WISCASSET

Maine’s fastest oval, Wiscasset Speedway, showcased Group 2 on Saturday night in front of another big crowd.

Three different drivers picked up their first wins of the 2017 campaign, while another took early control of the tracks most competitive division with his second victory of the year.

Midcoast Region NAPA Modifieds were the spotlight division with a 40-lap main event. Joe Williams of Woolwich withstood a late race restart and pulled away from defending champ Mark Lucas for a convincing win — his first of the year. The race of the day was a straightaway battle for second between Tom Young and Nick Reno. The two raced wheel to wheel for the final for 10 laps, with Reno grabbing the runner-up trophy on the outside by less than a foot. Young settled for third.

Other winners on the night included Nick Hinkley in the Late Model Sportsman, Shawn Kimball in the Outlaw Minis and Joe Hutter in the Strictly Streets.

The flex race was a 100-lap Enduro, won by Zach Emerson.

In the 25 lap feature for the Kennebec Equipment Rental Outlaw Minis, Augusta’s Kimball finally shook off a month’s worth of hard luck and bad breaks to lead the feature wire to wire. The two-time champ was chased across the line by four-time champ Rob Greenleaf of West Bath and Farmingdale’s Tim Collins. For Collins, it was his second straight podium appearance.

The Wood Pellet Warehouse Late Model Sportsman rolled out another stacked field of 21 cars for a 35-lap feature. Wiscasset’s Hinkley took sole possession of the points lead with his second straight win. Hinkley started 15th and took advantage of a couple midrace restarts and took the lead from Ben Erskine with five laps to go en route to the victory. Brandon Bailey, also of Wiscasset, worked the traffic nicely from back in the pack to pick up a career-best second-place finish. Coastal 200 champ Andrew McLaughlin charged up the outside lane on the final lap, beating Alex Waltz to the stripe to claim third.

Strictly Streets, sponsored by Norm’s Used Cars of Wiscasset, had plenty of action in its 25-lap feature. Hutter of Leeds held an early lead until he was passed by Montville’s Bryan Robbins, only to get it back on a late race restart when Robbins knocked out of the lead by Zac Bowie. Hutter held tight to the bottom of the race track as he was challenged over the final five laps by point leader Mike Haynes. His hard work paid off with his first career win at Wiscasset Speedway.

Haynes joined Hutter in Victory Lane along with Zach Emerson of Sabbatus, making his first podium appearance of the season.

In the 100-lap Enduro, 49 cars answered the opening bell and fanned out five wide through the turns in search of the checkered flag. When all was said and done, and nearly at the end of their one-hour time limit, Zach Emerson, who had started back in 45th, emerged with the victory. Runner-up Josh Dube of Auburn was the only other car left on the lead lap. Wiscasset flagman Ron Whitcomb turned the duties over to assistant Larry Arsenault and drove his car to a third-place finish, followed by Brad Clement and Johnathan Rines.

Wiscasset Speedway returns to action this upcoming Saturday for the Father’ Day weekend program featuring Group 1 divisions — Prostocks, Super Streets, Thunder 4 Minis and Four Cylinder Prostocks.

The show will begin with the flex division, which will be a special go-kart exhibition race, showcasing some of the young up and coming talent in the making.

Pit gates will open at 2 p.m., grandstands at 4 p.m., and the show begins promptly at 6 p.m.

Wiscasset Speedway is located on the West Alna Road.

For more information, go to the website at www.wiscassetspeedway.co m.

Wiscasset Speedway

Saturday’s Top 5 finishers Midcoast Region NAPA Modifieds (40 laps)

1. Joseph Williams, Woolwich.
2. Nick Reno, West Bath.
3. Tom Young, Freeport.
4. Allan Moeller, Dresden.
5. Mark Lucas, Harspwell.

Kennebec Equipment Rental Outlaw Minis (25 laps)

1. Shawn Kimball, Augusta.
2. Rob Greenleaf, West Bath.
3. Tim Collins, Farmingdale.
4. Brent Roy, Vassalboro.
5. Larry Melcher, Jay.

Wood Pellet Warehouse Late Model Sportsmen (35 laps)

1. Nick Hinkley, Wiscasset.
2. Brandon Bailey, Woolwich.
3. Andrew McLaughlin, Harrington.
4. Alex Waltz, Walpole.
5. Josh St. Clair, Liberty.

Norm’s Used Cars Strictly Streets (25 laps)

1. Joe Hutter, Phillips.
2. Michael Haynes, Livermore Falls.
3. Zachary Emerson, Sabattus.
4. Brad Bellows, China.
5. Jonathon Emerson, Sabattus.

Enduro (100 laps)

1. Zachary Emerson, Sabattus.
2. Josh Dube, Auburn.
3. Ron Whitcomb, Eustis.
4. Brad Clement, Readfield.
5. Johnathon Rines, Wiscasset.