While the temperature outside continues to cool down in Coastal Maine, the racing action continues to heat up at Wiscasset Speedway. The excitement continued on Saturday as the track hosted a full Group #1 racing program which included the Brackett’s Market 4-Cylinder Pros, Norm’s Used Car Pro Stocks, Sweatt’s Concrete Thunder 4 Minis and the Market 27 Super Streets.
The 4-Cylinder Pro division kicked off the program with a 30-lap spotlight feature. Seven drivers took to the track for the drop of the green flag, but frontrunners Sylas Ripley and Callahan Cox were notably missing from the field. Ben Burgess took off with the early lead in the feature as Josh Hall and Daniel Harding filed in behind him. The three drivers quickly pulled away from the rest of the field, igniting their own battle for the lead in the closing half of the race. Josh Hall jumped to the top groove on lap 26, sacrificing the bottom groove to Daniel Harding as they continued to trail Ben Burgess at the top of the leaderboard. Ben Burgess maintained his edge through the finish, picking up his second feature victory of the season. Daniel Harding and Josh Hall were still door-to-door as they crossed the finish line. Josh Hall was initially declared the second-place finisher but following a post-race transponder inspection, Daniel Harding was awarded with the spot.
Jamie Wright powered to the early lead in the 40-lap Pro Stock feature, but chaos quickly erupted as series’ standouts Kevin Douglass and Josh St. Clair made contact in turn 3. This resulted in an early caution and led to Josh St. Clair heading to the pits under yellow. Kevin Douglass remained on the track following the incident with sizable left front damage. Following the restart, Kelly Moore began to power his way through the field. He ignited a battle with Jamie Wright on lap 14, which lasted a handful of laps. The two drivers made contact on lap 18 – a move that sent both drivers through the turn 2 grass. This catapulted Nick Hinkley into the top spot where he immediately pulled ahead with a sizable lead. Miller Buzzell spun on the final lap in turn 3, ending the race under yellow-checkered conditions. Jamie Wright let off the gas following the spin, allowing Kevin Douglass and Kelly Moore around him to round out the podium as they raced to the line per Wiscasset track rules. The win is Nick Hinkley’s first of the season and gives him momentum to end out the season on a high note.
The Pro Stock feature also served as practice to many drivers for the upcoming Boss Hogg 150 on Sunday, September 4th. The track announced last night that the winner’s purse has DOUBLED from $5,000 to $10,000 for the coveted race, making it that much more of a can’t miss event!
Bruce Hall, Jr. held onto the early advantage in the 25-lap Thunder 4 Mini feature, but trouble was brewing for points leader Shane Webber, who was involved in a pile-up in the opening laps of the race. Webber pulled back onto the track for the drop of the green flag but was in danger of going a lap down. After starting mid-pack, Zach Audet pulled to the lead on lap 9 as Jeff Farrington lingered closely behind. Audet distanced himself from Farrington in the closing laps of the race, pulling to a full straightaway lead with 10 laps to go. He maintained his advantage throughout the remainder of the race, picking up his third consecutive victory in the division. Jeff Farrington and Kyle Willette rounded out the top 3.
The Super Streets concluded the night with a final 30-lap feature. The initial start was called off by race control due to the front row of drivers jumping the start. Per Wiscasset rules, the front 2 rows were swapped for the restart. PJ Merrill powered to the lead on the restart as Jason Oakes followed closely behind. The leaders began to approach lap traffic with ten laps to go and Jason Oakes began to inch closer and closer to PJ Merrill’s back bumper. Bill Pinkham took a spin with 6 laps to go, and PJ Merrill held his breath, but the field remained green as Pinkham was able to keep rolling. The leaders cleared lap traffic with 3 laps to go and Jason Oakes was still on PJ Merrill’s tail, ready to strike at any given second. Merrill was able to fend him off to the finish, picking up his first career Super Streets victory at Wiscasset Speedway. Brett Osmond rounded out the top 3.
The points race continues to heat up for all Group #1 divisions at Wiscasset Speedway, but these drivers will get a break as the Group #2 divisions return to the track for a full night of racing action next Saturday, August 20th. The program will include the return of the NEMA Lites for their 2nd outing at Wiscasset of the 2022 season. As always, grandstand admission is just $5 for adults and free for kids 6 and under. Grandstand doors open at 4:00 pm and racing kicks off at 5:00 pm.
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See you next time!
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