WISCASSET RACEWAY AWARDS BANQUET CELEBRATES BEST OF 2006

Wiscasset Raceway put an official end to the 2006 racing season on Friday December 1st in Augusta with its annual awards banquet. Drivers and crews, fans and staff gathered in the Pine Tree Room at the Augusta Civic Center to celebrate the 2006 season with dinner, awards, and dancing. Track announcer Ken Minott acted as master of ceremonies for the evening and handed out trophies and other awards to outstanding drivers in six weekly racing series divisions. Along with trophies for the top 10 in each class, special awards were handed out in each division to recognize Sportsmanship, Outstanding Improvement, and Hard Luck as well as Rookie of the Year and the crowning of 2006 Wiscasset Raceway Driver of the Year. Track photographer Peter Taylor added to the festivities with a video presentation highlighting the year at Maine’s fastest track.

 

            Track owner Dave St Clair addressed the crowd to talk about the upcoming season and then handed out the first award of the evening, presenting Cory Creamer with the Promoter’s Award. The award recognizes the efforts of a track employee or volunteers who have gone above the call of duty to ensure the success of Wiscasset Raceway. Creamer, who regularly acts as the track’s assistant announcer, also put in time as assistant flagman, pace-car driver and other assorted tasks. Special recognition plaques were then handed out in each division as well as two other special awards. Super Street driver Bernie Dinsmore of Hope was chosen as Comeback Driver of the Year. Super Street champion Adam Chadbourne of Woolwich was selected as 2006 Wiscasset Raceway Driver of the Year. The award goes to the driver who had the most outstanding overall year, including performance on the track as well as sportsmanship and cooperation with track officials. Topsham’s Dave Brannon and Sidney’s Kevin Douglass joined Chadbourne to be recognized as runner-ups for the award. Point awards and trophies were then handed out to the top ten drivers in each division. Title winners were each presented with their trophy, point money, gift certificate from Safety FX Online, and a championship track jacket.

Liberty’s Puncin St Clair was crowned as the 2006 Late Model Sportsman Champion. For St Clair, who is also a 2-time Super Street champ, it was his 3rd career title. He wrapped up the year with 9 top 5’s and a feature win, but he was the only driver in the class to finish in the top 10 in all 16 races. St Clair’s brother in law Jerry Reynolds was the division runner-up with 7 top 5’s. Renolds also finished 2nd to NASCAR Nextel Cup Star Ken Schrader for the 2nd straight season on July 15th. Fellow Liberty driver Bryan Robbins was the dominant driver in the division with 6 feature wins, including winning both of the 100 main event’s for the Late Model division. He would settle for the 3rd place trophy. Sidney’s Gary Thorne picked up the Hard Luck award while his son Chris Thorne was recognized for Sportsmanship. Craig Robbins, older brother of Bryan, took home the award for Outstanding Improvement. Josh St Clair finished 4th in points as the division’s Rookie of the Year. The 17 year old, 3rd generation racer turned in an impressive 8 top 5’s and 3 feature wins.

Adam Chadbourne’s 2006 Super Street championship was his first career title, following 4 years as runner-up in the Super Streets and Heavyweight Demons. The 2nd generation Wiscasset track champion finished no worse than 6th the entire year. His 11 top 3’s and 5 feature wins were far above his closest competition in the class. Bernie Dinsmore’s comeback season nearly earned him his first championship. Dinsmore picked up 12 top 5’s and 1 feature win along the way. Defending champ and 2005 Driver of the Year Will Collins of Appleton had a strong second half season to finish 3rd in points. Collins picked up the division Sportsmanship award to go with his 10 top 5’s and 1 feature win. Jeremy Glasier of Appleton was the winner of the Most Improved Driver award. 2-time Super Street champ “Cowboy” Dan Trask of Chelsea was picked as the Hard Luck Driver for the class. Wiscasset’s Josh Bailey finished as Super Street Rookie of the Year with his 5th place finish in points.

Topsham’s Dave Brannon ruled the Strictly Street division in 2006. He took the title by finishing in the top five in all 16 races. His current consecutive top 5 streaks now stands at 24 straight races and his 4 feature wins were tops in the class.  It was his first track championship. Bobby Mesimer of Woolwich finished as the division runner-up. He had another solid season with 9 top 5’s, but came short of his first career win. Ian Bresnahan of Bath also had a solid campaign, picking up 6 top 5’s on his way to a 3rd place finish in points. While his top five total was low, he was the only other Strictly driver beside Brannon to finish in the top 10 in all 16 races. Zack Creamer of Bath was a double award winner, taking home Rookie of the Year and Most Improved Driver honors. Defending champ Mike Moody of Bath won the Sportsmanship award, while Pittston’s Donnie Stuart picked up the Hard Luck award.

Shawn Kimball of Pittston picked up the 2006 Stock Mini championship to go along with his 2000 division crown. Kimball was the most consistent driver in the track’s biggest class. He was the only driver in the Stock Mini’s to finish in the top 10 in all 16 races. He turned in a solid 4 feature wins along the way, plus a division high 9 heat wins. Vasselboro’s Brent Roy ended the year as his division runner-up for the third time. He drove to 10 top 5’s to go along with his 3 feature wins and 5 heat wins. Sidney’s Kevin Douglass wrapped up an outstanding season 3rd in points with the division Sportsmanship award to go along with his 11 top 5’s, 4 feature wins and 7 heat wins. Dylan Lancaster of Skowhegan was named 2006 Stock Mini Rookie of the Year while his brother Bryan Lancaster was named Most Improved. Chelsea’s James Henderson took home the Hard Luck award.

Tyler Tibbetts of Montville was honored as Wiscasset Raceway’s first Teen Division champion. 13-year old Tibbetts dominated the new division that was created for young drivers age 13 to 18. He picked up a top 3 finish in 15 out of 16 races on the way to the title and a division high 7 feature wins and 11 heat wins. He also took home Rookie of the Year honors. Second generation racer Cody Raven of Waldo was the division runner-up. He chased Tibbetts to 14 top 5’s and 3 feature wins. Bristol’s Henry Boudreau was the “Old Man” of the division at 16 years old. Boudreau won on opening day and ended the year with 12 top 5’s and a 3rd place finish. Kayla Albert of Chelsea was recognized as the Most Improved Driver in the class. Cody Sleeper of Chelsea won the Hard Luck award and Matt Stuart of Pittston the Sportsmanship award.

Chelsea’s Marge Albert made history by becoming Wiscasset Raceway’s first female champion. Her Ladies Division championship also came with a Sportsmanship award to go with her track high 15 top 3 finishes. She highlighted the year with 4 feature wins and 5 heat wins. She had been a runner-up against the men in the Lightweight B Demon class for three straight seasons leading up to 2006. Megan Allen of Winterport finished as the Ladies Division runner-up. She picked up 11 top 5’s along the way with one feature win. She also picked up the Ladies Division Rookie of the Year award. Deirdre Albert of Bristol finished 3rd with 10 top 5’s and picked up the Hard Luck Award. Chelsea Young of Winterport was named Most Improved Driver.