Sunday was the “biggest day in motorsports” with the running of the Indy 500 and the Coca Cola 600. But, it was also the biggest day of racing for Wiscasset Speedway, who hosted their annual Coastal 200.
The Coastal 200 is truly one-of-a-kind, being the largest Late Model Sportsman race in Maine with a $5,000 purse going to the race winner.
Drivers, teams and fans from all over New England gathered at the track on the cool Spring day, anticipating a day full of exciting racing action.
The day kicked off with three 10-lap qualifying heats for the Late Model Sportsman division. Dana Wilbur and Cody Verrill started on the front row for the first heat. Wilbur pulled away with the early lead, but Ben Ashline was on the move behind him. Ashline swiftly made his way through the field, stealing away the lead from Wilbur on lap 4. Ashline managed to hold off the competition for the remaining 6 laps, taking home the first heat victory of the day.
Heat #2 was full of heavy-hitters, with Daren Ripley and 2017 Coastal 200 winner, Andrew McLaughlin, starting on the front row. Dave Farrington, Jr. started the heat behind them in third. Ripley fell back on the initial start, powering Andrew McLaughlin into the lead. By lap 3, there was a 4-car breakaway at the front of the field. Farrington was making moves on the outside line, challenging Chris Thorne for position on lap 6. He advanced position the following lap, setting his sights on McLaughlin. Although Farrington put up a good fight, McLaughlin held him off to win the second heat.
Shane Clark and Dylan Street started on the front row in the final Late Model heat. Vermont driver, Seth Bridge, faced troubles in the early laps, taking a spin on lap 2 in turn 1. Shane Clark pulled away on the restart as Ryan St. Clair began his voyage through the field behind him. St. Clair powered his way to the front from the rear of the field, making his way into the top five by the halfway mark. Clark continued his dominance, taking home the third and final heat victory.
The day also included 3 exciting weekly racing divisions, starting with the Outlaw Mini division. Jimmy Childs held off Zach Audet for the 10-lap heat victory. Although Childs took home the win, Audet put on a show as he made his way from the rear to the runner-up spot.
The 25-lap feature went caution-free, with Jimmy Childs pulling off a dominating performance. Zach Audet, Brent Roy, Jake Hensbee and Rob Greenleaf rounded out the top five. This was an exciting win for Childs, who was able to score his first victory of the 2018 season.
Brian Treadwell took home the heat victory in the Modifieds and dominated the early laps of the feature race. Things turned sour for Treadwell on lap 11, where he took a spin in turn 2. Adam Chadbourne took over the lead after the incident, but trouble was brewing behind the leaders. Spencer Vaughan took a spin on lap 18 on the front stretch, bringing out a late-race caution.
Brian Treadwell spun again on lap 21 in turn 2, leading to yet another caution. Once the field went back to green, Adam Chadbourne held onto the lead, sailing into his third consecutive victory in the Modifieds division. Allan Moeller, Ryan Chadwick, Nick Reno and Wayne Allard followed, rounding out the top five.
Brett Osmond and Ethan Dinsmore faced troubles in the early laps of the first Strictly Streets heat, making hard contact on lap 1 in turns 1 and 2. The incident led to a lengthy red flag. After the field went back to green, Kurt Hewins ran away with the heat victory
Kyle Hewins pulled off a wild victory in the second Strictly Streets heat, fighting tooth and nail for the win. After he crossed the Start/Finish line, Hewins unfortunately made hard contact with the pit wall in turn 1. Although Hewins was able to walk away from the wreckage, his #51 car suffered from extensive body damage.
Kyle’s brother Kurt wound up dropping out of the feature, allowing Kyle to pilot his car. Kimberly Knight led the majority of the race until the #24 of Jonathon Emerson stole away the top spot on lap 15. He sailed away from the victory, followed by Zach Emerson, Brad Erskine, Kimberly Knight and David Whittier.
The Father/Son duo pulled off a 1-2 finish and this was also Jonathon Emerson’s second straight victory in the series.
26 Late Model Sportsman drivers then took to the track for the running of the Coastal 200.
Ben Ashline took off like a rocket from the beginning, catching the tail end of the field by lap 15. Cody Verrill took a spin on lap 20 in turn 3, leading to the first caution of the feature.
After the field went back to green, the leaders continued to mow down slower cars at the tail of the field, putting more cars one lap down. Cody Verrill took yet another spin on lap 44 in turn 4, leading to the second caution of the feature.
Logan Melcher took a spin in turn 2 on the restart, resulting in the #00 of Alex Waltz slamming into the right side of Melcher’s car. The #26 of Seth Bridge also got a piece of the damage as well.
After the extended caution, J.R. Robinson made his way to the inside of Dave Farrington for third on lap 48. This was a bold move for Robinson, who started the race back in the 25th position. Ashline continued his dominance following the restart, lapping more cars on lap 57. Josh St. Clair took a spin on lap 78 in turn 1, leading to another caution.
Cody Verrill, J.R. Robinson and Chris Thorne faced troubles on lap 81, leading to yet another caution. Just a few laps later, James Osmond lost power on the backstretch on lap 88, leading to another caution.
The top 5 cars were widely spread out at the halfway point, with Ben Ashline still leading the charge. The #28 of Steve Minott slowed down in front of the leaders on lap 106, resulting in Ben Ashline losing some ground over the drivers behind him. Ashline got caught in heavy lap traffic on lap 112, resulting in Dave Farrington making his way to the inside of Ashline for the lead.
Shane Kaherl took a spin in front of the leaders on lap 114, leading to another caution. While all of the other leaders pitted for fresh tires, Dave Farrington elected to stay out. At the time of the caution, there were only 8 cars remaining on the lead lap.
Ben Ashline restarted in third, but he quickly dived to the inside of Farrington and J.R. Robinson, taking control of the lead once again. Shane Kaherl took another spin on lap 145 in turn 4, leading to another caution.
Dave Farrington elected to pit this time around, taking fresh tires and restarting in the fourth position.
James Osmond took a spin on lap 146 in turn 4, resulting in another caution. By lap 150, there were only 13 cars remaining on the track. Ashline continued his dominance, pulling away by an entire straightaway by lap 175.
Ashline sailed into victory after leading 198 of 200 laps, Dave Farrington, Jr., Shane Clark, Andrew McLaughlin and Daren Ripley followed, rounding out the top five.
This was Ashline’s first career win at Wiscasset and a bittersweet victory after he finished runner-up in the race in 2017.
The win was also emotional for Ashline, as he received news of his Grandma’s passing on Sunday. He dedicated his win to her in Victory Lane, choking back tears in his victory speech.
It might have been a chilly day at Wiscasset, but Ashline sure lit it up on the track as he completely dominated the 200-lap race, lapping all but four cars and taking home the $5,000 paycheck.
The racing action continues at Wiscasset Speedway on Saturday, June 2nd with the track’s Ames True Value NEMA Night. Remember to get out and support your local short track!
Join us in congratulating Ben Ashline on his dominating performance. Follow Ben Ashline Racing on Facebook here:
