When people talk about the best Prostock drivers to turn laps in the history of Wiscasset Speedway, the names Ripley and Chubbuck are the ones you'll hear more often than not. The pair has thrilled fans and battled each other on the high banks of Maine's fastest track for the past 25 years. Chubbuck has claimed 70+ wins and five division titles while Ripley has amassed nearly 100 career wins. They would battle it out once again Saturday night as the Serv Pro of Biddeford-Saco Prostocks had a pair of feature races to highlight the Group 2 program. Along with Prostocks, there was also action in the Super Streets, Thunder 4 Minis, and 4-Cylinder Pros, plus the Senior Tour Auto Racers (S.T.A.R. Tour) made their annual trek up from Massachusetts.

The Prostocks rolled out to start the show with the completion of a feature that was halted with eight laps complete due to rain back on July 1. All but two of the 13-car field answered the bell for the final 32 laps, with #34 Jeff Burgess and #32 Mike Orr leading them to the green. The race saw just one early caution as #09 Daren Ripley and #23 Brandon Sprague tangled on the back stretch, sending them both to the back of the pack. A long green flag run followed with #15 of Scott Chubbuck grabbing a comfortable lead while others battled for position. By the midpoint of the race attention soon turned to Ripley's charge up through the field, as he had cracked the top 5 by lap 10, and made a thrilling two-car pass to grab 3rd by lap 16. With 10 laps to go, he moved into 2nd and set his sights on cutting down Chubbuck's full straightaway cushion. Turning laps consistently 3/10th's faster than the leader, Ripley reached Chubbuck's back bumper with two laps to go. With fans cheering frantically the pair passed under the white flag and Chubbuck began sliding into turn one opening a slight window of opportunity for Ripley. But in a show of sportsmanship and respect, Ripley let the leader gather things up and resumed the chase down the back stretch. Again Chubbuck would slide high out of turn four as they charged to the checkers. Ripley pulled to the inside for the pass but came up just short, with Chubbuck grabbing the win by a scant 6/100th of a second. It was his second win of the year. Ripley would settle for the runner-up honors and former 2-time champ Charlie Colby followed up in 3rd.

In the regularly scheduled Group 1 action, the Super Streets had a 35-lap spotlight feature. Defending champ #5 Mark Lucas of Harpswell grabbed control of the class with his 3rd straight win. He held off a late charge by #02 of Jason Curtis of Hollis who crossed the line 7/10th of a second behind. Curtis spent much of his time in a great door to door battle with #2 Josh Bailey of Wiscasset. Bailey would settle for 3rd while #9 Sean Johnson of Oakland and #23 Mike Hodgkins of Jefferson filled out the top 5. As of press release time, the win by Lucas remains unofficial pending results of mandatory engine inspection which is required after 3 wins.

The Senior Tour Auto Racers made their annual appearance for some vintage car racing in two classes. Arthur Hannaford, who also races regularly in the Wicked Good Vintage Racers, bested the Modified class in his #71 Chevy Malibu. He was joined by Bobby Turner and Ryan Chadwick. In the Sportsman group, Alan Zemla drove his #43 1937 Chevy Coupe to the victory. Arthur Merchant and Skip Stearns joined him in victory lane.

Twenty-one Thunder 4 Minis took the green flag for their 25-lap feature. Point leader and 3-time winner Logan Melcher drove his bright yellow #41 from his 13th starting position and steadily worked the traffic to grab the lead by lap 16. He picked up his track-high fourth win of the season. Jeff Minchin Jr. of Pittston parlayed his front row starting spot into a career best 2nd place finish. #26 Michael Golding of Pownal battled Brian and Spencer Sweatt for the final spot in victory lane, taking 3rd. #84 Spencer Sweatt bested his father Brian in the #94 to complete the top 5.

In the 25 race for the N.E.4-cyl Pros, 3-time defending champ Kamren Knowles showed his patience and mastery of the class yet again, picking his way up from 10th into the lead following a lap 10 restart. From there he cruised to his third win of the season. The win, however, remains unofficial as of press time, due to the mandatory engine inspection that comes with 3 wins. 12-year-old Connor Wenners of Edgecomb ran his best race of the year in his #4 on his way to a career-best 2nd place. Lisbon's Jeff Prindall #24 also put together his best run of the season taking 3rd. Point leader Max Rowe of Turner (#12) took 4th and Larry Melcher of Jay (#41) took 5th in his 4-cylinder pro debut.

The ServPro of Biddeford-Saco Prostocks completed the show with their regularly scheduled 40-lap tilt. Drivers were looking to carry the positive momentum from the earlier feature. They looked well on their way until lap 5 when #23 Brandon Sprague lost control of his car coming out of turn two onto the back stretch, with his car careening into the back stretch wall and collecting #32 Mike Orr and #15 of Scott Chubbuck in the process. The race would be red flagged for nearly 40 minutes as Sprague was cut from his damaged car. He was isolated on a back board for precautionary measures and transported to the hospital for further evaluation. Once the race resumed, Ripley would take charge and race to his 2nd win of 2017. #99 Ajay Picard of Palmyra made a late charge to pressure Ripley but would settle for a career best 2nd place finish. Charlie Colby completed a successful night in his #72 with yet another 3rd place trophy. Jeff Burgess #34 and Kevin Morse #29 finished 4th and 5th, respectively. Sprague would be released early next morning from the hospital with a bruised lung and concussion. 

Wiscasset Speedway returns to action this week with a full slate of activities. Go Karts will hit the track for their bi-weekly races this Thursday at 4 p.m. Friday will make way for the Maine State Truck & Tractor Pullers Association for Truck Pulls beginning at 6 p.m. And Saturday it's Group 2 in action with a spotlight race for the Wood Pellet Warehouse Late Model Sportsman, plus double features for the Amsoil Nelcar Legends. Fans can also check out the Maine Vintage Race Car Association's Mobile Museum. For more information, go to www.wiscassetspeedway.com  

Results from July 15