WISCASSET

It’s a fact — the best things come in pairs. It explains why Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Buy One, Get One sales are so popular. Two instead of one is downright patriotic.

Last weekend, Steve Perry at Mainely Motorsports partnered with Wiscasset Speedway and amazing business sponsors to bring not one, but two days of action-packed events to Maine’s fastest race track. As reigning Strictly Streets Champion, Kyle Hewins, said on Sunday from victory lane, “Steve, if it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have anything to listen to or talk about!”

Victory was the name of the game, with champions making checkered laps throughout the day to the delight of their fans, screaming from packed grandstands on all sides.

Ultimately taking home first place in the Wiscasset 100 was DJ Shaw Sunday.

Without a doubt, Sunday was a gorgeous day. The sun was shining, cars were gleaming and fans came from near and far to relax and be entertained over the long weekend. But down in the pits, Prostock crews were anything but relaxed. The Granite State Prostock Series (GSPSS) were in town, featuring hard-hitting competitors hailing from across New England, including some of the track’s regular division drivers. Spectators were hardly able to see the track when a full fleet of 28 Prostocks climbed out of the pits for the Wiscasset 100 spotlight event.

The green flag dropped amid raucous fans and raging engines with Wiscasset Speedway regular and current division points leader Andy Saunders starting on the pole. Last year’s GSPSS Champion, Derek Griffith, and Dillion Moltz stayed on each other like glue only a few car lengths behind, dueling for the second position. The event’s first five laps proved that the group was packed with veteran drivers who know what it means to race in a century ride — where drivers typically take risks, they remained calm; where they normally itch for action, they kept cool heads and stayed patient.

From above in the grandstands, the course looked like an epic game of ring-around-the-rosey, with single file cars spaced evenly as everyone waited with baited breath to see who would cast the first stone. It came finally in lap 12 when leaders passed the back of the pack, turning the orderly marching line into a smorgasbord of daring outer lane passes and grade-school line cutting as drivers raced through traffic to keep pace and position.

With Saunders still in first and Shaw cruising in second after conquering his matchup with Moltz, the top three was rounded out by Griffith. With such a competitive group leading the race, it was not long before moves were made and Saunders dropped to second in the wake of Shaw, who had claimed the lead. Minds were blown during the first caution when Moltz abdicated his position in fourth to exit down pit road while the track remained under the yellow flag. Fast forward three laps and stunned spectators watched as Moltz made brief contact with Cory Casagrande, who spun into the infield and again to the back of the pack.

At the head of the line, Saunders and Griffith went head-to-head for second position two car lengths behind Shaw in first. Saunders gave the pairing everything he had, but in lap 30 he lost his ground and dropped to fourth, where he stayed for the remaining 70 laps. Tracey Gordon stepped into third as he sported some impressive speed, but nothing compared to those demonstrated by the two pack leaders — both cars milliseconds away from 90 miles per hour.

With 25 laps to go, the track turned into Wal-Mart’s front door on Black Friday. Through 3-4 cautions, leaders had to use serious car handling skills to clear the ever-mounting lap traffic, which left half a straightaway of clearance between the leading pair of Shaw and Griffith along with Gordon, who chased behind from third. Without more time, other drivers who battled to the head of the herd had run out of track and the top three who had dominated for the final 25 laps entered victory lane in the same order — Shaw earning his first victory in the Wiscasset 100. Griffith in second and Gordon in third.

Other feature races on Sunday included the Strictly Streets for a 25-lap feature, where the two Hewins family drivers quickly took control of the lead and hauled axles among a full field of 17 drivers. Kurt Hewins eventually took first, unofficially sealing his fate as 2016 Division Champion. Second place was earned by Richard Spaulding and third by Kyle Hewins.

Next were the NELCAR Legends, sponsored by Amsoil 4-Season Synthetic, which raced a 25-lap feature. Despite leading the division by over 120 points, Kevin Girard Jr,. ended up in second after starting in the back of the pack. Ryan Kuhn claimed first place with Austin Teras placing third.

Last but far from least, the NAPA Modifieds raced both a dramatic heat race and 50- lap feature that offered no peace of mind to fans. The field’s lead was in constant flux, with multiple yellow flags flown for everything from overheated engines and fluid on the track that parked Richard Jordon, to an airborne-Chadbourne by the front wall and some Reno-vation of turn one’s corner tires that sent him sideways.

In the end, Ben Tinker won first, with second going to Allan Moeller and third to the division points leader Mark Lucas.

Saturday

With Saturday’s races gearing crowds up for the action in store the following day, it was only fitting for the night to be kicked off by divisions guaranteed to keep crowds on their feet.

Sporting a new sponsor under Wood Pellet Warehouse, the Late Model Sportsman 45-lap spotlight race may have been up first, but it was anything but a simple appetizer. Ben Erskine wasted no time as he got out in front as soon as the green flag dropped and cleared himself an impressive lead until the first yellow flag. Competitive outer lane traffic caused multiple cars — including Brandon Bailey, Dan Smart and Luke Romanoski — to end up tangled at the top of turn three.

When the race regrouped, Alex Waltz closely followed Erskine, who had again grabbed his original lead. Cody Verrill hung in for third position, as heavy-hitters Tyler Robbins and Andrew McLaughlin closed in on him at rapid speeds.

Behind the top three, the herd was packed tighter than tuna, which left spectators to guess where front bumpers ended and rear bumpers began. As Robbins conceded to McLaughlin in the quest for fourth, the latter was quickly passed by the domineering duo of Chris Thorne and Nick Hinkley, who had worked their way to the top five. After Waltz spun to the infield for another caution, McLaughlin challenged Erskine for the lead, egged on by the heat, which radiated directly behind him from Thorne and Hinkley.

At the halfway point, Hinkley drove on the outside and took advantage of slowed corner speeds for the lead. After he edged his way from midpack, Josh St. Clair took the same window of opportunity and followed in Hinkley’s wake for second position. On lap 25, St. Clair and Thorne exchanged taps, which spun St. Clair in the middle of turn four as a simultaneous caution that involved Verrill stopped the action.

On the regroup, Hinkley worked to keep Thorne behind him as McLaughlin was forced to defend his position in third from Puncin St. Clair. With 10 laps to go, Puncin St. Clair took third at the same time that Thorne took the lead, which left Hinkley hot on his tail in a reluctant second. Will Collins had enough time to squeak into the top five, but with such a wide margin ahead of him, the top four raged ahead a runaway train — impossible to catch. After he lost his tight follow on Thorne, Hinkley refocused attention to block Puncin St. Clair for final two laps, ultimately finishing second for his season best finish. Thorne won to stabilize his hold on leading the division’s points and Puncin St. Clair took home third.

As part of the Labor Day Weekend festivities, the Wicked Good Vintage Racing Association was also running a series of features, which offered fans some throwback competition that packed the full punch of regular divisions. With a motto of, “Just for the fun of it,” this association boasts drivers of all ages and a Hobby Class in its inaugural season that can only be entered once members have completed a course on how not to be a knucklehead behind the wheel. However, one member of the Hobby Class, Rosey Gerry, confirmed prior to the race that drivers are as competitive as ever, saying, “This is anything but a parade!”

The Wicked Good Sportsman division raced a 20-lap feature where Parker Long dominated throughout to ultimately achieve first, despite consistent hang-ups on the corner tires. Keith Smalley placed second and Norris Willett snatched a Hail-Mary trophy for third after Kevin Waterhouse faltered in lap traffic under the white flag.

Up next for a 15-lap feature were the Hobby drivers, where Dick McFail took first.

Last on to the track in the Wicked Good’s lineup was the Outlaw Class for a 20-lap feature, won by Gary Dwinal. In second place was Scott Tucker, followed by Ryan Chadwick in third.

To round out Saturday night’s schedule were the Oullaw Minis for their 25-lap feature race. Sponsored by Kennebec Equipment Rental, these mighty, mini machines wasted no time and drivers went three-wide for several initial laps before a casual pecking order shook out. Despite his efforts to work the outer lane, Tim Collins settled for second place after Bryan Lancaster in an epic photo finish. Rob Greenleaf was third.