Wiscasset Speedway

Mon, 09/08/2014 - 08:34

Lisa Maguire

Jeff Burgess, winner of the Prostock race on Sept. 6. Courtesy of petespicks.smugmug.com/Peter & Mary Taylor Photographers

Saturday at Wiscasset Speedway started out sunny and hot, but bands of showers and thundershowers swept through the area causing a two hour rain delay. A hardcore group of race fans stayed through the delay to watch the races when they resumed on the track. Group one raced at Wiscasset Speedway this weekend, including Prostock, New England Four Cylinder Prostock, Outlaw Minis and Napa Super Street. The Amsoil Nelcar Legends also made their fourth of five appearances at the Speedway.

An exciting 30 lap Prostock feature kept fans on the edge of their seats. The Prostock race saw its seventh different winner of the season. Starting on the pole was #77 Maggie Ferland #77.

Behind her were James Osmond #39 and Mike Orr #32. When green flag racing began, Osmond got a good jump off the start and passed Ferland for the lead. Nick Hinkley #15 started in fourth, and he headed to the inside and passed both Orr and Ferland for second during lap one. However, during lap three a caution was called when Hinkley developed mechanical problems. He headed to the pits and never made it back onto the track.

When racing action resumed, Jeff Burgess #1 passed Orr on the outside of turn two for third place. Burgess continued to march up the track, and passed Ferland on the outside of the back stretch for second. Burgess slowly reeled in Osmond, and passed him during lap seven on the outside of the back stretch for the lead.

Ferland blew the motor of her car during lap 10, but was able to limp off the track. She was running in third at the time, and Charlie Colby #72 moved up to claim third. During lap twelve Colby passed Osmond on the outside of the front stretch for second place. A caution was called during lap fourteen, on the ensuing restart Orr passed Osmond for third.

Excitement mounted on the track when Colby moved to the outside of Burgess during lap sixteen. Colby passed Burgess for the lead and the pair raced door to door for three laps. During lap nineteen Burgess edged ahead and took the lead coming out of turn four, and Burgess was able to hold Colby off until race conclusion. Burgess took the win, and was the seventh different Prostock winner of the season. Colby placed second. Rounding out the top three was Mike Orr.

“The hard work paid off,” Burgess said. “We had a rough season at Oxford and we came here and got a win. It is good to be back. Charlie and I had a good race, but I was able to persevere and take the win. I would like to thank my sponsors Ed Trask Drywall, Trask Performance, PJ Perrino (Attorney at Law), and Burgess Racing and Fabrication. I would also like to thank Micky Landry Jr., John Ketchen, my mom, and my sister.”

Coming into Saturday’s race Hinkley was point leader with 454 points. Orr was close behind with 450 points. Third in points was Bill Penfold with 414 points. There is only one Prostock race remaining in the season for drivers to accumulate points.

The spotlighted feature of the week was a thirty lap New England Four Cylinder Prostock race. Starting on the pole was Kamren Knowles #98. Jacob Hendsbee #27 and Nate McWilliams #35 were behind him. The cars roared off the start. During lap one, Craig Dunn #8 moved from his seventh starting position, and was able to pass McWilliams for third. Jeff Prindall #24, who had started in eighth, headed to the inside and passed both Dunn and Hendsbee for second.

Then, point leaders Knowles and Prindall raced for the lead. Prindall was able to pass Knowles on the outside of turn one during lap five, and keep the nose of his car ahead. Knowles fought back and the pair raced neck and neck from lap five through lap eight, when Prindall was able to pull ahead and clinch the lead. Knowles was glued to the back of Prindall’s car. With two laps remaining, Knowles gave it all he had and went for the lead. Knowles crept up to the side of Prindall’s car, but couldn’t complete a pass. With only one lap remaining, Knowles headed to the outside, and was making ground passing Prindall, when his car went into a spin coming out of turn four, heading towards the finish line.

Prindall sped under the checkered claiming first while Knowles attempted to get back on the track. Dunn passed Knowles and took second place. Knowles got his car back on the track and roared over the finish, claiming third.

Coming into Saturday’s race, Knowles and Prindall were tied in points with 512 each. Third in points was Craig Dunn with 476 points. This is Prindall’s fifth win of the season in NEFCP.
“It was a very close race,” Prindall said. “The car was running good despite hitting the wall during the heat race, in fact, it was really fast during the race. It was good to race Kamren Knowles side by side, he was really on my tail! I want to think my sponsors Mike Kibbin Construction, Dubois Snowmobile Service and Repair and Bimbo Bakery.”

A twenty five lap Napa Super Street had plenty of action. Starting at the pole was Zach Poland #06. Dan Nessmith #48 and Josh Bailey #02 were behind him. When the green flag waved over the track, Nessmith got a good jump and passed Poland for the lead. During lap one, Poland dropped back and both Bailey and Adam Chadbourne #01 passed for second and third place.
Chadbourne passed Bailey on the outside during lap four to claim second. Chadbourne moved up the track and challenged Nessmith for the lead. Chadbourne was able to pass Nessmith during lap nine on the outside of turn three for the lead.

There was a caution called during lap thirteen when Nessmith blew his transmission. Nessmith headed to the pits and did not make it back onto the track. Ricky Burgess Jr. #38 moved to third. On the restart, Burgess had the inside lane, and was able to pass Bailey at the start for second.

During lap fourteen, James Osmond #05 moved up the track and passed Bailey for third on the front stretch. Race leaders remained the same until race conclusion. Chadbourne took first. Burgess placed second. Osmond came in third.

This is Chadbourne’s fifth win of the season in Napa Super Street. Chadbourne was also point leader heading into Saturday’s race with 540 points. Osmond was second in points with 538 points. In third was Nessmith with 452 points.

“It was fun, and I had a good time,” Chadbourne said. “I went fast and passed a few cars! I want to thank my crew Randy, Pete, Bobby, Dad, and Don Dave. I also want to thank my sponsors Norm’s Used Cars and Peavey’s General Store.”

The flex race of the week were the Amsoil Nelcar Legends. This twenty five lap race was action packed. Starting on the pole was Darren Johnson #2. Behind him were Matt Chagnot #8 and Wyatt Alexander #96. Off the start Chagnot passed Johnson for first.

Mathew Bourgoine #38 had started in tenth position. Bourgoine had won the last three Legend races at Wiscasset, and he wanted to make it his fourth. By lap two, Bourgoine had caught the race leaders. He swooped to the inside and passed all three race leaders for first place.

Moving up from behind was Andy Santere #44. During lap three Santere passed both Johnson and Chagnot to claim second. During lap four, Alexander passed Chagnot for third. There was a caution during lap six. When green flag racing resumed on the track, Santere developed a mechanical problem and headed to the pits. Matt Grant #84 moved to third. Race leaders remained constant until the finish.

Bourgoine claimed his fourth Wiscasset Speedway win, and further solidified his point lead. Bourgoine had 1713 points coming into Saturday’s race. In second was Alan Smith with 1494 points. Third in points was Alexander with 1480 points.

This was the fourth appearance of the Legend cars, and they will be back on Sept. 20 for their last appearance this year at Wiscasset.

Rounding out the racing evening was a twenty five lap Outlaw Mini feature. This race was quick and straight forward. Starting on the pole was Nate Tribbet #13. Behind him were Jimmy Childs #10 and Shawn Kimball #20.

The top three cars were well matched and raced in a pack. During lap three, the one and only leader change occurred when Childs passed Tribbet on the inside for first. Tribbet battled Childs for the lead, but Childs car liked the fresh air, and he held off Tribbet the entire race.

“Nice little battle with Tribbet,” Childs said. “The #13 was going really good. The track was a little slick from the rain, but still fast and fun. I want to thank my dad, my family, and my fans- they make it all possible.”

This made Childs second win of the season in Outlaw Minis. Heading into Saturday’s race, Childs was point leader with 446 points. In second was Kimball with 428. Third in points was Tribbet with 410 points.

Wiscasset Speedway resumes racing action, September 13 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 a flagpole race. Please visit the website for flagpole race information. Pit gates open at 2 p.m. Grandstand gates open at 4 p.m. Racing begins at 6 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and children aged seven and older. Kids six and under are free. Pit admission is $20. Race fans and drivers can also now purchase their favorite pictures from not only this season, but from season’s past, at Peter Taylor’s (the track photographer) website: www.petespicks.smugmug.com. Wiscasset Speedway is located on West Alna Road in Wiscasset. For more information, head to the Wiscasset Speedway website at www.wiscassetspeedway.com.

Official finishes

PROSTOCK (30 LAPS)