Harrington, Maine's Andrew McLaughlin has come close, very close, to winning the state's biggest Late Model Sportsman race; The Coastal 200, on more than one occasion. Finally, on a near perfect sunny Sunday afternoon at Wiscasset Speedway, McLaughlin finally sealed the deal and took home the biggest win of his career in dominant fashion. Over 2600 fans packed the house for the Memorial Day weekend tradition, including a large contingent of veterans & active duty military who were admitted free of charge as the track's special guests. Starting from the pole position in front of the 26 car field, McLaughlin led 181 of the 200 laps but was still tested on several occasions by a handful of drivers waiting for him to make a mistake. That mistake never happened as he was the best car all day, nailing down the win by a comfortable 3 seconds over Fairfield's Ben Ashline and local favorite Nick Hinkley of Wiscasset. For his efforts, McLaughlin raked in $5100 in winnings and lap leader money, including $500 for leading halfway. The race was once again presented by Jordan Lumber and Jordan Excavation of Kingfield. Other winners on the program included Jonathan Emerson of Sabbatus in the Norm's Used Cars Strictly Streets; Mark Lucas of Harpswell in the Midcoast Region Napa Modifieds; and Zac Audet of Skowhegan in the Kennebec Equipment Rental Outlaw Minis.

One of the unique things about the Coastal 200, (or the Coastal 150 in its early days), is that in its 20+ year history, the race has seen only one repeat winner. With only a pair of previous winners scattered through the 26 car field, the odds remained high for yet another driver to be hoisting the victor's trophy for the first time. McLaughlin brought the field to the green with Burgess alongside. Both drivers have been a former runner-up in the big race. Behind them were another pair of heavy favorites, 2016 winner Chris Thorne and veteran ACT racer Ben Ashline, making his return to action after nearly 3 years away. McLaughlin set a torrid pace from the drop of the green flag, pulling out to a half straightaway advantage, while Ashline, Burgess, Thorne, and several others jockeyed for position. Four separate cautions for spins mid-pack bunched things up for challengers to take their shot at the leader, but he held served through the midpoint of the race until a much-needed caution flag flew on lap 135, sending all the lead lap cars onto pit road for tires. When the cars returned to the track for the restart, McLaughlin had come out last among the nine cars left on the lead lap. Will Collins held the lead for a lap after the restart until it was taken by Ashline and then Hinkley over the next 19 laps. Intermixed with several lapped cars, McLaughlin sliced his way through traffic and drove around Hinkley to reclaim the lead. That pass was the validation that the fans and fellow drivers needed to confirm that it was his race to win. As contenders faded, McLaughlin's car seemed to get stronger and he sealed the victory in a race he had turned in 2nd and 3rd place finishes in the past three years. Ashline fought a loose race car all day and recovered from a lap 139 spin of his own to place 2nd. Hinkley was the last driver with a serious challenge to the eventual winner, holding the lead til lap 152 but then faded late to settle for the third place trophy. Winterport's Joey Doyon spent much of the race in the top five, even having a shot at the lead himself on lap 137. He would match his career best from last year's race in 4th. Mike Hopkins of Hermon had a solid day, but some early body damage to the right front of his car helped relegate him to a 5th place finish. McLaughlin, Ashline, and Burgess each pocketed an extra $100 from Norms Used Cars of Wiscasset for winning their respective heat races.

Other early favorites including Thorne, Burgess, and Winterport's Shane Clark all succumbed to mechanical problems dropping them from contention. Clark had made three separate charges up from the back of the field into the top five in the first third of the race but finally retired on lap 86. He was awarded the Code 99 Designs Hard Luck Driver of the race. Collins took home the AR Bodies Hard Charger Award after starting 20th and finishing 7th.

In victory lane, the winner was all smiles. "I've won a bunch of Saturday night feature races, and have come close in a few big ones," said McLaughlin. "It's been a goal of mine to win this race. This is the highlight of my racing career, right here. I couldn't be prouder." He added, "I knew once I got new tires on the car I'd be OK. I knew I had a good car. As soon as we unloaded today, I knew they were in trouble"

Twenty-one cars lined up for the 25-lap feature in the Norm's Used Cars Strictly Streets. Third generation racer Jonathan Emerson of Sabattus added his name to the family registry of feature winners in grand fashion. The 16-year-old started from the pole position with his dad Zach alongside and a host of veteran heavy hitters mid pack. When the checkers flew he had not only brushed off the challenge of his father but then held off both Kurt and Kyle Hewins over the final ten laps to pick up his first career win. In victory lane, he was asked if he was nervous with the Hewins brothers in his mirror over the closing laps. "Yeah, I was nervous from lap zero really," said Jonathan. defending champ Kurt Hewins finished runner-up and Kyle settled for 3rd in his first Wiscasset run of the season.

Defending champ Mark Lucas cruised to an easy win in the 30-lap feature for the Midcoast Region Napa Modifieds. Adam Chadbourne of Woolwich and Allen Moeller Sr of Dresden joined him in victory lane; both turning in their third straight podium finish to start 2017.

Zach Audet of Skowhegan took advantage of a rare front row starting position along with the mechanical woes of some of his toughest competition to go wire to wire for the win in the 25-lap feature for the Kennebec Equipment Rental Outlaw Minis. It was his 2nd win of the season in his quest for a second straight division championship. Tim Collins of Farmingdale rebounded from a tough race two weeks ago to pick up the runner-up trophy. Vassalboro's Brent Roy continued his solid start to the season with his third straight podium appearance.

Wiscasset Speedway returns to action Saturday, June 3 at 6 p.m. with Group 1 in action presented by The Bozutto's Company and the Dream Ride for Special Olympics. The show will be highlighted by a 50-lap spotlight feature for the ServPro of Biddeford Saco Prostocks. The race will serv as a qualifier race for the $10,000 to win SLM / Prostock Nationals at Seekonk Speedway in July. Also in action Saturday night will be the Super Streets, Thunder 4 Minis and N.E. 4-cylinder Pros.

For more information go to the Wiscasset Speedway website at www.wiscassetspeedway.com, or call (207) 491-3720. 

Official Finishes 5/28/17

 2017 Coastal 200

1. #26 Andrew McLaughlin - Harrington (200)

2. #15me Ben Ashline - Fairfield (200)

3. #15 Nick Hinkley - Wiscasset (200)

4. #38x Joey Doyon - Winterport (200)

5. #15h Mike Hopkins - Hermon (200)

6. #33 Josh St Clair - Liberty (200)

7. #25 Will Collins - Waldoboro (200)

8. #11 Cody Verrill - Richmond (200)

9. Brandon Bailey - Wiscasset (200)

10. #33t Trey Brown - Winterport (198)

11. #3 Richard Jordan - Kingfield (198)

12. #17 Chris Thorne - Sidney (198)

13. #17x Chris Matchett - Skowhegan (196)

14. #74 Adam Chadbourne - Woolwich (193)

15. #30x Dylan Street - Old Town (177)

16. #7 Tyler Bailey - Wiscasset (131)

17. #21 Shane Clark - Winterport (85)

18. #00 Alex Waltz - Walpole (80)

19. #41 Brian Whitney - Etna (78)

20. #30 Ryan St Clair - Liberty (24)

21. #34 Jeff Burgess - Fairfield (23)

22. #8x Ray Dinsmore - Waterboro (23)

23. #28 Steve Minott - Windham (8) 

24. #77x John Brill - Turner (7)

Dq #3X Wes Turner - Freedom (unregistered Tires)

Dq #1 Steven Chicoine - Portland (condcut)

Cautions (9)

Lap Leaders:

#26 Andrew McLaughlin (1 -8)

#15me Ben Ashline (9)

#26 Andrew Mclaughlin (10-134)

#25 Will Collins (135)

#15me Ben Ashline (136 - 138)

#15 Nick Hinkley (139 - 152)

#26 Andrew Mclaughlin (153 - 200)

New England Racing Fuels $500 Halfway Leader 

#26 Andrew McLaughlin

Ar Bodies Hard Charger Award 

#25 Will Collins (+13)

Code 99 Designs Hard Luck Award

#21 Shane Clark

Norm's Used Cars $100 Heat Winners

Heat 1 = #26 Andrew McLaughlin

Heat 2 = #15me Ben Ashline

Heat 3 = #34 Jeff Burgess

 

Norms Used Cars Strictly Streets (25 Laps)

1. #24 Jonathan Emerson - Sabattus

2. #55h Kurt Hewins - Leeds

3. #51 Kyle Hewins - Leeds

4. #23 Zach Emerson - Sabattus

5. #25 Brad Bellows - China

6. #67 Michael Haynes - Livermore Falls

7. #05r Glenn Reynolds - Turner

8. #51x Bryan Robbins - Montville

9. #78 Tiger Colby - Wiscasset

10. #11 Mike Short - Auburn

11. #14 Anthony Constentino - Sumner

12. #47 Brian Caswell - Buxton

13. #89 Faith Cleaves - Freeport

14. #4 Jordan Russell - Norway

15. #00 Kimberly Knight - Chesterville

16. #66 James Grover Jr - Newcastle

17. #66 Dave Brannon - Lisbon Falls

18. #2 Joe Hutter - Leeds 

19. #36 Richard Spaulding - Lisbon

20. #35h Heath Hotham - China

Dns - #85 Jay Avery- Berwick

 

Midcoast Region Napa Modifieds (30 Laps)

1. #5 Mark Lucas - Harpswell

2. #1 Adam Chadbourne - Woolwich

3. #04 Allen Moeller Sr - Dresden

4. #15 Joe Williams - Woolwich

5. #21 Tom Young - Freeport

6. #28 Mark Lundblad - Conway. Nh

7. #33 Ron Bryant - Livemore

8. #61 Shawn Austin - Norridgewock

9. #4C Nick Coates - Turner

 

Kennebec Equipment Rental Outlaw Minis (25 Laps)

1. #19me Zach Audet - Skowhegan

2. #18 Tim Collins - Farmingdale

3. #26 Brent Roy - Vassalboro

4. #41 Shane Smith - Augusta

5. #2x Rob Greenleaf - West Bath

6. #61 Cole Robinson - Clinton

7. #10 Jimmy Childs - Leeds

8. #41m Larry Melcher - Jay

9. #27 Jacob Hendsbee - Whitefield

10. #36 Megan Frost - Montville

Dns - #20 Shawn Kimball

Dns - #72 Mike Delano