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CHRIS BOWIE GRABS AN EMOTIONAL LATE MODEL VICTORY AT WISCASSET SPEEDWAY.
by Lisa Maguire

WISCASSET SPEEDWAYPRESS RELEASE 7/20/14

Wiscasset Speedway underwent a makeover this past week. The back stretch wall was pushed back, making a bit more room on the back stretch at Maine’s fastest oval. Ken Minott, track promoter / announcer, said, “It’s going to help the outside guy when they’re racing out of turn two onto the back stretch. It’s going to give them the room they needs so they’re not squeezed against the wall. It will make for better side by side racing. We’ve got to thank Reno Excavation & Paving of West Bath for all their hard work getting it ready in just a week”. The new portion of track was put to the test on Saturday when fans lined the grandstands to watch Group Two Division races. Late Model Sportsman, Strictly Streets, Mini Trucks, and Thunder 4’s all raced. The flex race of the week was a non-point New England Four Cylinder Prostock feature.

The Spotlighted race of the week was a forty-five lap Late Model Sportsman feature. The division came into the weekend still looking for its first repeat winner. There had been six different winners in the first six races. Starting on the pole for the main event was the #6 of Chris Bowie of New Gloucester. The #33 of Josh St Clair and the #15 of Nick Hinkley were behind him. During the opening lap, Josh St Clair passed Bowie on the outside of turn two. Bowie fought back and during lap two passed him to reclaim the lead. Hinkley then passed St Clair during lap three for second and Dresden’s Allen Moeller moved his #04 car up to third during lap four when St Clair went loose on the track.

Starting back in eleventh place was Josh’s younger brother Ryan St Clair. By lap eight, he had progressed into the top five. Then, during lap thirteen he pulled up to pass Moeller on the outside of turn two for third. During the last ten laps, two minor cautions were called. However, Bowie was able to successfully hold off the pack, and raced his #6 Electricity Maine car under the checkered in first place. Hinkley placed second. Ryan St Clair took third.
This was Bowie’s first win at Wiscasset Speedway. It was also the first race he had won in ten years, as he had taken a hiatus from racing. Bowie was also the seventh different winner in seven Late Model Sportsman Division races.

In Victory Lane, Bowie could barely keep his emotions in check, “We worked our butt off trying to figure out this track! I need to thank my crew. I also want to thank my sponsor, Electricity Maine. They have made this possible.” Bowie also said, “I have found my new home here at Wiscasset.” He spoke of the friendliness of not only the track owners, Richard and Vanessa Jordan, but also the friendliness of the staff. He also spoke of fans, and how he appreciated them cheering him on. There was a section of the grandstands filled with his co-workers, family, and friends.
Bowie was eleventh in points coming into the race with 120 points. The point leader was Nick Hinkley with 266 points. Second in points was Will Collins with 246 points. In third was Chris Thorne with 242 points.

An action-packed twenty-five lap Strictly Street feature was next. The #26 of Corey Morgan started on the pole, with a rare front row chance. Behind him were the #6 of Mike Brown and the #85 of Jairet Harrison of Freeport. When the green flag flew Morgan got a good jump off the start and quickly gained a two car lead. Harrison passed Brown for second place. Things settled down for a bit until there was a scramble on the track during lap six. The #40 Mac Hannon and Mike Brown made contact heading into turn one. Several other cars were collected in the jumble including the #32 of Tasha Dyer, the #24 of Jonathon Emerson, the #83 of Dan Brown, and the #14 of Dave Brannon. All received damage but only Mike Brown and Dave Brannon could not return to racing.
When racing action resumed the #43 of Ben Erskine passed Harrison on the outside of turn two for second. The #83 of Dan Brown, who took minor damage in the lap six wreck, passed Harrison on the back stretch during lap fifteen for third. Just a lap later, Erskine pulled out of line on the front stretch with a mechanical problem, handing the third position back to Harrison. Race leaders remained constant until the conclusion of the race. Morgan placed first. Dan Brown took second. Rounding out the top three was Harrison.
Morgan said, “I got pretty lucky. I don’t think I could have made another lap. My oil pressure dropped and the engine started smoking by the end. I want to thank my wife, Missy, Joe, Shawn, Calvin, and Josh. I would also like to thank my sponsor, The Sign Store.”
This was Morgan’s third win of the season in Strictly Streets, and his sixth top five finish. Morgan was tied for first in points with Zach Emerson. Both had 304 points coming into Saturday’s race. Third in points was Tasha Dyer with 278. Zach Emerson did not race Saturday.

A quick, straight-forward fifteen lap Mini Truck feature was next. Starting at the pole was the #17 of Matt Weil. The #55 of Larry Marshall and the #22 of Jeff Schmidt were behind him. During the opening lap, the #12 of Jerry McKenna passed Schmidt on the outside for third. McKenna then advanced up the track, and during the following lap, passed Marshall on the inside for second.
During lap six the #14 of Herb Farrar passed Schmidt on the inside for third. Then, during lap ten the #1 of Matt Curtis passed Farrar on the outside coming out of turn four. Matt Weil drove his Camden Exxon truck across the finish in first. Jerry McKenna of Milton, who was point leader with 334 points coming into Saturday’s race, placed second. Matt Curtis of Freeport took home the 3rd place trophy. This makes Weil’s second win in Mini Trucks this season.

The Flex race of the week was a twenty-five lap New England four Cylinder Prostock feature. This race was not for points. Starting on point was the #24 of Jeff Prindall. The #38 of Ryan Hayes and the #54 of Kamren Knowles were behind him. It was a tight race, with the leaders racing in a pack for position. Prindall and Hayes raced for the lead for seven laps. Then, during lap seven, Hayes was able to complete the pass and take the lead on the backstretch.
Prindall and Hayes still raced furiously for position, then during lap ten they both moved to pass the #7 of Jerry Bailey. Prindall took the inside track, and Hayes took the outside track. Prindall made contact with Jerry Bailey and spun coming out of turn four, narrowly missing the front stretch wall. Both Jerry Bailey and Prindall were sent to the back, but Jerry Bailey declared “Gentleman’s Rule”, saying he was responsible for the contact. Prindall was able to keep his second place position. On the ensuing restart Prindall passed Hayes for the lead. Hayes fought back and during lap eleven passed Prindall on the inside of turn two for the lead.
During lap fourteen the #14 of Bob Patten headed to the inside and passed Knowles for third. For eight laps Patten and Kamren Knowles battled for third. Then, Kamren Knowles got the inside track and passed Patten on the inside of turn one for third. Hayes placed first for his second straight win. Prindall took runner-up honors. Coming in third was Kamren Knowles.

Rounding out the evening under the bright lights of Wiscasset was a twenty lap Thunder 4 feature. Starting on the pole was the #1 of Jeff Davis. Behind him were the #13 of Cody Tribbet and the #31 of Leandra Martin. Off the start Tribbet was passing Davis when the pair made contact on the track. Both went to the back. Martin moved to first. The #14 of Robert McDonald moved to second. The #33 of Trey Brown moved to third.
On the ensuing restart Brown passed McDonald for second on turn one. The #5 of Ryan Chadwick started in eleventh place. By lap two he had advanced up the track and passed McDonald for third. Chadwick continued his charge forward and passed Brown on the outside of the back stretch during lap four for second and quickly looked for his opportunity to take the lead. Martin held Chadwick off until lap nine, then Chadwick moved to the outside and passed her coming out of turn four.
Also starting at the back was the #11 of Kevin Sherman. He started in tenth, but wasted little time moving to the top five by lap nine. During lap ten Sherman headed to the outside and passed both Brown and Martin to take second. The former champ challenged Chadwick for the lead, but Chadwick held him off and gained a car length lead during lap twelve. Chadwick drove his K&A Property Services car across the finish line in first. Sherman placed second, but his car was later disqualified in post race inspection. As a result Trey Brown took home second place, and Cody Tribbet placed third.
Chadwick has been dominant this season, winning six out of seven Thunder 4 races this year. Coming into Saturday’s race he was point leader with 348 points. Second in points was Cody Tribbet with 262 points. Third in points was Trey Brown with 238 points.
Wiscasset Speedway resumes racing action on July 26, 2014 with its group one line up of divisions: Napa Super Street, Prostock, Outlaw Mini, and New England 4 Cylinder Prostocks. There is no flex race this coming week. Wiscasset Speedway is celebrating its 45th Birthday. There will be giveaways and cupcakes for the fans. Current drivers, and drivers from the past will be on hand to help celebrate. There will be a special ceremony on the track for the drivers during intermission. Later, after the races are concluded, fireworks will light up the sky in a birthday celebration. Pit gates open at 2:00 PM. Grandstand gates open at 4:00 PM. Racing begins at 6:00 PM. Admission is $5.00 for adults and children aged seven and older. Kids six and under are free. Pit admission is $20.00. Wiscasset Speedway is located on West Alna Road in Wiscasset. For more information, head to the Wiscasset Speedway website at: http:www.wiscassetspeedway.com.

WISCASSET SPEEDWAY UNOFFICIAL FINISH JULY 19, 2014*
LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN (45 LAPS)
1. #6 Chris Bowie, New Gloucester
2. #15 Nick Hinkley, Wiscasset
3. #30 Ryan St Clair, Liberty
4. #04 Allan Moeller Sr, Dresden
5. #14 Dave St Clair, Liberty
6. #33 Josh St Clair, Liberty
7. #17 Chris Thorne, Sidney
8. #3 Mike Orr, Wiscasset
9. #28 Steve Minott, Windham
10. #26 Andrew McLaughlin, Harrington
11. #34 Tyler Robbins, Montville
12. #00 Alex Waltz, Walpole
13. #7 Danny Smart, Buxton
14. #25 Will Collins, Waldoboro
15. #12 David Patten, Westbrook

STRICTLY STREET (25 LAPS)
1. #26 Corey Morgan, Lewiston
2. #83 Dan Brown, Peru
3. #85 Jairet Harrison, Freeport
4. #32 Tasha Dyer, Freedom
5. #40 Mac Hannon Jr, Union
6. #55 Mike Marshall, Dresden
7. #29X Mike Stewart, Durham
8. #66 Phil Main Sr, Boothbay
9. #19 Foster Meserve, Wales
10. #00 Kimberly Knight, Chesterville
11. #43 Ben Erskine, Farmington
12. #22 Thomas Smith, Edgecomb
13. #24 Jonathan Emerson, Sabattus
14. #6 Mike Brown, Union
15. #14 Dave Brannon, Lisbon
.
MINI TRUCKS (15 LAPS)
1. #17 Matt Weil, Biddeford
2. #12 Jerry McKenna, Milton
3. #1 Matt Curtis, Freeport
4. #14 Herbert Farrar, Mechanic Falls
5. #55 Larry Marshall, Dresde
DQ #22 Jeff Schmidt
.
NEW ENGLAND FOUR CYLINDER PROSTOCK (25 LAPS)
1. #38 Ryan Hayes, Jefferson
2. #24 Jeff Prindall, Lisbon Falls
3. #98 Kamren Knowles, West Gardiner
4. #14 Robert Patten, Westbrook
5. #7 Jerry Bailey, Wiscasset
6. #23 Brooke Knowles, West Gardiner
7. #55 John Shorey, Alna
8. #2 James Bailey, Alna
9. #99 Dale Kaulbak, NA
.
THUNDER 4’S (20 LAPS)
1. #5 Ryan Chadwick, Wiscasset
2. #33 Trey Brown, Winterport
3. #13 Cody Tribbet, Richmond
4. #31 Leandra Martin, Richmond
5. #11X Kyle Dorey, Bowdoinham
6. #74 Aaron Sevigny, Windsor
7. #68 Tyler Bailey, Wiscasset
8. #66 James Grover Jr, Wiscasset
9. #70 Roy Sevigny, Windsor
10. #14 Robert McDonald, Smithfield
11. #1 Jeff Davis, Woolwich
DQ #11 Kevin Sherman, Wiscasset