WISCASSET

There were some new faces in Victory Lane this Saturday at Wiscasset Speedway. Fans gathered, despite the cool weather, and were treated to some exciting racing action, with appearances on the podium from several racers who had not been there in quite some time.

On the agenda were the Group Two division of racing, including Late Model Sportsman, Outlaw Mini, Modified and Strictly Street. The flex race of the week was a 100-lap Enduro feature.

Starting off the night was the spotlighted Late Model Sportsman class in a 45-lap event. On the pole was Josh St. Clair. To his right was Bryan Robbins and in third was Steve Minott.

St. Clair had a strong start, and claimed a car-length lead, setting the pace for the race. Robbins dropped back and Minott advanced to second and Tyler Robbins moved to third.

A caution during lap 10 provided a break in the action, and grouped the drivers together. During lap 14, TJ Watson passed Tyler Robbins for third. Nick Hinkley passed Watson on the inside of the front stretch during lap 17. Dave St. Clair was advancing up the track from his 12-place start. With Josh St. Clair in the lead by several car lengths and Minott racing furiously to catch up, Dave St. Clair and Hinkley began a battle for third place. During lap 24, Dave St. Clair got under Hinkley and began a pass. The duo raced around the track, door to door for 12 laps. Fans were on the edge of their seats in anticipation of who might ultimately clinch a pass for third.

Everything changed during lap 28. Dave St. Clair pushed Hinkley up the track, and Will Collins slipped inside and completed a pass, stealing third away from the dueling pair. Hinkley moved to fourth, and Dave St. Clair moved to fifth. Despite Hinkley’s efforts, he was not able to pass Collins, and race leaders remained constant until race conclusion.

Josh St. Clair claimed his first. win since winning the Coastal 200 on Memorial Day weekend of 2014. He was the seventh different winner of the Late Model Sportsman class this season.

Collins is the points leader in Late Model Sportsmen with 248 points. Hinkley is a close second, down four points from Collins.

A 25-lap Outlaw Mini feature was next. This was a one caution race, and was sped through with a lot of initial action. Starting at the pole was Nick Bissell. In second was Shawn Kimball and behind him was Mike Bolduc.

When green flag racing began, Kimball took the lead and gained a two-car advantage. A caution on lap four failed to deter Kimball, who stayed in front throughout. This season had been plagued with mechanical issues for Kimball and his crew, and was his first appearance in Victory Lane since August. 2014.

Jimmy Childs, who was third in points coming into Saturday’s race, passed Bolduc during the opening lap for third. During lap two, Cody Tribbet, current points leader, passed Childs for third. Tribbet bumped Bissell and passed for second. Childs followed Tribbet and once again claimed third. During lap six Childs headed to the inside, and after racing side by side with Tribbet for a lap, completed the pass for second. Race leaders remained constant until the finish.

The one race that didn’t have a new face in Victory Lane was the Modified class. A 30-lap Modified feature saw plenty of action, but six-time winner, Mark Lucas once again proved himself the man to beat on the track, speeding his way to a seventh victory.

A Strictly Street 25-lap feature was quick and action packed. On the pole was Cody Verrill. To the right was Kimberly Knight. Behind in third was Chandler Harrison.

The opening lap was filled with leader changes as Knight advanced to the lead and Verrill moved to second. Dan Brown advanced to third. Verrill fell off the pace, hanging up Brown for a moment, during lap two. Bryan Robbins advanced to second, and Brown fell to third. During lap three, Robbins passed Knight for the lead. Knight then fell to third when Brown completed a pass during lap four. Kyle Hewins passed Knight for third during lap four. The trio raced for position. Kurt Hewins joined them after he had raced his way from his ninth-place start.

Kurt Hewins was able to get under Kyle Hewins during lap 12. Kurt Hewins and Kyle Hewins raced door to door until lap 14 when Kurt Hewins was able to complete a pass, taking third. As the race leaders were heading for the checkered, Knight and Verrill tangled. The race ended under caution with Robbins taking the win. Brown placed second. Kurt Hewins took third.

Wrapping up the entertainment was a 100-lap Enduro, with 36 cars competing. Lap one leaders included Dylan Lancaster, Michael Duffy, Ron Whitcomb, Frank Brown and Russell Collins.

Lap 10 saw Lancaster in the lead, Whitcomb in second and Mike Mason in third. By lap 20, Whitcomb had dropped to fourth. Mason advanced to second, and in third was Craig Landry. Whitcomb fell out of contention during lap 47 when he lost a right front tire, which bounced down the front stretch, nearly clearing the front stretch wall.

Lap 73 saw a jumble coming out of turn one and the race leaders were caught up in it. Despite this stumbling block, Lancaster, Mason and Landry stayed in the top three. Through lap 99, Lancaster remained in the lead. Mason and Landry were in second and third, respectively. But, Lancaster lost power during the final two laps and fell off the pace. Mason took the lead and was able to hold off Landry for the checkered flag. Lancaster took third.

Wiscasset Speedway resumes racing action this upcoming Saturday with its group one lineup of divisions: Pro Stock, Napa Super Street, Thunder 4’s and New England Four Cylinder Pro Stock. Wiscasset Speedway celebrates its 46th birthday. The program is being presented by the Maine State Bureau of Highway Safety. It will be Champion Night, with racers from both the past and present on hand to visit with fans.

The Maine Vintage Racing Association Mobile Museum will be on hand. There will be cupcakes for all, and a celebration with fireworks after the races are completed.

Pit gates open at 2 p.m., with the grandstand open at 4 p.m. Racing begins at 6 p. m. Admission is $ 5 for adults and children ages 7 and older. Kids six and under enter free. Pit admission is $20.

Wiscasset Speedway is located on West Alna Road. For more information, head to the Wiscasset Speedway website at www.wiscassetspeedway.co m.