WAGING A KAM-PAIGN TO TRUMP THEM ALL: KNOWLES TAKES FIFTH WIN OF THE SEASON
BY SOPHIE GABRION, RACE MEDIA REP
WISCASSET, MAINE – When most people think about Wiscasset Speedway, they picture big, fast fun. When the track’s owners, Richard and Vanessa Jordon, think about the Speedway, they think about family and fans. It was the first of two Fan Appreciation days, offering everything from prize giveaways to kid’s bike races to a packed Driver Meet ‘n Greet, where spectators flooded the track to meet their favorite competitors. “The biggest reason I’m even here is because this is where my mom would come watch me race,” said Richard, when asked why the track is so important to him. “It’s all about family for me!”
Keeping racing as a family activity is the style of many shining stars who competed in the evening’s 50-lap spotlight feature race. The short wheelbase of the New England 4-Cyl. Pros translates to a smaller machine, disguising the skill needed to maneuver the power that they pack. Both car #98 and #84, driven by Kamren Knowles and Jamie Wright respectively, snatch an early lead right after the green flag, followed closely by RJ Pinkham in the #48. Pinkham clearly came to do work, ready to hit the ground running after a frontend collision forced him to hang up his helmet four weeks ago.
At the head of the pack, Knowles avoided the fray almost half a straightaway ahead. His sister, Brooke, moved her #9x car up into the fourth spot, while several car lengths ahead Pinkham made his move for Wright’s hold on second.
The noticeably clean start and solid momentum lasted through lap 20, when drivers regrouped after the night’s first caution, involving Mike Kibbin, driving the #42, from Lisbon and Bob Patten, driving the #14, from Westbrook. This started a trend, as back-to-back cautions interrupted laps 25, 26 and 27, slowing the action especially for Jeff Prindall of the #24 car from Lisbon, who somehow ended up in the middle of all three.
With twenty laps to go, Pinkham overtook Knowles for first, only to lose it again in the same lap. Knowles was not going to make it easy on anyone who sought to best him. Wenners made a stealthy move to briefly take third, until a one-man-caution causes his car to spin at the top of turn two.
When the engines droned yet again, it became clear that the remainder of the spotlight feature would be a game of cat and mouse between Knowles and Pinkham. Even though the main event had progressed at half the speed of smell through collison after collision, the two division leaders were distant blurs of black and white, showing fans what clean, competitive racing is all about.
With ten laps to go, Pinkham and Knowles continued to race in a league of their own, a full straight away ahead of the others, while Patten and Spencer Vaughn of the #7 entered their own heated debate not far behind in third and fourth. Wenners finished the fluctuating top five, but could not seem to gain ground with time running out at only five laps to go.
The drama-filled race ended as quietly as it began, with Knowles easing back into his quiet limelight at first, after major engine trouble two weeks ago put an end to his two-month winning streak. Pinkham achieved his season best finish in second place, promising fans it would not be his last trip to victory lane, and Spencer Vaughn claimed third for his first spot in the top three this season.
Next up, the Thunder 4 Minis proved that they had no intentions of making the night easy on the track crew, with their first caution flying before half the cars had even crossed the white line. The #25jr, driven by Brian Burr from Lisbon, took his starting momentum into the wall at the top of turn one for a substantial collision that suspended the anxious herd while the track was cleared. After the mini machines showed off for their fans, the top three trophy winners could barely contain their excitement in victory lane, with Michael Golding achieving a career best finish in first place.
As the sun began to fade taking the light from the sky, the Prostocks turned up the volume in a big way as they took the track to spectator’s delight. With decibles exceeding what can possibly be healthy, these fourteen beasts sounded like jets ready for take off, each barreling after a win in their 40-lap feature. James Osmond took a healthy lead from the beginning in his #5 car. Unfortunately, not everyone wanted the same kind of personal space, as lengthy cautions came hard and fast, including a simple spin gone bad in lap 19 that left the front end of #15, driven by seasoned Scott Chubbuck, exposed like a baked beans after the can opener. Despite the setbacks, dynamic competition was enjoyed by all, as Andy Saunders won first, saying later that with “just a little luck,” they would be able to earn more trips to victory lane.
For their 25-lap feature, the Super Streets kept it fast and furious from start to finish. In the night’s only caution-free race, the driver to watch was Cody Buzzell in the #38 car from Madison, who brought serious heat to the track to keep fans warm. With no yellow flags offering any breathing room, every driver had to depend on the power in their engines and the skill in their helmets. Fans cheered from the stands as Buzzell accepted first place by saying that he was “wound with the sound” that their countless hours of labor had paid off. As a final ode to the fans, Wiscasset Speedway had a stellar fireworks show geared up to round out all the festivities of the day.
Running out of activities for the kids this summer? Head on down to the always-family-friendly Wiscasset Speedway next Saturday, July 9th, 2016 as the NELCAR Legends take the track, as well as the four other action-packed divisions. Grandstand gates open to fans at 2:00pm and the green flag kicks off the day at 6:00pm. Individual admission is $5 – less than the cost of a sandwich! Bring the whole family – grandstand fees waived for kids under 6. For the 2016 Race Schedule and more, visit www.wiscassetspeedway.com. Be part of the action by following Wiscasset Speedway on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!