This past Saturday, Wiscasset Speedway‘s Group 1 divisions returned to competition. The 4-Cylinder Pro Division was the highlight feature of the night, where 11 competitors showed up to compete in the 35-lap main event.
Daniel Harding took off with the early lead in the qualifying heat, but Kaden Neptune was right on his heels. Jett Decker and Nicole Benincasa took it 3-wide on lap 8, overtaking Callahan Cox for third and fourth, respectively. Harding had it in the bag as he sailed off with his first career heat victory. Kaden Neptune and Jett Decker rounded out the top 3.
Callahan Cox took off with the early lead in the 35-lap feature. Nicole Benincasa was on the hunt early, taking it 3-wide for fifth on lap 1. She succeeded and continued the pursuit just two laps later, taking it 3-wide once again for the runner-up spot before eventually settling into third on lap 4.
Jett Decker took over the lead on lap 4. After a strong showing all day, Andy Kaherl took the dreaded right hand turn to the pits on lap 11, retiring the #19 machine for the night. The troubles began for Cole Binnette on lap 15 as he took a spin on the backstretch, resulting in the first caution of the feature.
Jett Decker pulled away with the lead once again on the restart as Nicole Benincasa powered into the runner-up spot. Cole Binnette and Ben Burgess both took spins on lap 18 in turn 2, resulting in another caution.
Jett Decker and Nicole Benincasa were deadlocked for the lead on the restart until Decker pulled ahead once again on lap 20. Kaden Neptune was at Nicole Benincasa’s door on lap 25, hungry for the runner-up spot. Neptune took over on lap 26 as Ryan Hayes followed in succession.
Jett Decker held off his competitors, scoring his first feature victory of the 2021 season. Kaden Neptune scored the first podium finish of his career, coming home in the runner-up spot. Ryan Hayes, Nicole Benincasa and Ben Burgess rounded out the top five.
The young drivers in the 4-Cylinder Pro division continue to show strength week-in and week-out and drivers like Jett Decker continue to impress while drivers like Kaden Neptune continue to grow with every passing week of competition. Will we see a new face in 4-Cylinder Pro Victory Lane this season? Only time will tell.
Catch group #2 and the Coastal 200 next Sunday, May 30th, at Wiscasset Speedway. Grandstand admission is just $5 while pit admission is $20 for all ages.
Continue Chasing the Checkered and support your local short tracks. I hope to see you soon!
