While most race tracks in the Northeast cancelled their Saturday racing events due to unfavorable weather, Wiscasset Speedway rolled the dice and won, hosting an action-packed Group #1 racing program which included the Norm’s Used Cars Pro Stocks, Kennebec Equipment Rental Thunder 4 Minis, Davis Erector Group 207 Crate Modifieds and double features for the Brackett’s Market 4-Cylinder Pros and Gosline Insurance Group Super Streets.
Rookie Adam Taylor took off with a sizable early lead in the first 4-Cylinder Pro feature while the field stacked up behind him. He extended his lead to a full straightaway with 5 laps to go, taking home the win in commanding fashion. Jay Plummer and Emmett Walker followed, making for the first career podium finishes at Wiscasset for all 3 drivers.
Brody Picard held the early advantage in the second feature for the 4-Cylinder Pros, but his day came to a sudden halt on a lap 13 restart as his car came to a slow and he retired to the pits. Max Parlin took over from there and held off the competition following a late race restart, scoring his first victory of the 2025 season. Jaxson Moreside and Chassidy Shorty followed, rounding out the podium.
Nicole Benincasa’s steering gave way on the opening lap of the first Super Street feature, resulting in an unfortunate 9-car pile-up that collected multiple drivers including Maddy Herrick, David Greenleaf, Josh Hall and Sean Johnson, among others. Defending champion Bubba Pelton took over the lead on lap 8, pulling away from the competition. Meanwhile, Dan McKeage, Jr., making his debut in the division, climbed into the runner-up spot on lap 12 after starting deep into the field. McKeage and Pelton squared up following a mid-race restart and went door-to-door the entire second half of the race, swapping the lead back and forth. McKeage beat Pelton to the line by a door, picking up his first career victory in the division. Michael Harrison followed, completing the top 3.
Bill Harnish, Jr. led the charge early in the second Super Street feature, but trouble was brewing behind the leaders as Josh St. Clair and Ryan Robinson collided on lap 6, resulting in a caution. Harnish pulled ahead on the restart as runner-up Landon Tapley began to descend through the field, making way for Dan McKeage, Jr. once again. After clearing Calab Emerson-Mains for second, he moved onto Harnish, making quick work of the leader. McKeage drove off into the sunset, picking up his second win of the day. Bill Harnish, Jr. and Calab Emerson-Mains followed, with both drivers picking up their first career top 3 finishes in the division.
Bubba Pelton powered to the early lead over Ryan Phillips in the 30-lap feature for the 207 Crate Modifieds. Phillips began to track him down again, reclaiming the lead on lap 8. Pelton took a spin on lap 14 as a direct result of moisture on the track. The feature race was then halted due to an hour-long rain delay. Once the race continued, Ryan Phillips and Bubba Pelton continued to go door-to-door for the top spot. Pelton got the jump following a late-race restart, picking up his first career Modified victory. Ryan Phillips and Ethan Guptill (first Wiscasset podium) completed the top 3.
Following the rain delay, the Thunder 4 Mini feature was reduced to 20 laps. Adam Audet took off with the early advantage over Shane Webber, but his father Zach Audet was quickly coming through the field. While battling for second, Shane Webber and Zach Audet made contact, resulting in Audet cutting down a tire and heading to the pits. Heartbreak came for Adam Audet in the closing laps of the race as he fell off-pace with just 4 laps to go, retiring to the pits. Shane Webber took the helm and held onto it, picking up the victory over Derek Cook and Gregg Norton.
Unfortunately, there was a terrifying wreck during the opening laps of the 40-lap Pro Stock feature as Shane Lane went drivers’ side first into the turn 3 wall, completely destroying the #02 machine. An immediate red flag was called and emergency responders jumped in to extradite the driver safely from his car without causing further injury. Thankfully, he was awake, and alert following the impact and was transported to a local hospital for evaluation.
Once the race resumed, Matt Beers and Josh St. Clair went head-to-head for the top spot, with St. Clair holding the advantage. St. Clair pulled ahead following a lap 4 restart, which is when Dan McKeage, Jr. began to enter the fray, clearing Matt Beers for the runner-up spot just a handful of laps later. St. Clair continued to lead the charge as the laps wound down, but Wiscasset veteran Kevin Douglass was gaining steam behind the leaders, breaking the top 3 with less than 5 laps to go. Josh St. Clair was able to hold off the competition, picking up the win as Dan McKeage, Jr. and Kevin Douglas completed the podium.
After battling consecutive weeks of poor weather, Wiscasset Speedway was fortunate enough to get a full race program in on Saturday night. Although the racing action was highly entertaining and fun to watch, driver safety still remains in the forefront as Shane Lane was miraculously able to walk away from his horrendous wreck with non-life-threatening injuries. Team Wiscasset would like to thank their track safety crew and Wiscasset EMS for their diligence at the accident scene and would like to wish Shane Lane the best in his recovery.
The racing action continues with another Group #2 program on Saturday, June 7th featuring all weekly Group #2 divisions plus the first Enduro race of the 2025 season. The green flag flies at 5:00 pm!
As always, thank you to Jasen Dickey Photography for all featured photos. Check out his awesome portfolio here.
