Wiscasset Speedway

Wiscasset Speedway resumes racing action May 16

Tue, 05/12/2015 - 11:17

Lisa Maguire

Ben Erskine of Farmington, winner of the Late Model Sportsman race on May 9. Courtesy of Peter Taylor

Despite a coolness to the air, fans gathered last Saturday, May 9 at Wiscasset Speedway to watch the group two division of racing. On the agenda was the Spotlighted division, Modifieds, as well as Strictly Street, Late Model Sportsman, Outlaw Mini’s, and the flex race of the week, a 100-lap Enduro.

First on the track were the Modifieds, competing in a 40-lap spotlight feature. Starting at the pole was the #39 of Mike Brown. Behind him were the #61 of Shawn Austin and Jairet Harrison of the #85. When green flag racing began, the #20 of Gary Thorne leapt to the forefront. Thorne took second by the completion of lap one. Nipping at Thorne’s heels was Mark Lucas of the #5. Lucas followed Thorne to the front of the pack, and by lap five, Thorne was leading the race, with Austin in second, and Lucas in third.

There was a caution during lap five when the #7 of Steve Reno hit the front stretch tire wall. On the ensuing restart, Lucas was able to stay on the bottom of the track and pass Austin for second. Lucas looked for an opportunity to take the lead. His chance came during lap eight, when he was able to get underneath Thorne. However, the pair made contact coming out of turn three and Thorne spun, bringing out the caution. Lucas invoked the “Gentleman’s Rule.” Lucas said he was to blame in the incident, and Lucas went to the back. Thorne kept his position. Austin moved back to second, and Harrison moved to third.

Lucas did not stay at the back for long. He moved through lap traffic, passing Harrison on the outside of the back stretch during lap eleven for third. Then, during lap thirteen, Lucas passed Austin for second. Lucas patiently waited for Thorne to make a misstep, so he could challenge for the lead. There was no error made by Thorne; however, there was a caution during lap twenty eight. On the restart, Lucas got a good jump off the start, and Lucas took the lead. Thorne’s car got loose, and he was unable to overtake Lucas. Harrison was able to pass Austin for third on the restart. Lucas took the win. Thorne placed second. Harrison rounded out the top three in third.

“I didn’t need that caution,” Thorne said. “You get one when you don’t need it, and you don’t get one when you do.”

“I was glad to get back to the front,” Lucas said post-race. “But, I still wanted to be sure Gary had a sporting chance. I didn’t want him to have to go to the rear because of our contact at the beginning of the race. So, I invoked the Gentleman’s Rule. I would have said he (Thorne) would have had it without the caution at the end, because I couldn’t catch him. He’s pretty fast. It was pretty fun. I want to thank Lucas Auto Repair, Dallas Staples Excavation, and Fishing vessel Mamiluem.”

A 25-lap Strictly Street feature was the next crowd pleaser. The #14 of Dave Brannon led the pack at the pole. Behind were the #51X of Bryan Robbins and Chanler Harrison of the #85. There were five cautions during the first three laps. Notably, a caution after Corey Morgan of the #26 passed Harrison coming out of turn three during lap three. Harrison spun on the track, and that caught up the #55H of Kurt Hewins, the #83 of Dan Brown, and the #84 of Kenny Harrison. After the fifth caution, race officials then called for a single file restart. The restart went smoothly, and when the dust had settled, the #51 of Kyle Hewins was in first, Morgan was in second, and Brannon was in third. There were no additional cautions throughout the race.

Prior to race time, Morgan said he had changed numerous things on his car, especially on the set up of the front end. These changes paid off for Morgan, as during lap nine Morgan headed to the outside and passed Kyle Hewins for the lead on turn four. Brannon fell back after a near jumble on the track, and by lap fourteen, the #1 of Billy Childs had secured third. At race end, Morgan took the win. Kyle Hewins placed second. Childs placed third.

“I am lucky,” Morgan said. “I didn’t think I was going to get from the back to the front, but, it was so rough at beginning of race. Everyone got stove up, and I ended up at the front. I was following two guys who were going to the same place, but they got tied up, and there I was. I want to thank my sponsor, Nicely Built Race Engines.”

A 35-lap Late Model Sportsman feature was action packed. Fans cheered as twenty-two late model sportsman cars raced furiously under the bright lights of Wiscasset. Starting at the pole was the #6 of Chris Bowie. The #21 of Shane Clark and the #33 of Josh St Clair were behind him. During lap three, Josh St Clair pulled ahead of Clark on turn three for second.

Coming up from his ninth place start was the #15 of Nick Hinkley, who was in fourth place by lap ten. There was a caution during lap twelve, and on the restart, Josh St Clair and Bowie battled for the lead, while behind them Clark and Hinkley raced door to door for the third spot. Hinkley pulled ahead by a nose, but coming out of turn two, Clark and Hinkley made contact. Hinkley spun on the track, bringing out the caution. Clark invoked the “Gentleman’s Rule.” Hinkley maintained his track position, but Clark went to back of the pack. Hinkley moved to third.

When racing action resumed, Bowie took the lead. Hinkley and Josh St. Clair battled for second. During lap fourteen, Hinkley pulled ahead for second. Moving up from his sixteenth place start was the #26 of Andrew McLaughlin. McLaughlin clinched the fourth spot by lap sixteen. A caution during lap twenty-two caused another restart. Bowie and Hinkley raced side by side for the lead, while Josh St. Clair and McLaughlin raced door to door for third. Bowie pulled ahead and secured his lead, and Hinkley fell to second.

During lap twenty-eight everything changed when Hinkley made contact with Bowie coming out turn four onto the front stretch. This caused a chain reaction as Bowie spun. Josh St Clair and McLaughlin checked up and Josh St Clair hit the wall coming out of turn one. McLaughlin lost his forward momentum and became part of the caution that was thrown. Hinkley invoked the “Gentleman’s Rule,” and went to the back of the field. McLaughlin also went to the back. Bowie headed to the pits, so lost his position on the track. Josh St Clair needed to be towed to the pits. The #4 of Ben Erskine moved to first place. The #30 of Ryan St Clair moved to second. Moving to third was the #14 of Dave St Clair. Race leaders then remained constant until the conclusion of the race. Erskine took the checkered. Ryan St Clair took second. Dave St Clair placed third.

“This was an awesome race,” Erskine said. “This car I have is awesome! This was a very emotional win for me, and I had a hard time to keep it together! The race was good and I had a great car. I saved my tires until that last restart, and then I ran hard. I would like to thank my crew, wife, and mom and dad. I need to thank my sponsors, Erskine Trucking, Pitcher Perfect Tire, and Rob Elliott Trucking, also my mother and father in-law. It was a great night!”

A 25-lap Outlaw Mini race was shortened to fifteen laps after the racing field was narrowed to three cars. Starting on the pole was the #5 of Jimmy Childs. Behind him were the #13 of Nate Tribett and the #34 of Justin Trombley. Lap two saw Trombley edge ahead of Tribett by a nose for second. Then, during lap ten, Trombley spun Childs on turn two and Childs went into the infield. Both cars went to the back.

Tribett moved to first and the #9 of George Fortin moved to second. Childs moved to third. On the ensuing restart, a mechanical issue caused Fortin to slam into the front stretch wall. Another caution was called and this was when race officials shortened the race by ten laps. Tribbet moved to first, Childs to second, Trombley to third. Off the start, Trombley took second away from Childs. Tribbet took first. Trombley placed second. Childs rounded out the top three in third.

“It was fun, there weren’t many cars, but it was fun,” Tribett said. “I want to thank my grandfather and my uncle for the car going the way it does. I want to thank Main Street Fuel and KNG Auto Sales, my sponsors.”

The flex race of the week was a 100-lap Enduro feature. Twenty-four Enduro cars hit the racetrack in heated competition til the finish. Early race leaders were the #98 of Kamren Knowles, the #55 of Larry Marshall, and the #181 of Bryan Lancaster.

Emerging from the pack as a solid contender was the #42 of Frank Brown. Brown secured the lead by lap twenty, and led the remainder of the race. A close second was Lancaster. Lancaster secured second place by lap twenty and remained in second throughout the race. The #22 of Scott Eck, and the #98 of Kamren Knowles battled for third position. Ultimately, Eck emerged triumphant, with Knowles moving down to fifth place. Finishing in fourth was the #68 of Jeff Minchin Jr, who passed Knowles during the next to last lap, securing his finish. Brown took the checkered. Lancaster placed second. Eck placed third.

Wiscasset Speedway resumes racing action, May 16 with its group one lineup of divisions: Prostock, Napa Super Street, Thunder 4’s, and New England Four Cylinder Prostock. The flex race of the week are the Amsoil Nelcar Legends. Pit gates open at 2 p.m., grandstand gates open at 4, and racing begins at 6. Admission is $5 for adults and children aged seven and older. Kids six and under are free. Pit admission is $20. Next week is Mainely Motorsports night. Host Steve Perry will be there to greet fans, give away prizes, and make it a fun night for all. Additionally, the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety will be on hand to recognize motorcycle safety awareness month.

Race fans and drivers can 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 May 9, 2015

MODIFIEDS (40 LAPS)