Speedway95ANDREW MCLAUGHLIN TAKES 95 SEASON OPENER

Andrew McLaughlin of Harrington won the Dysart’s Late Model feature at Speedway 95 Saturday night after a side by side battle with 2014 Late Model Champion Brenton Parritt that ended on lap 15 when Parritt slowed and headed for the pit. McLaughlin then easily rode to victory with 13 year old rookie Dylan Street of Old Town coming home second in his first ride in the speedway’s top division. Bradley Smart of Bradley finished third, and Parritt came back out on the final lap of the race to finish fourth. Only four cars started the 25 lap event that was reduced from the scheduled 40 due to the low car count.

In the Darling’s Ford Sportsman, Shane Tatro of Holden took the lead for good on the 21st lap of the 25 lap feature when Kris Matchett of Skowhegan, who had been swapping the lead with Tatro all race long, suddenly slowed and left the race with mechanical issues. Dean Clements of Brooks moved up to second and stayed on Tatro’s bumper for the final four laps, placing second at the checkers. Rookie Trey Brown of Winterport finished third in his first outing in the division with Matchett getting credit for a fourth place finish. Mike Overlock of Franklin finished fifth, several laps off the pace.

Travis Beale of Hampden led the Pepsi Beverage Company Street Stock feature from green to checkers, posting the win in his first night in the Chuck Hall owned Camaro. Keith Ogden of Holden finished second, with Jeff Willette of Presque Isle finishing third after holding off fourth place finisher Greg Pung of Franklin for most of the race. Jeff Alley of Machias finished fifth.

Andrew Crosby of Hermon took the lead from Alton’s Chris Carroll early on in the Coca-Cola Company Sport-Four division feature and led to the checkers. Carroll finished in second with Dustan Durrell of Newburgh finishing third. Alex Runci of Belfast was fourth with Sam Betts of Brewer finishing fifth.

Pretty Car Contest winners for the opening night show were Dylan Street in the Dysart’s Late Models, Trey Brown in the Darling’s Ford Sportsman, Asa Jones in the Pepsi Beverage Company Strictly Streets and Dustan Durrell in the Coca-Cola Company Sport-Fours.

Racing continues at Speedway 95 on Saturday, May 9 at 7:00 with the Dysart’s Late Models scheduled for 40 laps, the Darling’s Ford Sportsman for a 50 lap series race, the Pepsi Beverage Company Strictly Streets for 25 laps and the Coca-Cola Sport-Fours are scheduled for 50 laps in the Street Landscaping series race #1. The NELCAR Legends will also be in action on May 9 for a 25 lap feature event.