd Harrison, NA
9. #10 Ed Getty, NA
10. #16 Eric Williams, NA
11. #96 Wyatt Alexander, Ellsworth
12. #84 Matt Grant, Windham
13. #17 Terry Kirk, Durham
14. #80 Ryan Varney, NA
PROSTOCK (40 LAPS)
1. #28 Bill Penfold, Oxford
2. #01 Joes Decker, Chesterville
3. #32 Mike Orr, Wiscasset
4. #64 Matt Sanborn, Westbrook
5. #39 James Osmond, Wiscasset
6. #15 Nick Hinkley, Wiscasset
7. #77 Maggie Ferland, Auburn
8. #25 Will Collins. Appleton
NAPA SUPER STREET (25 LAPS)
1. #2 Josh Bailey, Wiscasset
2. #05 James Osmond, Wiscasset
3. #51 Bryan Robbins, Montville
4. #1 Adam Chadbourne, Woolwich
5. #48 Dan Nessmith, Wiscasset
6. #34 Craig Robbins, Palermo
7. #02 Paul Hopkins, Camden
8. #8 Kevin Morse, Woolwich
NEW ENGLAND 4 CYLINDER PROSTOCK (25 LAP)
1. #24 Jeff Prindall, Lisbon
2. #8 Craig Dunn, Strong
3. #54 Kamren Knowles, West Gardiner
4. #14 Bob Patten, Westbrook
5. #12 Dave Patten, Westbrook
6. #35 Nathan McWilliams, Lewiston
7. #7 Jerry Bailey, Wiscasset
8. #99 Cameron Folsom, NA
9. #38 Ryan Hayes
OUTLAW MINI (25 LAP)
1. #8 Calvin Rose Jr., Turner
2. #10 Jimmy Childs, Leeds
3. #14 Matt Moore, Mechanic Falls
4. #19 Zach Audet, Skowhegan
5. #15 Nate Dubuc, NA
6. #13 Nate Tribbet, Richmond
7. #51 Mike Mason, Skowhegan
8. #2 Rob Greenleaf, West Bath
9. #20 Shawn Kimball, Augusta