by Jay | May 14, 2012 | Maine, New England, Speedway 95
Nate Weston of Norridgewock survived an early duel with Shane Tatro of Holden as they battled for the lead through 5 restarts early in the Gardner Construction Enterprises 50 lap feature event for the Maine State Lottery Sportsman Division. Weston went on to hold the lead through 4 more cautions to win his first feature race of the young season. Tatro brought out the 6th caution on lap 31 when his motor blew up on the front stretch while slowly fading from the leaders as the motor went bad. D.J. Moody of Prospect came from the rear of the field following the last caution of the race on lap 42 to place second, with Mike Overlock of Franklin finishing third after having caused caution number 2 when a tire went flat, forcing him to pit for repairs. Kris Matchett of Skowhegan ended up fourth after being the only car other than Weston to make all 50 laps without pitting. Steve Moulton finished fifth after running with the leaders early, but having mechanical problems slow his car in the late stages of the event. Only five of the 11 starters were on the lead lap when the race ended. Tatro had won the evening’s qualifier, placing him on the pole for the start. Weston started outside pole by finishing second in the preliminary event.
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by Jay | May 7, 2012 | Maine, New England, Speedway 95
Hermon’s Mike Hopkins made it two for two for 2012 in the Speedway 95 Dysart’s Late Models Saturday night when he went from the outside pole to victory lane in the caution free Sinclair Towing Service 50 lap feature event. Ryan Deane of Winterport started on the pole but was no match for Hopkins, who had the lead coming out of turn two on the first lap. Andy Saunders of Ellsworth wasted no time getting past Deane as he quickly moved into the second spot, but that’s as far as he could go. Saunders, and Deane who finished third, went the entire 50 laps nose to tail, but no change in the running order was ever made. Brenton Parritt of Steuben moved through the pack and finished in the fourth spot with Winterport’s Shane Clark finishing fifth. Duane Seekins of Stockton Springs finished sixth, the last car on the lead lap at the finish. Hermon’s Greg Ellis, Deane Smart of Milford, John Kalel II of Orrington and Dale Swoboda of Hermon, rounded out the top ten. Fifteen Late Models took the green flag for the race, with only Hermon’s Phil Richardson falling out and not completing the entire distance. Hopkins and Deane won the qualifiers, placing them on the front row for the start.
Full Race Story – http://maineracing.com/wp/?p=7301
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by Jay | Mar 29, 2012 | Maine, New England, Speedway 95
Speedway 95 held it’s annual Spring pre-season car show at the Bangor Mall March 23, 24, and 25, with over 30 cars, drivers and crews displaying their 2012 racing machines. During the three day show, contests were held for the People’s Choice Award in each racing division represented, voted on by shoppers at the mall, as well as a contest for the Best Dressed Crew and a Best of Show award that took into consideration the overall appearance of the car, both interior and exterior, the appearance of the crew representing the car, and the display area the car was set up in. Independent judges from the local media, the mall staff and track personnel made up the panel for the awards. Trophies and cash prizes were handed out by track owner Del Merritt on Sunday afternoon to the winning teams. The winners were:
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by Jay | Mar 13, 2012 | Maine, New England, Speedway 95
After a 9 year absence, Speedway 95 will host the annual Spring Preview Mall Show at the Bangor Mall on Friday March 23 through Sunday March 25. Over 30 drivers and crews have already signed up to show off their new 2012 racing machines. The list includes 2011 Late Model champion Mike Hopkins of Hermon, 2011 Strictly Street champion Andrew McLaughlin of Harrington and 2011 Stars of Tomorrow champion Matt Kimball of Cornville. Also on the list are Danielle and Travis Beale of Hampden with their Little Enduro and Ladies division entries, Kimball’s sister, Shelby, with her 2011 2nd place finishing Strictly Street Camaro, 14 year old Emma Libby of Glenburn, who has already been to shows in Augusta and Portland this winter where she has won awards for her car, and Late Model Rookie Ryan Modery of Hermon, who is moving up to the top division after capturing the 2011 championship in the Bomber division.
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by Jay | Sep 11, 2011 | Maine, New England, Speedway 95
MIKE HOPKINS TAKES POINTS TITLE BY ONE POINT
Wayne Parritt of Steuben took the lead in the Dysart’s Late Model feature from Winterport’s Ryan Deane on lap 27 at Speedway 95 Saturday night and went on to win the 35 lap feature, posting his second win in four weeks. Deane Smart of Bradley was close behind, challenging Parritt for the position, but unable to complete a pass and settling for second in the season finale. Meanwhile, Ellsworth’s Andy Saunders was working his way up from the 12th starting position to finish third, and also became a factor in the divisions’ point’s race. Ryan Deane and Mike Hopkins of Hermon started the night only one point apart in the standings. Deane had finished second in the first qualifier, putting him seven points ahead. Then Hopkins won his qualifier, gaining 10 points, retaking the lead by a 3 point margin. In the feature, Deane led the first 27 laps of the event, but Hopkins was mired in fifth, with a right front tire that was slowly losing air. Unable to make any progress, Hopkins was helpless to do anything but ride, letting lady luck determine his fate. That luck came in the form of Saunders who crossed the finish line in third by a nose over Deane, relegating Deane to a fourth place finish. With 2 points difference in each position, when Hopkins finished in fifth, his points lead for the season and the championship was down to one. Fortunately for Hopkins, the top five had separated themselves from the remainder of the field by enough of a margin so no one else could pass Hopkins, who continued to slow as his tire leaked. After crossing the finish line, Hopkins went to the pit showering sparks as his suspension scraped the track due to the now flat tire. A quick tire change by his crew brought Hopkins back out to do the now popular “burnout” to celebrate his championship. The remainder of the night’s finishing order in the Dysart’s Late Models was 6. Don Alexander Jr., Carmel, 7. Duane Seekins, Stockton Springs, 8. John Kalel II, Orrington, 9. Donny Blanchard, Sangerville, 10. George Dunn, Eastbrook, 11. Alex Waltz, Damariscotta, 12. Bob Seger Jr. Framkfort, 13. Lloyd Nickerson, Corinth. 14. Dale Swoboda, Hermon, 15. Shane Clark, Winterport. (more…)
by Jay | Sep 4, 2011 | Maine, New England, Speedway 95
SWOBODA TAKES CRASH MARRED 95 LATE MODEL FEATURE
Hermon’s Dale Swoboda started on the front row of the 35 lap Dysart’s Late Model Feature at Speedway 95 Saturday night, but what happened in between made it far from an easy run for him. Swoboda and Ryan Deane of Winterport battled side by side in the early laps, swapping the lead several times before Deane took the point. A caution on lap 4 bunched the field back up when George Dunn of Eastbrook side-slapped Winterport’s Shane Clark, sending him to the infield. Clark recovered, but restarted at the rear of the 15 car field. Another yellow fell on lap 9, when John Kalel II stopped the race for a flat tire. On the restart, it was Swoboda and Deane again until lap 19, when points leader Mike Hopkins brought out the caution as he slowed due to a flat right front tire. A quick trip to the pit and Hopkins was back out, but at the back of the field. Four more yellows for minor incidents kept the field close, but Wayne Parritt of Steuben had worked his way up past Swoboda and was battling Deane for the lead on lap 32. Hopkins had also returned to the front of the field, riding in fourth when Parritt and Deane started bumping and spinning each other as they raced for the lead with 3 to go. Swoboda somehow got by, but Hopkins ended up on his roof on the back stretch after hitting the back stretch retaining wall trying to avoid what Parritt and Deane were doing in front of him . Hopkins climbed out of his wrecked car, and was out for the night. The red flag that stopped the field on lap 32 for that incident set up a 3 lap dash for the checkers with Swoboda at the head of the field. Swoboda led the pack under the green, with Duane Seekins beside him. As the cars got back up to speed, Seekins tucked in behind Swoboda, and Shane Clark made a mad dash for the front on the outside, passing Seekins on the final lap, finishing in second just behind Swoboda when he drove under the checkers for his third win of the season. Seekins finished third, with Deane Smart of Bradley in fourth. Donny Blanchard of Bangor posted a fifth place finish. Hopkins and Deane won the evening’s Late Model qualifiers. (more…)
