by Ken Minott
     Wiscasset Speedway was all set to kick off the Independence Day holiday weekend Saturday night with a full race program featuring Group 1 and fireworks. Everything was going smoothly until Mother Nature crashed the party sending fans home early with a handful of features still to be run. Heats were completed in all divisions as the eyes of race officials were also on the radar and an approaching front causing crazy weather to the northwest. Just as the spotlight feature for the 4-Cylinder Pro’s was about to roll onto the track the first few raindrops began to fall, bringing the safety trucks out to keep the track dry. The delay only lasted 20 minutes and the show was on once again. In order to try and beat the approaching weather, the 4-Cylinder Pro feature was reduced from 35 laps down to their normal 25 lap length. #8 Craig Dunn and #55 would lead the field of 12 to the green flag. Dunn held the lead through the early stages while some of the heavy hitters were charging up from the back of the pack. One of those was 3-time defending champ #98 Kamren Knowles who was forced into a backup car after crashing in practice. It took just 10 laps for Knowles to race from his 10th starting position into the lead. Just a pair of cautions slowed the action along with a brief 5-minute threat of rain. It didn’t hold up Knowles on his way to his 2nd win of the season. He had also won back on opening day. Behind him was a great battle between a pair of rising stars in the class. Previous race winner #29 Austin Teras and point leader #12 Max Rowe traded the remaining two podium spots back and forth over the final six laps, with Teras grabbing 2nd and Rowe 3rd.

     The Serv Pro of Biddeford-Saco Prostocks rolled out for their regularly scheduled 40 lap feature. The Prostocks had been struggling to run a clean race the previous few times out, but things looked promising as the 13 car pack ran a competitive and strong opening 8 laps. The field would be brought to caution pace for the first time on lap 9 for debris on the track. This turned out to be a strange twist of “safe” luck for the drivers as the skies opened once again. The field was brought to a stop on pit road as track official once again turned their focus to the radar. It didn’t take long for the decision to be made to pull the plug on the remainder of the program as the steady rain had indeed arrived nearly an hour earlier than expected. The prostock race was put on hold and postponed with 32 laps to go. Also postponed were features for Super Streets, Thunder 4’s and Nelcar Legends. Those races will be made up at a later date to be announced.
     Wiscasset Speedway returns to action Saturday, July 8th at 5:00 pm with Group 2 Fan Appreciation Night with a prerace driver autograph session and kids bike races. The main event will be the running of the 75 lap Outlaw Mini Madness for the Kennebec Equipment Rental Outlaw Minis. Plus Wood Pellet Warehouse Late Models, Midcoast Region Napa Mods, and Norms Used Cars Strictly Streets will all be in action as well. Pit gates will open at 1:00 pm, grandstand gate at 3:00 pm, driver autographs at 4:15 pm followed by kids bike races in 3 divisions (5&under trikes & training wheels; 5-7 yr old 2-wheelers, and 8-12 yr olds). The green flag will fly on the action shortly after 5:00 pm. For details & info go to the Wiscasset Speedway website at www.wiscassetspeedway.com
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OFFICIAL FINISH 7/1/17
4-CYLINDER PRO (25 laps)
Pos No. Name Home Town Laps Diff
1 98 Kamren Knowles West Gardiner 25
2 29 Austin  Teras Windham 25 0.42
3 12 Max Rowe Turner 25 5.343
4 4 Connor Wenners Edgecomb 25 5.682
5 8 Craig Dunn Strong 25 6.876
6 24 Jeff Prindall Lisbon 25 7.345
7 10 Kate Re Lovell 25 8.03
8 55 John Shorey Alna 25 13.192
9 70 Taylor Lane Phillips 25 13.853
10 7 Spencer Vaughan Canton 24 1 Lap
11 42 Nate McWilliams Sabattus 23 2 Laps
12 03 Hayden Norris Gardiner 13 12 Laps
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SERVPRO OF BIDDEFORD SACO PROSTOCKS (40 laps)
*RUNNING ORDER WITH 8 LAPS COMPLETE
Pos No. Name Home Town Laps Diff
1 34 Jeff Burgress Oakland 8
2 32 Mike Orr Wiscasset 8 0.233
3 13 Nate Tribbett Richmond 8 0.469
4 29 Kevin Morse Woolwich 8 1.86
5 72 Charlie Colby Newcastle 8 2.086
6 15x Scott Chubbuck Bowdoin 8 2.134
7 13t Cody Tribbet Richmond 8 2.843
8 23 Brandon Sprague Edgecomb 8 3.807
9 99 Ajay Picard Palmyra 8 3.83
10 09 Daren Ripley Thomaston 8 4.184
11 8 Jeremy Whorff Bath 8 4.53
12 84 Jamie Wright Woolwich 8 5.145
13 15h Nick Hinkley Wiscasset 8 5.728