By Lisa Maguire
Last Saturday at the Wiscasset Speedway was warm and sun filled. Fans lined the bleachers to watch the group one division of racing. There was exciting racing action, and racing continued into the warm evening as the big lights of Wiscasset illuminated the track. Group one racing included: Prostock, New England Four Cylinder Prostock, Outlaw Mini, and Napa Super Street. The flex race of the week was an exhibition of modified race cars. During intermission the Woodside One Wheelers provided a unicycle race, and performed for the crowd. The night’s action would hand the division winners their first checkered flag of the year. For two of them it marked their first career win.
First on the track was a twenty-five lap Napa Super Street event. Starting on the pole was the #48 of Dan Nessmith. Behind him was the #06 of Zach Poland and the #2 of Josh Bailey. When green flag racing began, Bailey passed Poland right off the start for second. Poland went into a spin coming into turn two and the #88 of Jamie Norton moved to third.
The #38 of Chris Buzzell was advancing up the track, and during lap three he headed to the inside of turn three and passed Norton for third. Adam Chadbourne of the #1 was also moving up the track from the back of the pack. Chadbourne and Buzzell raced for third position for a lap. Chadbourne made the pass on the backstretch during lap four to secure third.
There was a caution during lap twelve, and on the ensuing restart Chadbourne headed to the inside and passed Bailey on the inside of turn three for second. During lap fourteen the #05 of James Osmond passed Bailey for third. Osmond and Chadbourne battled for second place. Then, Chadbourne appeared to suffer a mechanical problem and slowed on the track. Osmond ran into him from behind. A caution was called. Both headed to the pits, but Osmond was able to make it back on the track. Chadbourne’s night was over. Bailey moved to second place. The #61 of Shawn Austin moved to third.
Austin passed Bailey on the inside of the front stretch for second during lap nineteen. Race leaders remained the same until the finish. Nessmith placed first. This was Nessmith’s first career win. Nessmith was third in points coming into Saturday’s race, with 222 points. Point leader was Adam Chadbourne with 282 points. James Osmond was in second with 272 points.
Austin finished second. Bailey took third.
Post-race Nessmith said, “It was a pretty good race. I have been changing little things over the past several weeks. It has really paid off, and last time on the track I was in the top five, and tonight I took the win. To come back and do well for two weeks in a row is really good. I would like to thank Josh Bailey, James Osmond, Zach Poland, and Chuck Grey. I also want to thank my sponsor J & M Camper Sales out of Augusta.”
A modified exhibition was next, and the cars competed in a twenty lap feature race. Starting on the pole was the #86 of Jeff Herbert. Behind him were the #96 of Chad Binette and the #8 of Richard Jordan.
The cars were well matched and raced in a pack for half the race. Then during lap eleven, Binette headed inside and raced Herbert for first. Herbert maintained his lead. Binette looked for another chance. His chance came during lap fifteen when he once again headed to the inside. This time Binette was able to complete the pass on the inside of turn one for first.
Jordan passed Herbert on the inside of turn two for second during lap sixteen. Race leaders remained constant until race conclusion. Binette placed first. Binette said, “It was great racing here and I look forward to doing the next one! I want to thank my sponsor Champion Auto Body. I also would like to thank Ron Davis, Bennie Curro, Mario Binette, and my wife, Jenny.”
Jordan placed second. Rounding out the top three was Herbert.
A New England Four Cylinder Prostock race was next. Eleven cars competed in an action packed twenty-five lap race. Starting on the pole was the #98 of Kamren Knowles. Behind him was the #14 of Bob Patten and the #2 of James Bailey. During lap one Bailey headed to the pits and the #55 of John Shorey moved to third.
Starting back in seventh position was point leader Jeff Prindall. Prindall was driving a car which sustained heavy damage from his heat race run-in with the turn two wall. Prindall moved to the outside and made his way to fourth by the conclusion of the first lap. During lap two, Prindall passed Shorey on the outside of turn one for third. There was a caution during lap two, and when racing action resumed on the track, Patten and Prindall raced side by side for second. It was not until lap six that Prindall was able to complete the pass and claim second. Kamren Knowles had gained a commanding ten car lead on the track, and spent the remainder of the race looking in his rear view mirror watching the pack try to catch up.
The #38 of Ryan Hayes moved up to challenge Patten for third, and after a brief battle, Hayes passed Patten on the inside of turn two for third. Hayes was not able to hold onto the spot though, giving it up the following lap to the #7 of Chuck Harris. After Harris completed the pass, he headed up the track to challenge Prindall. Prindall and Harris raced side by side, but during lap eight the pair made contact, Harris moved up the track, leaving an opening for the #8 of Craig Dunn. Dunn moved into third place, and Prindall kept second.
A determined Dunn chased Prindall around the track, eventually catching up to him, and passing him on the inside of turn two during lap eleven. Hayes was nipping at the heels of Prindall on the track, and Hayes was able to pass Prindall on the outside of turn two during lap twenty-two for third.
Kamren Knowles drove his car under the checkered in first, for his first career win. In second was Dunn. Hayes placed third. Prindall was point leader coming into Saturday’s race with 278 points. In second place was Kamren Knowles with 250 points. Third in points was Bob Patten with 214.
A thirty lap Prostock feature was next on the agenda. The race was exciting, and filled with plenty of action. Starting at the pole was the #28 of Bill Penfold. The #32 of Mike Orr and the #77 of Maggie Ferland were behind him. There was a roar of engines as the cars began to race. Penfold, Orr, and Ferland were racing in a pack. Coming up from behind was the #5 of Bill Pinkham, #15 of Nick Hinkley, and the #9 of Dylan Turner.
Race leaders provided no openings in what was proving to be a close quarter race. Hinkley was in fourth looking to pass Ferland. Hinkley dogged Ferland for several laps, then during lap twelve he got the nose onto the inside line, but Ferland came down and the pair made contact and spun on the track. They went to the back of the pack and Pinkham moved to third. Pinkham headed to the inside and passed Orr for second during lap twelve. Turner followed Pinkham and passed Orr for third.
Hinkley did not stay at the back for long. Lap thirteen saw Hinkley once again in the top five, and Hinkley passed Turner on the inside of turn one for third. Hinkley powered up the track and passed Pinkham on the outside of turn two for second during lap eighteen. Hinkley looked for an opportunity to pass Penfold. Penfold hugged the bottom and Hinkley could not find an opening. Hinkley headed to the top of the track and moved up aside Penfold. For five laps Penfold and Hinkley fought for the lead. Hinkley would gain advantage and take the lead, only to have Penfold reclaim the lead. Then, during lap twenty-four Penfold and Hinkley made contact on the back stretch causing a caution. Both spun and were sent to the back. Pinkham moved to first. Turner moved to second. Orr moved to third.
On the restart, the #39 of James Osmond passed Orr on the outside of turn two for third. Behind the race leaders were Penfold and Hinkley. Neither driver wanted to be at the back. Hinkley sped through lap traffic, Penfold hot on his heels. The crowd was cheering eagerly as they watched the duo make their way back to the top five. Hinkley passed Osmond on the outside of the back stretch during lap twenty-five for third. Hinkley was tearing up the track, passing Turner on the inside of turn three during lap twenty-seven for second. Penfold was right behind Hinkley and passed Turner on the inside of turn one during lap twenty-eight for third. Hinkley tried to catch Pinkham, the race leader, but Pinkham held him off until the finish.
Pinkham flew under the checkered in first. Hinkley was .35 seconds behind him, and Penfold placed third, only one second behind the race leader. Coming into Saturday’s race Orr was point leader with 270 points. Hinkley was second in points with 266. Third in points was Penfold with 258 points.
Pinkham raced the #5 last week in the Late Model Sportsman division, and was runner up in that race. He made some changes to his car to race Prostock for the first time this season. Pinkham, a former Driver of the Year at Wiscasset, said, “I think we finally have the car where we want it to be. It feels good to win twice in two weeks. I am very glad the track is open again and I am thankful to everyone involved at the Speedway. I want to thank my parents because if not for them I would not be able to do this. I also want to thank my sponsors Automatic Irrigation, Allen Hersom & Son Landscaping and Hunter’s Breakfast.”
The Spotlighted race of the week was a thirty-five lap Outlaw Mini feature. This division has been highly competitive and has seen five different winners in the first five races of the season. Starting at the pole was the #14 of Matt Moore. The #9 of George Fortin and the #06 of Ryan Glover were behind him. When the green flag flew, Fortin immediately passed Moore for the lead. Glover headed inside and passed Moore for second on the inside of turn two during lap one.
Starting in seventh position was Shawn Kimball of the #20. Kimball had advanced up the track and passed Moore on the inside of turn three during lap six for third. Kimball tried to hold off the #10 of Jimmy Childs who had moved from the back of the pack. Kimball left a small opening during lap eight, and Childs slid inside and passed on turn two for third.
There was a caution during lap sixteen. After the caution was called Childs developed mechanical issues and headed to the pits. The #8 of Calvin Rose Jr moved to third. Childs was able to make it back on the track before the caution was over. When action resumed on the track Rose passed Glover on the outside of turn one for second.
Childs was once again moving up through traffic on the track. He caught the race leaders and passed Glover for third on the inside of turn one during lap thirty. There were three cautions during lap thirty-three. During the caution, Rose had to pit due to mechanical issues. Childs moved to second and Glover moved back into third place. On the restart, Glover got a good jump off the start. Childs left the door open, and Glover slid into second place. Childs fought to gain the position back. The pair raced furiously around the track but Glover was able to hold him back. Then, with only one lap remaining, Childs headed to the inside of turn two and moved along side of Glover. They raced down the back stretch, Glover still in the lead, then headed into turn three side by side. Still neck and neck, the duo head into turn four. Childs crept ahead by a nose and then roared ahead on the front stretch, passing Glover for second just before the finish.
Fortin claimed first. Childs placed second. Glover rounded out the top three in third. Fortin became the sixth different winner in the Outlaw Mini division this season. In point standings, Childs was in first with 252 points coming into Saturdays’ race. In second was Shawn Kimball with 246. In third was Nate Tribbet with 232.
Wiscasset Speedway resumes racing action, July 5, 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 to be an Enduro race. You can find details for the Enduro race on the website.
WISCASSET SPEEDWAY UNOFFICIAL FINISH JUNE 28, 2014*
OUTLAW MINI (35 LAPS)
- #9 George Fortin, Greene
- #10 Jimmy Childs, Leeds
- #06 Ryan Glover, Mexico
- #13 Nate Tribbet, Richmond
- #2 Butch Keene, Turner
- #13X Chris Blanchard, Clinton
- #41 Dixon Smith, Sidney
- #8 Calvin Rose Jr, Turner
- #19 Shane Kaherl, Jay
- #51 Mike Mason, Skowhegan
- #14 Matt Moore, Mechanic Falls
- #53 Nick Bissell, Lewiston
- #20 Shawn Kimball, Augusta
PROSTOCK (30 LAPS)
- #5 Bill Pinkham. Wiscasset
- #15 Nick Hinkley, Wiscasset
- #28 Bill Penfold, Oxford
- #9 Dylan Turner, Freedom
- #39 James Osmond, Woolwich
- #32 Mike Orr, Wiscasset
- #77 Maggie Ferland, Auburn
- #64 Matt Sanborn, Westbrook
NAPA SUPER STREET (25 LAPS)
- #48 Dan Nessmith, Wiscasset
- #61 Shawn Austin, Norridgewock
- #2 Josh Bailey. Wiscasset
- #06 Zach Poland, Woolwich
- #05 James Osmond, Wiscasset
- #8 Kevin Morse, Woolwich
- #6 Travis Dunbar, Auburn
- #88 Jamie Norton, Farmingdale
- #1 Adam Chadbourne, Woolwich
- #38 Chris Buzzell, Madison
- #02 Paul Hopkins, Camden
NEW ENGLAND 4 CYLINDER PROSTOCK (25 LAPS)
- #98 Kamren Knowles, West Gardiner
- #8 Craig Dunn, Strong
- #38 Ryan Hayes, Jefferson
- #7 Chuck Harris, Wiscasset
- #24 Jeff Prindall, Lisbon Falls
- #14 Bob Patten, Westbrook
- #55 John Shorey, Alna
- #35 Nathan McWilliams, Lewiston
- #99 Cameron Folsom, Augusta
- #9X Brooke Knowles, West Gardiner
- #2 James Bailey, Alna
MODIFIED (20 LAPS)
- #96 Chad Binette, Dayton
- #8 Richard Jordan, Kingfield
- #86 Jeff Herbert, NA