Opening day at Wiscasset Speedway. The reverberation of engines in the air, the scent of exhaust. The palpable excitement of both fans and drivers alike, as an end is finally put to winter and the cars hit the track once again.
Starting the racing action was a fifty lap Prostock feature. The #05 of James Osmond dominated the heat and started the feature at the pole. Osmond powered to the lead, and for over thirty laps led the pack. It looked like it was Osmond’s race to win. Behind him were the #01 of Andy Saunders and the #15 of Nick Hinkley.
Moving up from fifth was the #1 of Jeff Burgess. Burgess worked his way through the pack, eventually battling the #01 of Saunders, who had briefly taken the lead from Osmond on a lap twenty-five caution, for second. Burgess used cautions to his advantage and looked for his opportunity to take the lead. His chance came during lap thirty-four when he was able to take the inside track and get under Osmond. The pair battled for first, but by lap thirty-five Burgess had taken the lead and did not relinquish it for the remainder of the race. Burgess took the checkered. Osmond placed second. This was Osmond’s career best Prostock finish for the 2013 Driver of the Year. Rounding out the top three was Saunders.
Post-race Burgess said, “Well, we were patient at the beginning of the race and waited. We picked our way up through and followed James Osmond. He made one mistake and I was able to get underneath him. I’d like to dedicate this race to my father-in-law, Gary French. He is suffering from terminal cancer but he was able to be at the race today. I’d also like to thank my sponsors Ed Trask Drywall, ProKnee, and Burgess Racing and Fabrication.”
The Outlaw Super Series Tour visited Wiscasset Speedway for a fifty lap event. Tour promoter, Derek Mingo said, “This will give the fans something new to watch. You can race what you bring, and using tires and weighting, the playing field is leveled. This is the second year of the series.”
Starting at the pole was the #81 of Kris Watson. Behind him were the #38 of Joey Doyon and the #17 of Chris Matchet. Watson took the lead and although Doyon was hot on heels, he developed mechanical problems which took him out of the running.
Matchet was able to get a brief lead on a lap thirteen restart, but Watson quickly reclaimed his lead. Waston gained a several car length lead and for the remainder of the race, despite cautions, kept ahead of the pack. Watson placed first. Matchet took second, and Dan McKeage of the #43 placed third.
The next crowd pleaser was a twenty lap Thunder 4 feature. Starting at the pole was Gerard Cote of the #05. The #5 of Ryan Chadwick and the #04 of Curtis Anderson were behind him. Cote was quick off the start and led the race to start. Coming from behind was the #28X of David Stone Jr. Stone passed Anderson for third during lap one.
Chadwick challenged Cote for the lead during lap three and the duo raced door to door with Chadwick ultimately passing for first place. In a caution free race, the trio maintained track running order, leading the rest of the pack around the track. Chadwick clinched the win with Cote placing second. In third place was Stone.
Chadwick spoke after the race, and said, “I bought a new Harley, and I’m not sure I will run a full season. I might though. I do like to win, so we’ll see how it goes. I was glad to see the end of the race with the rain getting harder during the final laps. I’d like to thank Hammond Mechanical, D&S Excavation, and K&A Property Services.”
The final two features, the Super Street Series and The New England Four Cylinder Prostock series, were rained out. Placing in the Super Street Heat were the #1 of Adam Chadbourne in first. In second, the #32 of Tasha Dyer. The #2 of Josh Bailey placed third. In the New England Four Cylinder Prostock series heat, the #24 of Jeff Prindall came in first. Jacob Hendsbee of the #27 placed second. In third was the #98 of Kamren Knowles. The heat finishes will be used to handicap and set heat order for the next race in those divisions.